100

Our business was concluded yesterday afternoon, so this morning we took the train to Sutton Coldfield and had a guided tour of Sutton Park. This is an enormous green space in the middle of the conurbations of Birmingham and adjacent towns: 2400 acres, two miles across. Miraculously preserved since it was a medieval hunting park, and now managed as a National Nature Reserve by Birmingham City Council and much of it also Scheduled Ancient Monument. More information can be found in the link.

And here I clocked up my 100th bird species of the year, a singing chiffchaff in a stand of birch. We saw buzzard, sparrowhawk, green woodpecker, jay and siskins. There are extensive heathlands over the gravelly soils, and holly rich woodlands that were planted in mediaeval times for game cover.

Although it was a lovely day of warm early spring weather, the light was flat and so were the photographs. I had a little time when we got back before my train home from Birmingham New Street, so I went to have a look at the bobbly building that houses Selfridges. This little lad was having a great time with his reflection in the mirrors mounted along the side of the building.

This is good in large to see the expression on his face.

I have back-blipped yesterday's entry.