Wolves Wild

Some of a group of purple sandpipers zooming about on the shingle of the intertidal zone of the Penzance shoreline, resting and refuelling on their spring migration.

Pennywort (and a patch of lichen) clinging to a stone wall, the leaves soaked after heavy rain.

Purple, green and blue irridescence over the basic blacks and browns of the feathers of this pair of starlings. The pair were very confiding, so I was able to get these pictures even though my camera only had a moderate zoom lens.

Tadpoles in the pool at Morrab Gardens, Penzance, recently. There seemed to be two different sizes swimming around. Possibly some spawned later than others, or possibly from two different species (frog / toad / newt).

A return visit to Newlyn harbour a couple of days after these pictures of turnstones were taken. One bold bird came and stood not far in front of my feet. Unilke some of the other members of the little flock, it was already in breeding plumage.

A selection of the lichens growing on the central upright stone of the Boscawen-Un stone circle, between Penzance and Lands End.

Carrion crow with one on a fence and the other foot on a fence post. As I came along the path right by, it was watchful but showed no sign of flying off.

Boscowan-un stone circle, between Penzance and Lands End. Small stone circle with an additional upright in the centre, and a burial cist half in and half out of the circle. It is in its own walled and hedged enclosure, accessed by footpath – best part of a mile from the busy A30 road. In the distance there are views of the sea and, supposedly, the better known and more accessible Merry Maidens stone circle.

On a recent visit to the south-west, it seemed every time I went near the sea there was a small flock of turnstones feeding, oblivious to human presence. These were just inside the harbour gate at Newlyn.

Seaweed growing anchored to the mooring line of a small boat in Penzance harbour, floating on the high tide.

An up-market coat shop on Exeter Cathedral Green used the late winter snow time as an opportunity for promoting their wares.

Remains of an umbellifer from last year – this one was growing on the bank of the Avon at Stratford.