Wolves Wild

The bluetits and great tits had been monopolising the bird feeders at Northycote Farm for a long time. A pair of long-tails had put in an appearance, though their minds did not seem to be focused on eating. Finally, this single coal tit also arrived, but not for long. here it was pausing to check out safety before grabbing a little seed.

These fungi may be called cellar cups, but can also appear in the open air. These were outside the building opposite Banks’ Brewery, recently converted into flats. They could have been brought to the area on wood chip mulch.

For quite a time watching the bird feeding area at Northycote Farm, the only birds coming were bluetits and great tits. Finally, a pair of long-tailed tits arrived in the bushes. They seemed less interested in waiting a place on the feeders, more with playing kiss chase with each other among the branches.

Lone tiny mushroom in growing in the moss by the canal footpath opposite the Wildside Centre.

The bushes by the Northycote Farm seed feeders. Here great tits on the surrounding bushes and other convenient perches, waiting for a turn or eating what they had gleaned.

Remains of a house built into the cliff face at Bridgnorth, now by the side of the New Road connecting Undercliff to High Town. The striations in the cliff face showing the profiles of successive dunes in the desert which petrified to form the rock.

Taken on a recent visit to Northycote Farm, when the crowd at the bird feeders was dominated by bluetits and great tits. This set features the smaller bird, mainly seen as they waited on the surrounding bushes for a turn at the food.

Horse’s hoof bracket fungi growing on a fallen log by the riverside footpath at Bridgnorth. When I took these shots, the river was high but not quite overflowing. Water level was about a metre below these fungi. But it must recently have been high enough to submerge them, leaving some of its sediment behind as a layer of mud.

The Severn was high at Bridgnorth, so the shingle between the old bridge and the Bylet was completely submerged. As usual, a big group of birds hanging round there, hoping to be fed. The black swan was surrounded by the flock of mallards and hybrid geese. But there was always clear water around it for getting lots of portraits without other birds intruding.

Hellebores flowering in a shady area by the footpath along the Penk at Perton at the start of this month.

Several times, this muscovy duck would take a mouthful of water from the edge of Perton Pool. Then it would hod its head right back for perhaps half a minute before repeating the process. it didn’t seem to be in any distress. Was it gargling?

A mass of ivy leaves, their rims sprouting ice crystals on a frosty morning, with lighter sprinkings of crystals across the width of the leaves.