Chapel Ash dawn

Dawn

Looking down Darlington Street from Queens Square towards Chapel Ash, it almost looks like the former church is rising through a wood.

Dawn

Keeping this illusion with a closer view meant a very careful choice of where to frame the picture.

Family of swans, Birmingham canal

Family of swans, Birmingham canal

This family of swans include a second adult which wouldn’t line up to get in the same shot of the others, as well as the three well-grown young seen below. They have a large territory heading out towards the junction with the Bradley arm of the canal.

Family of swans, Birmingham canal

Duck and ducklings, Birmingham canal

Duck and ducklings, Birmingham canal

Todays post feature water birds seen on a stroll along the towpath of the Birmingham canal, heading from the city centre in the direction of Birmingham, a couple of weeks ago.

Duck and ducklings, Birmingham canal

This duck and her two ducklings were in a gap in the wall above the canal a few yards from Bilston Road.

Duck and ducklings, Birmingham canal

Heather in flower on Cannock Chase

Heather in flower on Cannock Chase

From the middle of August, heathy areas like this part of Cannock Chase near Brocton,  become a mass of purple as the heather comes into flower.

Heather in flower on Cannock Chase

Heather in flower on Cannock Chase

Plums ripening

Plums ripening

By early August these plums were ripe enough to show the beginnings of the bloom on their surface.