David

A large bracket fungus seen from below (top) and just about from above.

This bird, probably a well-grown chick, was one of a family of great created grebes on a large pool by the Marsh lane LNR in Hampton in Arden, Solihull.

This pair were on Swan Pool, Sandwell Valley, a week or so later.

One of the same pair, which has just caught a fish.

The pair’s three young chicks. They are much younger than the bird in the first picture – perhaps a second brood.

The plant which inspired George de Mestral to invent Velcro.

This impressive spider’s web was stretched across a gorse bush in Sutton Park. I couldn’t see any sign of the spider itself.

Young of a harlequin ladybird. This invasive species is growing rapidly in numbers and is a threat to native species.

From rather further afield than normal. These lizards were sunning themselves in early August on posts by several of the disused small quarries along the minor road between Ludlow and Burrington.

The broader lizards are the females; the darker small ones are young, born perhaps a month previously.