Author: David

A lesser black backed gull flying overhead, low enough that its picture more or less filled the frame.

An ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria) resting on a shiny bay leaf, perhaps warming itself in the sunlight.

The West Park Canada goose parental pair with their one surviving gosling. The gosling was eating in a patch of short grass with lots of daisies, when the parents decided to head towards the water.

The adults strolled at a stately pace. In an effort to keep up with them, the youngster had to goose step to keep up.

By the time it reached the bank of the lake, it was in the lead. Then it found something else it wanted to nibble.

Compton Lock is at the southern end of the summit level of the Staffs and Worcs Canal. It is reputedly the first pound lock to be built in the burst of canal building which transformed inland transport as part of the original Industrial Revolution.

The lock gates need replacing from time to time, but the current set have been in place long enough for a healthy growth of liverworts, ferns and other plants by the downstream junction of the two lower gates, which are steadily watered whenever the lock is full.

A holly blue butterfly resting, its wings folded, on grounds strewn with chunks of wood chip mulch.

A small flock of some half dozen or so starlings feeding on the ground on a footpath.