David

Sloes, ripening on the bushes which form the hedge between the Barley Field and the Smestow Valley Railway Walk.

This has been a year for banded demoiselle damselflies. There have been lots, but I’ve not noticed a single specimen of the related beautiful demoiselle, normally present in roughly equal numbers. This striking insect has already featured in several posts here the summer. Here are some more seen on the canalside along the Smestow Valley. Males are electric blue; females green and sometimes harder to spot.

Summer duckling at the biord feeding area by the bridge at Bridgnorth. There was no sign of any siblings around. There were, as usual, several female mallards. But none of them seemed to be showing any signs of interest in this young one.

Painted lady butterfly feeding on buddleia flowers, then resting on the leaf of an alkanet.

Young rabbit peeping out at me through the leaves on the lowest branch of a tree in the woodland at the back edge of Mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote.

Summer fungi spotted on a late-August visit to Himley Plantation after a period where there had been bouts of heavy rain to stimulate fungal growth.