David

Lupins in the Castle Grounds park, Bridgnorth. One with the flowers open, the other with the flower buds still closed.

Greylag parent, from one of the families featured in yesterday’s post, seeing off an intruder. The offender was one of a small group of other adult greylags which were hanging round in the vicinity. All the vigilance of the greylag parents was directed towards these birds – they were paying no attention to me, perhaps because I was taking care not to get close.

Cinnamon bug, its red with black spots colour scheme contrasting strongly with the leaf it was on. Yet another species which until recently had a British range limited to near the south coast of England, now spreading northwards thanks to global warming.

This individual had overwintered as an adult. Look out for the new generation in August / September.

Greylag goslings from the two allied greylag families in West Park. Early morning, having breakfast in the grassy areas near the Villiers statue.

Garden strawberry plant with flowers and green, unripe fruit.

Five ducklings on the Compton to Wightwick Mill stretch of the canal. Despite losing both their parents in the first week after they hatched, the complete clutch have continued to thrive. Here. at about a month old, their juvenile down was beginning to give way to adult feathers.