Category: David

The feathers scattered along the canal bank are signs that these mallards are moulting to go into eclipse plumage, the winter livery which is less showy than that of the summertime males.

One of the commoner orchids. This one was just a couple of minutes walk from the Waterside development.

This non-flowering plant is very common above the upper waterline on the walls of canal locks locally.

Two kinds of wild grasses, the seeds just beginning to ripen.

One of the birds which is most visible in towns and cities. This individual was in Brueton Park, Solihull.

Two of a trio of buzzards, soaring high in the sky.

The blackbird had been bathing in the outlet to the Dock, a side basin by Stourbridge locks.

This sparrow was dust bathing on the towpath of the Stourbridge canal.

Delph Nine Locks on the Dudley No 1 canal, not far from the Merry Hill shopping centre, has unusual overflow weirs which are impressive after wet weather.

There are in fact only eight locks in the flight. Traces of the uppermost of the original nine can be seen beyond the pool by the lock downhill of Mill Street bridge.

The top and bottom pictures are of fish by the Red House Glass Cone, where several schools were lurking. Probably a good place for them with the chance to get the leavings of bread fed to the ducks there.

These were in the shallow end of the Dock, a side pool by a higher lock in the flight of Stourbridge locks.