David

The shaggy parasol is quite a large mushroom, but this one was almost hidden in long grass in a grassy bank at the side of the road to Pattingham.

They can be seen skitting over the surface of still water in ponds and pools. In fact, there are two different species. The Lesser water boatman (second picture) is indeed, as its name implies, smaller. It also looks like it is walking on the water standing upright, whereas the water boatman lies on its back an appears to use its forelegs like oars.

The lesser boatman is vegetarian, the boatman predates just about anything in the pond which it is big enough to catch.

A butterfly bush doesn’t just attract butterflies.

Piles of wood chips by the roadside in Coppice Lane, Tettenhall are visited by these fungi each summer.

This damsel fly, pictured in early July, was resting on a different leaf or rock every time it landed.

Late July: further up this woody nightshade there were still plenty of flowers, if rather bedraggled. But these berries were ripening quickly.

This heron was on the look out for fish on an island in one of the pools in the Warren Hall & Bumble Hole LNR. It was totally unconcerned by several anglers who were nearby.

At this stage the elderberries were almost blending in colour with the leaves behind them.

Lots of fruit are developing very early this year. These sloes were beginning to ripen before the end of July.

A tortoiseshell butterfly feeding on thistle flowers. It looks more dowdy when the wings are closed to reveal their under sides (middle picture).