David

The seeds of maples beginning to ripen. These were from two adjacent trees in Brueton Park, Solihull. The reddish tint to the wings of the tree below is a give-away of an ornamental variety. Given the location, the other is probably also ornamental.

This moorhen was bathing: splashing itself with water.

Has a surprising number of culinary uses considering the small size and the delicacy of the individual flowers, and the potential toxicity of other parts of the plant including stalks and leaves.

Yarrow seems to be common by canal towpaths locally – here by the Stourbridge canal.

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.