Indian balsam

Indian balsam

This is an introduced species which has acclimatised itself in damp places. Often found, as here, beside the Staffs and Worcs canal.

Picture taken 26th September.

Bee

Bee

Another view of a bee collecting ivy pollen, showing just how much they can cram into their pollen sacs.

Web

Web

Overnight rain drew attention to the complex 3-dimensional structure of this spider’s web.

Nightshade

Woody nightshade berries

The woody nightshade berries always stand out against their background. Here the bright sunlight made them even more vivid than usual.

Snail

Snail

This snail was using the mortar as a trackway as it inched along the top of a low brick garden wall on 10th October.

Bee

Bee

The amount of pollen in the pollen baskets casts doubt on whether this bee would have been able to carry it all back home, but still she kept gathering more.

Nettle

Nettle flower

Growing almost to eye level in the field behind Compton lock on the Staffs and Worcs canal.

Heron

Heron in reeds

Its watchful position in the middle of a small reed bed gave this heron the confidence to ignore the constant stream of people along the towpath on the opposite bank of the Staffs and Worcs canal.

Mushroom

Wood mushroom

This mushroom was growing on a pile of wood chips which appeared to have been dumped on a grassy verge.

Wood mushroom

Autumn

Autumn

The view across the lowest pool in Baggeridge Country Park on 12th October.