Category: David

Growing on the wood mulch in the Sensory Garden at Northycote, redlead roundheads are small, brightly coloured mushrooms.

See this earlier post for more on their exotic origins.

Jay spending a long time on the ground in the Smestow Valley Barley Field. It was busy eating: lowering its head then coming up with a bunch of loose straw, possibly for insects in the straw.

I wasn’t far away, but the bird seemed fine with carrying on eating. Perhaps it felt safer because it was half-hidden behind tussocks of grass.

Hazel catkins beginning to develop earlier this month – and even a tiny bud which will develop into one of next year’s leaves.

Little grebe in the canal at Compton. Probably Smestow Birder Geoff’s bird still in summer plumage.

Every time a dog passed, the bird dived or retreated into the bankside vegetation. This was the only shot I could get without disturbing it.

Small buzzard, possibly one of this year’s birds. It was sitting in the alders by the Compton Park pool, when it decided it didn’t like me crossing the footbridge, and headed off for a quieter spot.

Someone was giving the birds bread. This cygnet was so eager to get to the party that it was raising a mass of bubbles as it swam powerfully.