Category: David

Young magpie on a hedge at West Park, keeping a careful watch on what was happening.

Long, narrow unripe cones hanging from one of the conifers in West Park. I’m not sure what type of conifer they’re on – perhaps one of the exotics which are spread around the park.

Elderberries at the end of the same twig, in various stages of ripening: greens turning redder, then beginning to blacken when fully ready to be eaten.

Lone barnacle goose by the side of the River Avon at Stratford. It looked rather lonesome with the nearby crowds of Canada geese and of course the swans.

Acorns increasing in length as they move towards ripeness – a process which won’t go any further with the lone nut which has already provided a meal for some creature.

These alder catkins won’t actually be fertile until the depths of winter, early next year, but they were already developing by the end of July.

Both the female catkins (shaped a bit like a miniature pine cone) and male catkins (sausage shaped) grow on the same tree.