David

Prickly pears were originally a new world cactus, but are now widespread around the Med.

One flower on this plant had just opened as some of the fruit were already beginning to ripen.

Early morning, with lots of bumblebees on a clump of lavender.

It was still cool, and the bees seemed to be walking, not flying, as they moved from floret to floret.

Hazelnuts just beginning to develop, on a bush in the hedge by the towpath at Wightwick.

Mallard mother taking her young chicks for a swim.

The birds were on the Birmingham Canal, near the Dixon Street bridge.

Half-grown coot chick which was swimming up and down a section of the lake at West Park, frequently diving to grab something to eat.

Heavy corroded mooring rings on a jetty in the south of France resort of Cassis, near Marseilles.