A scarlet elf cup fungus growing on timber near the canal at Newbridge. The timber had been on the ground long enough to be supporting a healthy growth of moss.
These were growing on another pile of timber by the nearby Smestow Valley Ranger Station – pictures of others from this patch in a previous post here.
Today’s pictures were taken in mid-February.
A dead tree in the woods by the ruins at Northycote Farm, pictured on one of the few sunny days recently.
A bracket fungus growing on a willow tree in the small wood between Finchfield and Merry Hill, seen from below and from above.
CORRECTION: identified by Lukas Large as probably a blushing bracket
Greater spotted woodpecker, high in the tree, and with its back turned. That did mean it was showing off the bright red area of its “underpants”.
A flowering white violet …
… a purple one …
… and a lesser celandine.
Leaves of violets (above) and violets together with cranesbill and lesser celandines (below) showing no signs of flowering.
The flowers were pictured in south Devon over a month ago. The leaves are of plants growing at a favoured spot by the canal near Castlecroft in the last few days. The southern plants are five or perhaps even six weeks more advanced than their midlands counterparts.
The violets are a different species.
Not a local picture. This spiral shell was on the beach of a small bay where the Exe estuary meets the sea.