David

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.

The flowers on yew trees are small and inconspicuous.

These were growing on yews in the churchyard at Berkswell. Yews are often found churchyards.

Turkeytail is a common bracket fungus, often found growing on dead wood and tree stumps. This was on one of the stumps in the wood at Northycote.

Some of the bright yellow pollen from this crocus had fallen onto the floor of the flower.