Frost-covered umbellifer

Frost-covered umbellifer

The remains of an umbellifer growing by the Birmingham Canal near Aldersley, encrusted in frost during last month’s cold spell.

Fungus growing from a wall

Growing from a wall

Unidentified, and rather foxed, fungus which was growing from the base of a wall by a bus stop.

Growing from a wall

Something must have found it appetising enough to nibble at.

Growing from a wall

Ageing earth stars

Ageing earth star

Earth stars are fungi with such an exotic shape they look like they might have been dropped from outer space.

Ageing earth star

They have a hole in the top of their fruiting bodies for their spores to escape, powered by raindrops landing on it.

Ageing earth stars

These were growing in the front of a garden, possibly associated with the pine trees. Although I walk past the garden at least once a week on visits to the supermarket, the earth stars had been around for some time before I noticed them.

Waxwings in treetops

Waxwing in a treetop

These waxwings were in a group of eight which seemed to be hawking after insects from trees opposite Tettenhall Lower Green a few days ago.

Waxwings in a treetop

They were probably a detatchment of the larger group spending some time in the Claregate area.