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David

Coming through the cracks

Coming through the cracks

A dandelion, moss and other plants force their way up through the mortar of a paved path. The plants look like they are the green of spring, but the picture was only taken a few days ago.

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David

Carrion crow chasing a buzzard away

Carrion crow chasing a buzzard away

Crows often menace birds of prey larger than themselves to try to drive them out of a territory whivh both birds claim.

This carrion crow and buzzard both live in or near the Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, and were re-enacting a scene I regularly see wheh I am walking across the Barley Field section of the reserve. Most of the pictures I take show silhouettes or blurs, but this time both birds came out clearly, even showing the pattern on the underside of the buzzard’s wings.

The buzzard is one of a pair which often fly together. This was the larger one: the female.

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David

A mixed flock of gulls

A mixed flock of gulls

Black-headed gulls and lesser black backed gulls settled on the same ground on a playing field.

A mixed flock of gulls

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David

Teazle seed head

Teazle seed head

The plant with the barbed seed head which inspired the invention of Velcro™.

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David

Holly berries just beginning to ripen

Holly berries just beginning to ripen

At the end of last month, these holly berries were just beginning to turn from their original green colour.

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David

West Park erratic, dawn

West Park erratic, dawn

Looking past the largest of the erratics in West Park and over the floral beds to the pre-dawn sky in late September.

West Park erratic, dawn

Here the big rock can just about be made out in the lower right of the picture.