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David

Toads mating

Toads mating

These toads were already locked in a nuptial embrace as they crawled across the main path through Baggeridge Park on the way to find a pool to lay their spawn.

The male is noticeably smaller than the female, who is swollen with the eggs.

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David

Comma butterfly

Comma

The warmer weather of the middle of April has brought the flowers on a great deal. It has also prompted the emergence of insects such as butterflies and bees which rely on flowers for food.

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David

Wood anemones

Wood anemones

A large bank of wood anemones were growing in a wood by the bank of the River Severn, near to the Highley station of the Severn Valley Railway.

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David

Scarlet elf cup fungus

Scarlet elf cup fungus

Scarlet is not really an accurate description of the shade of red of this woodland fungus. But the colour is so vivid that I thought it was a discarded chocolate bar wrapper until I looked at it more carefully.

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David

Wild arum

Wild arum

Commonly known as the cuckoo pint, Lords and Ladies, and several other names, the wild arum will later produce what is arguably our weirdest looking native flower.

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David

Fox cub

Fox cub

This fox cub is one of the litter which are being raised in the den which I think is a former badger set, featured here.

The cub currently has blue eyes. The fur is predominantly grey, but already shows signs of beginning to turn reddish. The eyes will also soon turn to amber.

The rear view of the same cub (below) shows the darker fur on the ears, and the currently stumpy tail.

Fox cub

This is the largest and boldest of the cubs in the litter, which might have up to seven in total.