Category: David

Enigmatic fungi (unidentified of course) with a stumpy stem. Most had lost their caps, but the one which was still there was very small. These were growing in a small cluster by the path in the woodland walk at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shottery.

There are currently five herons (perhaps even more) spending the night on West Park’s boating lake island.

When the birds stick around in the daytime, they normally arrange themselves on the shore of the island in such a way that they are studiously avoiding looking at each other.

These two were on the same fallen tree overhanging the water, for once exchanging glances rather than looking in opposite directions. Could this be the beginning of courtship behaviour? A young adult pair nested and successfully raised a chick late in the 2016 breeding season. The nest then was only a few yards from where these two are. There was no sign of heron courtship in 2017 or 20198.

Yellow jelly fungus, quite common and easy to spot growing on leafless trees in winter. Here with lichen, on a twig.

Six years ago, a harder winter with several inches of snow covering the ground. Blackbirds in West Park searching for food, finding grain someone had put out.

The same snowy winter as the post above. Compacted snow on a teazle seed head.

Young robin looking out at the world, ready to defend its territory against incursion by another.