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David

Moorhen chicks, canal

Moorhen chick, canal

Moorhen chicks, three different broods, seen on the same day, on the stretch of the canal from Newbridge to Aldersley Junction.

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David

Sycamore flowers, West Park

Sycamore flowers, West Park

Dangling from a young sycamore by West Park lake, this was a flower in mid-May.

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David

Banded demoiselles (Calopteryx splendens), male

Banded demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), male

Banded demoiselle damselflies have been having a good year in 2018. Vegetation along the banks of streams, rivers and canals has been attracting them in larger numbers than I’ve ever noticed before. These are males, with their vivid electric blue bodies.

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David

Muscovy drake, West Park, preening

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davea2007/albums/72157695624273641

Muscovy duck drake by the edge of West Park lake, bending his neck in all sorts of impossible-looking ways and spreading his feathers while preening.

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David

Elm seeds ripening, Newbridge

Elm seeds ripening, Newbridge

Seeds ripening on an elm tree overhanging the canal at Newbridge, developing from flowers seen here from the same tree.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davea2007/42399953931

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David

Orchids galore, Baggeridge Country Park

Flag iris and southern marsh orchids, Baggeride

Lots of orchids, in the midst of plenty of other wild flowers, at Baggeridge Country Park a couple of days ago. There’s one lone pyramidal orchid, the only one I saw. Can you spot which picture it is? The others are spotted orchids, southern marsh orchids, or hybrids of these two species.