Mushrooms look soft, but are sometimes able to exert surprising force. A new tarmac surface was laid on this pavement in 2010. Just a few weeks later, a clump of small glistening inkcaps forced their way to the surface, pushing a patch of the tarmac aside.
Since then, there has been a fresh patch of these mushrooms every year at about the same time. As they emerge, the hole in the tarmac is being enlarged bit by bit.
Castle Walk, along the top of the cliff at Bridgnorth, gives the chance to see birds in trees without looking up. This was a mistle thrush singing recently.
Trees, with leaves fallen for the winter, showing the patterns of their branches silhouetted against the skyline. The pictures were taken from the same place, on one of the well-maintained footpaths leading from Berkswell.
A thirsty group of the West Park Canada geese, gathering at a pathside puddle to drink the water.
Two different lichens growing on the trunk of a raodside tree at the edge of the village of Berkswell.
Yet another visit to the Castle Grounds at Bridgnorth, a few days after the previous one. The solitary magpie inkcap mushroom which had earlier been there had now done its work, and was lying drained on the ground (final photo in this set). In its place, another mushroom standing alone, looking like it had not yet completely emerged, but had already been nibbled, perhaps by a squirrel.