Category: David

A real plant from the dawn of time.

This gull on a small beach by the river Severn at Bridgnorth was hoping to profit from the bread thrown to the ducks and geese in the same area.

Not particularly closely related to the lesser celandine, nor, to my eye, resembling it very closely other than in the colour of the flower.

The flower buds look hairy.

Ducklings on the river Severn at Bridgnorth.

The mother duck is already struggling to cover them all. After a few further days growth this would have become impossible.

A plant originally introduced for gardens, which thrives in the wild.

This heron was fishing at the upstream end of Wightwick lock on the Staffs and Worcs canal.

Below it considers flying off because of my presence, before settling down again.

This distinctive spring mushroom is uncommon.

The one pictured here was growing in a municipal flowerbed by the Severn – hence the gravel cover.

This bunch of mistletoe, growing on a mountain ash by the river Severn below Bridgnorth, was in flower recently.

This ramson or wild garlic was almost beginning to flower. Once the flowers do come out, the smell is an indication of the relationship to the cultivated culinary plant.

Goslings by the Severn at Bridgnorth. The goose-stepping mother leads a chick.

The goslings swim in a shallow side stream.

Watching over the feeding goslings.

The mother needs to eat too.

Flowers on a sloe bush a few days ago.

On the next bush the buds had not yet opened.

Early ducklings on the upper pool at Badger.

The grouping below is one section of a flotilla which included two broods which were being herded by both sets of parents.

Here is another of them.