David

The leaves of this thistle, photographed a few days ago on the Cotwell End LNR, were so green they looked like new growth.

The Wrekin, rising out of a sea of mist, seen from the top of Barrow Hill, Pensnett.

A view from an open point in another of Dudley’s LNRs, Cotwell End. This is looking towards the Clee Hills stretching out on the horizon.

A very bushy patch of moss growing on a branch spreading out over the Staffs & Worcs canal. This picture too was taken only a short distance from those featured yesterday.

There’s been very little in the way of fungi around this autumn, in what is normally the peak period for them. Most of what has been visible has been bracket fungi, often already fairly mature.

This specimen was growing on the sawn-off trunk of a willow. It may have been another chicken of the woods, but I couldn’t get near enough for a close look.

Close-up of part of an umbellifer seed-head, showing the papery surrounding of the actual seeds. This picture was taken only a few steps from the one in the previous post: the umbellifer was growing in the rough vegetation fringing the quarry.

One of the faces of the former sandstone quarry at the back of Wightwick Mill lock. Across the middle of the picture a band of the lichen which is growing on the rock seems to prefer one particular layer.

A few weeks ago, various pundits were claiming that this year’s weather would lead to spectacular autumn colours. I’ve not seen many signs of that yet, but I did like the delicate shades of these leaves.

One of the West Park squirrels burying part of its winter hoard right up by the brick and stonework forming the edge of the lake.

These crab apples were growing on an isolated tree in a field by the Staffs & Worcs canal, which is now part of the Smestow Valley LNR. Back in the days when the narrow boats ran on horse power, the field provided rough grazing for refuelling the beasts overnight.