David

An ear fungus growing on its preferred host, an elder tree. This one appears every year in Hawthorn Wood, in the Smestow Valley LNR off Horden Road.

Ten pictures of hoverflies feeding on ivy flowers today.

For some reason, I have less inhibitions about getting up close to them than I do when trying to photograph bees or wasps.

See the contrast between different parts of their bodies, parts looking shiny-smooth, and others hairy (complete with trapped grains of pollen).

This picture was taken way back in July, when it was possible to sit out on one of the terraces of the Charlton Arms in Ludford after sunset, sipping one of the pub’s excellent pints to the background of the soothing sounds of the river Teme.

This was the only bee I spotted among many various insects feeding on ivy flowers recently.

These flag iris seeds were by the pond on Northycote Farm recently.

Despite being spotted on an ivy leaf, this may be a hawthorn shield bug.

One of the last plants of the year to flower, and a magnet for insects on warm autumn days: an ivy beginning to flower (above) and just about to do so (below).

These views were taken about a week later than the previously posted pictures of some of the West Park Japanese acers. In that short time, the leaf colours had developed rapidly.

As a follow-up to the pictures of the chicken of the woods fungus growing by Wolverhampton ring road
posted earlier this month, here is another on a tree at the side of the Birmingham New Road, just by the junction with the Black Country Route.

On warm autumn days, ivy flowers attract many insects to feed on them, including these wasps.