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David

West Park heron in Willow tree

West Park heron

This heron seems to have chosen the willow tree on the island of the smaller arm of the lake in West Park as its preferred perch.

West Park heron

West Park heron

West Park heron

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David

Aylesbury duck on Badger pool

Aylesbury duck on Badger pool

One of a pair of Aylesbury’s which were on the lookout for bread when the mallards seemed happy to be resting in the warm sun.

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David

Access all areas 2 – Phalaenopsis orchid

Access all areas 2 - Phalaenopsis orchid

A second “Access all areas” session where the entire Conservatory at West Park was opened to photographers was held at the end of June. The pictures I took will feature in several posts in the coming days. The first instalment is this magnificent orchid which was in one of the greenhouses at the back, not normally open to the public.

Access all areas 2 - Phalaenopsis orchid

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David

Wide canal pound – Stourbridge locks

Wide canal pound - Stourbridge locks

This short stretch of canal between two of the Stourbridge locks is much wider than it is long so as to act as a small reservoir.

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David

6-spot burnet moth on greater knapweed flower

6-spot burnet moth on greater knapweed flower

The 6-spot burnet is a vividly-coloured, day-flying moth.

6-spot burnet moth on greater knapweed flower

By my count, this one has five spots on each wing. This is not unusual.

6-spot burnet moth on greater knapweed flower

This series of pictures are all of the same individual. They show how the colours, especially the iridescent blue, varied dramatically as it moved very short distances as it fed on the knapweed flower.

6-spot burnet moth on greater knapweed flower

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David

Golden flies on a muddy pond bank

Golden flies on a muddy pond bank

These flies (species unidentified) had gathered in some numbers on the damp clay margin of a pond in the Barrow Hill LNR, Pensnett.

Golden flies on a muddy pond bank

Golden flies on a muddy pond bank

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David

Harlequin ladybird larva on a nettle leaf

Harlequin ladybird larva on a nettle leaf

The young of a harlequin ladybird.

These insects are the fastest spreading non-native species in Europe and the most invasive ladybird in the world. It is reckoned to threaten the survival of 1,000 native insect species.

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David

Two spot ladybird

Two spot ladybird

This tiny ladybird resting on a wild rose bush lives up to its name with just one spot one each wing.

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David

Blue damsel flies

Damsel fly resting on a nettle leaf

The insect resting on the nettle leaf (above) may be a blue-tailed damsel fly.

Damsel fly resting on a dock leaf

The one on the dock leaf and the one flying through reeds were both at the same pool. They are common blue damsel flies.

Damsel fly flying through reeds

All three were pictured on the same mid-June day in the Buckpool LNR, Wordsley.

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David

Tall cow parsley flowering

Tall Cow Parsley Flowering

Cow parsley and related umbellifers are characteristic plants which colonise uncultivated land.