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Elder flowering

Elder flowering

Has a surprising number of culinary uses considering the small size and the delicacy of the individual flowers, and the potential toxicity of other parts of the plant including stalks and leaves.

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Yarrow flowering

Yarrow flowering

Yarrow seems to be common by canal towpaths locally – here by the Stourbridge canal.

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Ducks in eclipse resting

Ducks in eclipse resting

The feathers scattered along the canal bank are signs that these mallards are moulting to go into eclipse plumage, the winter livery which is less showy than that of the summertime males.

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Pyramid Orchid by Dudley No 1 canal

Pyramid Orchid by Dudley No 1 canal

One of the commoner orchids. This one was just a couple of minutes walk from the Waterside development.

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Liverwort on a canal lock wall

Liverwort on a canal lock wall

This non-flowering plant is very common above the upper waterline on the walls of canal locks locally.

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Grasses setting seed

Grass seeds

Two kinds of wild grasses, the seeds just beginning to ripen.

Grass seeds

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Magpie in Brueton Park

Magpie

One of the birds which is most visible in towns and cities. This individual was in Brueton Park, Solihull.

Magpie

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Buzzards riding a thermal

Buzzards riding a thermal

Two of a trio of buzzards, soaring high in the sky.

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Blackbird resting from bathing

Blackbird resting from bathing

The blackbird had been bathing in the outlet to the Dock, a side basin by Stourbridge locks.

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Sparrow dust bathing

Sparrow dust bathing

This sparrow was dust bathing on the towpath of the Stourbridge canal.