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David

Prickly pear, flower and fruit

Prickly pear flower

Prickly pears were originally a new world cactus, but are now widespread around the Med.

Prickly pears beginning to ripen

One flower on this plant had just opened as some of the fruit were already beginning to ripen.

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David

Bumblebees on lavender

Bumblebee on lavender

Early morning, with lots of bumblebees on a clump of lavender.

Bumblebee on lavender

It was still cool, and the bees seemed to be walking, not flying, as they moved from floret to floret.

Bumblebee on lavender

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David

Ripening filberts

Ripening filberts

Hazelnuts just beginning to develop, on a bush in the hedge by the towpath at Wightwick.

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David

Birmingham canal ducklings

Duck and duckling

Mallard mother taking her young chicks for a swim.

Duckling

The birds were on the Birmingham Canal, near the Dixon Street bridge.

Ducklings

Duck and ducklings

Ducklings

Duckling

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David

Young coot after food

Young coot diving

Half-grown coot chick which was swimming up and down a section of the lake at West Park, frequently diving to grab something to eat.

Young coot

Young coot

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David

Old mooring rings in a French port

Old mooring rings, Cassis, near Marsailles

Heavy corroded mooring rings on a jetty in the south of France resort of Cassis, near Marseilles.

Old mooring rings, Cassis, near Marsailles