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David

Swan of Avon

Swan of Avon

One of the many swans on the river Avon in the centre of Stratford.

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David

Haws and cupping lichen

Haws and cupping lichen

As the berries on this hawthorn ripen, the lichen growing on the tree forms the cups (or more accurately the ascocarps) which are its fruiting bodies.

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David

White berries, black berries

White berries

Berries growing on garden bushes visible from the pavements.

Black berries

I liked the combinations of colours, though I had no idea what types of bushes they were.

White berries

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David

Red admiral butterfly on an umbellifer

Red admiral butterfly on an umbellifer

A red admiral rests on the dried-out stem of an old umbellifer, warming itself in the late-October sun. As it warmed its wings, it showed first their upper- then their undersurface.

Red admiral butterfly on an umbellifer

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David

Red cracking bolete by the ring road

Red cracking bolete

A red cracking bolete growing on a grassy bank between the Civic Centre and the ring road. The splitting cap shows the reddening which gives it its name.

Red cracking bolete

Side view showing the pores, rather than gills, where the spores come out.

Well-chewed red cracking bolete

A couple of days later, and a view from above showing how much of the mushroom had since been eaten.

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David

Black-headed gull in the river Severn

Black-headed gull in the river Severn

Black-headed gull standing in shallow water in the Severn, at the tip of a small island near the (old) bridge over the river.

River Severn island, Bridgnorth

All the water birds gather on or by the island. It’s far enough from the river bank for them to feel safe, but near enough for them to get the bread which is thrown to them.