Wolves Wild

Teazle seed heads on one of the plants by the Compton Park pool, topped by a lone resting bee.

Boletes growing on Finchfield Green (the grassy area in front of the shops).

Female goosander drinking from the Severn just upstream from Bylet island at Bridgnorth, and a little later on the gravel nearby, preening.

Beginning to open, the flower cluster on one stem of a umbellifer.

Heron standing on one of the anglers’ platforms on the lowest pool in Baggeridge Country Park, stretching its body as it sunbathes, all reflected in the calm water of the pool.

Fern seed, more accurately spores, along the undersides of the leaves of the plant.

Robin standing on a tree stump, a favourite perching post at the side of the main path parallel with the stream through Baggeridge Contry Park.

Shaggy parasols. These were growing at the back of the hedge along the Bridgnorth Road, right on the Wolverhampton / South Staffordshire border.

Devils bit scabious in flower at Baggeridge Country Park, attracting lots of insects to feed. A large patch of the plant in the marshy area at the back of Toposcope Hill was getting honey bees from the hives, as well at plenty of hoverflies.

Spider’s web supported by nettles hanging over the bank of the canal near Newbridge. The web was decorated with seeds from the nettles. The whole thing was catching the sun, making it stand out against the darker water behind.

Sloes, ripening on the bushes which form the hedge between the Barley Field and the Smestow Valley Railway Walk.

This has been a year for banded demoiselle damselflies. There have been lots, but I’ve not noticed a single specimen of the related beautiful demoiselle, normally present in roughly equal numbers. This striking insect has already featured in several posts here the summer. Here are some more seen on the canalside along the Smestow Valley. Males are electric blue; females green and sometimes harder to spot.