Wolves Wild

View of the River Smestow and of one of its tributary brooks.

Smestow seen at Seisdon, Trysull and at Trescott Ford.

Tene Brook just about to pass under the Railway Walk by Lower Penn, and at Awbridge. Both pictures of the brook taken on the same day. Awbridge is further downstream, but the brook there is carrying less water. Is some perhaps extracted for watering fields between these two places?

West Park: two sets of goslings, Canada and greylag geese, eating on the same daisy covered patch of short grass

These bean flowers are being ignored by the honey been, but these bumble bees seem to be regular visitors. They are common carder bees, according to inaturalists

Ramsoms (wild garlic) still flowering a few days ago, Smestow Valley LNR, by the Railway Walk and the recently opened up woodland near the old nursery.

One of the young swans on West Park lake stretching its neck to eat the tender new leaves of a plane tree overhanging the water.

When iron smelting was an important Black Country industry, huge amounts of slag were produced as a waste product.

Some was recycled, used for building walls. Many of these walls have been demolished in later redevelopments, but some can still be found. These close-ups are from the lumps on slag in just one wall, showing the textures created by cleavages, the sites of bubbles, etc.

Once more, a selection of plants seen on my daily exercise sessions. This time, all were growing wild.

The West Park turtle, still regularly out on its log catching the sun on warm days.

Mistle thrush, Bantock Park, early morning, hunting for and catching worms.

Green shield bugs seem to be attracted to the buddleia bushes in our garden – also as a venue for mating.

A deep cutting on the Smestow Valley Railway Walk, with two broad slides leading down from entrances to a badger sett.

Fifteen Canada goose chicks in one group, feeding near the side of the West park boating lake. From three different families which, from the size of the goslings, must have hatched at about the same time.

One set of the parent birds right by the goslings, guarding and supervising. The other parents a little further away, on watch.