Wolves Wild

December 2010, the day before Christmas Eve. A snowy towpath by the canal at Compton. A heron, huddled against the cold, hoping for fish.

December 1st, 2009, a bright and frosty morning. Waxcap mushrooms in the short grass of the Upper Green at Tettenhall, decorated with crystals of ice.

This winter, swans are gathering on West Park lake in record numbers. Most years, the population reaches somewhere in the mid teens. Currently there are at least twenty two. These were seen on a cloudless morning when the reflections of the sky turned the lake bright blue, and added a similar tint to some of the swans’ feathers.

Redlead roundhead mushrooms, already slightly nibbled even though only recently emerged, growing on wood chip mulch. Originally an Australian species, now quite common in the west midlands. Often found growing on wood chip or sawdust. It’s thought they were accidentally imported on timber products.

At the shallow edge of the sidestream in the Severn at the Bylet in Bridgnorth, a carrion crow, stepped into the water. I noticed what was probably the same the bird walking into the water in the same spot during an earlier visit to the town. That time, it looked like it was after a drink of the water.

This time, its walking was more purposeful. Then it stopped, looked around very carefully, and starte4d turning the pebbles at the bottom of the stream with its beak. Each time it raised its head, it was eating whatever it was that it had caught, still keeping a beady eye on its surroundings.

A lone verdigris mushroom growing in the middle of a front lawn, back before the first of this winter’s frosts. It must have emerged the previous night – the cap had not yet flattened out. because it was so fresh, the colour had not yet had a chance to fade or be washed away.