Wolves Wild

Carrion crow, trying to get some of the grain that someone had scattered for the ducks and geese at West Park, but also keeping a very careful watch on me as it stepped across the grass.

The effects of frequent bouts of heavy rain on one originally brightly coloured mushroom species. These fly agarics first lost the white “warts” on their caps, washed away. Then the bright red of the caps began to be washed away as well, fading to dull shades of brown in the oldest specimens.

A swam coming in to land on the water of West Park lake, making quite a splash as it does so. Seconds later, one of the resident greylag geese washes itself, submerging several times, then flapping its wings vigorously to shake off the drops as it resurfaces.

These fungi are white saddles (Helvella crispa) – I, for one, wouldn’t want to ride on any saddle modelled on their contorted shapes. These were growing under trees and bushes at the edge of a car park.

Acer leaves turning bright autumn colours on a bright sunny morning. West Park has small groups of Japanese acers, planted among the other trees and bushes in several different sopots in the park. They have been chosen so their leaves turn different tints in the autumn. These are from trees near the tea rooms.

It’s back at a favourite spot: West Park’s most frequent heron visitor, catching the sun perched in a willow on the island. Looks like it may be a regular visitor again this winter.