Wildlife from Wolverhampton and nearby
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.
Shaggy inkcaps, one very recently emerged in a field near the canal at Compton. Another on the lawn in front of Wolverhampton College, had had just a little more time to develop.
Their caps spread a little, though they never get much wider than an “almost closed umbrella” position of the one outside the college. Then the shedding of spores, as the caps deliquesce: turning into a black slime which can be used to make a kind of ink.
Tiny mushrooms, Himley Plantation. The tightly clustered group were growing on a fallen trunk, the more scattered individuals on a still standing tree. They may have been pinkedge bonnets (Mycena capillaripes).