Wolves Wild

As I was in the area anyway, I went for a second look at the collared earth stars on Compton Hill. In the two days since my previous visit, a couple of new fruiting bodies had emerged, looking like they had not yet completely opened. I couldn’t see any signs of change in the fruiting bodies which had already been there.

Magnolia in autumn, buds developing for a second flowering of the year. On a bush in the front garden of a house facing on to Bantock Park.

Nuthatch, tiny, at the base of one of the Nantock Park trees. It had climbed down the trunk, as is their wont, with something in its beak. Perhaps it was a nut. It banged it agaist the roots, two or three times. A pause, then the bird flew off.

Two pleated inkcap mushrooms, tiny and elegant, growing among the wood chip mulch in one of the beds in Bantock Park. These fungi are quite common, but they are often half-hidden, lurking in the short grass which is one of their favoured habitats.

Collared earth stars by the side of the main road near the top of Compton hill. They are sometimes called saucered earth stars, or triple earth stars, and more formally Geastrum triplex, and are by far the most common members of the earth star genus round here. There’s a chance of spotting them any time from now till early in spring.

A small clump of tall ornamental grass in one of the beds in Castle Grounds Park, Bridgnorth. In my opinion, it looks at its best in early autumn.