There’s normally hundreds of orchids (southern marsh, spotted, or crosses of the two) on a patch of level ground at the back of Toposcope Hill, Baggeridge Country Park. This year, there have been precisely two. Here’s hoping that it’s been the cold spring we’ve had which means they’ve held off flowering, that they will be back next summer.
Heron, quietly fishing in the canal near Compton Lock, until a cyclist came along the path wheeling his bike. The bird took off in the opposite direction.
Caterpillar dangling from the end of a long silken thread, hanging from a tree at the edge of Chapter Meadow, Worcester.
A male banded demoiselle damselfly takes a pause from patrolling its stretch of territory along the Severn at Worcester. Still keeping watch in case of other, intruding, males while hoping to be noticed by passing females.
Chicken of the woods, fleshy bracket fungus, prized by foodies and often growing at arm level on tree trunks, most often found at this time of year.
Some of these were on a tree right by the river bank in Worcester, just out of reach, so still intact. Another was in a spot where it appears every year, inaccessible in the middle of West Park lake.
Tiddly little fish, tadpoles growing quite large, and even the odd whirlygig beetle. All swimming in one of the few stretches of open water in the small stream running through Chapter Meadows by the river in Worcester.