Wolves Wild

Common sorrel in flower. This one was in the Barley Field, way back at the end of May.

More of the bird life of Mary Stevens Park, a few minutes walk from the centre of Stourbridge. This is a song thrush, possibly a young one. First it was on a branch of a tree, then it landed on the ground in a successful search for food.

Some of the varied community of plants which have found a home on the artificial cliff-face formed by the castle ruins at Bridgnorth. Ragwort, snapdragon, wallflower were all blooming among the moss and grass.

Group of Canada geese and goslings on the pool at Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge. There were three adults, and a dozen or so young, which were the products of two or prehaps three different broods. But all the birds were now moving together as one group, whether they were swimming around the pool, or on land with the goslings foraging for food.

These two ladybirds look like they are mating. As far as I know this is unlikely for different species.

Hay fever sufferers look out! Different grass species flowering or just about to come into flower. Mostly from the Barley Field.

Mallard cross drake with feathers showing delicate green and blue iridescence.

Blue irises in flower, visible only through other vegetation at the far side of the small pond in Bantock Park.

Another big set of pictures of the nesting pair of herons and their growing chick, all standing on their favourite willow tree.

The bird with head feathers like a punk mohican haircut is the fast-growing youngster, and the one with the neck extended and elongated is the adult female.

The young bird was preening – in some of the pictures traces of the down it was removing can be seen on its beak.

Common vetch with its purple flowers coming out – this example is one of the meadow flowers in the Barley Field.

The morning these pictures were taken, there were six herons on one of the the islands in West Park. There was the pair which had nested in the park and their young chick. There were the two birds which feature in this series of pictures – a mature heron high in the branches of a conifer, and a juvenile on the ground in the shelter of the tree. There was also a third bird deeper in the cover of the same tree, only visible in brief glimpses.

The mature bird high in the tree was standing with its mouth always open, the tongue clearly visible.

Seeds developing on a pasque flower, previously seen in bloom here.