Red campion flowering in the wetland area around the Compton Park pond. One of the more successful of the wildflowers which were planted when the pond was created a few years ago.
Male blackbird which was standing very boldly on a fence post just at the back of Wightwick Mill Lock. I’m not sure whether the apparent shortage of feathers in the tail is a trick of the camera angle, or because it has been helping raise a nestful of chicks.
Categories
St George’s mushrooms, behind schedule
St George’s mushrooms growing in a spot where they pop up annually. This year they were behind schedule. Traditionally, they are supposed to appear on St George’s day, and normally it is then or nearby. These, not until earlier this month.
Categories
Lime hawk moth clinging to a wall
A lime hawk moth clinging to a wall by Compton Road, under one of the lime trees lining the road.
Categories
Bluebells, Level Crossing
The level crossing, the short path connecting the Barley Field to the Railway Walk in the Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, is very shady. Flowers there are later than elsewhere nearby.
Bluebells were just starting to appear at the end of April, when those nearby were at their peak.
They were fully out mid-May, as the other blooms were fading.
Categories
Bees in a garden, one sunny day
Three of the bee species which visited a garden one sunny day recently. These were the ones I managed to get pictures of: at least as many species managed to evade the camera.