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David

Almost adult plumage already: mallard ducklings, Bag’s Pool

Almost adult plumage already: mallard ducklings, Bag's Pool

Mallard ducklings on Bag’s Pool, Baggeridge Country Park. By the middle of May they were already developing their adult plumage.

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David

White water lily, red lily pads

White water lily, red lily pads

Water lily pads on the surface of Old Nursery Pond, dark red because they were still pumped full of growth hormone. The hormone is already being re-absorbed. The leaves will have turned green well before the white flowers develop.

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David

Hunting among the daisies: magpie, West Park

Hunting among the daisies: magpie, West Park

One of the West Park magpies hunting for worms – in one picture is puts its head on one side to listen for them – on a daidsy-covered lawn near the bandstand.

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David

Wisteria in full flower

Wisteria in full flower

A wisteria outside the front of a house, covered in flowers.

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David

When the turtle’s away (coot chicks)

When the turtle's away (coot chicks)

A cool, overcast day with spells of heavy rain. The West Park turtle not coming out to lounge on its usual log. Instead, a coot family with a nest nearby using the log as a preening perch. The chicks were two and a half weeks old at this point.

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David

Sow thistle with Byturus genus beetles

Sow thistle with Byturus genus beetles

Gathering of Byturus genus beetles around the centre of a flower of a perrenial sow thistle flower in Old Nursery Wood. The hadful of species in this genus look very similar, They are known as fruitworm beetles, the larvae of some of the species in the genus infesting fruit.

Sow thistle with Byturus genus beetles