Small tortoiseshell butterfly be a path in the Barley Field, resting with its wings almost folded, gently opening and closing them.
Duckling deluge: canal near Mopps Farm bridge
There seems to have been a baby boom along the canal this year, with lots of mallard duclings hatching at once. This little lot are from two broods on the stretch near Mopps Farm bridge, in the countryside beyond Castlecroft
Lone cowslip, Barley Field
When I took this picture, I had wandered along all the footpaths crossing the Barley Field, and this was the olny cowslip I saw flowering. A few more have since appeared.
Grey wagtail, Smestow, Compton
Grey wagtail searching for insects on rocks in the Smestow Brook at Compton, in the shadow of a building originally constructed for one of the many mills which used to be powered by the stream.
Hairy footed flower bees
Hairy-footed flower bees, gathering pollen from alkanet flowers, and just resting on a leaf catching the cun
Herons high in trees, Pendeford Mill LNR Heronry
Two of the herons in the heronry at Pendeford Mill, high on trees on the island in the largest lake.