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David

Fur on fur – bee, pussy willow

Fur on fur - bee, pussy willow

A bee, with its body all covered in fur so that more pollen will stick to it as it goes from flower to flower. Going from catkin to catkin on a pussy willow, they too looking furred to hold the pollen they produce.

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David

Blackthorn, budding flowers

Blackthorn, budding flowers

Blackthorn, with its long and vicious thorns, has flowers which appear before the leaves. In hawthorn the order is reversed. Here the blackthorn flowers are still tight little buds.

Blackthorn, budding flowers

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David

Magpie, Compton Park

Magpie, Compton Park

Magpie searching through tussocky grass in Compton Park, after things to eat.

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David

Soft rush, Willow Pond

Soft rush, Willow Pond

Clump of soft rush growing near the edge of the water in Willow Pond in the Smestow Valley nature Reserve.

Soft rush, Willow Pond

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David

Sparrows on the qv

Sparrows on the qv

House sparrows on the lookout, ready to dart out from their sheltered perches to grab a nibble to eat.

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David

Common whitlowgrass by roadside, Seisdon

Common whitlowgrass by roadside, Seisdon

Common whitlowgrass in its final burst of flowering, by roadside edge of Seisdon green. Presumably some part of the tiny plant (possibly the seed casings) was thought to resemble whitlows – and hennce the plant perhaps was used as a folk remedy.