Wolves Wild

Wagtail looking down from a chimney pot, keeping an eyeon what was happening below.

River Severn at Bridgnorth, where there is usually a large patch of dry sandbank upstream of the Bylet, where lots of water birds can stand safely while waiting for any offerings of bread. But after several days of heavy rain the only refuge was this tiny patch of ground downstream of one of the piers of the bridge.

Wolverhampton parks are planted with a mix of trees and bushes to try to ensure that there will be something in flower at pretty much every time of year. This fatsia, one of several bushes in West Park, begins to flower as autumn starts to show signs of giving way to winter.

Funnel caps, a group of mushroom species with a cap which is depressed towards the middle, above the stem. This is a common funnel cap, the most frequently found. Colour varies from white to (often) brown, and usually grows in association with deciduous trees.

This one was just inside one of the entrances to Bushbury Cemetery.

Coral growing in Bridgnorth: it’s a coral fungus, not a coral reef, of course. It was growing, inconspicuously, in one of the beds in the castle grounds.

These two cormorants seem to have got into a routine. A few days hanging out in West Park, then off for a few days before they return.

When they are in residence they spend most of their time high on the bare top branches of the tallest tree on boating lake island, coming down every once in a while for a fishy snack.

By the time this post appears, they may well have gone off again.

It’s orange. It looks like orange peel. It’s a fungus. It’s actually quite common, but it’s inconspicuous and looks like litter even if it is noticed.

Tall thistle had flowers open, and others getting ready to open, in the middle of November.

Pair of shovellers on the West Park lake. As I watched, the birds seemed to decide in turn that it was time for a quick preen: first the female, then the more brightly coloured male.

Young monkey puzzle tree, so that the top was conveniently at shoulder height. The tree was festooned with the anchor threads of spiderswebs, beaded with drops of dew.

A party of seventeen turfed ducks which were on the River Avon near the centre of Stratford recently.

Verdigis mushrooms, with their green tinge straight from the zombie make-up box. Often found growing in short grass, just peeping through.