Pied wagtail on the path between the bandstand and the lake at West Park, It was finding tiny insects to eat as it walked around the cast iron legs of one of the park benches.
Ear fungus by Railway Walk
Ear fungus growing on an elder by the Smestow Valley Railway Walk.
These pictures taken before the recent cold and snowy patch, but the fungi are still there. They are a species which shrug off being frozen solid and being thawed out again, and can be found at any time of year.
Mistlethrush feeding, snowy West Park
Mistlethrush eating white rowan berries during the recent snowy period. A corner of the roof of the West Park tearoom makes an appearance in the background.
Frosted deceiver mushrooms
Deceiver mushrooms covered in frost. Growing on wood-chip mulch, pictured on the chilly morning of Christmas Day.
Sparrows feeding, snowy ground
Snow a few days ago, a fat ball feeder. House sparrows were the main customers, as they have been all this winter
Sulfur tuft cluster, half-hidden
A tight cluster of sulfur tuft mushrooms hiding under a rhododendron bush in West Park, a spot where some grow about this time every year.
This picture taken before the recent spell of snow and ice. The mushrooms will still be there – this is one of the minority of species which can survive freezing solid then thawing out again.