Wolves Wild

Horse chestnut leaves (on trees in different pieces of woodland) as they are emerging from their sticky bud and once they have half opened.

Every year several little grebes overwinter along the stretch of canal between Aldersley and Wightwick, but move elsewhere for the breeding season.

This year it looks like just one might be sticking around not far from Wightwick Mill Lock although it is now in breeding plumage.

Moss forming a carpet on the trunk of a tree, the fruiting bodies standing out with the ends drooping. The fruiting bodies turning red have presumably already shed their spores.

A mass of frogspawn finally hatched, possibly as recently as earlier on the same warm morning of the day these pictures were taken.

The tiny tadpoles were still gathered in a great crowd in the same area the spawn had been lying. Later they dispersed to hiding places more widely over the pond.

Marsh marigolds growing by the edge of the small pond in Bantock Park, some of their bright yellow flowers now fully opened.

Elderly donkey and horse in a field at the back of Botterham Locks near Wombourne. It seemed to be a retirement home (there was also another horse) with the residents looking like they were carefully tended.

The warm weather of the last few days has really brought on a lot of plants.

These are the first bluebells I’ve seen this year, in a particularly sheltered spot in a wood in south Shropshire.

Male great created grebe on the water half way along the fishing lake at Pool Hall, seemingly relaxed and preening.

Another male great created grebe arrives , flying aggressively at the first bird as a trespasser its territory. The intruding male flew off (second picture) and didn’t land until it had reached the far end of the lake.

The male great crested grebe which featured in the two posts above, now safely in the quiet water at the end of the fishing lake. It was putting on a show of unconcern by swimming considerably nearer to the shore, and so nearer to me and the anglers.

Seen earlier today, the first swallow of the year high on a tree in the middle of Doxey Marshes, looking from a distance like it might be something even more interesting.

Dog’s mercury is one of the plants of woodland floors which grows and flowers before the trees grow their leaves and put the ground below into permanent shade.