Wolves Wild

Holly blue butterfly resting on one of the yellow rattle flowers on the edge of the wildflower meadow section of Springvale Park.

Different species of vetch in bloom. The white flowers ones were really tiny.

Since the middle of June, meadow brown butterflies have been flying in the wildflower meadow areas of the Smestow Valley, often alongside the related ringlets (pictures coming soon)

One of the insects in these pictures seems to have lost a similar-shaped section from both forewings.

Close-up views of flowers on one of the tendrils of bryony on the hedgerow by the canal at Castlecroft.

On the same day I saw the maturing goslings of the previous post, there were two pairs of Canada geese, each with very young goslings, swimming on Broad Street basin. These were from the family group closer to the lock gate, which came closer to the camera.

Canada goose goslings on the 21 locks stretch of the Birmingham canal, grown up so they were getting their adult plumage.

The same birds previously, while they were still fluffy, were pictured here.

Reeds flowering as they grow at the edge of a canal: in this case the 21 locks stretch of the Birmingham Canal.

Crested dog’s tail grass is one of the characteristic grasses of those open spaces in Wolverhampton which are managed as wildflower meadows.

Jack by the hedge stem, with some flowers still remaining and others having begun to develop into seeds. There is a thread showing a small spider is in residence.

Bumble bees scrambling in St John’s Wort flowers, trying to collect all the nectar.

These two flies were resting on leaves on neighbouring trees. Both are from common species.

Meadowsweet, with its froth of white flowers on tall stems, grows in areas of damp soils.