Wolves Wild

Close-up views of gorse flowers starting to come out, with the furry appearance of the outer covers of the buds.

Old man’s beard grows abundantly climbing over the bushes by Castle Walk in Bridgnorth. These seeds from last year were still on the plant on a sunny day recently.

The recurring gales this winter have brought down many trees, particularly those which were already weakened for one reason or another.

This ash tree in Bantock Park had fallen a week before the winds rose to their crescendo in mid-February.

The bright white areas showing on the underside of the tree are from fungal infection, which may have contributed to weakening it.

Pale and delicate mushroom growing amid, and possibly on, wood chippings covering a roadside flower bed.

Two sorts of lichens growing on one of the brick walls of the Dutch garden at Bantock House. The dominant type is mustard yellow coloured, which seems to be growing over the other, which is a pale green.

Head and shoulders portraits of one of a couple of young swans which have been on the lake at West Park recently. They seem to be more or less full sized, but don’t yet have the all-white plumage of adults.

The hefty bough of a tree overhanging a small pond.

Pictured is the gently distorted reflection of the tree in Turner’s Field pond on one of the rare mornings we have had this winter with a gentle breeze and a blue sky.

One of the West Park coots, with its disconcerting red eyes, came right up to my feet and was perhaps hoping for some bread.

A view from across the river of black-headed gulls taking advantage of the deserted playing fields of Severnside Park, Bridgnorth. The picture was taken in the middle of last month: the park was closed when the swollen river had flooded over and beyond the riverside footpaths.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davea2007/X12492732825

West Park has been planted to ensure that there is something flowering at almost any time of the year. In February it has been the hamamelis bushes – a species originally from America.

Small pool at the top of one of the fields between the Railway Walk and the canal in the Smestow Valley Nature Reserve.

Recent clearance has opened up the path which climbs to the pond, previously pictured here.

Robins may be small, but they defend their territories aggressively most of the year.But at this time of year they get even more assertive in proclaiming their patch as the breeding season approaches.

This robin was on a branch of an elder bush hanging over the Finchfield Brook by the footpath off Coppice Road.