Spring is finally getting going. The buds were beginning to appear on lime trees last week.
Looking towards Wightwick Lock
King Alfred’s cakes fungus
King Alfred’s fungus (alias coal fungus or cramp balls) grows on trees or dead wood. It does indeed resemble pieces of coal or, perhaps, buns which have been allowed to burn by a fugitive king.
The layers, visible in the partially eaten example above, mark phases of growth, like tree rings.
Like the horse’s hoof fungus in the previous post, cramp balls are inedible, but the dried interiors can be used as tinder.
Old horse’s hoof fungus
Violets and a celandine
More spring flowers at last. Violets and the lesser celandines from this patch have already featured in pervious posts as they began to open.
Oh no it spraint
Daffodil with a small fly
Dryad’s saddles, Smestow Paddock
Bracket fungi, whimsically seating for tree nymphs.
Growing on two of the trees on the bank of the Smestow not far from the Nature Reserve Ranger Station.
CORRECTION: identified by Lukas Large as possibly blushing brackets
Trousered chickens, Pendeford Mill
Peahen on a fence, Pendeford Mill
Rain and mud on primroses
Rams, Pendeford Mill LNR
Soay sheep ram (first 2 pictures), part of the livestock at the Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve.
Castlemilk moorit ram, also at Pendeford Mill.
Ewes from both breeds are kept in another field across the road. They were pictured here.