Wolves Wild

Strongest coloured of the spring crocuses.

These violets grow on a sheltered and sunny bank by the Staffs and Worcs canal, which is normally one of the earliest spots locally where they come into flower.

A good fortnight after the picture of violets in the south-west flowering, there are still no signs these are nearing that stage.

This was lying in the grass by the towpath only a short distance from where I was standing when taking the picture in the previous post.

The size of the skull and the prominent brow ridges indicate it belonged to a fox.

There were no signs of any other bones. There were no signs of the skull either when I went back a few days later.  It had most likely been cleared away by the British Waterways trimming and mowing crew who had been along in the meantime.

The Staffs and Worcs canal near Compton.

These delicate insects are often found indoors. This one was resting on bathroom tiles.

Spotted recently flying over the Staffs and Worcs canal near Castlecroft: these three hot air balloons.

Very near the snowdrops which featured in yesterday’s post.

The two parent swans with a half grown youngster.

Signs of spring at last.

There are usually a couple of these in a field across the Staffs and Worcs canal at Castlecroft.

Lichens and small plants like this fern grow along the face of the wall of the Goatwalk, overlooking the Exe estuary at Topsham.

This bird was fluffing its feathers up. I wasn’t sure if that was a protection against the cold earlier this month, or a way of making itself look more imposing to scare off rivals.