Wolves Wild

Great white egret wading in a pool near the railway line at Doxey Marshes on the edge of Stafford city centre. Pictured Tuesday. Two other egret species were reported at the site that day, but weren’t there when I had my brief visit.

Another mushroom which can be seen any time from summer through to early winter, but often peaking in the autumn. Deceivers are mainly a woodland species but crop up in towns on the wood chip mulch of municipal flower beds, as here. They get their vernacular name from having a very variable form.

Collared earth stars growing under the hedgerow by the towpath at Castlecroft. The fruiting bodies of these fungi emerge in the autumn, but can hang around for months even after they have sent out all their spores.

Cold autumn morning, stickweed growing by the towpath at Compton Lock, the leaves lightly frosted.

Bluetit feeding on the seeds of a bullrush on the Compton Park pool, before flying off (heading for another bullrush on the pond).

Cold autumn morning, with one of the brambles by the path in Compton Rough covered in frost.