Heron hunting, misty morning

Heron hunting, misty morning

Heron standing thigh-deep in the canal near Aldersley Junction on a misty morning recently. Every minute or so it pounced, came up with a small fish, and ate it.

Autumn colours: yew “berries” ripening

Autumn colours: yew "berries" ripening

Green and red, evergreen leaves and the bright red of the fleshy aril. This looks like a berry, but actually a fleshy coating to a single seed, a modified cone. The seeds, like most parts of the tree, are poisonous.

Young goosander, Bridgnorth, ashore for another preen

Young goosander, Bridgnorth, ashore for another preen

This final set of pictures of the young goosander on the Severn at Bridgnorth was taken about an hour and a half later again. The bird was now ashore on the gravel bed at the upstream tip of the Bylet, taking the time to preen thoroughly.

Autumn colours: High Rock, Bridgnorth

Autumn view, High Rock, Bridgnorth

High Rock, Bridgnorth, seen from high on the far bank of the Severn at Castle Walk. A patchwork of colours with the deciduous trees leaves turning yellow or brown, and the conifers still green foliage.