September 14th – In a hedgerow by the towpath in Walsall Wood, a creeper drapes pretty red berries on long, dying tendrils.
Don’t be deceived, white briony – the only native member of the cucumber family in the UK – is deadly poisonous.
It’s pretty but also pretty nasty: One to admire, but not touch I think.
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September 14th – I left in the afternoon after a bad morning at work and a day of family errands and hassle.
Heading up to Chasewater on the canal, the skies were overcast and dark and matched my mood beautifully.
Autumn is starting to come now to my favourite local views over Home Farm to Sandhills, Hammerwich and the local canal. Nothing can stop it, and as usual, after the initial horror of summer’s end, I’m getting to love it.
But some peace and quiet would be nice…
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September 10th – Up in Pleck, Walsall I spited this brisk, urbane puss who was stalking ratty in the rubbish on the opposite canal bank by Scarborough Road Bridge. Nervous at first, I thought he was going to run away, but he found his courage and faced me while I caught him on camera.
This large black and white puss may be rooting through the rubbish but he was neat an tidy and very lithe.
Clearly one has to look one’s best, even in the most grim conditions…
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September 10th – The weather is generally agreeable and warm at the moment, and there’s no finer indicator of than than passing on the way to work local sun worshipper Mr Miyagi (turtle wax on, turtle wax off) as I’ve decided to christen him.
He was sunning himself in his usual spot, head out and enjoying the day.
This feral yellow belly slider is becoming quite the local celebrity.
He’s a handsome chap for sure…
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September 7th – I headed over to a silent, deserted Chasewater not optimistic that I could get decent results out of the new camera.
However, having been in this position before, I thought I might sort it out and get used to the foibles of the new device.
The G5X is actually great, and I think it was mastered. Apart from the toad shots, where a bike light was used for illumination, all of the images were taken in almost total darkness by a variety of means and mode settings.
I think I’m getting used to it.
Riding back along the canal after being scared senseless by a stag crashing through the scrub at Anglesey Wharf, I nearly squished poor toad, but it obliged as a model before I popped him into the hedgerow for safety.
I love the night, it’s a lot more beautiful than people would tend to think. Nosey, unsubtle deer excepted.
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September 6th – It’s easy to overlook the ubiquitous, humble mallard duck, but they are most beautiful birds if one looks closely.
This female spotted at Clayhanger overflow lives perfectly happily on the canal, and is usually seen loafing with others in a loose social grouping.
The plumage is actually really detailed complete with the underwing blue stripe.
I’m convinced that were they not so common, we’d cherish these affable, indolent birds a lot more than we do.
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September 4th – Also in the bright berry department, this bright red example grows in similar urban situations as the firethorn, but has much more spread, larger berries in smaller clumps more evenly spaced.
I was surprised to find that it’s actually a type of cotoneaster – plant that I’m used to having tiny leaves and berries.
It’s certainly very beautiful and the birds are already clearly digging in…
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September 4th – The firethorn berries seem late this year.
Curiously bright and profuse, pyrocanthus is a relative of the crab apple, and is a favourite in urban borders for the striking colours of the berries – from yellow to bright, vivid red.
Beloved by songbirds, they bring a welcome splash of colour to town centre planters, industrial estates, edgelands and gardens all through late summer and early autumn.
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September 1st – Autumn is on my heels now, and slipping out after a day’s bike maintenance for a test ride, I found myself in the most beautiful pink-suffused twilight.
Heading up the canal that snakes its way between Catshill and Sandhills, I admired my favourite tree at Home Farm – now showing hints of getting on it’s autumn jacket – and the plains of stubble to Stonnall, the harvest now in.
It was peaceful, warm and pleasant, with just a hint of cold air. We are in the odd interregnum between seasons, that saddest crossover between a summer passed and an Autumn to come.
But with a crescent moon and tranquility like this to enjoy, it’s not so melancholy.
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August 31st – I have no idea who this character is, but I’ve seen him a lot over the years. A large but nimble cat who always seems vaguely irritated to be observed, he seems to like the canalside scrub between the gardens of Lindon Drive and Silver Street, where only the anglers seem to get.
On a warm, sunny morning he was oh so thirsty, and no water tastes as good as fresh canal water…
A lovely lad clearly very irritated to be photographed!
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