October 2nd – And then, still chasing my delivery notes, another wonder I’ve not spotted before: an apple tree growing beautiful, edible looking apples just out of reach on scrub between two factory yards.
Birds are loving the fruit, which are ripe now and falling to the ground untouched. They looked beautiful against the blue sky with the turning leaves like that.
Wonder if they’re as tasty as they look? They’re quite large.
October 2nd – This has really, really surprised me. Mooching about the industrial estate where I work in Darlaston, I was looking for some paperwork that had blown up the road, and retrieving it from a hedge, spotted these beauties thriving beneath.
I see earth star fungus on Clayhanger Common in December, but wasn’t aware they grew this early. Looking like they’re clay or plastic, they are the most extraordinary fungi I’ve ever seen, and finding them is a real treat – there is a whole colony there, growing undisturbed in a roadside bed hardly anyone would ever notice.
Amusingly, Tumblr (the blog platform this journal runs on) has a system that automatically scans images posted, and detected these photos as being indecent. Sent for re-review, they were obviously passed as a false alert.
It just goes to show, some shapes recur throughout nature…
September 11th – I had promised no more wasp galls. Sorry, just one more I missed.
I’ve been looking at this type of gall for ages and not realised what they are – a small, coffee-bean sized growth, caused by genetic mutation provoked by an injected tiny wasp’s egg. These small, rough galls are tiny compared to the more familiar marble oak galls which are smoother and rounder.
They function in the same way though, as a growth pod and foot source for the wasp larva that hatches within, and when ready, the wasp will eat it’s way out to freedom.
This poor tree at Darlaston had knapper galls, marble galls, common galls and cola nut galls. And plenty of acorns!
September 4th – A slightly better day weather-wise, although rain was never far away.
On the canal on the way to work, herons aplenty, my favourite urban bird. I liked how one was sheltering under the M6 motorway flyover, an interesting juxtaposition, and the adult fishing by Bentley Mill Aqueduct had a spectacularly well-defined chest pattern.
Like cats, I’ll never tire of seeing these guys.
August 31st – This week has been difficult as I’ve been in work very early and out very late, so stopping for photos has been a bit difficult, so I apologise for the limited range in the last couple of days.
On my way to work – thankfully still in daylight, despite the early hour – passing through Kings Hill I noted a lovely, lithe ginger puss, who meowed and wanted fuss. As I reached for the camera, this clearly very busy individual spotted something worth stalking the other side of a factory years fence, squeezed through and was off.
I hope we meet again – that’s a handsome tail for sure!
August 30th – Posting letters at Darlaston Post Office, I spotted this very old metal plaque fixed to the wall above the postbox.
Think about this. Dig through the archaic legal language, and consider it. What on earth were the circumstances that were so severe this notice was required to be made in metal and fixed so prominently?
Answers on a postcard, placed in a postbox in full accordance with the bylaws please, to…
August 29th – A day of animals with no time to talk. I saw the tabby with the remarkably bush tail strolling purposefully down where else but the Catroplis that is Scarborough Road.
I suspect puss is female, and was having no truck with my sort. Despite calling, making gentle gestures and the like, she said me zero heed and continued her walk down the road.
The squirrel in Victoria Park was similarly busy, gathering and burying acorns, storing food for winter, or ay be just starting off new saplings, who knows?
Neither animal stopped long enough for a good photo, so sadly, you’ll have to make do with these snatches quick ones, because… they were so busy.
August 24th – Very tired, I trundled into work along the canal and spotted this heron hunting from the reed margin at Bentley Bridge.
I still can’t quite believe that these shambling, slightly mad-looking birds frequent such an industrial, urban space – but there are so many and they look so healthy it’s wonderful. There must be clean water and plenty of fish to attract so many.
A joy the morning after a very long preceding night.
August 23rd – I worked stupidly late into the evening, but the office was way to hot, so enjoying a breather I took a walk up the road at sunset with a cup of tea.
Such a gorgeous sky and sunset, and I was lucky to catch it as I never noticed it. I really must ease off on the work: there will be time enough when the weather is poor…
August 23rd – I’m also really enjoying Victoria Park in Darlaston at the moment. Still to pull on it’s autumn jacket, the greens are still bright and the mystic bridge looks as gorgeous as ever.
I keep banging on about this but Darlaston and it’s parks are gorgeous. If you live nearby and have never been, why not pay them a visit?
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