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September 17th – Ducks have a very relaxed attitude to mating. In short, if it looks like a duck, it’ll attempt to start a family with it. This results in a number of curious examples of interbreeding in the wildfowl frequenting the boating lake at Chasewater. On an evening spin around the park, I stopped to study the waterfowl and noted this curious bird. Is this a tufted duck cross? The tufted barnet is actually quite amusing… 

September 16th – We’re comng into the season of fungi. I’m not actually sure what these are – they were growing on the short grass on the canal bank in Walsall Wood. They’re quite large – three to five inches in diameter, fleshy and clearly ageing. Anyone got any ideas?

September 14th – I headed off to Lichfield late in the afternoon for some shopping and to chill out over a cuppa. When I left, the sun was still warm and the wind low, but as I returned, the skies blackened and a stiff breeze sprang up. The combination of the golden hour, darkening skies and Leomansley’s interesting architectural textures made for a captivating scene.

September 13th – Street’s Corner, in Walsall Wood, is a very busy junction. It took it’s name not from the streets that crossed, but from the Street family who lived here. This interesting, imposing and pleasant block of apartments was build around ten years ago on the site of Street’s Corner Bungalow and The Ivy House, a former off-licence. The name stone from the Ivy House was save and restored, and sits in the gable of the new block, much to the irritation of a good friend, who worries that the name ‘Street’s Corner’ will be lost and wanted it for the new building.

It’ll never be lost as long as I’m alive, mate. 

September 11th – I noticed a week or so ago that a gate had been erected at the Wharf Lane access to the canal bank in Newtown, Brownhills. I speculated then on how long it would be before it was damaged – not long, so it would seem. Passing it today, I noticed that the latch peg had been bent out to defeat the lock, and someone had refasten it with a cable tie. One may speculate that the lock was broken by anglers who often used to park there, but I couldn’t possibly comment…

September 11th – there was a very strong wind as I cycled around South Staffordshire late in the afternoon. The horse chestnut trees in the centre of Hammerwich village had been subject to attack by the leaf miner parasite, and the leaves were turning colour early and being stripped by the stiff wind. Everywhere I went there were reminders of the season – the scent of coal smoke, the scent of fresh ploughed earth, the crunch of beech mast under my wheels. Despite the expansion of recent years, Hammerwich still retains a lovely village atmosphere.

September 10th – It wasn’t going to last. What was a sunny, mellow afternoon became harsh, squally and very, very wet. Taking shelter under the eaves of Tesco in Brownhills, I reflected on the other side of our area – the urbanisation, the decay, the hardstanding and traffic. As I cycled home in the wet, traffic impatient and irritable, I couldn’t help but curse the insanely variable weather. This year is arse-about-face; this is April. In September. 

September 10th – A leisurely Saturday breakfast followed by a spin up to Chasewater saw me call in at Ryders Mere. At this point in the day it was sunny, warm, and we seemed to have far more sky than we normally do. Looking over the mere from the Pelsall side, it becomes clear just how green this area of Walsall is. Never underestimate this. Lots of people will tell you that we live in an ugly, urban sprawl – which partially, we do. But it’s punctuated by fantastic green spaces that are a joy to the heart. Get out and explore them.

9th September – getting to enjoy the autumn now. It’s still very warm, but the leaves are starting to fall and it’s getting to the point where I’m cautious cycling under horse chestnut trees. This regimented copse of deciduous trees is in The Parade, Brownhills looks wonderful, and It’ll get better yet. Maybe autumn isn’t so bad after all.