Elder Bank

Friday, 20th September 2002, West Yorkshire

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Clusters of ripe black elder berries hang from the bushes that grow on the banking by the canal basin. There aren't as many blackberries on the tumbling bramble stems. Feathery seeds are bursting from curled back seedpods of rosebay willowherb. The tops of the stems look like spindly broken springs.

Great tit and blue tit flit from branch to branch amongst the elder bushes. I'd almost think that they were eating the berries but it's much more likely they're picking off small insects and spiders from the branches and leaves.

Back home a speckled wood butterfly flies against the window and settles on the frame. As I've said before, I'm hoping that this butterfly is on the increase.

Richard Bell,
wildlife illustrator
E-mail; 'richard@willowisland.co.uk'