Golden teasel

The Boardwalks is an area of pools, reed and willows next to the River Nene, well used by both wildlife and the local human population. In the week it can be almost deserted, but on a Saturday afternoon the place fills with partying teenagers, who unfortunately leave behind their detritus.

This morning we had the place pretty much to ourselves. Indeed we surprised a large grey-brown fox, who stared at us quite nonchalantly, before pottering off along the path (unfortunately too far away to photograph). He didn't seem to be bothered by us or the dogs, and the dogs took no notice of him. We have a fox that regularly visits our garden, and I suspect they're now bored with the scent of fox. Soon after four beautiful male bullfinches flew over, their pinky-red breasts shining in the morning sun.

I knew that this morning was likely to be the only chance to snatch a blip, and there were plenty of interesting subjects: an out-of-season bloom of sweet-briar, rose-hips and more fungi. But my favourite was this teasel, backlit by the morning sun, which provided a golden edge to its spiky shape.

On the way back home we had a sprinkle of rain and a broken rainbow appeared fleetingly against the dark clouds.