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sgt.colon



Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.
PostPosted: Tue Nov 21, 17 10:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Maybe we could throw it open to the DS gang to come up with a name for it?

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Tue Nov 21, 17 11:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yesterday we went to a nature reserve adjoining a working gravel pit. We saw assorted ducks on the flooded pits, including two Goldeneyes and a Red-crested Pochard (which, being a female, didn't(+-*ko - interpolation from the kitten) have a crest, red or indeed any colour.

We had good views of a Kingfisher, as well.

We found quite a few fungi, the prettiest of which was this Wood Blewit (Lepista nuda)




There is quite a strong body of opinion amongst us that they should be called Mauveits.

Henry

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 17 7:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They are rather pretty aren't they. Amethyst deceiver are pretty too, and we get some pink ones who's name escapes me, but again, don't think they have an English name, so think the second half is rosea or something similar. For some reason I have awful trouble remembering Latin names I am afraid.

Sounds like an interesting walk again Henry.

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Mon Dec 18, 17 8:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Managed to get out this week, for a very pleasant walk on the Washes. Sunshine, and very little wind. All the birds were distant spots on the horizon, though, such as Cranes, Bewick's, Whooper and Mute Swans, a Marsh Harrier (which I missed) and a big flock of Golden Plovers. We had hoped (and expected) to see Short Eared Owls, as yesterday was a damp day and we thought they'd be hungry and hunting, but they did not show where we were.

I said all the birds were distant spots, but the last one we found was not: when we returned to the car park, there was a Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) sitting at the edge of the reeds in the sun, ;presumably trying to get warm. There have been Water Rails on some of our previous walks, but it has been a case of "Look, there's a Water Rail" "Where?" "Just going behind that patch of reeds."

But this one was cooperative!





Glad to have had such a good view.

Henry

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Tue Dec 19, 17 7:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nice picture. It did cooperate well to stay still on the edge of the reeds like that.

sgt.colon



Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.
PostPosted: Tue Dec 19, 17 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Great shot. It looks like it's too cold to move. Nice looking bird though, never even heard of them before never mind seeing one.

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8577
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Tue Dec 19, 17 12:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

A beautiful bird

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Thu Feb 01, 18 1:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Managed to get out for my walk last Monday after several weeks (holidays, in-laws being poorly and weather interrupting my usual routine).

We went hunting Scarlet Elf Cups at the site where we always find at least some.

Last year we counted eighty five; this year the total was an amazing two hundred and nine! We might have counted a bit more diligently than last time, but not twice as well. Perhaps we just chose the best time to visit.

Amongst them all were a couple of orange ones, apparently just a colour variant from the normal scarlet.




Pale ones at the top, usual one at the bottom. In real life they are a bit more intense in colour.

Henry

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Feb 02, 18 7:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I didn't realise they went on all through the winter. Most of our fungi, apart from the woody ones, have gone. I haven't seen the paler variant, so very interesting. They seem to have found a spot they like, although I think it was quite a good year for some fungi. We had lots of magpie fungus near out firewood processor that we haven't seen there before, as well as some amethyst deceivers.

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Have been a bit busy this month, so haven't got round to writing my notes until now.

On Feb 5th we went to a local nature reserve with a flooded gravel pit and areas of woodland and grassland, We were hoping to find lots of Scarlet Elf Cups, but only found about thirtyish.

But we did find a few Collared Earthstars (Geastrum triplex) which is new to the site and not particularly common (though probably easy to overlook!).



The following week we went to another flooded gravel pit site, hoping to find another rare fungus, but we failed to spot it. We did see a couple of Goosanders, though, which are lovely birds.

Last Monday we visited part of the washes, despite the foggy, drizzly weather. I did much of my bird watching from the dryness of the car. But we did see a Peregrine Falcon (grey blob perched on a leccy pole shrouded in mist), and three Wigeon, one of which was an American Wigeon (three almost identical grey blobs swimming on grey water shrouded in grey mist). But the birdy people were confident of their identifications, supported, in the case of the American Wigeon, by three other birders, described as 'the elite'!

Expecting cold weather next week - not certain where we might be going yet!

Henry

sgt.colon



Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 11:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It looks like a brain with a hole in the top. Is that a beech nut shell under it or is that part of the fungi?

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The bit that looks like a beech nut shell is part of the fungus. It starts off wrapped round the 'brain' and as it matures peels back. The hole is where the spores emerge, very much like a puffball. The 'brain' is roughly golf ball sized.

Henry

sgt.colon



Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 8:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks Buzzy. That's pretty funky.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45375
Location: yes
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 10:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

nice find , im rather fond of the purple ones which iirc are a different family although similar in shape

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45375
Location: yes
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 10:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

ps not as dinner just for the odd look of them

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