I was back in the Midlands visiting family this weekend which of course meant that the painful experience of watching Saturday night reality TV had to be endured. I could bore you with details of who danced the best Rumba or which wannabe singer actually managed to hit a note, but to be honest I couldn’t care less. Instead I shall concentrate on the morning where we spent a couple of hours wandering around Ipsley Alders Marsh. It is one of the last remnants of a landscape that used to dominate the area Redditch now occupies, and despite being hemmed in on all sides by residential expansion still manages to feel isolated and ancient.

Our arrival was greeted by the calls of a large Long Tailed Tit flock so we paused to await their appearance. Listening to them approach was like waiting for a jet to pass overhead. Volume and intensity steadily increased with nothing visible through the still thick vegetation, until all of a sudden they were upon us. What had been a tranquil scene was suddenly a chaotic mass of swirling wings as the tiny birds moved rapidly from tree to tree, passing through within a matter of moments. Amongst them we glimpsed an occasional Goldcrest, Blue Tit and Great Tit whilst Robins and Wrens struggled to make themselves heard above the din. Out in the open and once again enjoying the peace we were pleased to see a Buzzard and a pair of Sparrowhawks above the trees. Their presence here no doubt explains my sightings of the latter species in and around a couple of local gardens. Other birds seen included a Goldfinch and Song Thrush, but still no sign of my first autumn Redwing. With a visit to Norfolk on the cards soon however it can only be a matter of time.

There was even more interest to be found on the ground where a fascinating array of Fungi were thriving in the damp conditions. Regular readers will know that this is an area where I have been trying to increase my knowledge recently so I set about photographing as many as I could. I’ve spent the best part of this evening trying to identify each in turn and these are the results.

28949 - Artist's Fungus (Ganoderma applanatum)

Artist’s Fungus (Ganoderma applanatum)

28955 - Common Funnel (Clitocybe gibba)

Common Funnel (Clitocybe gibba)

28957 - Common Bonnet (Mycena galericulata)

Common Bonnet (Mycena galericulata)

28959 - Cinnamon Webcap (Cortinarius cinnamomeus)

Cinnamon Webcap (Cortinarius cinnamomeus)

28964 - Turkeytail

Turkeytail

28967 - Scaly Earthball

Scaly Earthball

28969 - Yellow Knight (Tricholoma equestre)

Yellow Knight (Tricholoma equestre)

28972 - Candlesnuff Fungus

Candlesnuff Fungus

As always the above names are correct to the best of my abilities, but please let me know if I’ve got anything wrong.


8 Comments

TexWisGirl · October 23, 2012 at 10:14 pm

i like these fungi. the common bonnets are cool looking. the 'earthball' is called a puffball here in the states. 🙂

Bob Bushell · October 23, 2012 at 10:35 pm

Fungi are cosy friends, I love 'em.

holdingmoments · October 24, 2012 at 12:16 pm

Great description of the LTT flock.
Cracking little birds to watch.

A great selection of fungi too.

Flotsam · October 24, 2012 at 4:41 pm

It is so good to hear I am not alone in hating Saturday night TV.

I am amazed at you fungi knowledge but also thought the earthball is a puffball or Lycoperdon pyriforme, the wolf-fart puffball. (These do tend to be whiter though).

Gillian Olson · October 24, 2012 at 4:56 pm

What a variety; the bonnet look like they belong in pixie land and I have never seen the candlesnuff fungi before.

Caroline Gill · October 25, 2012 at 7:30 pm

An amazing selection, Adam! I'm impressed (as someone who knows virtually nothing about fungi) by your ID work. Will be interested to see where you go in Norfolk (the county of my teenage years).

Adam Tilt · November 1, 2012 at 7:12 pm

Thanks all for your kind comments. I did originally have the Earthball down as a Puffball as they are quite similar to each other. Colouration and markings clinched it as the former however.

Unknown · September 17, 2014 at 5:46 am

Great shots! Fungi are very interesting to see.

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