A Photographic Fungus Foray
Including other items of interest.
In Gunton Wood Lowestoft a really good show of the winter fungus Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes was growing on Elm trunks. This particular species thrives on being frozen where upon on thawing produces more spores. The particularly vicious cold snap of late has helped this species fruit & in turn sporolate more than other years.
Some being so close to the entrance gate soon had dog walkers interested in what I was photographing. Whilst picking one & showing a couple the identification features of a brown velvet stem topped by a glutinous tan-yellow cap I turned around to see that I had quite an audience.
Throughout the wood there were at least four good troops that were photogenic enough to record on film. A few tit species were foraging inn the trees along with tiny wrens but little else of note was seen. Along one of the paths the common ear fungi Auricula auricula-judae was found growing on a dead log used as the path boundary. This was duly photographed with some snow included in the background.
I would have dearly loved to photograph some of the Winter Aconites, which were flowering very well last week, but the deep snow seemed to have covered them all up.
Along the disused railway line at Gunton I found that all the young Oaks here were host to the Marble Gall of the wasp Andricus kollari Photographs were obtained for my collection.
On the way to Kessingland I stopped off at the South Pier Lowestoft to see the 1st Winter Glaucous gull, present for some days now. The northern hemisphere gull that is an uncommon winter visitor here was found perched by the fish dock. The 1st winter bird is a strikingly pale sandy coloured gull with a black tipped salmon pink bill & salmon pink legs. The primary feathers are white.
Whilst passing Children’s Corner on the south beach I saw 14 Sanderling feeding like clockwork toys along the sandy tideline.
At & around the parish council’s reserve at Kessingland the following plants were recorded in leaf burst. Hawthorn & Duke of Argyles Tea Tree. Almost open flower buds were found on Bramble & Cherry Plum.
Along the western boundary of the reserve Wild Arum & Lesser Celandine leaves were seen by the shade of an elder.
Although there was snow on the ground Spring is just around the corner.
Colin A Jacobs.
Including other items of interest.
In Gunton Wood Lowestoft a really good show of the winter fungus Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes was growing on Elm trunks. This particular species thrives on being frozen where upon on thawing produces more spores. The particularly vicious cold snap of late has helped this species fruit & in turn sporolate more than other years.
Some being so close to the entrance gate soon had dog walkers interested in what I was photographing. Whilst picking one & showing a couple the identification features of a brown velvet stem topped by a glutinous tan-yellow cap I turned around to see that I had quite an audience.
Throughout the wood there were at least four good troops that were photogenic enough to record on film. A few tit species were foraging inn the trees along with tiny wrens but little else of note was seen. Along one of the paths the common ear fungi Auricula auricula-judae was found growing on a dead log used as the path boundary. This was duly photographed with some snow included in the background.
I would have dearly loved to photograph some of the Winter Aconites, which were flowering very well last week, but the deep snow seemed to have covered them all up.
Along the disused railway line at Gunton I found that all the young Oaks here were host to the Marble Gall of the wasp Andricus kollari Photographs were obtained for my collection.
On the way to Kessingland I stopped off at the South Pier Lowestoft to see the 1st Winter Glaucous gull, present for some days now. The northern hemisphere gull that is an uncommon winter visitor here was found perched by the fish dock. The 1st winter bird is a strikingly pale sandy coloured gull with a black tipped salmon pink bill & salmon pink legs. The primary feathers are white.
Whilst passing Children’s Corner on the south beach I saw 14 Sanderling feeding like clockwork toys along the sandy tideline.
At & around the parish council’s reserve at Kessingland the following plants were recorded in leaf burst. Hawthorn & Duke of Argyles Tea Tree. Almost open flower buds were found on Bramble & Cherry Plum.
Along the western boundary of the reserve Wild Arum & Lesser Celandine leaves were seen by the shade of an elder.
Although there was snow on the ground Spring is just around the corner.
Colin A Jacobs.
