Wednesday 9th. November 2011

With two of the next three days seeing me hedgelaying , and having completed a couple of chores around the house while it was still dull and damp during the morning , it was good to see brighter weather with some good sunny periods turn up this afternoon . So after lunch , I set off for High Elms , primarily to check on the Magpie Fungus , which was just showing through last week . But

before leaving , I couldn't resist a shot of a male and female Chaffinch that were sunning themselves in next door's Laburnham tree . On arrival at High Elms , I made my way to the area around the

Orchid Bank , and on the way came across a large show of Clouded Agaric / Clitocybe nebularis , as often found , forming a ring around a rotting stump . A total of 30/40 specimens made up the circle which had a 2m. diameter . Also seen , in large numbers , were my first sightings of the year of

Stag's Horn or Candle-snuff Fungus / Xylaria hypoxylon . Reaching the Orchid Bank , I found that the original specimen of Magpie Fungus / Coprinus picaceus was not to be seen , but at least 15 other

 specimens , in various stages , were found . Some were at their best , like the one above , some had

 passed their best , but were still intact . Several had been eaten , then collapsing onto the ground .

And some had gone into meltdown , exuding black inky fluid , from which the family gets it's common name , Ink Cap . The black fluid used to be collected for use as writing material . While in the area , a quick look at Burnt Gorse revealed that most of the area has been cut , probably ready for

sheep to be put on to graze , and on the sunny side of the five bar gate , a native 7 Spot Ladybird ,

and at the other end , it's alien relation the Harlequin Ladybird , showing the W or M marking on it's mask . I must admit , after all the talk of this species over-running the native species , I don't think I've seen that many Harlequins this year compared to last , maybe the colder Winter got to them .

Two species found on the way back to the car , with very similar coloured caps , were Wood Blewit /

 Lepista nuda , with stem concolorous with the cap , and Mycena pura , with it's thin whiter stem.

The last species found was one of the Milk Caps , Lactarius pubescens , an unusual hairy species , but not one for the table , poisonous . The Lactarius in the name , denotes that all the family exude , white , milk-like fluid when the cap is crushed or broken .
The best of the few birds heard/seen , were a few Marsh Tits in a mixed Tit flock , feeding high in the canopy , a couple of Bullfinches and the odd Nuthatch . All in all , a good visit , at last in some sunshine .