Fungi Galore another Mendip Trek 1/11/14

We decided to return to Dolebury Warren for a great Autumnal walk which also took in the Rowberrow area and part of Blackdown a total of 8 miles. We trekked through woodland, field and downland all these various environments yielding some great fungi.  Highlights of the day were finding the stunning purple Amethyst Deciever and finding a Cep which was massive, did not realise that a type of fungus could grow so big. Must have found over 30 different fungi types on our walk each one perfect in its own way! Still a good number of Fly Agarics to be found in different areas as well.

So good to have the sun with us on our trek, the light on the trees and fallen leaves producing an array of amazing Autumn colours. Great time of year!

Parasol in the woods

               

                        Porcelain fungus (Oudemansiella mucida) on fallen Beechwood 

Porcelain fungus

              

                 Beechwood in Autumn - a copper carpet

     Unknown fungi - Dolebury Warren

             

                Great set of gills - Dolebury Warren

More gills - another fungi type on Dolebury Warren

               

                   Looked like a chocolate fungi - Dolebury Warren 

     Creme Brûlée? 

                 

   ID unknown 

               

                   Small pink fungi - Dolebury Warren 

  Yet another unknown - great colour

               

                   Common Puffball gathering 

Unknown - a great group of colour though

                

                    Blackening Waxcap?

   Life in the trees 

              

                  First sighting of a Cep - well chunky!

    A Cep, this one was massive. The biggest fungi we have ever seen! 

               

                   Found in with the conifers a great colour but ID unknown 

    Yellow Stagshorn - a good sized group found in with the conifers 

                

                   Brittlegill of sorts

   Beautiful Fly Agaric

            

               Amethyst Deciever coming through the Beech leaves. So pleased to have found these fungi at long          

               last.  What a stunning colour

    Amethyst Deciever 

             

                Golden Spindles found walking down the track on Blackdown

    Autumn on Blackdown

              

                 Autumn fruits!

Mendip Fungi Foray- 25/10/14

Our walk started at Burrington Coombe and took us up the steep Link Lane to the bottom level of the heights of Blackdown.  A few more fungi species are appearing now in the woodland edges of Link Lane, must be due to all the recent rain and mild weather!

Blackdown looks amazing with its copper tones of leaves and Bracken but our path was leading us on towards the grassland of Dolebury Warren.

The total walk was only 5 miles across upland and through woods. A walk of great Autumn colours and views and a fantastic amount of different fungi species of all shapes, sizes and colours. 

The surprise of the day was the discovery of a great 'gathering' of Fly Agaric, the sight was pure magic and believe it or not made me a bit emotional because of the beauty, colour and perfection of what we saw.  This has to be one of the best walks for fungi and we will return!

Mycena? With pin mould. One fungus attacking another ( thanks to Steve Balcome for info)

                

                   Deep in the woods

Tiny unknowns - life everywhere 

                                             

                                                 Tiny fungi in the grass on the warren

Parasol - banquet for some!

             

                   So delicate - a work of art

Looks good enough to eat!!!

                

                   Tiny 'hats' within the grass

Pettycoat Mottlegill

               

                Parasol - there were plenty across the warren, a massive size as well quite spectacular 

Young Parasol?

    

                 

               

                   Macrolepiota excoriata- a smoother cousin of the Parasol

Meadow Puffball - plenty of these in the grassland

                

                    Meadow Puffball

Grassland Puffball? 

               

                     Unknown fungi - almost sculpted growing into the grass

Tiny puffball? In the moss

               

                  Puffball type this time in the woods

Tiny and delicate in the grass

               

               

                  Fallen Parasol - bit of a breeze this morning!

Puffball

                

                   Crimson Waxcap - only a few found in the grassland, but what colours!

   Crimson Waxcap and friend

              

                  Life in the woods

Pushing through the leaves

              

                    Autumn woodland scene - golden leaves and huge Bracket fungus on a large old Beech

Colour in the moss

                

                   Deep in the conifers!

Fly Agaric - a young one

               

                   Autumn scene 

 Perfection!

                

                   Pure magic! Speechless!!

   Where are the fairy folk?

         

             White Spindles or Pointed Club?