Salcey Forest, Northants 14th October 2017

This was to be my first foray into this very public and open Forestry Commission site in SE Northants. I went to what I considered a remote part of the site at the east end near the eastern car park and headed north. Normally a great place for all aspects of wildlife having seen my first White Admiral butterfly there only a few months ago and bird life can also be good. I found a few interesting Cortinarius species, a family I like to see only because they are so difficult to ID as the spore mass goes off quickly. However, if you study a good example closely you can get close to ID sometimes! I also found my first Dog Stinkhorn, albeit it in its immature form. Fungi was starting to drop off even at this time of the year but still unusual species can be found.

Cortinarius caninus

Cortinarius caninus gills/stem -
note subtle diagonal markings at the base of the stem. 

Cortinarius croceocaeruleus

Mutinus caninus - Dog Stinkhorn

Tephrocybe inocens - probable seldom recorded.