Hawkes Wood, Nr Wadebridge, Cornwall Sunday 5th August 2018

I visited this Cornwall Wildlife Trust site as part of a Cornwall Fungi Recording Group event. Unfortunately the leader and myself were the only participants, whether that was to do with the recent drought indicating it wouldn't be a great foray or it was just bad timing for most. The site is difficult to access, with very limited parking near the site and none at the entrance as it shares a it with residential location.  Still once we had walked to the entrance we proceeded to follow the stream due SE, which had a good level water, so brightened up our hopes. We came across a very nice young Beefsteak bracket (Fistulina hepatica) under an oak tree by the side of the path but after what was the highlight of the visit. Pauline picked out three very small Gallerina type looking fungi growing on rotting wood. This turned out to be the exceedingly rare Flammulaster muricatus having been confirmed by KewG. Probably a first for Cornwall, which is being checked. 

In addition, some uncommon resupinates were also found with Thanatephorus fusiporous, Annulohypoxylon minutellum and Ceraceomyces serpens, also known as C. crispatus. This is also very uncommon and rarely seen. Other more common species are illustrated. This is now my nearest nature reserve to Wadebridge, Cornwall where I now live and so is one I will visit again in future often. When wetter and later in the season it should produce a great deal more very interesting fungi species in this special ancient oak woodland.

Fistulina hepatica (Beefsteak Fungus)

Flammulaster muricatus ((status V/B - very rare)

Flammulaster muricatus ((status V/B - very rare)

Ceraceomyces serpens (crispatus)

Nectria peziza

Psathyrella candolleana (Pale Brittlestem)

Private site in Oxfordshire - 28th April 2018

I joined the Oxford Fungus Group (OFG) in the afternoon for a foray around a mixed conifer and deciduous woodland site where special permission had been granted and where a small band of members had gathered. I drove to the site, as I expect everyone else did, in pouring rain expecting the worse but on arrival the clouds dispersed and we all had a dry enjoyable search around the site accompanied by numerous Bluebells. There were as expected few agarics on show, one being found that proved to be an excellent find, which being one of two contested species, both uncommon, remains to be seen. Most other species consisted mostly of brackets and crusts, etc with the occasional surprise which makes fungi recording one of the pleasures in life that most people would consider odd - however they are probably watching TV right now no doubt, so good luck with that for stimulating the mind.

This is the key species that I first found close to the pathway but buried in conifer debris and no doubt growing on pinecones or similar. First identified as Baeospora myosura or Conifercone Cap after the event, I checked out an alternative which met seasonality and other characteristics of this species which didn't belong to B. myosura. The key issue to me was that Strobilurus tenacellus can be found in the Spring whereas B. myosura does not and has all 14 records in Oxon found only in the Autumn and none at this site. 

Strobilurus tenacellus - Pinecone Cap. Note heavy striated cap, and (not visible) high white fairly crowded gills and thin fragile dark stem. 6th record for Oxfordshire and confirmed by two other 1990's records found at same site and time. 

Trametes gibbosa - Lumpy Bracket

Ganoderma applanatum - Artist's Bracket  Found by member of OFG noting galls of Yellow Flat-footed Fly under

Radulomyces confluens resupinate

Reticularia lycoperdon - slime mould

Lycogala epidendron - Wolf's
Milk 

Cylindrobasidium laeve resupinate. Note whitish edge and hard delineation plus waxy and dried to quilt like pattern.



Trametes gibbosa - Lumpy Bracket

St James Park, Brackley - 24th April 2018

I was keen to try to find St George's Mushroom, although a day late I didn't think any fungi could have a human calendar embedded in it's make-up. I was wrong, as I did find a small cluster in parkland, but they must have been there for a day already as had mostly been trodden on by local dogs or whatever, but fortunately some fruiting bodies survived which I have shown here. Whilst there, I came upon a few species of Cups or Peziza species which were intriguing to find as they was a profusion of them on soil which I know had been dredged up by the local council a mth earlier. This was a mixture of darken soil, wood chips and mixture of old branch debris and manure. Quite a mixture, and so led me to push the ID on these difficult species towards Peziza repanda or Peziza varia complex.  This site is managed for the public by the local Council in Brackley whom do an excellent job of keeping the site clean and fitting for nature to take it's course. They recently introduced new wildlife notice boards to inform all of what can be expected to be seen in the site, which was highly informative, inc wild flowers, fish as well as birds, etc. Fungi wasn't listed but expected.

Calocybe gambosa - St George's Mushroom

Calocybe gambosa - St George's Mushroom

Peziza Varia complex possibility - Layered Cup

Peziza repanda possibility - Palamino Cup

Peziza repanda possibility - Palamino Cup

Hypoxylon multiforme - Birch Woodwart

Probably Phellinus pomaceus - Cushion Bracket

Astonhill Coppice and Tingewick Woods, Bucks 15th March 2018

Once again a brief foray into two local areas, the first at Astonhill*, is close to Wendover Woods and also used a lot by off-road bicycles where a multitude of tracks exist. The great thing about this place is the wonderful array of Yew trees at its entrance, hence finding the resupinate crust that goes with them.  Tingewick Woods** is an ancient woodland offering excellent fungi in season. At this time of the year then only a few all year specialties can be found, as I have shown here. Still, Polyporus leptocephalus or Blackfoot Polypore was a first for me, even if a little worse for wear as only a week after thick snow had covered everywhere.

Amylostereum laevigatum on Yew*

Hypoxylon multiforme - Hazel Woodwart at *

Botryobasidium subcoronatum (probable) at *

Polyporus leptocephalus - (Blackfoot Polypore) at **

Skeletocutis vulgaris - (Possible) at **

Salcey Forest, Northants 9th February 2018

Made my way to the area north of the public central area, where a cup of coffee was gratefully received. The area here and surrounding the public paths was devoid of hardly any loose or old logs and must be one of the most pristine woods I have sought fungi within. So not great for this purpose and drove out and due west to an area where the public wouldn't be expected and pristine forest wasn't needed. This worked and found many year's old felled pine logs and other substrates such as Beech and lots of Hazel. Found some interesting if not difficult to ID resupinates along with a few well matured porous gilled Polyporus brumalis or Winter Polypore. The best find of the day were a few fruiting Sarcoscypha species, either s. austriaca or s. coccinea, and without testing for spores and hair structures, visually I would suggest these are the now the less common s. coccinea, or Ruby Elfcup. I have reported these to the British Mycological Society with location data should these need to be verified. Again added some interesting resupinates with suggested IDs only. Must get a microscope!  Going on a Macrofungi course in October - long time to wait to learn the tricks of the trade. Not many around as I keep on bleating about to every expert I meet. 

Sarcoscypha austriaca, or s. coccinea  Scarlet or Ruby Elfcup

Polyporus brumalis  Winter Polypore

Trechispora coherens (Possible) Very high white colour

Mycena capillaripes  Pinkedge Bonnet

Botryobasium conspersum (Possible)

Dacryobolus karstenii (possible)

Datronia mollis  Common Mazegill

Schizopora flavipora (possible)

Bjerkandera adjusta  Smokey Bracket resupinate

Oakley Woods, Nr. Ashorne, Warwickshire - 5th January 2018

I visited this location for the first time, as usual not expecting to see a great quantity of fungi at this time of the year, but was pleasantly surprised by some of the more unusual resupinates I found on site. The whole area is unusual as it surrounds a crematorium, and more than once I needed to allow an entourage through when leaving the site. The woods were filled with magnificent Scots, Corsican and Caucasian Pine trees, along with a good quantity of Silver Birch, plus smaller areas of Oak and Hazel. Although most dog walkers I meet tend to give me a wide berth (perhaps it's the attire and boots I wear or the fact I am alone in a wood trying to look intelligent) I tend to jingle the nerves. I think I would be a little wary if I met myself coming the other way. One delightful lady stopped to ask what I was doing, seeing I was studying a fruiting body with a hand glass. She directed me to where, in the Autumn, there are many Amanita muscarias that can be found on the east side of the wood. I helped her ID a Stinkhorn (Phallas impudicus) she had found earlier in the year from her iPhone. I also found an unusual insect whilst focusing on rotting wood in a female Stag Beetle (added here for interest). Always good to see, and I would like to think shows the health of the wood. I reported this into the local Wildlife Trust in case.

Exida plana 

Mycena galopus var. candida - Milking bonnet

Mycena Inclinata (Clustered Bonnet, matured on Oak stump) 

Crepidotus variabilis  Variable Oysterling (matured)

Clavulinopsis fusiformis  Golden Spindles (way past its prime but unusual to see in late December)

Antrodia ramentacea (seldom recorded and seen here on Pine)

Ceraceomyces borealis (Seldom recorded seen here on Birch)

Mycoacia uda (with KOL staining)

Hymenochaete rubiginosa  Oak Curtain Crust 

Phanerochaete velutina - possible only

Heterobasidon annosum  Root Rot on Pine

Tomentellopsis echinospora (possible only - very cobwebby, thick and like white candyfloss)

Female Stag Beetle (note the nice pincers but minute compared to the males)

Daeda's Woods, Nr Adderbury, Oxfordshire 31st December 2017

I visited this Woodland Trust site for the first time on New Year's Eve not expecting to see a great deal at this time of the year. It is a nice location, a little parking spot for three cars, easy to navigate paths and a nice mix of Oak, Ash and Willow. A river flows through the wood and there is plenty of old wood log piles around which look left for years, which only helps! I was looking for resupinates as you would expect and wasn't disappointed and added some of the highlights here. Nice to come across two 'old' Collared Earthstars in leaf litter/mulch caught in a willow stump close to the river again. The sacs were still operating though and pumping well. All others are common species except for Subulicystidium longisporum, which isn't. This is only a 'possible' also as like so many they need spore testing before 100% ID. I have booked myself on a Macrofungi microscopy course later this year, so will then expect to purchase a microscope, agents, slides etc., and keys to ID also at that time. Perhaps I can get closer to 100% ID at that stage like so many of the expert mycologists in this country. Pity these courses are so rare and there isn't more help given to 'budding' amateur mycologists, like myself. We can't rely on the relative few mycologists out there - they get old as well!

Geastrum triplex Collared Earthstar

Radulomyces confluens (resupinate under willow log pile)

Steccherinum ochraceum (resupinate under Ash)

Subulicystidium longisporum ?? (Resupinate under log)

Tremella mesenterica (Yellow Brain)

Stereum gausapatum (Bleeding Oak Crust)