Tag: Sheepleas

Sheepleas 17 October 2024

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The walk took place on a lovely autumn day with an attendance of fourteen including the group’s regional RSPB manager, Hugo Bromfield. The walk proved very interesting and productive with many fungi species seen. The following is a list of those identified.

Tricholoma scalpturatum, Yellowing Knight

Coprinopsis picaceus, Magpie Inkcap

Cortinarius croceocaeruleus –

Mycena maculata, Stained Bonnet

Mycena crocata, Saffrondrop Bonnet

Mycena haematopus, Burgundydrop Bonnet

Russula nobilis, Beechwood Sickener

Helvella crispa, White Saddle

Amanita muscaria, Fly Agaric

Cortinarius elegantissimus –

Inocybe sp. One of the Fibrecaps

Psathyrella corrugis, Red-edge Brittlestem

Mycena pelianthina, Black-edged Bonnet

Stereum hirsutum, Hairy Curtain Crust

Xylaria hypoxylon, Candlesnuff

Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Poison Pie

Fomitopsis betulina, Birch Polypore/Razorstrop Fungus

Xerula radicata, Rooting Shank

Gymnopilus penetrans, Common Rustgill

Psathyrella piluliformis, Common Stump Brittlestem

Clavulina coralloides (cristata), Crested Coral

Melanoleuca polioleuca, Common Cavalier

Bisporella citrina, Lemon Disco

Byssomerulius corium, Netted Crust*

Mycoacia uda _   *

Inocybe geophylla, White Fibrecap

Trametes versicolor, Turkey Tail

Daedaleopsis confragosa, Blushing Bracket

Gymnopus brassicolens, Cabbage Parachute

Clavaria acuta, Pointed Club**

Postia tephraleuca, Greyling Bracket (soft,white bracket)

Helvella lacunosa, Black Saddle

Hygrophorus eburneus, Ivory Woodwax

Clitocybe phaeophthalma, Chicken Run Funnel

Hygrocybe conica, Blackening Waxcap

*The Byssomerulius and the Mycoacia were found growing together. Whether one was trying to takeover the other or whether they were peacefully co-existing was unclear.

** Originally thought to be Clavaria fragilis but that is a grassland species whereas  Clavaria acuta grows “gregariously” or singly in woodland or grassland.

Several Cortinarius species were also found. Both elegantissimus and croceocaeruleus have been confirmed at Sheepleas in the past. However as there are over 2000 species of Cortinarius and many of them are brown, they are almost impossible to identify in the field.

 

Sheepleas 4 July 2024

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Seventeen members attended the walk at Sheepleas, familiar for fungi events but new for butterflies. Conditions were sunny but there was wind with a cold edge that undoubtedly discouraged flight. There were reasonable numbers of Marbled Whites and Meadows Browns about but other species that should have been abundant in the flower meadows were confined with one exception to single figures. Early on came sightings of the solitary Comma and Red Admiral encountered. Later came singles of Large Skipper, Large White and Brimstone. Two Small Heaths and three Ringlets came to seem excessive. The star sighting was a dozen fritillaries flitting about at speed that obstinately refused to land in order to permit precise identification. Eventually one was spotted on the ground and after a long wait it lifted its wings to reveal the tell-tale splodges on the underwing that clinched it as a Dark-green Fritillary. The butterfly species count came to eleven, accompanied by the same number of bird species, mainly heard, that included a tuneful Garden Warbler.

Sheepleas 19 October 2023

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The annual fungi walk initially looked as though it would be continuing the autumn trend of rain-reduced events. However on a very gloomy morning a two hour reprieve from the precipitation unexpectedly greeted the nine members who ventured into the woodlands. There no less than 35 species of fungus were waiting to be found though as a result of the prolonged period of wet weather their colouration was not as bright as might be expected. Old favourites such as fly algaric, turkey tail, saffrondrop bonnet and magpie inkcap were present though perhaps in reduced numbers. Other species caught the imagination for their appealing names, blushing bracket, velvet shield, burgundydrop, jelly ear, bleeding broadleaf, wrinkled crust, deceiving bolete and fiery milkcap being excellent examples. Others gave a clue to their edibility with appellations such as poison pie and funeral bell. The resumption of the rain coincided with the return to the car park where all agreed that the two-hour circular walk had been time very well spent.