Scotland and Macrolepiota procera August 2011

Late August 2011


Devastated and grieving I decided to take solace with friends in Scotland.  (For reason why please read previous blog dated 3rd August 2011).  I spent a few days wandering around alone in deep pain half looking for fungi.   As a distraction I was very kindly taken to St. Cyrus National Nature Reserve near Montrose, Angus.

"The St Cyrus National Nature Reserve is situated between the village of St Cyrus and the sea. Thus it supports beach, dune, grassland and cliff environments – all of which are essential to the many creatures that live here. The cliffs serve as a breeding ground for terns and fulmars, while both the cliffs and dunes support an interesting number of plants – many of which are southern species. Other birds found here include stonechats and skylarks. The reserve also serves to protect the estuary-like habitat at the Esk River mouth."  Extract taken from The St Cyrus Website.

Near to the entrance of the Nature Reserve Visitors Centre, amongst tall grass was a solitary Macrolepiota procera (Field Parasol).  Could not believe my eyes.  I had been searching for the Field Parasol for the past eighteen months with Chris but no such luck.   Before my eyes was the most perfect and beautiful fungus. The size astounded me.  The stem being at least 1 foot tall and the cap the size of a decent dinner plate. The dark brown scales nicely covering the umbo.  The double superior moveable ring was impressive, so thick and huge,  resting on the distinctive patterned stem.  Amazingly,  around the corner I stumbled upon at least six more forming a circle in grass outside the Ice House.  All at their splendid prime and I managed to take some lovely photographs of the cap, gill, ring and stem.  So, so sad that I could not share this discovery with Chris.

These photographs can now be viewed on Browse 4.

 

Fungiworld back on-line and Pholiota flammans

I am very relieved that Fungiworld is now back on-line after a 15 day absence due to a huge surge in visitors.   I have now purchased an unlimited bandwidth package so all should be well from now on.  

Blidworth Wood, Nottinghamshire, July 2011

Blidworth Wood lies in the southern section of Sherwood Forest and consists of pines and broad-leaf trees.

Decided to try this wood as a change from my usual Samson Wood which is located very close by.

Half buried under pine needles and which was nearly missed - was a Pholiota flammans.  Very bright yellow scaly cap as well as the stem. The ring being difficult to see.  Having found a Pholiota squarrosa previously in Scotland several years ago I had always been on the lookout for a flammans.  It did not disappoint, this small, solitary, bright yellow fungus.

This can now be viewed on Browse 4.

Apologies for my website being off-line

18th November 2011

Apologies to all visitors who may wish to access my website fungiworld.co.uk.  This is the only method I have of communicating presently.  My website has run-out of monthly bandwidth due to a huge surge in visitor numbers.  My web hosting company is being most unhelpful in releasing my details in order that I migrate to another web hosting company that will offer me more bandwidth.  Very frustratingly, I do not know when these technical issues will be resolved.  I am very annoyed at the situation and hope that a solution will be found before very long.

Volvariella bombycina and a poignant and sad end to July 2011.

Volvariella bombycina - July 2011

A nice summer evening, with a slightly moist atmosphere so we decided to visit Bramcote Wood west of Nottingham. Was very pleased to find a lovely little group of Marasmius rotula and admired their parachute-like caps.  I did not expect to find anything else but on the return path to the car something caught my attention.

A huge white cap protruding out of a half rotten arched tree trunk.   Cap dimension being up to 20 cm with the most exquisite texture.  Whitish silky fibrous texture, that felt like soft sheep wool.  Some of the strands having a yellowish tinge.   The fibres overhung the margin edge like a curtain pelmet.  The gills being flesh pink and the stem emerging from a volval bag. Amazing!  I just had to keep stroking those silky fibres.  Can be seen on Browse 3.

Everton Wood - July 2011

I had to work that particular day, so Chris visited Everton Wood, Notts/Lincs border to do some bird watching.  He sent me a text to say he'd found a huge attractive fungus.  I responded saying, .......well you know the sort of pictures I need - cap, gills and stem!  Previously, much as he tried, he just could not take good pictures of fungi. But on this occasion he did.  He took three magnificent photographs of a Lepiota(=Macrolepiota) procera - with special emphasis on the superior double ring.  I am so glad he succeeded as these photographs can now be seen on Browse 3.  Very tragically indeed my precious partner Chris died nine days later and this is a very sad and poignant blog for me to write.  Thankfully he did know his photographs would appear on the website - I just wish he could see them.

These can now be viewed on Browse 3.

Bunny Wood, Nottinghamshire and Sowdley Wood, Clunton, Shropshire, June/July 2011

Bunny Wood, Nottinghamshire, June 2011

A half day trip to Bunny Wood.  Everywhere very dry and so was surprised to find a Polyporus varius.

Although it was well hidden in a hollow that had a damp muddy patch.  In the middle of the muddy patch lay a log and there was the solitary Polyporus varius.  A lovely looking fungus with a frilly margin which reminded me of the leaves of a cabbage lettuce.  The light was very bad so the photograph is rather grainy.

There was also a fun moment at this point.  Chris exclaimed that he had found an exotic looking fungus.

Alas it was a false alarm.  Someone with a very good sense of humour had set out to fool fungi hunters by placing a porcelain mushroom under a bush complete with a bright purple elongated cap and a white wavy stem!

Sowdley Wood, Clunton, Shropshire, July 2011

Based ourselves at Bishops Castle for the weekend.  The weather being absolutely gorgeous.  Sunny, warm and dry although there had been some rain the previous week and so was hopeful that I would find some fungi.  Chris spotted something bright yellow half hidden under some leaves under a pine tree.

Unusual characteristics.  Ugly looking with a thick stem that was turning black.  The texture was very felty and we had a debate as to whether it was like a peach or a nectarine.  I won the day and it was agreed it felt like a peach.  I later identified it as an Onnia tomentosa.   Unusual to be growing at such low altitude.

The following day we had another successful day.  On a dead log I found Trechispora mollusca which is white and resembles a lace-table cloth in appearance and it is rather porous.

Also found some small brown like fronds growing on a pine tree trunk - only 1 cm in length which I cannot yet identify.  We found a lovely location for lunch.  A field surrounded by trees.  Alone with birdsong, wild flowers, butterflies and nice views - it felt like paradise.

These photographs can now be seen on Browse 3.

Isle of Skye, Scotland, May 2011

A difficult blog to write. See previous blog for the reason why.

Portree

We found the lovely Aros Visitors Centre on the outskirts of Portree surrounded by a spectacular wood.

The Visitors Centre served an incredibly nice Lime Merangue Pie which I guzzled very quickly. Very nice place with ample parking.

Drizzle and very high winds persisted with the tops of the tall pine trees noisily crashing together.We tramped around this wood for a good few hours.  Chris was particularly excited because he spotted a Golden Eagle whereas I had my eyes on the ground looking for good fungi.  Not much to be seen until we found some small cream, disc-like rubbery textured caps amongst moss on a bank.  I think they might be Tarzetta.

Braes Beach

Again, wind blowing us about again - even making photography difficult and the wind so strong that my anti-shake mechanism on my camera failed to work.  Found an interesting specimen in a sandy/soil/mossy bunker by the sea.  Egg-shaped cap, buff background but with grey mottling.  Am not sure yet what it is.

Claigan near Dunvegan (Coral Beach)

My birthday.  Severe gales overnight and fresh snow on the mountains but the sun shone for most of the day although the wind never abated.

Was most impressed with this coral beach. (Dessicated sun-bleached algae) resembling the colour of white tropical sand. We spent a good half day there.  On the way back to the car we walked across a large open meadow. In dung I found what I believe might be Psilocybe coprophila or subcoprophila.  Buff coloured fungi in groups in cow dung.

The day and my birthday ended in a very spectacular manner.  On the drive back to our cottage, we had to stop the car twice due to severe hail storms but were rewarded on the second stop by the most impressive and very special double rainbow.

I will never forget my time in Skye with Chris.  It was too special for words in every respect.

All photographs can now be viewed on Browse 3.

Fungi hunting and Chris 3rd August 2011

Chris

Regular readers of my blog will be aware that from time to time I make reference to "Chris" in my narrative.  I am absolutely heart-broken to write that sadly Chris (my beloved partner) has died in a tragic accident.

Without Chris,  most of the photographs taken in the past fifteen months would not have appeared (or in due course will appear) over the next few months on my website.  Chris accompanied me continuously to dangerous and remote areas of woodland, cliff edges, and other rough terrain, ensuring my safety at all times. He held me tight whilst I clung to tree trunks, slippery river banks and other situations too numerable to mention, all over the UK, including the Isle of Skye in Scotland and The Republic of Ireland.

Fundamentally he protected me.  I have now lost my precious Chris and protector. 

When I have recovered, I will carry on taking photographs of British Fungi.

I will continue to make reference to him in the blog until the end of July 2011.

Christopher John Cheshire 1963-2011
'Play, Smile, Think of me, Pray for me'