Fungi in the Rain.
14th November 2020
This run of Atlantic weather fronts that are sweeping across the country recently is quite depressing. As I type this blog today I’m looking out of the window of my little office from where I create this website at leaden skies, strong winds and lashing rain. This weather, combined with Covid 19 restrictions in some parts of the country, must be a veritable nightmare for people, and I sincerely hope that the tentative, but positive news of a vaccine this week comes to fruition. The whole future of this country and indeed the world is hugely dependent on the synthesis of a successful vaccine.
We are very lucky living in the Brecon Beacons with wide open spaces away from this awful situation, nevertheless you cannot drop your guard for a second with regard to this virus. Even when out walking if Susan or I open a gate we sanitize our hands, never in my wildest dreams did I think we would be doing things like that.
Thankfully yesterday we did manage to get out for a walk locally, we walked up a path near our house that leads to a hill named Allt yr Esgair.
Sometimes the appropriately named Jelly Eared Fungus can be found, (formally known as Judas’s or Jew’s ear fungus), growing on trees on the path side. This fungus goes quite hard in dry conditions but after rain becomes soft and pliable.
It is apparently edible, however, I would not recommend eating any Fungi growing in the countryside unless you really know what you’re doing – (Serious Point)!! I buy my mushrooms from the local farm shop or supermarket.
As we walked along, suddenly a bird exploded from the vegetation and flew ahead of us before disappearing over the top of the hedges that line the path. We could see clearly that it was a Woodcock, these are frustrating birds to see well, with their cryptic plumage they are usually so well camouflaged that you don’t even know they’re there or they are flying away at speed after being flushed. Many come into the UK in autumn and their migration is strongly associated with a full moon.
Further on we found some Jelly Eared Fungus and took a few shots before retracing our footsteps back.
The weather looked too threatening to go up on to the hill, because if you are caught out up there without the proper clothing you can get a right royal soaking.
Buoyed by finding our first fungi of the day we decided to look for more, knowing it would be difficult because it’s quite late in the season. However, we walked a local grassland, not too far from the vehicle, because the weather still looked quite unstable. We were lucky to see a good variety of species alongside an old stone wall that borders the Penpont estate near Brecon.
Common Inkcap
Golden Waxcap
Meadow Waxcap
Just as we were packing up it started to rain and there was just enough time to take a quick shot of a quite intense rainbow that had appeared, (albeit with a macro lens).
We then hurried back to the vehicle and just made it as it began to lash down with rain. We headed for home with a few images just in time for lunch - a bowl of Susan’s excellent cream of butternut squash and red pepper soup - Delicious!!
We are very lucky living in the Brecon Beacons with wide open spaces away from this awful situation, nevertheless you cannot drop your guard for a second with regard to this virus. Even when out walking if Susan or I open a gate we sanitize our hands, never in my wildest dreams did I think we would be doing things like that.
Thankfully yesterday we did manage to get out for a walk locally, we walked up a path near our house that leads to a hill named Allt yr Esgair.
Sometimes the appropriately named Jelly Eared Fungus can be found, (formally known as Judas’s or Jew’s ear fungus), growing on trees on the path side. This fungus goes quite hard in dry conditions but after rain becomes soft and pliable.
It is apparently edible, however, I would not recommend eating any Fungi growing in the countryside unless you really know what you’re doing – (Serious Point)!! I buy my mushrooms from the local farm shop or supermarket.
As we walked along, suddenly a bird exploded from the vegetation and flew ahead of us before disappearing over the top of the hedges that line the path. We could see clearly that it was a Woodcock, these are frustrating birds to see well, with their cryptic plumage they are usually so well camouflaged that you don’t even know they’re there or they are flying away at speed after being flushed. Many come into the UK in autumn and their migration is strongly associated with a full moon.
Further on we found some Jelly Eared Fungus and took a few shots before retracing our footsteps back.
The weather looked too threatening to go up on to the hill, because if you are caught out up there without the proper clothing you can get a right royal soaking.
Buoyed by finding our first fungi of the day we decided to look for more, knowing it would be difficult because it’s quite late in the season. However, we walked a local grassland, not too far from the vehicle, because the weather still looked quite unstable. We were lucky to see a good variety of species alongside an old stone wall that borders the Penpont estate near Brecon.
Common Inkcap
Golden Waxcap
Meadow Waxcap
Just as we were packing up it started to rain and there was just enough time to take a quick shot of a quite intense rainbow that had appeared, (albeit with a macro lens).
We then hurried back to the vehicle and just made it as it began to lash down with rain. We headed for home with a few images just in time for lunch - a bowl of Susan’s excellent cream of butternut squash and red pepper soup - Delicious!!