Chris Lansdell's Birding & Nature Diary: Rare fungi and more, Whitlingham, 1 December 2022

Last weekend the rare and rather unusual fungi Olive Salver was found on the underside of a wet log in the woods at Whitlingham. Apparently the first county record since 1999.

So, as Vanna was the one who found it (and the only one with a realistic chance of relocating it!) I picked her and Jeremy up and drove to Whitlingham to meet up with fellow mycologists Anne Crotty and Steve and Anne Judd for the search. Luckily Vanna's memory is good and it was under the first log she picked up - much to everyone's relief! It's amazing what a few eyes looking at an area can unearth and we also found plenty more of interest in the same rough area. Goldleaf Shield, Fluted Birdsnest, the curious velvety Chaetosphaerella phaeostroma, Brittle Cinder Fungus, Smokey Bracket, Lumpy Bracket, Blushing Bracket, Peeling Oysterling, Dead Mans Fingers, Fenugreek Stalkball, Tripe Fungus, Mossy Maze Polypore, Purple Jellydisc, Green Elfcup, Wet Rot, Yellow Brain, Crystal Brain, White Brain, Small Stagshorn, Leaf Parachute, Candlesnuff and Frosty Bonnet plus 2 very small species both growing on decaying nettle stems - Hymenoscyphus herbarum and Leptospheria acuta

Seme nice insects were also seen including 2 new harvestmen for me - Nemastoma bimaculatum and Paroligolphus agrestis plus Invisible Spider and a tiny Erigone sp (a minute spider that looks like an ant at first glance!)

Meanwhile, back at Chez Bartlett I was kindly shown The Goblet and Physisporinus vitreus in their garden!