Fungi gold (or rather blue!) in Cambs, 15 December 2024

Sunday saw Belinda and I drive down into Cambridgeshire to visit the National  Trust property of Anglesey Abbey and also do some walking.

Walking from the main building towards the Lode Mill I spotted 2 large logs beside the path that were covered in Turkeytail. Looking at one though I immediately saw something far more interesting - the amazingly coloured fungi Cobalt Crust! This was a real ‘wow’ moment because it’s such a unique looking, rare species and also a new one for me that I’ve long wanted to see. To find it myself was also very satisfying!

Other sightings that day were rather less significant but included Red Kite, Smoky Bracket, Velvet Shank, Hen-of-the-Woods and the shrub Butcher’s Broom. 

On a final walk along Devil’s Dyke near Newmarket there were several Carline Thistle plants still hanging on. 

                                                                                                                                 Cobalt Crust

                                                                                                                             Smoky Bracket

                                                                                                                               Velvet Shank

                                                                                                                         Butcher’s Broom

                                                                                                                            Carline Thistle