Washing up at the kitchen sink can sometimes (rarely admittedly!) be enjoyable. It was today when I spotted a dark bug on the window sill. I whipped off my marigolds and grabbed my camera with the resulting photos confirming it was the seed bug Eremocoris fenestratus. Very nice to see a new species this late in the season and it also seems that it’s not common either.
I was privileged to be able to see 2 very rare fungi this past week.
The first was even brought to my door by friend Vicky Rusby! It was a specimen of Orange Porecap that had just been found in Bridge Wood, Orwell CP near Ipswich. This is originally a Madagascan species that first turned up in the UK in Cornwall in 2012 and has been slowly spreading since. This was the first record in East Anglia and what a stunner!
The second was the first Norfolk record of another good looker - Zoned Rosette. This fungus grows on the exposed roots of broadleaved trees and was found on the edge of Hethersett. Following a tip-off I was able to take it in on my way to Sporle on Saturday.
On Saturday we had the latest foray with the Norfolk Fungus Study Group. Once again it was to a private site not normally accessible to the public - Sporle Wood near Swaffham. This time we even got a lift from the farm to the wood with the farmer!
There was a good turn out too and with plenty of eyes looking we found loads of interest. Indeed, my personal tally of new species to me was c20.
Sporle Wood is an ancient woodland used over the years as coppice and plantation and has never been under the plough. It is a mixture of oak, ash, beech, pine, alder, sycamore and probably more.
I shall resist the temptation to list all the species recorded as that would be a boring read. Instead I’ll concentrate on the highlights. New species I was particularly pleased with were Fiery Milkcap (which we did the taste test on!), Scarlet Bonnet, Conifer Shield, Tawny Milkcap, Least Stinking Brittlegill, Grass Oysterling, Conifer Bleeding Crust, Pointed Club, Pygmy Brittlestem, Snowy Disco, Umber Webcap (which smells of beetroot!), Smoked Oysterling (probably) and Star Fibrecap.
Add to those Magpie Inkcap, Yellow Splash Tooth, Oak Bleeding Crust, Lemon Disco, Blueing Bracket, Crested Coral, Bowl Hoodie, Geranium Brittlegill, Black Bulgar, Earpick Fungus, Matt Bolete, Charcoal Burner, Coral Brittlegill and Mild Milkcap and you have the ingredients for a fantastic and educational day.
Many thanks to those who took specimens home to id - work which is still ongoing!
After visiting my Mum on Sunday Belinda and I needed a walk. Racecourse Plantation is nearby and a site I’ve never looked for fungi at so it seemed a good idea.
And a very good idea it turned out to be. As well as a nice varied walk in the sun I found no less than 3 new fungi species I’d never seen before. Top of the list was a very much wanted Verdigris Roundhead positively glowing in the sunshine amongst the leaf litter. Next up was a parasol growing under pines that looked a bit different. And different it was because it turned out to be a Conifer Parasol. I then found a small number of chestnut brown russulas that looked very similar to the Russula subrufens at Outney. This is a very difficult family to get to grips with so I grabbed a specimen and dropped it off on Jeremy’s doorstep on the way home. He rose to the challenge and it was confirmed as Coral Brittlegill, my 3rd fungi ‘tick’ of the day!
Other notables found included Blue Roundhead and the slime mould Physarum album.
After having some success with fungi last year on Outney Common near Bungay a return visit was in order. With Belinda otherwise engaged Saturday was the ideal opportunity.
Heading straight to where I found them last year I was delighted to find that the Russula subrufens are up again this year and in good numbers. Indeed I even found a couple on the opposite side of the common too. Other goodies included Scurfy Deceiver, hundreds of Oakbug Milkcap, Blackening Brittlegill, Fragile Brittlegill, Honey Fungus, Brown Rollrim, White Fibrecap, Alder Bracket and Clouded Funnel. Into the bargain I also found a new harvestman Leiobunum Blackwalli.
Earlier that morning I also made 2 very pleasing finds on the front lawn at home - Peppery Roundhead and Turf Bell.
