Silverleaf fungus

Walking along the river beside Matheson's gardens I came across a tree trunk covered in Silverleaf fungus (Chondostereum purpureum). This is a common parasite on fruit trees, particularly Cherry and Plum causing silverleaf disease via a white rot inside the wood. Despite this it is an attractive small violet and white fungi.

On Sunday afternoon on my way home from work there were 18 Crossbills at the top of Cottingwood bank near to the school. Today I have been at Widdrington tip. Very wet but I flushed 11 Common Snipe and 3 Jack snipe. Lots of Goldfinches and Reed buntings and a Red legged Partridge.

Recent outings

Flowering Hogweed...Mathesons gardens

Saffron Milkcap...hundreds of them at St. Georges hospital

Clustered Bonnet and Shaggy Inkcap...Carlisle park

Aniseed mushroom (odora)...Borough woods

Snowy Waxcap...Abbey meadows

Its been a while since the last post but I have still been out and about. Fungi is still good at the moment with the list getting bigger by the outing but a few birds around as well. A trip to Harwood last week was a washout despite brilliant sunshine in Morpeth, only a couple of Buzzards seen. Two saturday's in a row I have been at Druridge. Lots of Pink feet going south and Twite and Goldfinch at Bells farm. The dark nights have produced a few Owl sightings with Barn at East Stobswood and West Chevington at the weekend and at least four Tawny owls calling early morning at Abbey meadows.

Decided to change the blog a bit...getting sick of the green and the black background shows up the pictures a bit better. I don't know if this is a good thing as it may highlight how crap they really are! Making the most of the Fungi at the moment before the hard frosts kill them altogether so here's a few more pics of Fungi in Morpeth.