Jellybaby

This morning I came across a small fungi called Jellybaby growing on moss next to the footpath in High house woods. Yesterday I was on the beach at East Chevington and walking around the country park. I didn't see any Little Auks on my walk but I did see 9 Snow Buntings on the beach. There was a steady movement North of Red throated divers and a single Bonxie.

Saturday morning

Fine Autumn Field Maple in a winter scene 

Shaggy Scalycap

Friday night was very cold and woke to a covering of snow yesterday morning. I can't remember the last time we had snow in October. Lots of fungi around but most were covered in snow. I'd never come across Shaggy Scalycap before and found a good clump at Monks ridge but had to remove the snow to take some pics of this attractive species.

Stobswood

I was going to go to Harwood this morning but the fog was quite thick so I went to Stobswood instead. The highlight was a manure heap beside the Steadsburn near the old Junction inn. The fungi is Redlead roundhead. This species used to be rare but with the increase in distribution of bark chippings it has become more widespread. The yellow fungi looks like some sort of slime mould on the head of grass. the plants are Small nettle and Red Goosefoot all growing on an old manure heap at Stobswood.

Druridge

East Chevington mouth

Polypody...becoming more widespread in the dunes at East Chevington

Slavonian Grebe on 'Andy's Pec pond'

Began the morning at Ulgham grange. Some damage to the footbridge following recent flooding but the only birds seen were a couple of hundred Pink footed geese flying south. I parked at Druridge and walked to East Chevington along the beach. On the sea were 7 Red throated divers, 1 in summer plumage, 5 Red breasted Mergansers, 2 Common scoter, several Shags and Razorbills. I came back to Druridge along the dunes and on the flooded field north of the main pools was a Slavonian grebe, 5 Curlew and a Greenshank. This is the flooded field where Admc had a Pectoral sandpiper a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what it was feeding on as it was diving frequently. There was a large finch flock in the dunes with Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnets.

I had lunch in Cresswell hide where I enjoyed a chat with Roger, Alan, Mike, Ian, Tim and Maurice. Some good birds here with Jack snipe, lots of wildfowl; the best being Common scoter, Scaup and Long tailed duck.

Carlisle Park

Giant Knotweed

Many groups of Fairy Inkcap

Ruby Tiger moth

Away from the formal gardens in the park I find lots of fungi in the old wooded hillside part of the park, in fact most of my fungi shots taken in Beech woodland are taken in Carlisle Park. The only problem is that it can be quite shady and the flash doesn't always do the plants justice. I also noticed Giant Knotweed growing here. I haven't come across this plant before unlike it's cousin Japanese Knotweed which appears to be increasing in some areas. The moth I think is Ruby Tiger which I found in my garden today.

Cresswell beach

Sea Rocket

Dune Waxcap

Stonechat

Rock formation exposed from recent erosion

Early morning 'mirage' shot of Coquet island from Cresswell beach

I have had a few outings to Cresswell as this forms part of my botanic survey square. Plants in flower now are becoming fewer but there is a large patch of late flowering Sea Rocket on the beach North of Snab point. On Thursday I had a good trudge around Stobswood and Widdrington tip and chatted to Admc who was passing on his new bike near Felton Lane. Only birding highlights were 30 Redwing and 5 Snipe at the old tip.

Harwood

Fly Agaric

Yellow Stagshorn

Bennyboy and transport

Buttercap

Blue Fleabane

Elastic Oysterling

Bleeding Bonnet

Conifer Mazegill underside (young specimen)

Common Cottongrass

I have been in Harwood forest a few times over the past couple of weeks. Lots of fungi but most of the plants are finished. Lots of birds around with 5 Ravens at Steng moss, 9 Buzzards, a Peregrine at Chartners and Crossbills scattered throughout the forest but most sightings opposite Harwood head. A Green Woodpecker was vocal in the Tutehill moss area.