A busy sunny Saturday isn't a good time for seeing birds, but there was one surprise: a Little Grebe on the Long Water. This is probably the one that was on the Round Pond, left behind when its three companions flew away, which has found a more congenial place with plenty of cover.
Long-Tailed Tits flitted about in a dead tree beside the Long Water. There are just as many insects for them in a dead tree as in a live one.
The Grey Wagtail was on the Dell waterfall again, its already surprisingly good camouflage made better by yellow floating leaves.
The Little Owl at the Round Pond was in her usual horse chestnut tree, where she could only be photographed from almost directly below. This is tricky to do with a large and heavy telephoto lens without falling over backwards.
The male Chaffinch in the Rose Garden shrubbery came out for some pine nuts.
The young Grey Herons were flying around the island. One landed on a moored rowing boat.
The obstinate Coot at Peter Pan was back on its nest under the cynical gaze of a Black-Headed Gull.
A Shoveller drake revolved and dipped, collecting small water creatures to filter out with the bristles inside its bill. It's the same system as used by Blue Whales, on a much smaller scale.
A Honeybee drone on the bird identification sign at Peter Pan refused to be classified as a bird or a queen.
The black walnut trees by the Dell have turned a vivid yellow.
The ancient fire engine from Imperial College, a 1916 Dennis, is still working well after 128 years.
I met Mario, who was looking for fungi. He showed me some unusual species, of which the most remarkable was the tiny orange Ping Pong Bat fungus Favolaschia claudopus, growing on a fallen beech branch. Originally from Madagascar, it arrived in Britain in 2012. No one knows how.
This may be an Upright Coral Fungus, Ramaria stricta, but there are several similar species.
Smoky Bracket, Bjerkandera adusta ...
... and a clump of Shaggy Scalycap, Pholiota squarrosa.
This is one I found earlier. Mario tentatively identified it from the picture as a Common Cavalier mushroom, Melanoleuca polioleuca.
You get a bird with this one: a Magpie sits on a log covered with Turkey Tail fungus, Trametes versicolor.
The Madagascan fungus species that has made its way to the UK is Favolaschia claudopus ( https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/favolaschia-claudopus.php ). And looking now at a clearer photo of the last mushroom, it looks more like the Parasol (Macrolepiota procera) rather than a Cavalier.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the fungus of the 2nd October.
Mario
Thank you. I've removed the reference to Madagascar -- with regret, as it was a picturesque detail. I thought of a Parasol from the size and shape of the mushroom, but its cap was quite smooth, with no scales. It was off-white to pale beige, with a slight boss in the middle.
DeleteSounds like a great time was had by all, not excluding the fungi and the Magpie.
ReplyDeleteIs it concerning that the Little Grebe should be on its own? I have always seen them with others of their kind.
Tinúviel
It seems to have missed the bus when its companions left. Little Grebes do appear on their own, and last year there was a solitary one in a pool in the Italian Garden for three months. Eventually it moved on to the lake, and vanished soon after.
DeleteI don't understand why you have removed the reference to Madagascar. This fungus is still thought to come from there. I was just making sure you had the correct scientific name
ReplyDeleteOh, sorry, I misunderstood. I thought it was the other species that came from Madagascar. Will change the species name and restore the reference.
Delete