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| 9 October 2013 Fifth Annual Waxcap Wander - Ellenabeich, Seil
The forecast was for strong winds and blustery showers with sunny intervals. When we got out of the cars the wind was so strong that it seemed doubtful if we'd be able to stand up once we were up on the hill. There was a rabbit running around in the car park and I jotted a note of it so that we'd have at least one biological record before we were forced to dive into the Oyster Bar. However, most of the hillside proved more sheltered than the car park had been, and we were soon finding waxcaps. Showers were mercifully few and short, but the wind made our hands very cold, which probably limited the number of fungi we could examine, record and photograph. It felt like winter had replaced summer overnight. A special target was the Ballerina Waxcap, our Species of the Month. Just as I was reminding everyone to look for it, Terry spotted one almost under my feet.
We found Ballerinas in three places altogether. This was the
finest.
Here's a baby Ballerina and a Blackening Waxcap, both photographed by
Jan.
Jan's photo of Honey Waxcaps
Saffron Parasols in the sunshine
By the time we headed for the pub we had equalled last year's record total of 13 waxcap species, which was very satisfying in view of how things had looked at the start. Here they are in approx order of frequency on the day.
We also found 3 grassland club fungi
The most remarkable find of the day was this Moss
Oysterling discovered by Cynthia growing on the moss on the ground.
I thought mushrooms of this shape always grew on wood, and the vast
majority do, but this species is an exception It's a new vice-county
record. Thanks to Liz Holden for helping with the ID.
Waxcap Country! Look closely and you can just make out
three waxcap wanderers in Sallie's photo.
A great place to be on a windy day, providing the rain stays in the
distance
Easdale in the mist
A medley of waxcaps collected by Jan, looking very tasty, pity they're not edible.
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