Fungi seen this September.

I've photo'd, I've noted habitat, I've sniffed, I've picked, I've tasted (carefully!), I've examined under a hand lens, I've spent a while perusing books and at times the internet; and finally I've ID'd some of the fungi I've collected during walks from Endon along the disused railway line and to Deep Hayes Country Park. Identified using Buczacki, S. (2012), Fungi Guide Harper Collins and Phillips, R.  Mushrooms (2006), Macmillan.

An Inkcap Cortinarius sp. on the railway line.

Probably Meadow Waxcap Hygrocybe pratensis on grass bordering the railway track.

Unidentified, growing under dead trunk under Beech trees, and photo below....

A Bolete Boletus sp. Under Beech trees, and below....

A Puffball under Ash and other saplings.

Amethyst Deceiver Laccaria amethystina growing under Beech by the driveway up to DHCP visitor centre.

A Bolete under Hornbeam, and below....

 Probably Beech Jellydisc  - Neobulgaria pura on dead beech stump, and below.

Beech Milkcap Lactarius blennius  

Beech Milkcap again.

Large Bolete yet to be identified.

Brown Puffball on railway - probably Stump Puffball - Lycoperdon pyriforme.

Common Puffball -Lycoperdon perlatum - under oak tree on railway. 

Close up of pyramidal warts on cap. 

Photo showing gleba (flesh).

Troop of fungi - perhaps Blewits - Lepista sp. under Ash saplings. 

On standing dead oak tree. To be ID'd.

Probably Brown Rollrim - Paxillus involutus from Beech Vista. 

One of a number of similar red-stemmed Boletes that inhabit Beech woodland.

Russula noblis - Beech sickener from under Beech Vista - looks and tastes right.

Stropharia sp.prob Blue Roundhead - Stropharia caerulea  or S. pseudopcyanea on railway. Right habitat. 

Flesh and gills of the blue-coloured Roundhead fungi.

An Inkcap - Coprinus sp. - on the canal towpath.

Candlesnuff - Xylaria hypoxylon

Club Fungus.

Coral Fungus - Nectria cinnabarina

Could be Conocybe, a Conecap or Mycenae, a bonnet - under saplings.

A Jelly Fungus on dead twig.

Perhaps Jellybaby - Leotia lubrica.

Yellow "club"  or "spindle" type of fungus.

White Saddle - Helvella crispa one of a troop growing beside driveway to visitor centre.

Fly Agaric - Amanita muscaria under Silver Birch tree. 

Update on Blueprint for Water.

At the end of last month I wrote to my MP about the state of our local streams and rivers, it is here. I think she may have found the photos that I included a little awkward. She couldn't just fob me off with telling me all is well with freshwaters in the UK, not when she had seen pictures of pollution and physical damage occuring in the main water course in her constituency. Anyway here is her reply. She sort of admits there may be a problem with the River Churnet, but then goes on to tell me how wonderful are her government at looking after Britain's aquatic habitats. Read her letter below. But after you have read that click on the link underneath that to read that three environmental charities have been given leave to make a legal challenge into how DEFRA (government agency responsible for protecting the quality of our rivers) are neglecting to safeguard some of the country's most special wetlands. Needless to say I will be mentioning this in my follow-up letter to Karen Bradley.

http://www.wwf.org.uk/wwf_articles.cfm?unewsid=7661

Unusual sighting on Caldon Canal today.

I decided to walk to work (in Norton Heights) along the Caldon Canal  this morning. It took 1hr. 20mins. and I got absolutely soaking wet! However it was worth it as I saw a juvenile Common Sandpiper feeding alongside the Caldon Canal between Endon and Stockton Brook. This species is more usually associated with lake shores and stream and river edges. They are a summer visitor, coming here from Africa to breed. The bottom photo shows the garden where I noticed its distinctive and characteristic bobbing at the edge of the water. 

Wildflowers along the disused railway line August 2015.

At present there is a good display of wild flowers along the disused railway line. Here are some photos.

Harebells, Rose Bay Willowherb, Hawkweed sp. Mouse-eared Hawkbit etc.

Sneezewort.

Branched Bur-reed on Endon Brook where it passes under the railway. 

Fairy Flax.

Braod-leaved Willowherb and Hogweed. 

Large Scabious, White Valerian and RB Willowherb.

Meadowsweet, Knapweed plus more. 

Hymalayan Balsam. Broad-leaved Dock, Marsh Woundwort etc. (along track between railway and Caldon Canal). 

Ragwort, RB Willowherb etc.

Square-stemmed St John's Wort, Ragwort, etc.