Tiny Translucent Fungi

/

I came across a few examples of this tiny parasol growing in patches of moss on Cleeve Hill - it must be a fungus of some kind. It’s a very pretty translucent white fungus, taken on macro, so about 1 cm across, with a parasol that looks like it’s made of petals rather than pleats. So far I didn’t find any photo quite like it on the internet. The nearest comparison is Pleated Inkcap, of which there were plenty growing nearly, but these are bigger with a brown centre; and they tended to be found more in grassy areas on the hill.

Waxcaps on Cleeve Hill

/

Almost a year to the day since my last Autumn visit to Cleeve Hill, and there were lots of fungi to see. A good collection of Waxcaps and other grassland fungi. Great views of a Short-eared Owl were a bonus (but sadly no photos of that).

Cleeve Hill Fungi

/

It’s not a big season for fungi, but one exception is St George’s Mushroom, which is a Spring fungus, usually found from St George’s Day (23 April) through to June. It is an edible mushroom, tending to be found in short grass, but also other habitats. Yellow Brain is a more specialised species, found on hazel or (as in this case) on dead Gorse branches.

Cleeve Hill Fungi

/

Some spectacular fungi up on Cleeve Hill on the Cotswold scarp last weekend; they were everywhere. Still a few I didn’t identify yet.

Footprints in the Snow

/

Not much wildlife to be seen at the top of a wintery Cleeve Hill today, but plenty of tracks to see in the snow. Lots of rabbits and birds of different types, and also some Roe Deer slots.

Bredon Hill & Cleeve Hill

/

Thanks to some really lovely weather this weekend, I had a couple of beautiful walks up the local hills enjoying the butterflies and wild flowers. I was very happy to find Bee Orchids on Cleeve Hill and many Pyramidal Orchids on Bredon Hill. No photos, but a calling Quail at the top of Bredon Hill was also a good find.