An Enchanted Place

On day 133 of 365 Days Wild I ventured out in the afternoon for a nature walk down the local lanes and around the meadow. The sun was shining when I left the house but clouds were moving in, promising rain. I try not to let the rain stop me from going out too often, however.

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And yes, I did get rained on. I was near the pond when it suddenly came pouring down. I spent a little while capturing the sight of the raindrops hitting the water, which I always find to be such a wonderfully meditative sight, though I did have to stop for while when my phone started to get a little too wet to continue. Luckily the real downpour didn’t last for long, but a steady drizzle did continue for the rest of my walk. By the time I returned home I was more than just a bit damp!

Despite how many of them I’ve already snapped pictures of recently, I couldn’t resist stopping and photographing the toadstools that were growing in amongdt the trees and close to the meadow path.

I think this little clump that I spotted near the pond might be Russet Toughshanks (Gymnopus dryophilus).

I then spotted two different types of bonnet toadstools alongside the meadow path.

According to the First- Nature page on the Mycenaceae family, many of the species are so similar that a microscope is required to tell them apart. Having said that, from simply looking at pictures and descriptions of shape, size and habitat, I’m drawn to thinking that the white ones might be Angel’s Bonnets (Mycena arcangeliana) and the brown ones are possibly Grooved Bonnets (Mycena polygramma). I’ll probably change my mind later, though.

I also spotted these little orange toadstools a little further along the meadow path. I think they’re a type of waxcap (of the famjly, Hygrophoraceae). I’m currently thinking that they might be Honey Waxcaps (Hygrocybe reidii) but, again, there are several other similar species of orangey-red waxcap, so I could be wrong.

I keep being drawn back to look at the brown toadstools that are growing all over the middle of the meadow. I’ve settled on and then discarded several id’s for them now. My latest id is that they’re almost certainly Pinkgills, but whether Entoloma lucidum or Silky Pinkgill (Entoloma seriseum) I’m still not sure.

Finally (at least for the toadstools) there was a pair of fresh white toadstools plus a couple of older, damaged ones, that I have tentatively identified as Field Mushrooms (Agaricus campestris). However, surprise surprise, there are two species in particular that are very similar: Agaricus arvensis and Agaricus bitorquis.

My next pair of pictures were actually taken a few days ago. I did stop again to look at the spangle galls on the oak leaves but I knew that I had these pictures that I haven’t yet shared on here, so didn’t bother to take any new ones. There are two different galls on the oak trees in the meadow hedgerow. The ‘weeto’ like one is the Silk Button Gall (Neuroterus numismalis) and the leaves under them are turning orangey-brown, and are looking very autumnal. The others are the Common Spangle gall (Neuroterus quercusbaccarum). The leaves under these are still green. I find them quite fascinating to look at.

The clouds started to look rather ominous again as I walked home, but that didn’t stop me from stopping and photographing the brown and white horse in the field beside the lane. Usually he ignores me as I walk past. This time he seemed to want to pose for a few pictures. His name is Bertie.

The cloudy sky and autumnal colours to be seen down the main street of the village gave me an interesting final shot before I reached home.

A few hours later I went outside again, this time to watch the sun set over the field behind the house. Fortunately, there was a break in the clouds at the horizon that allowed the golden eye through to peep through.

That’s all for today. What’s happening in nature where you are?