Still going strong, thanks to all the damp weather: Downy Conecap, Conocybe pubescens. On weathered horse dung in a dung & straw pile on the allotment. #Fungi #FungiFriends

This tiny Alder Goblet (Ciboria caucus) was growing on an alder catkin, then got photobombed by what I think is a Glistening Inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus). #fungifriends

Looking closely at nature always reveals something wonderful - Like this mini-ecosystem on a pine cone! It’s always exciting to find the wonderfully-named Ear-pick Fungus 🍄‍🟫 #FungiFriends #FungiFriday #Mycology #Fungi

I came across this today, a quite distinctive mushroom, with an elegant shape, sheltered in scrubby grassland. I think it may be The Goblet, Pseudoclitocybe cyathiformis. #fungifriends

I think this might be Netted Crust (Byssomerulius corium). Suddenly vibrant today, its delicate wrinkled pattern, backlit by the late afternoon sun, felt like a treat at the end of the day. #fungifriends

Found today on an old hazel stool. I think this is likely Tremella foliacea (leafy brain fungus). If the ID is correct, it’s parasitising Stereum hirsutum (hairy curtain crust). The largest mass of jelly fungus I’ve seen. #fungifriends

I’ve been searching for fungi on traveller’s joy (Clematis vitalba) for ages and thought I’d finally found one, about 40 tiny caps, just 1–1.5 mm across, smooth inside. Possibly Moss Ear (Chromocyphella muscicola), in which case it’s growing on the moss, not the climber. #fungifriends

When I saw this today I first thought it was Purple Jellydisc (there’s a lot starting to shape up just now), but some of these had begun to form small cups rather than the brain-like bundles, so perhaps this might be Budding Jellydisc (Ascocoryne cylichnium). #fungifriends

I saw these tiny (approx 2mm) fungi caps on an Ivy leaf today. I think they might be Ivy Parachute (Marasmius epiphylloides). If that ID is correct, there are 145 U.K. records in the NBN database but likely reflecting how tiny and easily missed it is rather than true rarity. #fungifriends

I think this one is possibly Elder Whitewash (Xylodon sambuci), if it is then the name suits it well as it is very chalky and like whitewash peeling in some places, thin in others. Elder Whitewash is not Elder Specific. #fungifriends”

This starkly white crust wrapping a twig looked almost mineral when seen up close, it seemed to sparkle in the damp woodland. I think it may be Netted Crust (Byssomerulius corium). #fungifriends

The Black Witches’ Butter (Exidia glandulosa) looked glorious after yesterday’s heavy rain. #fungifriends

Saw this vibrant Yellow Brain Fungus (Tremella mesenterica) on a big, freshly fallen branch today at eye level. The vivid yellow-orange colour contrast against the damp winter woodland was startling. #hotsticksaturday #fungifriends

Jelly Ear Fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae). It’s always a joy to see the soft, fragile folds when they’re caught by the light and backlit like this. #fungifriends

White Brain Fungus (Exidia thuretiana) today on a fallen branch. It’s a good indicator of how damp things have been here, as it shrivels in dry conditions. Its name comes from the brain-like folds of the pale, jelly-soft fruit bodies, which will deepen as this one matures. #fungifriends

There are still a few Common Earthballs (Scleroderma citrinum) about. This photo was taken yesterday…all those spores drying in a gentle breeze. Today it poured, and every raindrop will launch them. #fungifriend

Yesterday I mistook this bullseye-shaped fungal leaf spot on hart’s-tongue fern for a leaf miner, so today I searched until I found one, likely a fern-specialist micro-moth larva. Very scarce compared with the widespread fungal leaf spot. #fungifriends

Came across these four earthstars again today in leaf litter at the base of a mature oak. The vaulted, arched rays made me think possibly Arched Earthstar (Geastrum fornicatum)? #fungifriends

More leaf miners… Bramble leaf with a winding larval track visible within the leaf tissue. Possibly tiny moth or sawfly larvae. The dark line is frass and shows the direction of travel.

A burst of vivid red caught my eye today, it was a cheering delight to see Scarlet Elf Cup, (or similar), glowing in deep woodland shade. #fungifriends

Black crust fungus in hollow of dead wood, approx. 6 cm across. Granular, bead-like surface. Possibly Dead Man’s Fingers / Candlesnuff (Xylaria) in crust stage. Looks like rot but structured. #fungifriends

Wrinkled Crust (?) Phlebia radiata Found this crust on oak today. Like sunshine on a foggy day. #fungifriends www.first-nature.com/fungi/phlebi...

Pink polypore mould (?) Hypomyces rosellus The crust is eating the trunk, now it looks like the mould is eating the crust. #fungifriends

Chocolate Tubes Slime Mold (?) Stemonitis splendens for #hotsticksaturday (Yorkshire, 2021)

Rosy Bonnet (?) Came across these a couple of days ago. Their delicate pink was reminiscent of springtime, yet these may be with us until the hard frosts reach them. Said to be bioluminescent, emitting a weak green light. #fungifriends www.first-nature.com/fungi/mycena...

Coral Spot (?)
 Nectria cinnabarina Saw this fungus on yesterday’s walk. It can weaken trees over time and may become a contributing factor to their death. Usually hardwood trees. The red dots are fruiting bodies that produce spores. #fungifriends www.first-nature.com/fungi/nectri...

Funeral Bell (?) Galerina marginata Found these yesterday. Annually, globally, it is estimated that eating them causes 50–100 poisonings, some resulting in serious organ damage. An estimated 5–20 cases result in death. www.first-nature.com/fungi/galeri... #fungifriends

Noticed today that (in two places) the Cobalt Crust instead of going flat across a dead branch has half enveloped a Hazel twig, firmly attaching the twig to the branch that the crust resides upon. Just like Hazel Glue fungus does. Looks like the crust wants to go up in the world. #fungifriends

Oak Crust (?) Peniophora quercina This fungus caught my attention today. Along the length of a fallen branch beneath an oak tree. #fungifriends

Collared Earthstar (?) Geastrum triplex This morning found this on sloping ground beneath an oak. Remarkably still “juicy” for December. #fungifriends

Last week saw an upright dead tree covered in little darkish bumps, looked on the other side and saw them shell-shaped, realised they were small (to approx 1.5cm) oysterlings, never seen so many all at once! Perhaps immature Resupinatus trichotis? #fungifriends

Toothed crust (?) Basidioradulum radula The recent storms brought down a big branch swathed in white, and a closer look revealed curtains of this intricate and lovely white crust. #fungifriends

Tripe fungus (?) Auricularia mesenterica Fascinated to find this fungus! I first noticed the gelatinous, wrinkled underside and later realised it was actually the spore-producing part of a bracket-like fungus. Related to the Jelly ear fungus (wood ears) that are abundant just now. #fungifriends

Lemon Disco (?) Bisporella citrina Glimpsed a cluster of tiny dots of lemony yellow, turned the log and it was covered with a stunning mosaic of these little fungi cups. Like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day. #fungifriends www.first-nature.com/fungi/bispor...

#fungifriends #lichen

Wrinkled peach (?) Rhodotus palmatus Saw the cap and thought must be wrinkled peach (it’s the right sort of woodland to have old elm) then went through photos of the more spectacular phases of the Rhodotus and was not sure. Thoughts welcomed… #fungifriends www.first-nature.com/fungi/rhodot...

Spindle (Euonymus europaeus) signals ancient woodland. A few days ago, I saw a berry far from its tree and wondered. Today, I found a stash of berries hidden in a stump—mouse or vole? Spindle’s dense wood was once used for making wool spindles for spinning and knitting needles, hence the name.

Dyer’s Mazegill (?) Phaeolus schweinitzii A bright and unexpected splash of velvety yellow at the base of the largest Scot’s pine I have ever stood beside. Though it looks small against that massive tree, the fungus was about 7 inches across. www.first-nature.com/fungi/phaeol... #fungifriends

Purple Jellydisc (?) Ascocoryne sarcoides The sun today vibrantly contrasted the colour of the Jellydisc against the moss. Then I noticed a tiny 1.5mm width mushroom (?) alongside a jelly cluster. Very curious as to what one that is. www.first-nature.com/fungi/ascoco... #fungifriends

Hazel Gloves (?) Hypocreopsis rhododendri A large branch with Hazel Gloves had landed on the path in the storm, revealing another tree with it, there are several of them in this little woodland. www.first-nature.com/fungi/hypocr... #fungifriends #mushroommonday

Cobalt Crust (?) Terana caerulea A delight to see this strikingly deep blue crust fungus today. www.first-nature.com/fungi/terana... #fungifriends #mushroommonday

I’ve just discovered an old corner of England where bats fly out of a gargoyle’s mouth at dusk. These are the things I want to know about. 🖤🦇🦇🦇🦇