The woodland now is damp and wet
And that is fungi’s great asset
They’ll be growing like mad I bet
Today I’ll find my best haul yet.
Durlston was cold and clear again today, with cumulus clouds arranged in neat little rows and a thick blanket of altostratus advancing towards the ocean. I opted to pay a visit to the woodlands, and headed off down Long Meadow. I was escorted by Red Admirals and Speckled Woods, beautifully illuminated in the morning sun. A few Hedge Bindweed flowers were nestled amongst the undergrowth, and Robins, Magpies and Great Tits made themselves known in their usual fashion.
Inside the woodlands the mood turned a little more sedate at first, with a sea of greens and browns spotted very sparingly by splashes of colour from Stinking Iris berries. Hartstongue Ferns seemed like the main occupants of the forest floor, until I started looking a little closer.
The rains had brought fourth an explosion of fungal growth, with a plethora of specimens to satisfy my mycological curiosity. Patches of Turkey Tail had sprouted from several of the logs lining the path, with one chunk of Holm Oak supporting a prominent King Alfred’s Cake. A section of dry stone wall hosted a bright erupting Red Cage Fungus, its crimson tendrils reaching out into the path. Another fallen log displayed the delightfully disgusting looking Yellow Brain Fungus, quite possibly the most aptly named organism I have ever seen. A scattering of fallen apples indicated the presence of a Wild Apple Tree (check out my detective skills), and nestled in a nook between branches was a trio of Dryads Saddle. After admiring them, another area of fallen timber caught my eye and revealed a tiny pair of Hoof Fungi. A fantastic showing from the world of mushrooms today.
Strolling on past the fungal metropolis I passed a little patch of Enchanters Nightshade and Herb Robert still in flower by the wall. To my left, I couldn’t help but hear the nightmare screams of some Jays, providing pretty good evidence that dinosaurs and birds are related.
The Clifftop Trail was blustery as I made my way along past patches of Sea Aster and swaying clumps of Meadow Barley. Blue Tits were singing yet another song for me to learn from the trees. They love to give me a hard time. As I turned to return a Wheatear settled on the path for a few moments before flying off, the stripe over its eye clearly visible. Soon it will be off to Africa.