You thought that all was dying back, in fact it’s all but we
Whilst they retreat we will attack, their deaths have set us free
We ball, we crust, we mushroom up to take our thousand forms
Each saddle, cap and scarlet cup has weathered a hundred storms
Whilst berries rot and tree trunks fall our star is now ascendant
The fungi army is standing tall, majestic and resplendent.
The weather was calm and still as I entered the park this morning. A thick layer of Stratocumulus obscured the sky with the rising sun unable to penetrate its dense coverage. Durlston’s wildlife seemed in an equally sedate mood, with little stirring apart from a few Goldfinches occasionally passing overhead. The odd Wood Pigeon was also on the wing, and I picked up rattles from Magpies, pips from Robins and miscellaneous noises from Blue Tits.
Heading to Large Copse a fresh patch of Goosegrass was sprouting. If you have a Christmas Goose that you need to fatten then Durlston would be a good place to take it for a walk (waddle?). Among the trees several Jelly Ear had sprouted from a fallen log which is always nice to see. Durlston’s Fungi guru sent me through pictures of some of his latest finds the other day, including Wood Mushrooms, Wood Blewits, Butter Caps and Golden Ear.
I passed through Saxon Field under the fixated gaze of our Hereford Cattle. In a rare act of good behaviour they’d managed to go a whole night without breaking anything or escaping their enclosure. It is the season of goodwill so maybe they’re getting into the Christmas spirit as well. They were certainly giving a lot to the fungi population of the park with their “gifts” supporting abundant Egghead Mottlegills and orange patches of Cheilymenia fimicola.
On the Downlands the fungi bonanza continued, with possible Common Conecap and a fantastic emerging Shaggy Ink Cap on display. There was also some Knapweed still in flower but no one really cares about non fungi species now do they?
On the Cliffs a few Greater Black Backed Gulls were bobbing over the rising waves beside a well populated ledge of Guillemots. A Peregrine passed low over the water on its way west, its slate grey plumage and distinctive profile clearly identifying it.