Day 1

12 August 2023

Today was mild and breezy and some of the more shaded areas were damp.

Entrance Area

Arriving at the car park, I saw Coprinopsis atramentaria (Fig. 1.0) by path leading to the railway crossing — a common place for them.

After entering the reserve I spotted a Coprinopsis lagopus (Fig. 1.1) immediately to the left of the path and a large fungus — possibly Amanita phalloides (Fig. 1.2)  off the path leading to the Basecamp.

BASECAMP AREA

At the entrance to the Zen Zone, I found some clumps of Tubifera ferruginosa (Fig. 1.3) on a log to the right.

At the start of the Basecamp Loop I spotted a cluster of Laccaria tortilis (Fig. 1.4) and beside it some Peziza (Fig. 1.5).

On the path down to Basecamp, I found a Fuligo cinerea aethalium (Fig. 1.6) on a log.

At the end of the Basecamp Railway Path, I saw some dried Stereum hirsutum (Fig. 1.7) on the Oak tree from my 2022 survey.

THE DELL

Leaving Basecamp, I found Marasmius rotula (Fig. 1.8) in the grassy area to the left as I entered The Dell, two more Amanita phalloides (Fig. 1.9) in a shaded area just beyond here and some old Stemonitis on a rotting log (Fig. 1.10).

In the more open areas of The Dell, there was a large group of Laccaria laccata (Fig. 1.11) and some Fuligo Septica aethalia (Fig. 1.12) in a hazel coppice by the branch circle.

On leaf litter I found Russula ochroleuca (Fig. 1.13) and Parasola conopilea (Fig. 1.14), as well as an unidentified purple Russula (Fig. 1.15).

SANDY GLADE AREA

In a clearing by the Sandy Glade path, I spotted Hemitrichia clavata (Fig. 1.16) on a small rotting log.

On the Fen Trail, just after the Gnarly Oak, I found more Amanita phalloides (Fig. 1.17) in the undergrowth.

ENCLOSED AREA

In the Enclosed Area entrance, I found the Clavulina coralloides (Fig. 1.18) that I also saw last year, as well as Collybiopsis ramealis (Fig. 1.19) covering all the rotting wood.

Further in, under a Birch tree, I spotted a Pluteus aurantiorugosus (Fig. 1.20).

On the same mossy fallen trunk from my 2022 survey, I found juvenile Picipes badius (Fig. 1.21), and in a very dense dark area, I spotted a large group of Laccaria tortilis (Fig. 1.22) and nearby, Calocera cornea.

YEW GROVE AREA

A little further along from the Enclosed Area, at the side of the path, I saw Parasola plicatilis and identified an odd looking growth as Thelephora penicillata (Fig. 1.23).

Past the Yew Grove, there were large groups of Laccaria bicolour (Fig. 1.24), and interspersed with them, Amanita fulva (Fig. 1.25). It was here that I came across a small log with fruitbodies of a Chlorociboria species (Fig. 1.26).

OUTPOST AREA

Around The Outpost, I discovered a beautiful specimen of Tubifera ferruginosa (Fig. 1.27) on an Alder trunk, as well as Hypholoma fasciculare (Fig. 1.28) and many Fuligo septica aethalia.

In The Outpost itself, I spotted Calocera viscosa (Fig. 1.29) and an unidentified white specimen which might have been a Phallus impudicus egg (Fig. 1.30).

On both sides of the path before the Pensive, I found Tremella mesenterica (Fig. 1.31) and Scleroderma verrucosum (Fig. 1.32).

TRAIL END AREA

On the rotting log piles in the Trail End Area, I spotted Arcyria cinerea (Fig. 1.33), many more Fuligo septica (Fig. 1.34) in various different forms, a Stemonitis species (Fig. 1.35), some disco fungi (Fig. 1.36), Calocera cornea (Fig. 1.37) and an uprooted Amanita rubescens (Fig. 1.38).

OTHER

Throughout the reserve woodland, on rotting wood, I found many Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa groups (Fig. 1.39) and Amanita rubescens.

I also found Leccinum scabrum (Fig. 1.40) and what was later identified as juvenile Hydnum repandum (Fig. 1.41) — because of their culinarily prized nature, I am not disclosing their locations.

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