Autumn fungi flush – parrot waxcaps, Upper Green, Tettenhall

Autumn fungi flush - parrot waxcaps, Upper Green, Tettenhall

Most autumns, the corner of Tettenhall Upper Green between the paddling pool and the main road has tiny mushrooms barely peeping out of the short grass. They are parrot waxcaps. Bright yellow and shiny when they first emerge, they later turn to a shade of green somewhat similar to the feathers of some parrots: in some of these specimens, that change of colour is just beginning.

It;s possible that some of these pictures are of a related species. Butter waxcaps are also bright yellow and glossy, but don’t change colour.