Category: David

Flower and buds of a thistle growing on the parapet of Dinham Bridge over the River Teme at Ludlow. The river can be seen, out of focus, in the background.

The pictures of the chicken in the wood fungus in the previous post were taken three weeks ago.

This morning I went back to Himley Plantation. The fungus was still on the tree, somewhat battered, and somewhat larger. Some of the growth on the outer edges of the brackets looked fresh enough to have been the product of the last few hours.

Chicken of the woods (sulfur polypore) is an edible and quite common bracket fungus which is said to taste like chicken.

These fruiting bodies looked very fresh when I came across them in Himley Plantation, and must only have been a few hous old.

Meadow salsify seed head, looking like a dandelion clock which has expanded into a complete sphere.

The informal name, jack go to bed at noon, comes from the habit of the flower which opens in the morning, and closes around midday.

Small skipper butterfly spreading its wings on the ground of the Barley Field as it gets warm in the morning sun.

It’s just possible it is actually an Essex skipper. Some have been seen in the vicinity of small skippers on this part of the Barley Field, and these pictures are not detailed enough to distinguish the two species.

Orchids, species unidentified, growing in long grass in clearings by the footpath leading up to Whitcliffe Common.