Fallen oak leaf

Fallen oak leaf

The leaf has pointed lobes – perhaps from an exotic variety of oak.

Pleated inkcap

Pleated inkcap

A small and inconspicuous inkcap, this is fairly common but easy to overlook. These were spotted in West Park last week.

Late waterlily flower

Later waterlily flower

This waterlily on the pond at Wightwick Manor garden still had a flower on September 10th (it was Heritage Open Day, when the garden could be seen without the usual £4 entrance fee).

Later waterlily flower

Shaggy parasols in West Park

Shaggy parasols in West Park

At its largest, this mushroom can grow to about six inches tall, with a cap of about six inches in diameter. This makes it the second largest mushroom which can be commonly found around here, smaller only than the Parasol mushroom, which can get to about twice as big.

Shaggy parasols in West Park

The brown “shaggy” substance on the cap is remnants of protective coating.

Shaggy parasols in West Park

There was a troop of these fruiting bodies near to Southgate in West Park, between twenty and thirty, at a spot they regularly pop up at this time of year. When I saw them they had, so far, escaped kicking down because they were hard to see under low branches.

Shaggy parasols in West Park

Fat Cross spider

Fat Cross spider

A common garden spider. The larger female is normally the one which is easy to notice, especially when enlarged as here, presumably with eggs.

Fat Cross spider