Category: David

Another (unidentified) small bracket fungus, or perhaps two different species on the same tree stump in Northycote Farm. Pictured mid-January, during the long spell with frost overnight every day, and showing no after-effects from this cold.

Tiny mushrooms (less than an inch tall) growing in bushy moss on the top of a stone wall. Showing no signs of damage that I could see, after several nights of frost.

Bright red contrasting with the predominant greens, the last of the holly berries on one of the bushes in Hawthorn Wood.

male house sparrow, not at all worried that I was close by and watching him, because he was secure in the middle of a hawthorn bush.

More bracket-type fungi, which tend to cope better with been frozen and thawed. These are possibly hairy curtain crust, growing from a stump on Northycote Farm.

The guide books say that candle snuff (also called stag’s horn) can be found all year round. But it becomes more noticeable during the winter months, when there are fewer leaves around to hide it. It grows on dead wood, including tree stumps.