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David

Flock of gulls overhead, West Park

Flock of gulls overhead, West Park

Some of the flock of black headed gulls at West Park as they circled overhead on a sunny morning.

Flock of gulls overhead, West Park

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David

Pollarded horse chestnuts, Worcester

Pollarded horse chestnuts, Worcester

Horse chestnuts on the path along the Severn at Worcester between the Cathedral and the canal junction. The trees have been pollarded at well over head height, giving them a striking common form.

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David

Ears on a fallen branch, Hawthorn Wood

Ears on a fallen branch

Jelly ear fungi on a fallen branch in Hawthorn Wood. Most commonly found, as here, growing on elder.

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David

Buzzard soaring over Barley Field

Buzzard soaring over Barley Field

One of the buzzards with a nest somewhere along the Tettenhall ridge, which can be seen most mornings circling over the Barley Field using thermals to gain height to go hunting.

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David

Scarlet elf cups, Hawthorn Wood

Scarlet elf cups, Hawthorn Wood

More scarlet elf cups, fungi which bring a splash of bright colour to late winter as it heads towards the start of spring. These were growing in Hawthorn Wood – one set right by the main path through the wood, others clearly visible over the fence from the Railway Walk.

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David

Is this spring orange peel fungus?

Is this spring orange peel fungus?

Fungi growing in a crack in the pavement by the side of Compton Road, look like they might be the spring orange peel fungus, aka golden cup.

Reasons for doubt: golden cup is originally a north American species. It has been recorded in the old world, in Japan as well as Europe. But British records are all from distant parts of England: East Anglia or the south coast, mainly around the New Forest.

But the most likely confusion is with the commoner orange peel fungus, which is definitely not the one pictured here. That one has a pale convex surface (like orange pith) whereas this is concolourous (the same colour all over) like the American species. The orange peel fungus fruiting bodies appear in autumn or early winter. These came up earlier this month, just in time for a spring fungus.

At the moment the fruiting bodies are tiny. I’ll try to keep a watch to see if they get larger to get a better view.