Purple jellydish fungus grows on fallen or felled timber which is left lying to decay naturally. It is supposed to be a common species – perhaps more so now that letting timber decay naturally is encouraged. These patches of the fungus were growing on two fallen tree trunks close to each other at Northycote Farm.
Two views with bridges on a misty morning. Looking along the canal through the arch of the original bridge at Newbridge.
A little further towards Compton, Meccano Bridge carries the Railway Walk over the canal.
One of the growing West Park flock of greylag geese preening at the edge of the lake. Some of the paler feathers of its underwing are exposed as it raises its limb to reach its preen gland.
A couple of years ago, I noticed a group of earth star fungi growing in the flower bed by the Royal metro stop. I didn’t spot them last year, but that might have been because I didn’t pass that way at the right time.
This year they are back, though just this pair.
Buttercups normal flowering season is high spring – April or May time. This one was out a week into January, with some flowers which had already gone over.
A pair of adult swans on the West Park lake had found some sort of food source on the lake bottom. They were spending long periods of time up-ended so their beaks could get down to it. Occasionally they moved into slogitly shallower water, so that they could reach the food just by stretching their necks downwards.