Wolves Wild

A single fly agaric mushroom standing out over short grass by the perimeter path in West Park. There had been others, but they had been kicked over and stamped on.

Goldfinch busy eating seeds on a bird feeder outside a block of flats, not quite showing its head.

A blackening waxcap, caught as it was just about beginning to change colour. Right next to it there was a snowy waxcap.

A row of ginkgoes, planted along the pavement of Compton Road, opposite the former Eye Hospital. A welcome distraction from the continuing dereliction of the hospital.

Brown leaves and blue sky and the glossy black feathers of a carrion crow high in a tree.

An outbreak of small bracket fungi on the trunk of a tree which had been felled by the Railway Walk at Newbridge. It could be turkey tail, but the colours don’t look quite right.

Snowy waxcaps: the ones forcing their way through the carpet of fallen leaves looked like a lot fresher snow than those in short grass.

An acer by the Southgate entrance to West Park with leaves which had turned a very bright red. They’ve probably fallen by now.

Glossy ripe red woody nightshade berries, and glossy green ones still ripening. Tempting they may look, but eating would produce an upset stomach.

Growing among the vegetation planted along the front of the big town centre branch of Sainsbury’s, two species of mushrooms – both rather past their best when I noticed them. The brown ones are roll rims, the paler ones perhaps some species of milk cap.