Wolves Wild

These fungi release their spores when hit by drops of rain, the escaping pores looking like puffs of smoke.

Two different puffball species for the price of one today.

Already by early December the first signs of spring, even though it’s unlikely we have seen the worst of the winter.

Until recent years, the expectation would be that these hazel catkins would not come out before January.

Another common bolete species, this one found in association with (surprise!) birch trees

Seem to be able to grow just about anywhere, even directly out of stone or brick walls, so long as they can get enough moisture.

The example above was growing from a dead bough of a rose bush, the one below on a stone bird bath.

Before it begins to fade, this toadstool is coloured a peculiar shade of green.

The specimen above was already beginning to get washed out and faded. Somewhat nearer the original shade is this one hiding in the grass.

And someone had helpfully kicked this one over, giving a clear view of the stem and the gills.

The strong winds brought down most of the leaves before really gaudy autumn colours developed this year.

Here the more distant trees, oaks, are still holding on to their leaves, which have mainly been stripped from the nearer trees.

Another tiny fungus which looks nothing like the traditional toadstool shape.

Lichen encrusted with the first frost of the winter: above on a branch brought down by some of the recent heavy winds. Below on one still on a bush.

Milkcaps are a group of toadstool species which produce a fluid when the cap is injured in any way. In some species, such as this, the fluid is white, and looks very like milk.

I had just lightly brushed this specimen while clearing away a bit of debris to get a clearer view. The result: a copious amount of “milk”.

This squirrel’s tail seemed to be glowing as it was lit from behind in the late afternoon sunlight.

These tiny and brightly coloured mushrooms can easily escape notice even in shortish grass.

After heavy rain their colour washes out from red to yellow.

Further rain means further fading.

Moorhens normally appear to have a completely black plumage with streaks of white on the wings and tail.
The low angle and brightness of the sunshine when this picture was taken have shown up the blue tint in the bird’s dark feathers.