4th August

At the Zen Zone there were some old slime mould specimens — some becoming mouldy and parasitised by a Stilbella fungus.

Three old Tubifera likely ferruginosa pseudoaethalia spore masses.

In the Zen Zone / Basecamp area we have often found Metatrichia like slime moulds many covered in mould. In the photo below are some old slime mould sporangia — some becoming mouldy.

Below, unknown slime mould sporangia being parasitised by a Stilbella fungus.

At The Dell an Amanita fulva (tawny grisette)

In the area of the carr woodland at the end of the drainage channel path between the channel path and the railway line, a Hymenoscyphus fructigenus (nut disco)

And in this small area of ground in the photo below — many Scutellinia eyelash fungi seemingly growing on the disturbed ground, some unknown fungi, two types of cup species and probably Marasmiellus ramealis (twig parachute) on a fallen branch.

Scutellinia eyelash fungi.

Unknown fungus.

Unknown cup fungus, but could this be an emerging felt saddle ? — see 18th August visit below.

Another unknown cup fungus

Marasmiellus ramealis – the twig parachute mushroom.

Growing out of a split in the wood bench by the path, a superb group of oyster mushrooms — a Pleurotus species.

And under the bench!

Near The Outpost on the same fallen trunk that we found Badhamia utricularis and where earlier this summer we saw super displays of Stemonitis, there were several clusters of Stemonitis sporangia in spore mass all along on the underside of the fallen trunk — it was a superb display but it must have been spectacular when they were in their juvenile forms.

Near The Outpost a developing Fuligo septica aethalium.

Past The Outpost towards the end of the Woodland Trail, a F. septica with what appears to be a disintegrating cortex with pieces of the cortex scattered below.

Another mature F. septica with a deteriorating cortex.

In one of the many log piles in this area past The Outpost I spotted a colony of Arcyria cinerea in gregarious groups. It was in this area that the daughter saw this slime mould during her 2023 mycological survey of the reserve woodland – 12th August 2023 and 30th September 2023.

In the photo below (left of centre) the sporangia have their classic elongated tapered form.

The photo below shows white and pale grey juvenile globose sporangia forms.

And slightly darker sporangia.

18th August

It was a brief visit and not much to see.

In the area of the carr woodland at the end of the drainage channel path between the channel path and the railway line we saw a number of maybe Helvella macropus (felt saddle)

Could this be an emerging felt saddle?

Nut disco next to a possible emerging felt saddle.

Close up of the nut disco.

I went back to the log pile where I saw the Arcyria cinerea on the previous visit and found that the sporangia had become mouldy.