21st February

'I stepped from Plank to Plank

A slow and cautious way

The Stars about my Head I felt

About my Feet the Sea.

I knew not but the next

Would be my final inch-

This gave me that precarious Gait

Some call Experience.'

                   Emily Dickinson

not strictly speaking anything to do with ' Milo and me' - just a show of determination.Sometimes personal stuff creeps in....

A Scarlet Elfcup and a swan

Sometimes my camera is a hurried last minute addition as I rush out the door with Milo.Today was one of those days where I was so pleased to have taken it as I came across this beauty whilst poking around in some woodland.The Scarlet Elfcup,apparently quite common but I have never seen one.1-3cm in diameter and very striking to look at.There were a number of these on some dead branches,all holding rainwater.



I put this one in to give an idea of scale and am assuming it is some sort of spiders egg nestling in the centre..



Hairy Curtain Crust

a type of jelly fungus-still awaiting identification-watch this space

Glistening Inkcap- the rain and slightly milder weather of the past few days has brought an abundance of fungi if you look hard enough

lovely lichen

no idea.

life in the hedgerows

I have noticed in the last week or so that there are small signs of new life in the hedgerows-hooray...

I'm sure it's a little early even for ladybirds though

I have bought 2 more fungi books to help with identification (one of which has disappeared into the ether already-probably hidden by a family member to prevent me poring over it) but remain unenlightened (not sure if that's a word)

I had to go back for another look at these beauties

Split  Porecrust

 Jelly Ear- a different colour to the usual brown/reddish

Cramp Balls (King Alfred's Cakes)-traditionally used to prevent cramp and particular to Ash and Birch.These were about 3-4 cm in diameter

he never tires of the canals

the underside of a Mazegill varient

Dead Molls Fingers (hmm -on reflection I'm thinking the angle is a little unfortunate..! )

Silver Leaf fungus

this lovely old Oak was completely covered in the above

Jacob sheep and brackets

a rare breed-Jacob sheep.This fella has magnificent horns and I'm truly thankful he was the other side of the fence. These sheep were kept to guard farm buildings and protect other livestock from predators in days gone by, and  might explain why mother and her walking partner were chased across the field by these beauties the day before! (it is a public footpath though which is a little alarming)

this was one of 2 carcasses in the same field the sheep were in and judging by the horns I'm guessing it was a lamb of the above breed. Given the nature of these sheep it would be interesting to know what can get close enough to kill the offspring

not a particularly good photo but the bracket was high in the tree.Think it is a Willow bracket with a new layer forming each year.Not come across one of these despite it's commonness (is that a word even?).

I can't seem to stop the child from getting into scrapes...

Stump puffballs still going strong





no idea- about 6cm in diameter ? Silverleaf Fungus



wondering if this is Tripe fungus or Hairy Curtain Crust (delightful name) but actually clueless - I clearly need some more ID books



nothing in my books resembles these,grrr- about 6mm in diameter ? Beech Woodwart



beautiful bark





I make no apologies for more of the aged Birch Polypore as am just enjoying this marvellous colouring