BBQ Linwood
Sat 23 Jul 2011
Field event ID HF1112
OS Grid areas: SU1809
Weather: The day was warm and calm with intermittent cloud, there had been some rain in the previous days before the foray.
Report: (Mark Jackson) The day started with a buzz of activity at Sue's house, with Eric at 10:05 trying his best to call people to arms for the commencement of the foray. Now whether this was out of enthusiasm to foray or rather an impatience to get back to Sue's for the annual BBQ and to feast on the venison burgers was questionable. Finally, we were on our way, as soon as we stepped inside the reserve Sara pounced on the nearest wood pile and declared the first find of the day, which turned out to be a small specimen of common mazegill (Datronia mollis). Moments later as we wondered further into the reserve a silver-washed fritillary, the first of many, was observed darting and gliding in and out of the willow under-storey only to disappear with its characteristic strong determined flight as quickly as it arrived. My first find was a piece of heavily decayed wood stained with the mycelium of green elf-cup (Chlorociboria aeruginascens). I was about to add it to the list when a cry from onlookers stated that this was cheating and that the fruiting body needed to be found to confirm its presence at the site. Several minutes later Jean-Paul obliged and appeared from behind a mature sallow hauling a log covered in the largest fruiting cups of this species I have ever seen. Later while trying to navigate fallen limbs, and stepping on Juncus and Molinia tussocks without sinking into mud, a sizeable grass snake was disturbed from its basking spot and abruptly slithered into the thatch layer out of sight. When we reached the lower end of the reserve Sue spent a length of time on the edge of a bog trying to find a nice specimen of Mycena bulbosa. But she strayed too close and stayed too long, needing to be rescued having sunk into mud. It was all worthwhile though as she had found several fruiting bodies erupting from a single Juncus stem for Paul to photograph. A few species were found that were either pleasing to the eye or at least notable for me, they were the deep sulphur coloured yellow cobweb (Phlebiella sulphurea), the contrasting almost black flesh of willow bracket (Phellinus igniarius) with its cinnamon coloured pore surface and the distinctive strong mealy smell of ‘the miller’ (Clitopilus prunulus). (Ed.) Following the foray all returned for the annual summer BBQ and were joined by one or two latecomers who were just there for the burgers and beer!! The group was once again very grateful for Sue's hospitality and to Alan for cooking on the BBQ despite nuturing a cut finger which later required the attention of the casualty department.
Species list: Adelphella babingtonii, Amanita excelsa var. spissa, Amanita fulva, Amanita rubescens, Bjerkandera adusta, Boletus badius, Bulbillomyces farinosus, Chlorociboria aeruginascens, Clavulina coralloides, Clitopilus prunulus, Cylindrobasidium laeve, Daedaleopsis confragosa, Datronia mollis, Fuscoporia ferrea, Galerina paludosa, Gymnopus dryophilus, Gymnopus peronatus, Hohenbuehelia fluxilis, Hypholoma fasciculare, Laccaria laccata, Lasiosphaeria ovina, Leccinum pulchrum, Leccinum scabrum, Marasmiellus ramealis, Mycena bulbosa, Mycena galopus, Paxillus involutus, Phellinus igniarius, Phlebiella sulphurea, Physisporinus sanguinolentus, Piptoporus betulinus, Pluteus cervinus, Pluteus nanus, Polyporus leptocephalus, Postia caesia, Russula nigricans, Russula vesca, Schizopora paradoxa, Scopuloides rimosa, Stereum hirsutum, Trametes versicolor, Trechispora stevensonii, Trichoderma pulvinatum, Tyromyces chioneus