Shortheath Common
Sun 5 Nov 2023
Collybia cookei
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2323
OS Grid areas: SU7736
Report: It was a mainly dry and sunny visit, though very wet under foot, but a heavy shower caught up with us at the end.
The swampy margin of the lake soon provided us with Phellinus igniarius (Willow Bracket), Russula claroflava (Yellow Swamp Brittlegill), Mycena epipterygia (Yellowleg Bonnet), Mycena capillaripes (Pinkedge Bonnet) and Paxillus involutus (Brown Rollrim).
On a moss-covered oak trunk, we found the miniscule white bonnet, Mycena corynephora and nearby, under pine, a clump of Rhodocollybia maculata (Spotted Toughshank) and Thelephora terrestris (Earthfan).
As we moved onto the drier heathland we found Amanita fulva (Tawny Grisette), Collybia cookei (Splitpea Shanklet), Mycena galopus (Milking Bonnet) and Gymnopilus penetrans (Common Rustgill). On an old oak stump, we discovered Trametes betulinus (Birch Mazegill), clearly ignoring the textbooks when it comes to substrate!
We returned to the lakeside for our lunch-break where we added Pluteus salicinus (Willow Shield), Russula vesca (The Flirt), a fine specimen of Tremella mesenterica (Yellow Brain) and Claviceps purpurea (Ergot). Tony wandered into the nearby bog and returned bearing a birch twig which was the host for Xenotypa aterrima, a fungus which causes the bark of dead birches to peel back. Meanwhile, on a patch of burnt ground Leif discovered Tephrocybe anthracophila.
In the afternoon we wandered on across the heath, finding a fine group of Mycena arcangeliana (Angel’s Bonnet), probable Cortinarius hemitrichus (Frosty Webcap) and Polyporus brumalis (Winter Polypore).
Several interesting and puzzling crust (resupinate) fungi were found and included Phlebia radiata (Wrinkled Crust), Stereum rameale and Gloeoporus dichrous.
Finally, I ventured into the wetter ground and discovered Mycena megaspora (Rooting Bonnet), before we hurried to shelter from the rain.
Species recorded: Amanita fulva (Tawny Grisette), Amanita muscaria var. muscaria (Fly Agaric), Amanita rubescens var. rubescens (Blusher), Armillaria mellea (Honey Fungus), Bjerkandera adusta (Smoky Bracket), Boletus badius (Bay Bolete), Byssomerulius corium (Netted Crust), Chondrostereum purpureum (Silver Leaf Disease), Claviceps purpurea var. purpurea (Ergot), Collybia cookei (Splitpea Shanklet), Coprinellus micaceus (Glistening Inkcap), Cortinarius hemitrichus (Frosty Webcap), Cortinarius pilatii, Crepidotus variabilis (Variable Oysterling), Daedaleopsis confragosa (Blushing Bracket), Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore), Fuscoporia ferrea (Iron Porecrust), Gloeoporus dichrous (Bicoloured Bracket), Gymnopilus penetrans (Common Rustgill), Gymnopus dryophilus (Russet Toughshank), Hypholoma fasciculare var. fasciculare (Sulphur Tuft), Inocybe geophylla var. lilacina (Lilac Fibrecap), Inocybe napipes (Bulbous Fibrecap), Laccaria amethystina (Amethyst Deceiver), Laccaria proxima (Scurfy Deceiver), Lactarius quietus (Oakbug Milkcap), Lactarius tabidus (Birch Milkcap), Lactarius turpis (Ugly Milkcap), Lentinus brumalis (Winter Polypore), Mensularia radiata (Alder Bracket), Mycena arcangeliana (Angel's Bonnet), Mycena capillaripes (Pinkedge Bonnet), Mycena corynephora, Mycena galericulata (Common Bonnet), Mycena galopus var. galopus (Milking Bonnet), Mycena haematopus (Burgundydrop Bonnet), Mycena megaspora (Rooting Bonnet), Mycena metata, Mycena pelianthina (Blackedge Bonnet), Panellus stipticus (Bitter Oysterling), Paxillus involutus (Brown Rollrim), Phlebia radiata (Wrinkled Crust), Phlebia tremellosa (Jelly Rot), Plicatura crispa (Crimped Gill), Pluteus cervinus (Deer Shield), Pluteus salicinus (Willow Shield), Psathyrella piluliformis (Common Stump Brittlestem), Resupinatus applicatus (Smoked Oysterling), Rhodocollybia butyracea (Butter Cap), Rhodocollybia maculata (Spotted Toughshank), Rickenella fibula (Orange Mosscap), Russula aquosa (Red Swamp Brittlegill), Russula atropurpurea (Purple Brittlegill), Russula claroflava (Yellow Swamp Brittlegill), Russula fragilis var. fragilis (Fragile Brittlegill), Russula ochroleuca (Ochre Brittlegill), Russula parazurea (Powdery Brittlegill), Russula robertii, Russula velenovskyi (Coral Brittlegill), Schizophyllum commune (Splitgill), Stereum gausapatum (Bleeding Oak Crust), Thelephora terrestris (Earthfan), Trametes betulina (Birch Mazegill), Tremella mesenterica (Yellow Brain), Trichaptum abietinum (Purplepore Bracket), Tricholoma fulvum (Birch Knight), Tubaria conspersa (Felted Twiglet), Xenotypa aterrima (Birch Bark Stripper), Xylaria hypoxylon (Candlesnuff Fungus)
A full species list with further details can be seen at the Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland (FRDBI). Please contact us if you need a user ID.