Elfin Saddle


A glorious late autumn morning saw me wandering the woods and footpaths that form most of Juniper Bottom and Top in Surrey. Once again, no Hawfinches, although they might be lurking nearby in smaller numbers than last winter - it's easy to forget that they were only knowingly present during March, so who knows when they actually took up residence? Apart from at least 7 Marsh Tits it was all quiet on the ornithological front. Where would I have rather been today - here or standing with 100 other blokes in someone's garden in Wales? No contest, and not just because I have already seen Orphean Warbler in Britain.

I do like beech woodland, at any time of year. It has a majesterial feel, like walking through a natural cathedral, the light of a special quality.

My highlight was this Elfin Saddle - not uncommon, but I have not seen one before. Yet another fungi with a great name.



Comments

Andrew Cunningham said…
Very nice! Only seen Helvella crispa and H. elastica myself so that encourages me to keep an eye out over the next week or two.
16 November 2013 at 21:08
Steve Gale said…
You'd better get out there before the really cold weather sweeps down from the north Andrew!
17 November 2013 at 11:32
Andrew Cunningham said…
Ah, yes. The apparent 'Killer Cold Snap' as reported in the Daily Mail, Daily Express, etc.

So far, I have got through the 'Killer Heat Wave', 'Killer Storm', 'Killer Rain' and 'Killer Winds' this year.
17 November 2013 at 12:05
Andrew Cunningham said…
Had a look around a local patch with a mycologist friend this afternoon. Lots of Helvella crsipa going over but none of the few H. lacunosa he had seen last week!
19 November 2013 at 21:36
Steve Gale said…
There's always next autumn Andrew
20 November 2013 at 09:14
Andrew Cunningham said…
I am now a proud owner of a record of Helvella lacunosa!
28 November 2013 at 21:01
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