Sun Nov 15th 2010 - Burton Fell, Hutton Roof

Had a walk up to Burton Fell, looking out for fungi. Went up by Slape Lane, yet it is still a quagmire, caused through the recent heavy rains taking off the surface soils on the recently harvested perimeter "maize fields"..

After checking out identifications and receiving lots of help with this from Mike Valentine, I now feel convinced that the above fungi are: Top Photo: Cap of Crepidotus epibryus - a small Oysterling fungi which grows on dead stems of herbaceous plants. 2nd photo is the same but the gill underside. The 3rd photo is: White Brain (Exidia thuretiana), the 4th photo is probably: Purple Jellydisc (Ascocoryne sarcoides), the 5th & 6th and the 7th & 8th are: Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) the first two found whilst going up Slape Lane and these specimens are so mature, whilst the 7th and 8th were found further up on Burton Fell and are younger fruitbodies.

Also whilst on way up I had a calling Green Woodpecker, the usual party of Long Tailed Tits, and flushed a Woodcock on the Fell.

On my return walking back down Slape Lane from Burton Fell, at about 1525hrs, I couldnt help but notice continual large concentrations of finches (mainly Chaffinch, but some Greenfinch) coming overhead which gave the immpression they were heading to roost in perhaps nearby Pickles Wood (just before Lancelot Clark Storth (Hutton Roof). There was 562 birds in about 10 minutes of watching. Whether this movement had been going on previous to me arriving at this point I dont know, but it certainly was very immpressive what I did see.

Its probable that these birds are the result of large feeding parties currently enjoying the spills of the recently harvested nearby maize.