RXwildlife Sightings

This group of Jelly Ear was found on the Beach Reserve (see post 25th January).

Until today, Fairy Inkcap (Coprinus disseminatus) had only been recorded from one location at Castle Water. This common species can be found in large groups (often hundreds) on stumps of broad-leaved trees or on soil nearby.

This rather strange fungi was found at Castle Water several days ago, and looks like it could be a Ramaria species, which have not been recorded on the Reserve before.

Common Jellyspot (Dacrymyces stillatus) is a common species but overlooked due to its tiny size, it can measure 1-5mm across and found all year on damp, decaying wood. Groups can often be found on the tops of fence posts at Castle Water, like the picture below.

Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes) is another species found in the gorse scrub at the southern end of Castle Water. This species can be found on trunks and dead branches, especially gorse and elm, in late autumn, winter and spring.  Velvet Shank can survive being frozen solid and on thawing can produce more spores.

This Peziza species was found in the fields near the hide at Castle Water. Its new for the Reserve and could be Blistered Cup (Peziza vesiculosa),its a common species and can be found all year.

Another Coprinus from Castle Water Common Inkcap (Coprinus atramentarius). This is a common species and could be found in your Garden or local park growing on the ground in clusters, often near buried or rotting timber.

Six Coprinus species have been recorded on the Nature Reserve, all have been at Castle Water. Today a huge group of Glistening Inkcap (Coprinus micaceus) was found on and around the base of a rotting Willow. This is a common species, but has only been found at two locations at Castle Water.

Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) a small bracket fungi can be found on dead wood of every description, Castle Water is the best place for this species on the Nature Reserve. Impressive groups of fruit-bodies can be found on old Willow stumps. During the summer months the fruit-bodies dry to thin,leathery,crumpled sheets then revive and continue growth in Autumn and Winter.

The Yellow Brain fungus (Tremella mesenterica) was first recorded on the Nature Reserve at Castle Water in january 2006. So far it has only been found in the Gorse scrub at the southern end of the main pit, a check this morning found several clumps. The best clumps were growing on dead Gorse branches amongst the leaf litter, were they had had better protection from the frost over the past few days.