White Fungi

This time of year we get many different types of fungi springing up in different areas of our lawns. This year, for the first time, a large area of our lawn has one we have never noticed in any quantity before.

After reading Susan s Blog this morning (Here) we thought it might be Ivory Funnel which is very toxic.

So it was out with the field guides... Our best guess from reading and comparing is that it is NOT Ivory Funnel but the similar and edible Snowy Waxcap (Hygrocybe virginea)

Needless to say we are no experts and therefore will not be sampling them despite having a good supply.

Return of the Nuthatch...

We saw very little of the Nuthatch last winter and wondered if it would be around this year...

We didn't have long to wait! It has been feeding on the bird table for most of today...

Interestingly it doesn't seem to mind sharing with the Blue Tits BUT the Great Tits get chased off immediately...

It has yet to discover the peanut feeder; then the fun will start...

Owls Out; Robins In!

Having recently had an operation on my eye, I'm "not allowed" to do any stone carving for a few weeks... so my carved stone owls are a no-no, sadly.

However, where one door closes.... another opens and a load of robins come in...

I decided to use some of my paintings of robins, done in very different styles, and transfer them onto fabric to make some Christmas bits and bobs.

I've started with some fine cotton napkins...

I've thought of table runners, a tea cosy, and door-bottom draught excluder but if anyone has any good ideas to use these (and other) transfers onto fabric, for Christmas, please let me know, bearing in mind that once transferred to the fabric they are washable at 30C.

Likewise, if you are looking for a gift that's just a little different, give me a shout. I'm starting a 'blog' of craftwork at www.spangledust.co.uk and will be adding these napkins to that shortly.

Bird Feeders or Battle Zones??

Following on from yesterday's post, we spotted some rather anti-social behaviour at the bird feeders today. We've blogged about this before (see here) but you forget just how aggressive this little garden birds can be!

Two's company, three's a crowd.... You just know how this is going to end!

Unsuccessful the first time, it's back for a second attack...

But when this fails, it employs another tactic....feigning interest in the peanut feeder...

And just when they think the threat has passed, in comes bomber command...

Fortunately (or unfortunately) for all concerned, at this moment a raptor flew overhead and all thoughts of sibling rivalry evaporated. They and this little bluetit, watching from the sidelines, took flight for the safety of the trees...

Gentle garden birds they most certainly are not!

Bird Feeders

Despite there still being plenty of food around and about we have installed the first of our bird feeders!

This year, as we changed trees, the bird table has been modified to take the peanut feeder...

It does not take the birds long to know where the free food is!! Niger seeds going down well with the Goldfinches...

The Collared Dove, which appears to have had a successful youngster, there are three of them, cleaning up the bird table of the seeds the small birds don't eat.

And the peanut feeder always  popular with the Tits.

Finally, as always, hoping around the base picking up any crumbs... One of our two Robins...

We do hope they appreciate it.

Seasonal Thoughts..

Whilst I hate to see the passing of the light nights and warm days of summer, the changing season has its compensations...

Driving back down through England and then through France on Sunday we had plenty of time to admire the changing colours of the trees...

Then, back on the rural roads leading to Braye, the quality of light was beautiful and the sky so wide and full of drama.

 

Travelling the last half kilometre through the woods, with Braye ahead in the distance, we were back in the place we love...

There was a time when the end of summer meant a return to the busiest period at work, with all its stresses and strains....

Now it affords us the time and chance to wander through these wonderful woods
Perhaps the end of summer isn't so bad after all!

A Favourite Walk in Gisburn Forest

Whenever we're back in England we like visit Stocks Reservoir in the Gisburn Forest for a walk...

Today there were seed heads aplenty for the birds...

and mosses and lichens on every surface...

but the most spectacular of all were the fungi..

And far and away the most spectacular was the Fly Agaric, growing in a clearing in the forest and bathed in sunlight. The display was captivating, as you will see below!

 

 

This is a magical place and today we saw it at its best.... Wonderful!!