The Nature Report - September 2004

This week we start with a picture of a Leopard, a Leopard Moth that is.

Given the colour of this one I would think it best camouflaged in a snowstorm so I would expect its striking colours show that it would not be a nice feed for some owl or bat

The wet conditions that we have been experiencing have proved to be of benefit to one group that is neither plant or animal, I refer to the group known as fungi.

Sulphur tuft fungi Our first example was photographed by Dorothy growing on the stump of a silver birch tree near our kitchen window. It is a fungi known as as Sulfur Tuft. This is a poisonous species of fungi which can be confused with similar edible fungi such as the Sheathed Woodtuft (not illustrated).

The Sulphur Tuft is normally found growing on rotting wood during summer and autumn.

Our Second fungi is the Stump Puffball.

This species always grows on rotten wood and is to be found growing from summer to early winter.

When young it is an edible species. It is a common and widespread species.

Parasol Fungi Our next example is known as the Parasol. This is a well known edible species.

A common fungi the parasol can be found through summer to late autumn.

Viewed from the underside the white to cream coloured gills of the Parasol can be seen in the photograph on the right.

A WORD OF WARNING - To accurately and safely identify fungi requires a good deal of experience the details and pictures above are not intended for identification purposes and are not to be relied upon for such. If you wish to collect edible fungi always have an experienced person with you, if you have the slightest doubt

LEAVE IT ALONE

We end this months nature report on a somwhat lighter note and strictly speaking this did not happen here at Greenheyes but at Webby's place of work at Northwich Ambulance Station.

Investigating a loud bang on an upstairs window this ghostly impression was found on the window

It was made following the collision of a bird with the window glass.

Minute particles of dust on the birds feathers were dislodged by the impact and deposited on the glass.

It is thought that the bird may have been an owl. no physical trace of the bird was found so we assume it escaped the incident uninjured - a large number of such impacts result in injury or even death of the bird concerned.

Well that's it for now,

more next month Phil.