Toft Meadow Fungi and Flies

Although I sometimes think it would have been great to have lived in more places in my life, there is something wonderful about exploring the same area for so many years - Toft Great Meadow never fails to reveal a new species or a new aspect of the scenery. Yesterday I decided to record the various fungi there including this Petticoat Mottlegill - aptly named with its lacy cap. The recent rains have cut away at Bourn Brook banks giving some excellent vertical surfaces for next season's Kingfisher nests.

Lichens at RPSB Sandy

As often happens when I am out with my camera, I got fixated on the variety of lichens growing on the sandy soils in the reserve. Not great quality images as they are all very small and these in-camera stacks don't give enough depth of field in most cases as it is restricted to 8 shots. I will return and try again taking 20+ stacks to process in the computer. There were lots of ladybirds and very very small spiders (Mangora acalypha)

Toadstools from Sandy Bedfordshire

With all the recent rain and relatively mild temperatures, the fungi are abundant everywhere including RSPB Sandy. We had a very enjoyable day there yesterday with only one shower when we needed to shelter. Here some of the Toadstools; smaller fungi and lichens to follow!

Mobile Phones in Cambridge 1

I spent a short while in Cambridge this morning watching and photographing tourists with their mobiles outside Trinity College in Cambridge photographing the buildings, each other and themselves, and then, occasionally using it as a phone. Shot on Full Spectrum camera which accentuates the autumnal feel to the morning.

Fungi in Hardwick Wood

Hardwick Wood, as expected, has very large numbers of fungi everywhere at the moment after the rain and now the warmer temperatures. The first two have appropriate names - the Tripe Fungus and the Honey Fungus (taken with small pocket camera so not great quality!).