www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Glorious pictures, Ernie. It's a week or two since I last saw a speckled wood here in Woodbridge, though the red admirals are still going strong. But I especially love your shroom pics. You have found some very interesting species. You've inspired me to go out for a last forage - I noticed there were still a few Russula around last time I took a trip to the woods.

Guy

More fabulous fungi and splendid Sporocarps Ernie The Golden Waxcaps really caught my eye as they don't look 'real'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Good work with the fungi again, ernie, and top marks for bagging your late Speckled Wood, as well as the surprise appearance of that Peacock!

Guy, Wurzel, David - Thanks for your comments on my mushroom experiences and of course on Woody! The fungi are still out there to be found but tempus is fugit-ing away. Soon it will be only the winter birds to keep us going...

Deadwater Valley - 19th Nov 2018

Brrr. It never got above 6 degrees today and settled around 5 degrees for the most part so no sight of Woody today but did get a few interesting fungi.

A small amount of Yellow Brain.
And Birch Woodwart.
Peniophora quercina.
And an Arcyria Slime Mould, poss sp. Ferruginea.
Yellow Swamp Brittlegill, a bit nibbled.
Ochre Brittlegill.
Frosty Funnel.
Deadwater Valley - 22nd Nov 2018 - 4 degrees at 12 noon.

Last night temperatures went down to -4 degrees and there was a frost well into the morning.
But it was sunny this morning so was there any sign of Woody?

No.

He was probably my last butterfly of the season and I don’t think I will be seeing him again now.

And this being the fourth week of November, I expect the fungi season will be closing soon too.

That Ochre Brittle almost looks good to eat ernie ( Cheese and Mushrooms ) in a pastry Goldie

More interesting fungi Ernie I'm really interested in that red slime mould - is that one mycelia or several?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Goldie - The Ochre Brittlegill (aka The Common Yellow Russula) is known for being a bit bland and peppery. Not one for your pastry I am afraid.

Wurzel - I know nothing about slime moulds other than from a TV programme about them I saw years ago and found out they are not fungi and that they are weird. Special time-lapse photography showed them moving across the surfaces of rocks and stumps, etc. Because I did not know the answer to your question I looked them up. The Wikipedia pages describe their lifecycle very well. I wont repeat it other than to say what I photographed was lucky because they apparently only last about a day in this stage.

That slime mould is particularly impressive, ernie. Reminds me a bit of fish roe.

I think I might have seen that TV program too - 'Magic of Mushrooms' wasn't it presented by Richard Fortey?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great fungi selections Ernie, very interesting. I like some of the names as well.

Love Woody!

Cheers

January 21st 2019 - 4.30 am to 5.15 am

Total Lunar Eclipse this morning and wonder or wonders it was a clear sky here in Hampshire.
Previous years...
And just to finish off - The Supermoon of 2014, the closest the Moon approached Earth for 70 years.
A date for your diary. The next total lunar eclipse can be seen from the UK on 8th April 2024.

CORRECTION!!!

I gave a wrong date for the next TOTAL LUNAR Eclipse from the UK.

It is actually the 20th-21st December 2029.

Its 10 years away!

I'll set an alarm for that Erni e as the cloud here wasn't conducive Great set of shots but the 2014 Supermoon is a real cracker

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great shot's of the Moon ernie, but you've reminded me that I probably won't be a round then I'll have to make the next few years really special Goldie

Wurzel, Goldie

We have had a spate of Total Lunar Eclipses these past few years so it came as a bit of surprise to me that the next one is 10 years out - but then, that is the way with eclipses I suppose - the same as Red London busses. You have to wait a long time and then a whole bunch of them come along at once!

January 24th 2019 - 9.30 am At Home - The Owl in the Towel

Some years ago in the middle of the night our cat was going bonkers, mewing and rushing around like a lunatic. I got up out of bed to investigate and found a Tawny Owl in the dining room sitting on the back of one of our dining room chairs. As I came in, it swivelled its head and just glowered at me while our cat danced around it. No, it wasn't a dream - it was really happening - the daft Owl had toppled from its perch on our chimney pot and slid down the chimney and spilled out into the dining room. Without thinking I walked over to it and grabbed it - then IT grabbed ME with its talons. Aarghh!

I rushed it over to the front door and while holding it, tried to get the door unbolted and opened. I then chucked it out and it flew off to a tree on the other side of the street apparently unharmed by its ordeal. I cannot say the same for my fingers though!

Some say lightening never strikes twice in the same place. Well it did today. This time in broad daylight, another Tawny Owl had done the same thing and ended up in our dining room. This one was repeatedly banging against the glass window trying to get out. With the benefit of hindsight, this time I opened the front door first and then got a towel to protect my hands from gripping talons. I picked up the Owl in the towel, took it outside and placed it on the ground. It flew off, I hope appreciative of my efforts.

Of course I did not hang around to take any pictures because the poor thing was very distressed.

Wow!

You did well to take precautions the second time. The photographer Eric Hosking lost his eye to a tawny owl, as I'm sure you know. Maybe put some goggles on if it happens again ...

Guy

Hi! ernie, we used to get Birds down our chimney, we have a cage over the chimney pot now, it's only small but the Birds can't fall down, it's done the trick Goldie

As Guy said you did well to cover it with the towel Ernie - if I was you I'd invest in some Ice Hockey Goal keeper gear ready for the next time the Owl takes the plunge!

Have a goodun

Wurzel