Millyford Bridge
Sat 2 Nov 2024
Rigidoporus ulmarius
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2418
OS Grid areas: SU2316
Report: A mild but overcast day greeted us as we assembled in the car-park and, nearby, we were soon admiring the uncommon Hydnellum concrescens (Zoned Tooth) at the base of a birch. A hollowed-out Beech stump has, for some years, been host to another scarce fungus, Ossicaulis lignatilis (Mealy Oyster) and we found it was still present in good numbers. An attractive Psathyrella (Brittlestem) with a fibrous cap and hanging veil remnants around the rim was then discovered in a rot-hole and a sample was taken away for further examination. We also found Clavulina cinerea (Grey Coral) here.
We crossed over the main path to explore the woodland and bog beyond. Mensularia radiata (Alder Bracket) was recorded on a fallen branch of the host tree and we soon added Tricholoma fulvum (Birch Knight) and Lactarius chrysorrheus (Yellowdrop Milkcap). The moss-covered trunk of a standing oak was host to Hydropus floccipes a small, dark-capped mushroom with distinctive black speckling on the stipe. Nearby, we found Hemimycena tortuosa (Dewdrop Bonnet), a tiny white species which holds droplets of water on the cap and stipe.
We than climbed up into an area of beechwood but there was not a great deal to be found there. The highlights were Helvella macropus (Felt Saddle), Exidia plana (Warlockâs Butter) and the cup fungus, Peziza micropus. A cacophony of Blackbird alarm calls was followed by the sight of a Tawny Owl flying out from a rot-hole high in a Beech.
Heading back down to the edge of the bog, we completed a circuit by following the edge of a stream back to the main path. A fine example of Rigidoporus ulmarius (Great Elm Bracket) was seen on a streamside oak.