A Holly lacked any fruits and was probably a male. The red twigs of the Dogwood
were noted.
Fungi were few and far between despite recent warm weather and damp, even very
wet, soil in places. A small immature parasitic bracket fungus on a living tree was
Ganoderma adspersum. Other bracket fungi were the Birch Polypore and the
Blushing Bracket. The former has been used as a razor strop and as a tinder. The latter
species gains its common name because the pores bruise pinky-brown when touched.
Also on wood was the pink gilled toadstool the Fawn Pluteus with two well developed
fruiting bodies. The concentric structure of the black cramp balls provided the
opportunity to explain the production and dispersal of ascospores from the flask
shaped perithecia in the fruiting body. This was almost certainly on a dead Ash log.
Nearby were black Candle Snuff fungi in the sexual stage. No asexual stages with the
powdery white tips, which explain the name, were seen. On the edge of the woodland
some immature fruiting bodies of an Agaricus species were found. This provided no
clues in the way of colour changes in the flesh or distinctive smalles of aniseed or
disinfectant. It was probably nothing more exciting than Agaricus bisporus which is
the cultivated species with only two spores instead of four per basidium. As I
discarded the specimen I could not check this under the microscope. As it was
growing in woodland debris it was unlikely to be the Field Mushroom found in grass.
The large expanses of pasture provided nothing except three immature puffballs,
which were not worth collecting as the spores were not developed. Altogether a
disappointing start to the main fungus season.
We had our picnic lunch sitting on a long decaying log, which was being visited by
some large impressive Hornets. They were apparently collecting the soft wood and
showed no aggressive behaviour at all. As they were very restless, close up
photography proved difficult. We were delighted to see a number of Clouded Yellow
butterflies which were either migrants or the offspring of migrants. Several pairs of
male Speckled Woods were involved in aerial displays in wliich the resident male was
protecting his territory as they fly into the canopy. A Common Blue was also seen at
rest on a flower. Near the Lake we observed dragonflies and damselflies. Species
identified included the Migrant Hawker and the Brown Hawker.
Vertebrates were less in evidence although deer were heard. Personally I am not
familiar enough with their sounds to distinguish between the barking of Muntjac, the
grunting, belching groan of a Fallow buck and the gutteral roar of a Red Deer stag.
We did not make a sighting to settle the problem. Birds were quiet but Mallard, Coot.
Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Long Tailed Tit and Nuthatch were seen. A dead Grass
Snake was found on a log visited by flies, suggesting that someone had inexplicably-
killed it.
I have described this outing in detail, because such events arc the traditional function
of the Field Club with members sharing their expertise and learning from others. I was
delighted to meet new members and I hope more people will find the time to enjoy,
teach and learn our natural history.
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 33, September 2000
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