Last MNA Coach Trip of the year. We dropped off ten members who were to have a guided walk around Rothsherne Mere before walking across to Tatton Park. The remaining seven of us stayed on the coach the short distance to Tatton Park.
Smiley face Common Earthball
I headed off with DaveB for a bit of a Fungi foray noting Common Jellypot Dacrymyces stillatus, Small Stagshorn Calocera cornea, Jelly Ear Auricularia auricula-judae, Red Cracking Bolete Xerocomellus chrysenteron, Common Inkcap Coprinus atramentarius, Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus, Crystal Brain Exidia nucleata, Black Witches Butter Exidia plana, Black Bulgar Bulgaria inquinans, Waxy Crust Vuilleminia comedens, Many-zoned Polypore or Turkeytail Trametes versicolor , Lumpy Bracket Trametes gibbosa, Southern Bracket Ganoderma australe, Phaeolus schweinitzii, Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare, Angel’s Bonnet Mycena arcangeliana.
Angel’s Bonnet
Waxcap Hygrocybe sp., Beech Woodwart Hypoxylon fragiforme, Scurfy Deceiver Laccaria proxima, Giant Polypore Meripilus giganteus, Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, Oysterling Crepidotus sp. Coral Spot Nectria cinnabarina, Common Eyelash Scutellinia scutellata, Common Earthball Scleroderma citrinum and Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon. A couple of species that had us flummoxed for a while were Bulbous Honey Fungus Armillaria gallica and Dark Honey Fungus Armillaria ostoyae.
Bulbous Honey Fungus
Dave headed off to the Mere whereas I tried to photograph some of the Red Deer Cervus elaphus and Fallow Deer Dama dama that were rutting. I thankfully avoided being squished in a stampede of thirty hinds and their stag when a couple with their two little uns decided it was a great idea to walk through the tightly grouped harem whilst the stag was engaged in full testosterone induced bellowing. Other mammals included Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus and Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis. I also noted three female Common Darters Sympetrum striolatum, a lone Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria and a handful of Nomada Wasps.
Red Deer stag
Catching up with other members sightings the Rothsherne gang had great views of a Kingfisher posing on a wooden post in the water that appeared as if on cue when the warden mentioned it was a regular place for it. Seema photographed a Spider – Four-spot orb-weaver Araneus quadratus that ran onto Dave B’s arm.
My Dad mentioned that Tatton Park had featured on this week’s BBC Countryfile programme proving to be a fantastic place for bats through ongoing survey work being carried out by South Lancashire Bat Group. Nine species have now been recorded at Tatton including the tiny Nathusius Pipistrelle.
Other wildlife sightings this weekend included a rather cute Sloth that appeared on my sofa 🙂
If you are interested in the wildlife of the north-west of England and would like to join the walks and coach trips run by the Merseyside Naturalists’ Association, see the main MNA website for details of our programme and how to join us.