Honey Fungus
A damp, cool Autumnal feel to the air for my morning wander around Dibbinsdale. A nice start with a cluster of Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea on the fallen Beech Tree Fagus sylvatica beside the path sloping down from Bromborough Rake Station and Shaggy Scalycap Pholiota squarrosa at the base of a tree opposite that unfortunately had been attacked by slugs.
Leafy Brain
The pale form of Leafy Brain Tremella foliacea proved photogenic. At the top end of Bodens Hay Meadow a Red Oak Quercus rubra was living up to its name its leaves a blaze of colour. Another fallen Beech tree had Amethyst Deceiver Laccaria amethystea and exploded Stump Puffballs Lycoperdon pyriforme.
Amethyst Deciever
Returning to where I had found a lonesome Collared Earthstar Geastrum triplex on the 4th October 2015 close to the Ranger’s Office at Woodslee Cottages I was rewarded with half a dozen peeking through the Pedunculate Oak leaves Quercus robur.
Collared Earthstar
I counted 9-10 Grey Squirrels Scirius carolinensis going about their business foraging for leaner times to come. A nice finale to the walk was a Kingfisher that flew along Dibbin Brook ‘peeping’ before briefly perching on a branch close to the wooden path marker 8.
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.