Two exciting moments came in this month; firstly the sightings of a large White Barn Owl in our field and secondly the arrival of Fungi in the shape of Chanterelles (I think) and Heath Waxcaps. This is the first time a White Barn Owl has returned to our field since our very own, live-in Owl disappeared last year, after being a resident here before our arrival 7 years ago. We hear the hoots and shrieks regularly at night and sometimes catch an Owl shaped silhouette in the trees but these sightings occurred at dusk, between 4 and 5pm. I wandered out into the field one fine evening and there it was, circling and swooping, in front of me at the start of our field. It spotted me and flew around the back of me and right round to the front of me - about 10 foot away. Close enough for me to see its eyes and be slightly fearful of its next move. What an absolute beauty. And it greeted me in a similar way for the next 4 evenings. These birds are bigger than you think and they are a bit scary but there is magic in their company.
And onto the Mushrooms. No, I have not eaten any of them. I am very aware of my ignorance in the field of Fungi and I am happy to forego some of the pleasures of eating delicious food, in order not to die. Overly dramatic possibly, but very safe. I found both species of mushrooms in the same area. A few years back we did have a large delivery, a trailer load of spent Mushroom compost and these Mushrooms have appeared quite close to the area, which might have helped bring forth their appearance but Heath Waxcaps are reasonably common in Britain, found most often in grazed grassland. Our field was grazed by sheep for years but that part of the land is poor soil and the grasses and wildflowers are always short and stubby .The official name for this bright orange Fungus is Gliophorus Laetus. The Glio comes from the Greek word glia, meaning glue and the Phorus comes from the Latin word meaning bearing. It is a description of the gluey liquid that coats the caps and stems of these mushrooms and gives them their shine.
Fungi are an important part of soil diversity and help boost the health of the soil, hence my delight at their presence. I am assuming that the endless days of damp and mild weather has played a part in growing these Mushrooms. In previous years we have had small displays of different species of Fungi: Puffballs, Turkey Tail, Honey fungus, King Alfred's Cakes and Brown Mottlegills and a couple I was unable to identify. As always, there is more to learn. We had another trailer load of Mushroom compost delivered earlier in the Autumn, who knows what delights might arrive next year?
It was a generally mild month with a good amount of sunshine and plenty of days in which to hang out the washing. We also harvested the last of the Apples and Winter Squash. Storm Ciarin did visit in the first days of November and although there was localised flooding, and rivers bursting their banks, Cornwall missed the worst of the weather. At the very end of the month the temperature dropped considerably and there were a couple of days of snow in Helston and Falmouth and no trains to and from Exeter for two days. Such is the delight of living in the middle of nowhere, sometimes you are just stuck there.
As the leaves all finally dropped off the trees and bushes, their skeletal shapes altered the landscape and different parts of nature were revealed. This is show time for the lichen, not only on the walls and slabs of granite but all over the trees in the hedges and down in the woods. Beautiful shades of silvery greens and rust colours and framed by the vibrant green and yellow of the Gorse bushes. The leaves on the Blackberry bushes have turned deep magenta and the remaining sloes are a deep purple. Considering it is now Winter, there is a veritable feast of colour out in the fields and hedges.
Information on Fungi identification supplied by first-nature.com
Comments