The Lyons Share

Another day out with the West Weald Fungi Recording Group and another day where I saw dozens of new species. In fact, I added 24 new fungi yesterday. This time we were out of the county up in the Surrey Hills at Norbury Park and I was pleased to start chipping away at the dull brown fungi that I usually walk away from. However, I think the star of the show was the fantastically named Plums and Custard above.

This Lactarius bled orange milk. Found beneath spruces, this was the False Saffron Milkcap (correction, this is actually the Saffron Milkcap, or if you like, the False False Saffron Milkcap!)

And this is probably the Orange Milkcap (correction - this is actually the Tawny Milkcap) but needs confirming (see, I told you!). This one was growing in chalk-grassland rich in Common Rock-rose. Apparently, there are a number of fungi associated with this plant that occur at Norbury Park but I don't think this was one of them.

This huge fungus is one of the cavaliers but lacks an English name. It's Melanoleuca grammopodia.

Elfin Saddles are always good value. How many faces can you see in this one!?

My favourite photo of the day though was of these Agaricus phaeolepidotus. Due to an odd trick with the depth of field and the lighting, it looks photo-shopped! It's not at all but I also like how it looks like something off Strictly Come Dancing!

The list of species was vast, not just the new ones either. We saw Dog Stinkhorn, Collared Earthstar, Sessile Earthstar, Verdigris Roundhead, Black Bulgar, Stinking Dapperling, Poisonpie, Wood Woolyfoot (see below) and the ridiculously named Chicken Run Funnel among many, many more. So, with all this fungus madness and the leaf-miners Tony has been helping me with, I'm on 4659 species. A massive thank you to the WWFRG, particularly Ray Tantrum for being so helpful.