NWFG NEWS UPDATE

MykoGolfer

The intrepid MykoGolfer, winner of the Golf Cup, is now providing regular updates to our website. Watch this space....

FUNGAL SNIPPETS from MYKOGOLFER for 2009

FUNGAL SNIPPETS from MYKOGOLFER for 2010

Friday 1st January

Happy New Year. I went for a walk to clear my head and found some fungi. Tubaria hiemalis (Winter Twiglet) and Psathyrella microrrhiza (Rootlet Brittlestem). Log rolling was productive with finds of Bisporella citrina (Lemon Disco), Skeletocutis nivea and I finally found Ascocoryne cylichnium (the other Purple Jellydisc) on an old stump. Despite the weather, it is still worth looking although you have to look a bit harder.

Sunday 17th January

At last the snow has gone. My first walk (foray) for fourteen days. Lots of Trametes and Stereum but still a few gilled fungi hanging on. Crepidotus cesatii (Oysterling), Mycena letocephala (Nitrous Bonnet) and Mycena galericulata (Common Bonnet). Also the expected Flammulina velutipes (Velvet Shank). They are still out there.

Monday 25th January

Back to golf at last. Nothing much around except for a small dead birch that has turned into a spectacular Oyster Mushroom tree and a few Flaummulina velutipes (Velvet Shank). I noted that the Corpy have just mulched all the flowerbeds on the Promenade with woodchip. This will be worth a few visits during the year.

Wednesday 27th January

Golf again today. I collected a small orange fungus from the woodchip in a shrubbery, believing it would be Tubaria hiemalis (Winter Twiglet). To my surprise, it gave a red-brown spore print and turned out to be Galerina vittiformis (Hairy Leg Bell). You just never know!

Sunday 8th February

Nothing on the golf course so I went back to the woodchip on The Promenade. Saw some Tubaria hiemalis (Winter twiglet) and Flammulina velutipes (Velvet Shank). I also noticed a large bracket on a cut down cherry tree on a roundabout. Unfortunately, as it was a nice day, everyman and his dog was out for a walk so it was difficult to have close look at it.

Monday 9th February

Cloudy and freezing cold. Just the right conditions to skulk around in the bushes on a roundabout. It is a large (10 to 12 inches long) lumpy fungus, pinkish. I think it is Phellinus pomaceus (Cushion Bracket) which grows on cherry trees. It is solid and I could not find any clues in the small piece I was able to cut off.

Friday 12th February

I had a look at a wood I had not been in before only because I could not find an entry point. Fortunately a local inhabitant showed me the hidden path. It is at Hale on the banks of the Mersey. It is not maintained so the trees are in poor condition (good fungus fodder). There are a couple of spots of unwelcome human intrusion and it is smothered with Rhododendron, so I may need a machete. Nevertheless, I managed to find Resupinatus applicatus (Smoked Oysterling) under a log and a large Melanoleuca which could be cognata or strictipes. Whichever, Spring is coming.

Wednesday 24th February

Snow and Ice. The golf course is closed. However, I did manage to get some digging done at my allotment. Despite the weather, on some woodchip which someone had put round his rhubarb, there were dozens of fresh Tubaria (Twiglet) sprouting. Now we get technical. Were they Scurfy Twiglets or Winter Twiglets? Only microscopic examination can tell. Looking at the gill edge there was no sign of any of the round headed structures (cystidia)needed for a Winter Twiglet. So I have to conclude that they are Tubaria furfuracea (Scurfy Twiglet). Personally, I do not believe they are seperate species. At least there was something growing at this time of year.

Thursday 25th February

Today I went on a computer course about Google Earth which was held by Mersyside BioBank at the Wlidflower Centre. I can pinpoint my finds on a map and send them to people. I can plot foray routes and send the directions to others. I can do all sorts of things but I cannot get the golf course to open.

Saturday 27th February

I went to the Annual General Meeting at Risley Moss. A very good turnout and excellent lunch. After the meeting, we went to see if any Caloscypha fulgens had fruited since last year but there was no sign. We did find Sarcoscypha austriaca (Scarlet Elf Cup), Daedalea quercina (Mazegill) and some small Mycena (Bonnets) amongst the stacks of logs.

Monday 1st March

The first day of Spring. The sun is shining. The golf course is open. But no fungi.So I went for an afternoon walk around the local parks. Disaster. The Council have bought a woodchip machine and all the logs and fallen trees have been removed and chipped. The area where I found the Geastrum striatum (Striate Earthstar) has been cleared out. Why does all the dead tree matter have to be cleaned up? The only thing that save my day was a small group of Sarcoscypha austriaca (Scarlet Elf Cup). The first I have ever found in this area.

Tuesday 2nd March

I received some records from BioBank Merseyside and noted that Fomes fomentarius (Hoof Fungus) was reported from a nearby cricket ground. So, I had to have a look. I found what appeared to be a very old cherry tree with a huge bracket at the very top. Too high to see clearly. It could be a Fomes or it could be a Phellinus. Frustratingly, I shall have to wait until it falls down.

Sunday 7th March

I wanted to go to the foray at Werneth Low but my builder overran and it is dangerous to leave a builder to his own devices. And he had to be paid. I took the opportunity to pop up to Freshfield instead to see if I could find any of the Alder fungi mentioned in the Field Mycology magazine. Inonotus radiatus (Alder Bracket) was there. Also some of last year's Taphrina alni (Alder ongue), little black tongues sticking out of the old cones. Quite a lot of resupinates but I have not yet been able to get a decent microscopic sample to tell if any of it is Peniphora reidii.

Saturday 13th March

Had to travel up to Northumberland on family business. Stayed at a lovely hotel surrounded by mature woodland, mainly oak. The weather was cold and dry. I did not see a fungus of any description, not a bracket nor a resupinate despite the numerous fallen trees and branches. Too cold and dry!

Monday 15th March

Mrs. MykoGolfer's sage bush was on it's last legs, so I was instructed to dig it up. The older branches and thick stems were covered in what looked like Hyphodontia sambuci (Whitewash Fungus). Under the microscope, the spores, cystidia and hyphae, with clamps and crystal encrustations, fitted perfectly. An unusual host plant.

Thursday 25th March

After planting my potatoes this morning, I decided a short walk was necessary to straighten out my back. Another Geastrum. This time G. triplex (Collared Earthstar) very close to where I found the Striate Earthstar in December. Also lots of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Pale Oyster) on a felled beech. This is distinguished from the larger common oyster mushroom by it's pale yellow colour, lung shape and slightly larger spores. I also found a Myxomycete. Even though I went on a training course with Professor Bruce Ing, I am embarrassed to say that I only think? it is a Badhamia.

Tuesday 30th March

I was invited to the offices of RECORD at Chester Zoo who were giving a presentation on recording systems. They currently use RODIS (RECORD online data input system) which can used by anyone who wishes to enter a record on the system. It has maps as well. Very interesting.

Thursday 1st April

I refused to be defeated and had to go back for some more of the myxomycete I found last week. I spent most of the day on it but finally reached the conclusion that it was Badhamia macrocarpa. In the course of my research, I used the Internet and found some excellent photographs of this and many other myxomycetes, which I could match with the diagrams in Professor Ing's book.

Friday 2nd April

At last it has stopped raining. I decided to have a look at Stockton's Wood, beside Speke Hall, now taken over by National Trust. It was cold and windy. Nothing was growing in the wood, which is normally a jungle. There was a large fallen tree covered with Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster Mushroom). Everything else was underground. The only two I successfully identified were Myocacia uda and Phellinus ferruginosus (Rusty Porecrust).

Sunday 4th April

Today I visited Croxteth Country Park in Liverpool. Once the family home of the Molyneux family, Earls of Sefton. Then Liverpool Council bought it. It is 40 years since I last visited, when kingfishers still inhabited the ornamental ponds. It is a bit too plastic bottle, beer can and doggy for my liking BUT there is a lot of woodland and it was easy to find specimens. There was a good collection of Coprinus micaceus (Glistening Inkcap). The most common fungi were Kretzschmaria deusta (Brittle Cinder) and Exidia glandulosa (Witches Butter). I shall return.

Tuesday 6th April

Went back for another look at the Fishermans Path side of Ainsdale. Not much new from last time. Found Melanoleuca cognata (Spring Cavalier) and Polyporus leptocephalus (Balckfoot Polypore). I tried a new path. 2 miles and 40 minutes later I ended up at the red squirrel reserve. It was a long walk back. Must take a better map next time.

Thursday 8th April

MykoGolfer went to Aintree Races. What a beautiful day. Hope it keeps up until Sunday. The only fungus recorded was the yeast in my beer and sandwiches. I could not help thinking that, with all that grass and all those horses, it must have potential as a foray site later on in the year.

Sunday 11th April

North West Fungus Group at Ainsdale today. I was leader - because I am the only one who knows how to get round. Nine of us started from Fresfield Station on a beautiful sunny day. As usual, we were not let down by this site with more new species. Amongst the finds were Auricscalpium vulgare (Earpick Fungus) on a pine cone. One the reasons for starting from Freshfield is because it is easier to reach the slack areas behind the sand dunes where many years ago hundreds of Morels would grow. Then they cut the trees down and they all but disappeared. But today we found one, Morchella vulgaris (Black Morel). Also a large group of Discina (Pig' Ears). The star of the day was a tiny cup fungus growing on the seeds of old hawthorn berries, Monilinia johnsonii. Two of the group had been searching for this fungus for years. A good day all round.

Monday 12th April

Back to the mundane. On an old tree at the allotment site was growing a very young Polyporus squamosus (Dryad's Saddle). Things are starting to improve.

Thursday 15th April

One of the fungi found on Sunday has been identified as an Hohenbuehelia. (Please do not ask me to spell it again). Unfortunately, the sample taken was past it's best and could not be identified accurately. So, I went back but could not find any more. I also went to the Rangers' office to look for the Gyromitra esculenta (False Morel). Again no luck. However, the day was not wasted as I continued on to Marshside, where I watch 30 or more flirting Avocets. Beautiful.

Wednesday 21st April

Golf today. Not much around. Only Coprinus micaceus (Glistening Inkcap) on an old stump.

Thursday 22nd April

I am still working on the specimens from Ainsdale. The final list will be on the website very soon. I still had time for golf, this time at Woolton Golf Course. Still very dry. The only thing I saw was some Trametes hirsuta on a Weeping Willow.

Friday 23rd April

Back on the golf course again. This time at Leigh Golf Course near Culcheth. As I was fishing my ball out of a ditch, I noticed that the Oak tree I was hanging on to was sporting two large, elderly Ganoderma resinaceum (Lacquered Bracket). Two good finds at the same time. I eventually won at golf as well.

Wednesday 5th May

I played my first golf competition round of the year. Not very good today. However at the back of the 9th tee there was a very large group, at least fifty, of Calocybe gambosa (St.Georges Mushroom). A new site for this species on the golf course. They are said to be edible but they are not to my taste.

Friday 7th May

More Calocybe gambosa (St. George's Mushroom) at one of my local parks, this time very good specimens. So I picked some for the pot. I have this recipe with cream and coriander which I try every year. To me they still taste of plastic. MykoGolfer is off to Sicily tomorrow. Hopefully to taste some porcini.

Monday 17th May

I have returned from my holiday in Sicily. My only contact with fungi was a Risotto ai Funghi Porcini and very nice it was. I saw a pizza restaurant named L' Amanitas. Sounds very interesting. I also learned that the slopes of Mount Etna are awash with mushrooms but you have to get a licence to pick as it is a National Park. You have to pass an exam in identification so as not to poison people.

Monday 24th May

Despite this hot and dry weather, my golf club produced three Amanita rubescens (The Blusher) this morning. This species grows in profusion every year but this is the earliest date I have recorded it there since I started in 1995. Even more interesting was a group of Neolentinus lepideus growing from the wooden surrounds of one of the teeing areas. This is now called 'Scaly Sawgill' but is better known as 'The Train Wrecker'. It likes treated wood, including creosote, and was the cause of rotting in railway sleepers and telegraph poles.

Monday 7th June

Despite the rain of last week things are slow to move. I did find some Coprinopsis lagopus (Hares'foot Inkcap) and some Lycoperdon perlatum (Common Puffball) on the golf course but nothing else.

Wednesday 9th June

Passing some old Yew trees in a local park I noticed a pale coloured encrustation on the trunk. It turned out to be Amylostereum laevigatum. It is said to be common but this is the first time I have noticed. Must be more observant in future. A friend sent me some photographs to identify. They were of a most beautiful Laetiporus sulphureus (Chicken of the Woods) on Alder. This fungus does not seem to mind dry conditions.

Monday 14th June

A very wet weekend seems to have started a few fungi off. The golf course produced half a dozen Agaricus arvensis (Horse Mushroom) with their pleasant sweet almond smell. Also a nice group of Psathyrella candolleana (Pale Brittlestem). A fallen branch displayed a nice group of grey-black Peniophora limitata. This does not yet have an English name. As it grows almost exclusively on Ash, I suggest Ash Crust.

Tuesday 22nd June

No recent sightings although this warm dry weather is encouraging rusts and moulds on the leaves of fruit bushes and vegetables. Under a microscope thay are beautiful to look at. On my raspberries, I am not convinced.

Wednesday 23rd June

Despite the hot weather, a few Vascellum pratense (Meadow Puffball) appeared in the very short grass on one of the teeing areas at the golf course.

Saturday 26th June

I went to a conference held by the British Mycological Society at Alston Hall near Longridge in Lancashire. It had a lovely woodland walk and despite the dry conditions, I managed to find Pleurotus cornucopiae (Branching Oyster), Coprinopsis lagopus (Haresfoot Inkcap), Conocybe apala (Milky Conecap) on the lawn and an unusual Russula (Brittlegill), which I have not yet identified. It was very dry which makes it difficult to interpret some of the chemical and microscopic tests. I shall keep trying.

Monday 28th June

We are nearing drought conditions so I was surprised to see two large Xerula radicata (Rooting Shank) poking out around an old Sycamore stump. This fungus is new for the golf course, now at number 376.

Friday 2nd July

I do not play golf all of the time. Today, I was picking my Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrants to you). I prune as I pick. Two dead branches were showing a tiny black fungus erupting from the bark. From my books on these Ascomycetes, I reached the conclusion that it was Dothiora ribesia. Not very exciting to look at but there is nothing else.

Saturday 3rd July

Big golf competition today. No fungi. Brilliant golf. Still failed to win! However the Greenkeeper has been busy clearing thick undergrowth from an area of Birch trees which lies between two patches where I find Boletus edulis (Cep). I wait with much anticipation.

Sunday 11th July

I went on a foray with the North Fungus Group to Rivington in Lancashire. Although the conditions are still dry, we managed to find a few damp spots. Not many large gilled fungi as you would expect. We found Russula parazurea (Powdery Brittlegill), Mycena pura (Lilac Bonnet) and Hypholma fasciculare (Sulphur Tuft). Also a very fresh Phallus impudicus (Stinkhorn) which the flies stripped inside an hour. We spent a lot of time under logs which produced a hoard of small ascomycetes such as Orbilia (Glasscup) and Mollisia cinerea (Grey Disco). Because it was dry we also found a good number of myxomycetes (Slime Moulds). They tend to wash off when it rains. Despite their common name, they only start as slime but then develop into the most fascinating shapes and colours which require specilist study to identify them. You can find some excellent photographs on the Internet.

Friday 16 July

Played golf at Haydock today. despite the overnight rain, nothing was showing. My only find was the myxomycete (Slime Mould), Lycogala terrestre, showing pink fruiting bodies on an old tree trunk.

Monday 19 July

More golf, this time at my own club. Despite even more heavy rain and almost tropical heat, the only thing I found was a lone Mycena filopes (Iodine Bonnet), usually very common in the leaf litter.

Wednesday 21st July

Played golf but we were washed out again. The streets of Liverpool flooded with one month's amount of rain in one hour. Then the sun came out just to laugh. I managed to find Panaeolina foenisecii (Brown Mottlegill) with its distinct warty spores on the path at my allotment. Also the pretty ascomycete, Puccinia lagenophorae, a rust on groundsel.

Saturday 24th July

Last Tuesday, I was walking through my local golf course. We had just experienced severe rain and I thought something might have grown. I passed a line of cut tree trunks, placed to demarcate a path. At the base of one of the trunks was a whitish bracket which I thought would be a Trametes. Examination showed it was a toothed fungus. I have only now managed to confirm that it is Hericium cirrhatum (Tiered Tooth) which is rare. The tree was covered with Bjerkandera adusta (Smoky Bracket), so I assume it was Fagus (Beech).

Monday 26th July

As it had eventually stopped raining, I took my grandsons for a walk to Croxteth Hall Country Park. Nothing much around except some more Panaeolina foenisecii (Brown Mottlegill) and Hypholoma fasciculare (Sulphur Tuft).

Tuesday 27th July

Back to the allotment, on a grassy path, I thought I had found some more Brown Mottlegills. They turned out to be Panaeolus olivaceus. They are very similar except the spores are only very finely rough, not warty.

Wednesday 28 July

I have been in contact with Dr. Brian Spooner at Kew Herbarium. He wanted me to send him a specimen of the Hericium cirrhatum (Tiered Tooth). I have had to tell him that, overnight, it turned into a brown mush full of maggots.