Lady of the Lake - Rainbow

A combination of a sunny day, 'jabs' up to date and the Visa having arrived was encouragement enough to send me off for a day in Hampshire. Just a 15 minute drive to cross the border the first destination was, perhaps 'of course',

Arriving at the Tern Hide my first contact was a most familiar face, John 6 x 4 (because of his insistence of only printing photographs in this size format) who only had dreary news. He told me how 'MAYHEM' had visited the hide every evening since a Franklin's Gull decided to roost at Ibsley Water. He continued that one evening he couldn't even get OUT of the hide and no one, particularly those in pole position, were giving an inch. Well, no chance of that today with very few people about - PERFECT. In very quick succession the more common and expected Wildfowl were seen including

 WIGEON

(male foreground)

 TUFTED DUCK

(male)

 POCHARD

(male)

 GADWALL

(male)

EGYPTIAN GOOSE

(nowhere near as many as usual)

and with a little more dedicated searching a couple of pairs of

 GOLDENEYE

 (female foreground)

 c2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE

with the same number of

RUDDY DUCK

(archive)

It's only a short walk, across Ellingham Drove to what might be described
as the Main Reserve, where at this time of year there is an abundance of
FUNGI.
Not at all my subject which has to be one of the most complex in Nature,
enter John Gifford!

 On the even shorter walk to Ivy Lake c3 Species were found all
of which I had encountered before.

 COLLARED EARTH STAR

 was found at PCF earlier in the year by Dave Foot, but it is not
remembered where

TURKEY FEATHERS
has been seen in the past.
Most familiar was

 STINKHORN
with its most descriptive Latin name
PHALLUS IMPUDICUS

 Most of them had now 'gone-over' but were still attracting Flies, as
they always do, and letting out that pungent, but for me not unpleasant,
STINK.

Having sent the images to John for clarification, I was not at all surprised to find on their return he had also identified the Flies

SUILLIA AFFINIS (lower)
and  
SUILLIA LAEVIFRONS

 Along the Wooded Glade that leads to Ivy Lake Hide

HYDNELLUM CONCRESCENS
one of the
ZONED TOOTH FUNGI
and

MYCENA INCLINATA

CLUSTERED BONNET
also known as
OAK-STUMP BONNET CAP
were found.

NUTHATCH
Custodian of the Ivy North Hide
Almost unheard of at this very popular Reserve the hide was devoid of people,
and at a quick glance through the window, outside equally lacking in birds.
With just one shutter open and the sun blazing in from right ahead
(yes, it's been dry for 2 days now and once again there's a moan about the sun)
it was interesting to spot

Tree Roosting

CORMORANT
but the 'flash' of bright colour close to my view was to prove even more interesting.

KINGFISHER
at 'point blank' range is a godsend in anybodies book, but yes we
have to bemoan the brightness once again.
This was the best we could achieve

even after Adjusting Exposure on Photo Gallery.
The question was should I move and risk flushing it or just make
the most of what was on hand?

"Faint heart never won Fair Maiden"
so while moving

these 2 images were taken through the glass of the next shutter.

Reaching the other end of the hide, where the angle of the sunlight
was somewhat reduced

there was the added problem of opening the shutter. On cost alone
it is not known why they opt for the Thumb type Drop Latch as
shutter fitments as they make a noise even if you only look at them.
The bird did flit to another perch but so stiff were the hinges the
latch wasn't needed.

Fire Away Son!

WOODLAND HIDE
was next and more Fungi on this 5 minute stroll. Identification of the
following trio are thought to be accurate but not definite.

 PHLEBIA RADIATA
WRINKLED CRUST

 PSATHYRELLA BIFRONS

PHLEBIA CORNEA
 It would seem, due to the continuing mild weather, that the flocks
of 'overwintering' birds have no yet arrived here.

BROAD BUCKLER FERN

 CHAFFINCH

 and
GREAT TIT
were predictable as perhaps was the resident

 BANK VOLE
the first of c3 Mammals on show here that day.

 A closer look at
NUTHATCH
before a

 GREY SQUIRREL

 appeared to help Hoover up the overspill Bird Food.

 A young
GREENFINCH
and a

 BROWN RAT

 brought a conclusion to this part of the day,

except for a few more Fungi that is!

 XYLARIA HYPOXYLON
familiarly known as
CANDLESTICK/STAG'S HORN/CANDLESNUFF

 RUSSULA CYANOXANTHIA
aka
CHARCOAL BURNER

STEREUM SUBTOMENTOSUM
YELLOWING CURTAIN CRUST
 which thus far is only half of the story.
The Second Part will be Posted in a Day or Two
Again we Thank JOHN GIFFORD for his Priceless Contribution!

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