November 2003
1st November
Very wet and overcast, today. I saw several Bullfinches eating the Haws - very pretty birds - male and female.
2nd November
Spotted a gap in the rain and managed to get the following pictures:
Unless you knew the scale of this picture, you might think these were trees. But in fact they're mosses - about 1cm across.
The Bell heather is still trying to show a bit of colour.
These are the spore bearing 'capsules' of one of the mosses.
This
little Ichneumon (about 1.5 cm long) was rapidly crawling all over the place,
presumably looking for food. It didn't fly at all.
Finally today, a Pied Wagtail was having a bath. It's a very common bird around here.
4th November
Two more mosses, today. Mosses reproduce by means of spores which are produced in the Capsule. I'll try to get a spore photomicrograph for tomorrow.
5th November
These are the spores of one of the mosses at x400. The spores of mosses appear to be very varied from species to species.
7th November
This is the leaf rosette of next year's Marsh Thistle.
The following two pictures are of the Devil's Bit Scabious. Colours seem to intensify at this time of year.
8th November
Went on a fungus foray to Drumlamph Wood, near Maghera, today.
I also got the Sloe Berry today - the fruit of the Blackthorn:
9th November
The Nipplewort has returned after a few months' absence:
This large mushroom was growing under Scots Pine, as you can see by the pairs of brown needles.
And the Candle Snuff Fungus has returned. I last showed it in February.
10th November
Weather has been absolutely atrocious recently. Managed to get a few images, though:
A few fungi to start: From one extreme to the other, purest white to dark brown/nearly black: Both about 2 cm across.
This waxy one was growing on a very old stump:
This Lichen was growing on a dead branch - Willow, I think
Finally, a nice picture of the Cross-Leaved Heath, showing seedhead on the right and new flowers on the left.
15th November
This appears to be another Gall on the Willow. The spiral growth followed by leaves with no gaps between them suggests 'interference'. There were a few of them on this small tree. Possibly Rabdophaga salicisbrassicoides, the willow cabbagegall midge.
An
antler-like lichen was growing on a dead Willow branch
This looks like a new leaf of the Wavy Bittercress. The leaflets are only 1/4" across. Growing in moss.
16th November
Took a few photos today, while the sun shone. As you know, I love the drops of water on plants. So two images of Gorse flowers to start:
This is a pair of Mycena (vitalis, I think) growing on dead Bramble.
Today, I also visited our local stone circle.
17th November
Two fungi that I took yesterday. The one on the left is a Bolbitius, I think. The one on the right was growing under planted Pine trees.
November 20th
Very dark and wet since Sunday, but a little better, today. Here are three parasites of willow:
First the Willow Cabbage Gall, again, trying to show the cabbage-shape made by the leaves.
The two fungi. On the left, the Willow Tar Spot, closely related to the Sycamore Tar Spot shown earlier in the year. On the right another fungus, about 3cm long.
22nd November
Still mild, but very dark and wet. Got a couple of surprises, today. Two flowers well out of season: On the left the Lesser Celandine and on the right, Chickweed.
I've been observing a number of animal trails during the year. They are quite visible, but don't photograph well. This is a badger trail that crosses the path between the hedges. Now that things are dying back, it is more obvious to the camera.
23rd November
Nice sunny periods, today, so quite a few images:
First, the fruits of the Ivy. Ivy must be our plant with the longest development time from flower bud through to fruit.
Two fungi growing on stumps under moss: First a better image of the Candle Snuff fungus, and on the right a very bright yellow mushroom about 2 cm across.
Next, two images from the stream: On the left, the Harte's Tongue fern, and on the right an image showing how many species can be squashed into the tiniest of spaces. I've spotted Water Mare's Tail, Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Dandelion, Cow Parsley, the Mycena, Mosses, Nettle, Creeping Buttercup and a Liverwort.
Lastly, an image of the Ash bud. Ash is very distinctive with its smooth grey bark and black buds.
24th November
Continuing with the good weather, three new Ferns, all growing on a wall:
First, the Wall Rue.
On the left, Rustyback, so-called because the entire back of each leaf is covered in brown scales and spores. On the right, Maidenhair Spleenwort. Spleenworts are named after the shape of the leaflets which resemble the shape of the human spleen.
25th November
This is the Wood Blewit - quite large at 12 cm or so. There were three on a near-vertical bank. The gills are distinctively purple or mauve.
27th November
Took a class from the local junior school up to the hedgerow, today. These are some of the things we saw:
Two fungi growing at the base of some Hawthorn: The bracket on the right was extremely hard.
And here's the Ivy-leaved Toad Flax growing on the school wall (right at the start of leg 1).
29th November
Very overcast and wet, today. Managed to steal these flash pictures in a less wet moment:
Two fungi growing on moss on Hawthorn stems: Sulphur Tuft on the left, I think, a Mycena on the right.
The Bilberry is in bud, now.
This is
the lower 'stem' or rhizome of the Broad Buckler fern.
30th November
Bright and sunny this morning, but that had been preceded by an overnight frost. Ideal for sharp pictures.
First a frozen mushroom lying in the grass.
And this ribwort looked good in the middle of the path 
A
solitary Creeping Buttercup bud was just opening.
These orange fungi like to grow at the side of the path - usually on dead wood or shavings.
Previously, I showed this jelly fungus - a Tremella on Scots pine...this is a newer and fresher batch on the same log.
That's November done, onwards to the last month of this hedgerow.
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