I was leading this foray, so I didn't get quite as many images as I would have liked.
A beautiful October day: sunny and bright.
A stunning specimen of Calocera viscosa, about 10 cm. tall.
Coprinus comatus - Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyers Wig - is very common, but you need to catch it on days 1 or 2, because it is soon over.
Here's a species that I've been trying to find for a long time: Geastrum triplex. The initially spherical fungus splits open in a star shape to reveal an inner puffball. The star shapes continue to turn backwards, thereby raising the entire fungus into the air in order to increase spore dispersal. Wonderful.
This appears to be Tricholoma cingulatum, and is only the second record in Ireland, if so. The previous record was made in 2000 by the BMS foray in the same locality. A Willow associate, which is unusual.
Another fungus that has previously eluded me. Xylaria polymorpha - Dead Mans Fingers.
Spinellus fusiger is a tiny fungus that is parasitic on Mycenas. The cap of the host is about 8 mm. across.
And continuing on the minute thread, these strands (right of image) might be the fruit bodies of a tiny 'Pin Lichen'. Strands about 3mm long.
This large Birch tree was covered in Piptoporus betulinum - the Birch Polypore or Razor Strop fungus.
And a captive Red Deer on the estate, spotted as we forayed.
