As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, this is a great time of year to spot fungi. The dry weather in September delayed the season a bit, but it's definitely worth keeping your eyes peeled as you walk around the reserve.
Some fungi are spectacular, and easy to spot, due to their bright colour and relatively large size. One such species is the familiar fly agaric, so beloved in children's stories and nursey rhymes, despite it's hallucinogenic properties. It's usually best found near birch trees, and I spotted this lovely one alongside the path just before North Hide.
The woodland is full of fungi, though you may need to look carefully among the fallen leaves as some species are tiny and many are subtly coloured and easy to miss. I'm not an expert on naming fungi myself, and usually rely on colleagues to help me to identify them, but one that I am familiar with is amethyst deceiver, which is quite numerous along the Woodland Trail and near the South Belt Crossroads.
The photo makes this fungi look brighter than it really is - a deep amethyst-purple - but the size is obvious alongside this woodland moss. A similar, but paler and slightly larger species that is even commoner at Minsmere is the lilac bonnet, which, as it's name suggests, is a beautiful lilac-pink.
As well as searching among the leaf litter, it's always worth checking fallen logs, where you might find the suitably named yellow cups of sulphur tuft.
That's almost where my own knowledge of fungi ends, though as I walked around the woods yesterday, following Henry the little owl's trail I did spot several other species. This cluster of capped fungi looked particular impressive - if anyone knows the species, please let me know.
Of course, whilst searching for fungi among the leaf litter, you'll probably find lots of other interesting things, from woodlice and centipedes to acorns and sweet chestnuts - if you can beat the jays and squirrels to them.
Where the ground is bare you might see signs of some of our larger animals too, like this red deer slots through the North Bushes.
And, don't forget to take the opportunity to enjoy the fabulous colours before the trees drop the last of their leaves later this month.
Finally, please remember that as many fungi are poisonous, try to avoid touching them, and please do not pick them at Minsmere.