Now you probably all thought that I'd have stopped talking about fungi by now, but the wet and mild weather we've been experiencing seems to have prompted the appearance of our weird and wonderful earth star fungi.
These are collared earthstars. They start off looking like bulbs, before they split open to reveal their star shape with a bag (or stomach) full of spores in the centre. As the spores mature the stomach splits and then drops of rain, or falling leaves will trigger their dispersal.
There is a rather splendid cluster of these odd mushrooms under the patch of Western Hemlock on the heathland trail. (We can give you directions in the visitor centre, if you're keen to see them).
I do look and listen out for the birds as well, and as I took a walk out on the heathland trail yesterday lunchtime I encountered one of those large mixed winter flocks feeding up around the tumuli. Amongst the numerous chaffinches, great tits and blue tits were a couple of smart brambling and half a dozen coal tits. A little closer to the car park I could hear nuthatch calling, marsh tits sneezing ( there were 2 of them close to the education area) and the high pitched reel of goldcrests.
I know the weather is a little gloomy, but I'm sure you'll be needing a bit of fresh air and a break from the Christmas preparations at some time in the next week! (I think that Pete will be doing a 'proper' update on the selection of birds out on the wetlands later on...)