Autumn Fungi

I've been photographing any fungi I've come across over the past few weeks, seems to be quite a good autumn for it, and nice to get a few decent shots of the Fly Agaric.

Stagshorn fungi at Lanhydrock,Cornwall.

Bracket fungi at Broadwoodwidger,Devon.

Earthball,Lanhydrock

Fly Agaric at Lewdown Devon.

Fly Agaric

Fly Agaric

Fly Agaric

Fly Agaric

Fly Agaric

Unknown fungi on our front lawn

Fungi on our lawn,I made the mistake of wiping my mouth after accidently touching this,I can still taste it , not nice.

As above,on our hedge

Another growing on the lawn

Magpie Ink Cap at Lanhydrock

Porcelain fungi at Lanhydrock

Porcelain fungi again at Lanhydrock.

American Golden Plover

This juvenile  American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica ), has been present on Davidstow airfield for a couple of weeks now, I first went to see it on the 17th October in heavy rain and howling winds , and went back again yesterday 31st to hopefully get better views and photographs, the weather was better but still the light wasn't great, but the bird showed very well and after a long wait  it started to feed.

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

I,ve seen a couple of these before but both distantly so one this close was a real treat.

A week in Norfolk

Joyce and I recently spent a week in Norfolk to join our mate Rita in her 60th birthday celebrations, obviously I had to take my gear with me , after all Norfolk in October could be really good. On arrival we took off straight away to see the Steppe Grey Shrike at Burnham Norton which showed really well, but after that I decided not to chase rareties but just go out when I could and see what I could find, the weather was sunshine on most days and a good time was had.A few photos from the week.

Avocet at Titchwell

Black Tailed Godwit-Titchwell

Brent Geese-Titchwell

Grey Plover-Titchwell

Redshank-Titchwell

Ruff-Titchwell

Snipe-Titchwell

Pink Footed Geese-Burnham Norton

Steppe Grey Shrike-Burnham Norton

Steppe Grey Shrike-Burnham Norton

Steppe Grey Shrike-Burnham Norton

Grey Seals-Waxham

Grey Seal-Waxham

Grey Seal-Waxham

Grey Seal- Waxham

Ospreys

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Last Saturday late afternoon went over to Upper Tamar Lake on the Cornwall/Devon border hoping to see the Osprey which had been seen here over the last few days,walking most of the way up the bank I found the bird at rest in a distant tree, way too far for any photographs, so I sat it out and waited to see if he would fly down to the water for his supper, eventualluy he did and spent some minutes back up at the car park end, so a walk back and another wait , A fisherman  said it came in every hour or so, but within a few minutes he was back again showing really well and making another catch ,great to see and the best I,ve seen them outside of Scotland, ten minutes later he,s back again when hes joined by a second bird, this time an adult, who flew directly overhead, nice against the blue sky. I was treated to further visits before the light began to go, it was,nt untill I looked at the photos at home that I realised I,d photographed both birds.

Common Dolphins ( Delphinus delphis)

Dolphins must be one of the  animals that people have near the top of thier wish lists to see, and I,m no different, only having seen them distantly from the shore before now, so the chance to go out and see them close up and hopefully get a few photos was too good to miss, setting off from Padstow we headed west and eventually came across a pod of over twenty Common Dolphins which came beside & around the boat giving fantastic views, i loved it, and took lots of photos ,(even with them being so close photography was'nt easy as you could never tell where they were going to surface , and they can be pretty quick)but to be honest just the experience of it all would have been enough.