Nature with Nev

The Yellow Brain Fungus also has several common names including Golden Jelly fungus, Yellow Trembler, and Witches' Butter. This today was a lifer for me, and  have to say it is an incredibly coloured fungi which really stood out on the Oak branch. It is most frequently found on dead wood but attached and on recently fallen branches. The gelatinous, orange-yellow fruit body of the fungus, which can grow up to 3 inches in diameter, has a convoluted or lobed surface that is greasy or slimy when damp. It grows in crevices in bark, appearing during rainy weather.  Within a few days after the rain it dries into a thin film or shrivelled mass capable of reviving after subsequent rain. This fungus occurs widely in deciduous and mixed forests and is widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions that include Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. Although considered bland and flavourless, the fungus is edible and produces carbohydrates that are att...

The forecast was for frost and clear skies - excellent, that means a dry day then. So off I head to the Point at Goldcliff, arriving at 07.45 after some time was spent defrosting the car. Upon arrival my birding friend Blair Jones was already there, with his cameras set up ready for the sunrise. As we waited, the calls of Curlew and Oystercatchers could be heard, and faint movements could be seen out on the mudflats ahead of us. Around 0810 the Sun peaked over the distant hill across the Bristol Channel, and it was surprising how quick it rose. Now with better light more and more birds could be identified, and a Grey Heron, Black Headed and Herring Gulls, Mallards and Wigeon could all be seen. A small raft of Teal were on the sea and two Common Redshanks were joined by a good count of 54 Turnstone.   Distant Avocet enjoying a break Blair was going to take in the lagoons at Goldcliff, but I had decided I was going to visit Red Barn and Boat Lane for a change, so we said ou...

Water Rail At this time of year, Goldcliff (Newport, South Wales) affords some good birding from first light. Personally, I like to be in hide 1 at this time of year by 0730, and listen to the calls and sounds of the geese and ducks as they slowly get ready to embrace the day ahead. By 8am it is just getting light, and those silhouettes out on the water begin to take on actual names - Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon and the ever noisy Canada Geese. Any Curlew or waders that have roosted on the 1st lagoon will stilll be present and preening, so you will have a chance of seeing them before they head off to the nearby Pill or saltmarsh. The Canada Geese will begin to move off in their groups but they will return later in the day. As they leave, Greylag Geese usually come in, and it is always worth checking through these for the off White-fronted or Barnacle Goose that may be mixed in.    Avocet If there is little to see from the 1st hide I quickly move up to the Re...