Fungi at Beacon Hill, Leicestershire

We walked up and down Beacon Hill in Leicestershire. There was a good selection of fungi there although I didn't have time to set up the tripod so most of the photos aren't that good quality. I thought this fungus might be Iconotus dryadeus. Colin Duke [UKWildlife] informed me however that these are more often found on oak (whereas this is clearly on birch). He has identified it as Blushing Bracket (Daedaleopis confragosa). The underside was really quite interesting and looked like a piece of coral. Apparently if you brush the gills they turn a pinky red colour hence its name.

There were also a number of other bracket species as shown below along the walk. This one is apparently a young specimen of the birch polypore, Piptoporus betulinus. Its other name is razor strap or razor-strop because it was used for sharpening the old cut throat razor on!!

The dying specimens below left were growing on a log and are some type of Coprinus species. The specimen below right is an Earthball (Scleroderma areolatum) and was growing out of the ground at the base of a tree. The greeny colour I think was caused by algae growing on the surface. The specimen is similar to Sceloderma citrinum which has larger scales is more yellowy in color.

One interesting thing at Beacon Hill is they have a few Lama-like creatures there called Alpacas which originate from South America. They have a protective instinct and are there to protect the grazing sheep from dog attack.