Wicked Mission Marmalade

 

The day after everything got exciting at Fernworthy, I was back with the Folks in a - safely bubbled - amble about the place. 

This was the first time we'd been there together since the previous October [!!], which just goes to show how Interesting recent times have been. [The weather and assorted injuries haven't helped, though].

The weather forecast was markedly better than the day before, so of course we got there to mist, drizzle, and gunk....

But we were unrelenting, and the weather was seemingly shocked into aquiescence; it cleared up and even threatened sunshine! Later on it remembered itself and started mizzling again, but it was good while it lasted.

We'd already decided to go somewhere a bit different to the usual route, so it seemed natural [to me anyway] to swing by the scene of the previous day's drama; the clearfell which is forever to be known as Wicked Mission Marmalade.

As we were surveying tha blasted area of clearfell, noting PD and his boys off in the distance, Mum said "What's that funny bird?"

Yup, the Geat Grey Shrike flew out from the trees, right past us, and plonked down on a dead conifer pole less than 100m in front.

Great Grey Shrike

My camera decided to misbehave at this point, not only doing the 'spontaneous turnoff' but also going into night shoot mode - which I didn't notice until after the bird had moved - so these are half the size they should be... Grr and Arg.

 

Left wing held lower, showing tail pattern.

 

 

Even better, as we were watching it, none other than the DartAngler himself came up, [great to meet him] and after a bit of Vanishing Shrike business, I got him on the bird as it worked the fence line. Then it went swanning up the valley after PD and co., and they got it too! :D Result. 

Then it was time to move on a bit, so we continued the loop we'd started up through the trees, though finding ourselves once again by another edge of the clearfell, we took the chance to take a coffee and cake stop where there was an actual view of the landscape.

 

Little Black Dog,

also blasted heath and Thornworthy Tor

 

The GGS had made itself scarce, and perhaps this was the reason,

Kestrel

Not much else to see, so we went on and got properly arboreal. Also, as you may be expecting, fungal.

 

Cue pretty pictures;

 

How's this for a tree?

Woo...

 

It should be noted that that there wonderful Beech [yes, it's a Beech] wouldn't be able to grow like that without it's sheltering surrounding of conifers. Plantations get a lot of stick, not entirely without merit, but they do have their uses. I've gone on about my thinking on this before, so I won't bother your patience again. :)

 

Fungi!

 

White Spindles

[C. fragilis]

Sulphur Tuft

[notably paler, late-fruiting specimens]

Golden Scalycap

Bitter Oysterling?

Bell-shaped Mottlegill

Dwarf Bell

It's a Deceiver!

 

Deer Shield

Clouded Funnel

Spring Cavalier

Common Rustgill

We had a very nice amble, despite the dizzle - which attacked again during stop number two [well, you can't demolish a ginger and rum cake in one sitting... It'd be wrong. :D ] - and enlivened by the usual woodland spp., most notably a very vocal group of 7+ Crossbills, which flew all around us without settling, the little scamps!

Be Seeing You...