Examining FungiThe group was reduced through ill health to only ten. This included Carys, a young BEES volunteer, making her first outing with the group. She informed us that she had a Biology degree and was interested in seeing fungi. She wouldn’t be disappointed.
The weather wasn’t as grand as we are used to and when we arrived it was overcast and slightly drizzly. There was no need for umbrellas, however, as the rather strong north-easterly kept the rain at bay.The outward section of our walk around the reservoir path was directly into the wind so most of us took to wearing headwear. Later on the wind relented and by the time we had our lunch stop at the Blubberhouses car-park the weather was ok for mid-Oct.
GoldfinchWe were surprised by the low level of water and much of the reservoir was now exposed land. There were plenty of tits and finches plus Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Wren about but not many birds on the water, just a few teal, Canada Geese, Mallard and two Cormorants. A Red Kite was also spotted in a far off tree.
A decent variety of fungi were seen from the path so Carys got her wish. Those that Joan and I were able to ID are as follows; Chicken of the Woods, Common Inkcaps, Turkeytail, Deceiver, Brown Rollrim, Wood Hedgehog, Dead Man’s Fingers, Puffball, Fly Agaric, Larch Bolete, Wrinkled Club, Candlesnuff, Stinkhorn. 
DeceiverWe ignored the little brown jobs and the ones that were well past their sell by dates! A yellow pored bolete with a reddish stem is possibly Red-cracking bolete.
Plants still in flower included; Herb Robert, Red Campion, Aaron’s Rod and Devils Bit Scabious.
As we had got round fairly quickly, Margaret suggested going to Thruscross to see if the hidden village of West End had been exposed by the low water levels. It was, however still underwater. Nevertherless it had been a very pleasant day out and well done to our driver of the day; Robert
John Gavaghan