Mining or Quarrying? plus Lichens & Fungi....

0900hrs-1030hrs. Observations from Stoney Rake (Calf Hey).... Still quiet on the bird front because of the windy wet weather, hope it gets back to normal soon..... did have a few bits and pieces eg: Fieldfare: 20E (one party), Redwing: 11 (one party), Chaffinch: 21 (best party 9) going through fairly regular, Starling: 9, Goldfinch: 4, Meadow Pipit: 10 (6 of these where bloggers!!), Siskin: 6, Mistle Thrush: 1, Woodpigeon: 1.

Not got round to photo identification yet but for now here is six shots taken this morning of old soil heaps (between Stoney Rake and main road) I wonder what went on here.. would it be mining or quarrying?..... some superb lichens growing on trees near to Calf Hey and some fungi's in the meadows..........

The fungi on the bottom left photo is a well spent Honey Fungus (Armillaria mellia). The 2x orange fungi in moss on the bottom right photo have now been identified as Scarlet Caterpillar fungi (Cordyceps militaris). Although not rare, they are very seldom seen, because this particular fungus only grows on the dead remains of insect larvae, and if you were to dig down below the fungi, you would certainly see whatever dead larva it was growing from. (Thanks for kind information and identification supplied by Mike Valentine on both of these fungi.