The fungi at Burnham Overy were interesting, but again showed up my inability to identify mushrooms. I'd heard that Collared Earthstars are in the dunes and thought I might have found some, but they didn't seem to show much of a collar. Are they Collared? The ones in the books look more collared than these, but does the collar develop later, or are these something else? Well thanks to James I now know that they are indeed Collared Earthstar - a new one for me.
Collared Earthstars, Burnham Overy, 27th October
Even more intriguing was this thing which having thumbed through my fungi guides I could only suggest Black Morel. I realised that was unlikely as it's supposed to fruit in spring and the habitat was wrong, but couldn't find any better matches. Well I should have trusted my initial instinct as Stinkhorn crossed my mind when I first saw it, but it looks so different from the Stinkhorns in my books. Thanks to James I now know it is Dune Stinkhorn - I presume that's the same as Sand Stinkhorn Phallus hadriani. In my defence only two of my four fungus ID books feature that species and only one illustrates it - an example with a far longer stem and shorter cap (the other book does describe it more helpfully, but only as a footnote under the commoner Stinkhorn species).
Dune Stinkhorn, Burnham Overy, 27th October
Moths that night included no less than 5 Sprawlers. Also Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 2 Red-green Carpets, November Moth agg. and Mottled Umber.
Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, North Elmham, 27th October
Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 27th October
The next night was rubbish - just 2 Sprawlers.
The night of 29th brought my first Pale November Moth of the autumn. Also Common Marbled Carpet, 3 Feathered Thorns, 3 Sprawlers, Green-brindled Crescent, Yellow-line Quaker and Beaded Chestnut.
Pale November Moth (male, gen det), North Elmham, 29th October
