General Update (#588 - 599)

588. The workmen have gone, the site is clear and the fence is up. Taken on Hamilton Drive. Weoley Park Road is background right. The cedar tree still stands. BMS (Baptist Mission Society) on the left. Taken from vantage point ee* (18/OCT/2013)

589. View of the site at the top of the Selly Oak campus, from across Weoley Park Road, showing vantage point a*. The OLRC is in the background. (18/OCT/2013)

590. The cleared site at the top of the Selly Oak campus as the fence is put around it. Taken from across Weoley Park Road. Hamilton Drive is on the right. The OLRC is background left. (18/OCT/2013)

591. The fence is already popular with many types of Harlequin (Harmonia axyridis) ladybird. (18/OCT/2013)

592. A Harlequin Ladybird Larva (Harmonia axyridis) on the new fence in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

593. The second Fly Agaric mushroom that came up in the thicket is now fully opened. (18/OCT/2013)

594.  The second Fly Agaric mushroom that came up in the thicket is now fully opened. (18/OCT/2013)

595.  The second Fly Agaric mushroom that came up in the thicket is now fully opened. (18/OCT/2013)

596.  The second Fly Agaric mushroom that came up in the thicket is now fully opened. (18/OCT/2013)

597. Another Fly Agaric coming up in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

598. There are several more Fly Agarics coming up in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

599. Another Fly Agaric is popping up in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

*See map and key for vantage points: Map and key

Nature Update (#567 - 587)

567. One of the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushrooms in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

568. A Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushroom in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

569. A Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushroom in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

570.  A Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushroom in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

571. A Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushroom in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

572. This is the first Fly Agaric that came up, and it has already provided several lunches for a ladybird larva. (18/OCT/2013)

573. This is the first Fly Agaric that came up, and it has already provided several lunches for a ladybird larva. (18/OCT/2013)

574. A Mottled Bolete (Leccinum variicolour) mushroom on the green opposite Archibald House. (18/OCT/2013)

575. A Mottled Bolete (Leccinum variicolour) mushroom on the green opposite Archibald House. (18/OCT/2013)

576. A Mottled Bolete (Leccinum variicolour) mushroom on the green opposite Archibald House. (18/OCT/2013)

577. A Rosy Russula (Russula rosea) mushroom, starting to look spiky as it decays. On the green opposite Archibald House. (18/OCT/2013)

578.  A Rosy Russula (Russula rosea) mushroom, starting to look spiky as it decays. On the green opposite Archibald House. (18/OCT/2013)

579.  A Rosy Russula (Russula rosea) mushroom, starting to look spiky as it decays. On the green opposite Archibald House. (18/OCT/2013)

580.  A Rosy Russula (Russula rosea) mushroom, starting to look spiky as it decays. On the green opposite Archibald House. (18/OCT/2013)

581. A Rosy Russula (Russula rosea) mushroom. On the green in front of Archibald House. (18/OCT/2013)

582. Purple Brittlegill (Russula atropurpurea) mushrooms in the thicket. (18/OCT/2013)

586. Oak galls on the twisted oak in the OLRC staff car park. (18/OCT/2013)

In Memory of Keith Barker (#465 - 466)

465. Keith Barker was Assistant Librarian at Westhill, then the OLRC. He had a special responsibility for Children's Fiction and liked to wear waistcoats. 

466. The bench dedicated to Keith Barker, outside the OLRC's Bristol Road entrance. 

Nature Update - Another Fly Agaric mushroom - and introducing Patch the dog (#451 - 464)

451. Another Fly Agaric (amanita muscaria) mushroom has appeared in the thicket today, this time, close to the OLRC car park. (17/OCT/2013)

452.  Another Fly Agaric (amanita muscaria) mushroom has appeared in the thicket today, this time, close to the OLRC car park. (17/OCT/2013)

453.  Another Fly Agaric (amanita muscaria) mushroom has appeared in the thicket today, this time, close to the OLRC car park. (17/OCT/2013)

454. Another photo of the first Fly Agaric, spotted yesterday. This one is also in the thicket, but closer to Hamilton Drive. (17/OCT/2013)

455. Another photo of the first Fly Agaric, spotted yesterday. This one is also in the thicket, but closer to Hamilton Drive. (17/OCT/2013)

456. Another photo of the tiny white Mycena alba mushrooms growing in the moss on the sycamore tree next to Hamilton Drive. (17/OCT/2013)

457. Sulphur-tuft (hypholoma fasciculare) mushrooms growing on a tree stump on the grass at the corner of the OLRC. (17/OCT/2013)

458. The 'holey' oak tree in the thicket. The hole is hidden at this angle. (17/OCT/2013)

459. The 'holey' oak tree in the thicket. The 'hole', or rather, gap between two branches, is visible here, at the top of the trunk. (17/OCT/2013)

460. Patch the dog is owned by Scott, one of the Grounds (gardening) team and often visits the OLRC - stopping at the cafe to get cuddles and biscuits from Anne, and sometimes coming under the security gate and into the office! He has easily mastered the automatic doors. (17/OCT/2013)

461. Patch in the thicket while we were mushroom spotting. (17/OCT/2013)

462. Patch had to be held still for his portrait. (17/OCT/2013)

463. Patch in the OLRC car park. (17/OCT/2013)

464. Patch in the OLRC car park. (17/OCT/2013)

The first Fly Agaric is up!! (#448 - 450)

448. The first Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) of the year popped up yesterday in the middle of the thicket. It has already attracted a ladybird larva and greenfly. (16/OCT/2013)

449. The much anticipated first Fly Agaric mushroom of the year, with a Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) larva and greenfly. (16/OCT/2013)

450. First Fly Agaric of the year. Taken in the thicket. (16/OCT/2013)

Nature Update (#421 - 447)

The Liquid Golden Amber Tree

421. Leaves from the golden liquid amber tree. (15/OCT/2013)

422. The golden liquid amber tree. (15/OCT/2013)

The Holey Oak Tree

                 

423. A single twig sprouts from the trunk of the holey oak tree. (15/OCT/2013)

                 

424. The split trunk of the holey oak tree. (15/OCT/2013)

425. Acorns, oak gall and oak leaves on the moss beneath the holey oak tree in the thicket. It produces huge acorns. (15/OCT/2013)

                  

426. Tiny mushrooms (Mycena corticola meliigena) on the holey oak tree. (15/OCT/2013)

427. Tiny mushrooms (Mycena corticola meliigena) on the holey oak tree. (15/OCT/2013)

                  

428. Tiny mushrooms (Mycena corticola meliigena) on the holey oak tree. (15/OCT/2013)

                 

429. Tiny mushrooms (Mycena corticola meliigena) on the holey oak tree. (15/OCT/2013)

The Sycamore on Hamilton Drive

430. Moss and lichen on the wide trunk of the sycamore tree on Hamilton Drive. Across the pavement from vantage point ee* (15/OCT/2013)

431. Tiny mushrooms (Mycena alba) growing on the sycamore on Hamilton Drive. (15/OCT/2013)

                    

432. Tiny mushrooms (Mycena alba) growing on the sycamore on Hamilton Drive. (15/OCT/2013)

The large Sycamore at the car park corner of the thicket. 

                    

433. An abundance of ivy covers the sycamore. (15/OCT/2013)

434. There are a lot of cobwebs between the bark and the ivy on the sycamore. (15/OCT/2013)

435. Ladybird on the ivy. (15/OCT/2013)

436. Ladybird larva on the ivy. (15/OCT/2013)

437. Ivy completely covers the tree in places. (15/OCT/2013)

One of the Spruce Trees

438. Ladybird larva on a spruce trunk. (15/OCT/2013)

439. Caterpillar and larva on one of the spruce trees. (15/OCT/2013)

440. A small, unidentified mushroom at the edge of the thicket. (15/OCT/2013)

441. A small, unidentified mushroom and hawthorn leaf at the edge of the thicket. (15/OCT/2013)

442. A small Agaricus mushroom (Agaricus arvensis) growing at the edge of the thicket. (15/OCT/2013)

The Yew Tree

                 

443. A little offshoot on the yew tree. (15/OCT/2013)

                 

444. The yew tree. (15/OCT/2013)

In the middle of the thicket.

445. Agaricus mushrooms (Agaricus arvensis) growing in the thicket. (15/OCT/2013)

446. Agaricus mushrooms (Agaricus arvensis) growing in the thicket. (15/OCT/2013)

447. Wild Cyclamen unfurling in the thicket. (15/OCT/2013)

*See map and key for vantage points: Map and key