and what is this?

...it is nothing to do with me. It could be an early puff ball, but it feels very solid. It has not been attacked by anything yet.

gymnopilus

Was this the mushroom that Erik Satie had in mind ? Deep in the beech woods, far from the light. OK I know, but how do these things get their names (naked hair of junonius)??

heron fishing

this heron was fishing by our favourite spot on the Tamar; unusually it took no notice of us at first and then lazily flew off up to a small perch high in the trees. The last picture gives a good impression of the true size of this scene and the cathedral like effect of the tall trees by the river.

Hawthorn

another shrub with profuse berries this year. 

come down and fight me

one of whose berries may well be in the jaws of these cheeky chap who insisted on running through the branches over my head. They never come down for a fair chase and punch up. Is it my imagination or are grey squirrels turning white, brown and red?

guelder rose

these brilliant red berries are the fruit of the guelder rose, whose oddly asymetrical white flowers appeared earlier in my blog (I think, see http://tamar-valley-life.blogspot.com/2006/06/guelder-rose.html).