September brought in a change of weather; stormy wetter conditions set in along with cooler mornings. Earlier in the month, I was lucky enough to witness a mini murmuration of Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) as they flew away from a storm that was rolling in. The commotion they produced made me look up; there were about 30 to 40 of them grouped together before they eventually headed off.
Hedgerow foraging has been mixed due to the dryness earlier on in the year.
There are fewer conkers but the Horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum) showed signs of stress as the leaves began to brown off at the end of August. While there have been plenty of blackberries this year, most were smaller and dried up. Plus elderberries ripened a month earlier than usual. There have been plenty of walnuts and acorns though.
Fungi has begun to appear lately. One I spotted on an Ash tree (Fraxinus) was the Shaggy bracket (Inonotus hispidus).
Commonly found on deciduous trees, mostly Ash but also Planes (Platanus), Walnut (Juglans regia) and Apple (malus), it is inedible; attacking the trees heartwood, entering through a wound. It starts off with a velvety look (as seen in the photo) but eventually becomes brittle and black.
Bee in the Moment 