Monday 25 January
A lichen and moss day today, and more images from our walk yesterday. Every so often, like the birds (but a little less often), I come across something that that underlines just what a diverse world we live in. If we notice it.
We started our walk yesterday, planning to do the same route we have often done many times before. It’s very satisfying; a gushing weir, a gentle river, open fields, woodland and roads flanked on both sides by ancient trees. Which present some mouthwatering views across Dedham vale and across Langham. But this time we decided to tag a bit more on to the loop, a few paths that we had not been along before.
Ok, so it’s hardly striking out into albeit undiscovered parts of the Amazon rainforest, but it can be fascinating all the same. Your eyes take in different views, a mini (or micro if you prefer) adventure.
And since starting this blog, I walk with eyes (and ears) peeled, constantly looking and listening for new and familiar things. Then we came across the most remarkable growth on the underside of a tree branch of a small wooded copse. I walked under it not noticing, but Lisa brought me back to take a look. It was quite unearthly, which made me take a metaphorical step back.
As mentioned towards the end of last week, I was struggling. It was definitely the hardest period I have to personally faced since the virus struck. And, just before it got too bad, I shook myself by the shoulders and recalled how good I felt when I spent time noticing and enjoying nature with more desire to actually see it and hear it.
And there it was, this bizarre growth from another world. I tried to identify it in books and online, but no luck, so I have tweeted it to the British Mycological Society. To see if they can help. I also find that fantastic, that there are groups of people who join together around a common interest. In this case, fungi.
The Bald Birder 