December Nature Journal

Fungi

Birch polypore,
Razorstrop.
They are the same.

A photo showing the polypore with a white trail going round the edge.

Campsite birch.
Puffballs?
No!
Polypore?
Yes!
Old fungi?
No!
Young?
Yes!
Saucer-shaped?
Evolving into saucers from spheres.
Algae-less?
No!
What colour is it?
Clue: The algae has caught a cold.
Green?
Correct!

A photo of two white ball-shaped

Junction fungi.
Polypore?
No!
Sulphur tufts?
No!
What is it?
That is a mystery.
What does it look like?
Completely white,
Domed,
Gills underneath.
Its top 1 cm across.

Trees and Ivy

Yew tree arils.
Are there many?
No!
Are they rotting?
Yes!

Ivy on trees.
Many being climbed?
No!
Just one tree?
Yes!
Low down bare stems;
High up an army of foliage.
Mature ivy standing alone;
Young plants clinging on.

Animals

Insects

Earwig:
Six legs,
Brown and Gold,
Curved pincers—male?

Ladybird:
18 spots,
Harlequin,
Alien predator.

A photo of an eighteen-spotted ladybird.

Nature camera

Four roe deer:
One male,
One female.
Mates?