SLOW WORM AND MACRO BEECH

It's been a terrible year for reptile spotting here, with only one Adder and one Lizard until Wednesday, when this pretty Slow Worm decided to have a rest on the path next to the garden gate. The light was very low and so the pictures don't show the brassy sheen it had. I nearly missed out capturing it as I had no camera and the dogs so I bundled them into the car and sprinted back to the house. A few seconds after taking these, it had slithered off under the fence into our neighbour's garden. 

Yesterday, feeling somewhat down about the constant and blanket-like mist, I decided to go and visit some beech trees where I've previously seen a fabulous variety of fungi instead of striking out in the low visibility of the higher bits of moor. If the moor were a sea, these trees would be on the fringe of a cove and where we live would be a peninsula. They all droop low onto the ground, some touching it and provide some shelter for livestock when it's particularly inclement up here, which it often is. 

In the absence of those many fungi I mentioned, it clearly being too early in the year, I decided to just photograph the trees close up and what I found underneath. The light was very poor so apologies for some graininess in the the very close up ones.

These strange, pearl-like fungi were absolutely tiny

These next ones were on the wall underneath the trees

I didn't kick this puffball; no idea which species it is I'm afraid. Massive knowledge void when it comes to Fungi

Bit of a dodgy shot from the other direction with Jack for a sense of scale

The sun came out this afternoon which was very exciting; I feel like everything's been out of focus for days in the mist. It almost dried some washing but not quite. It all has to be hung up again inside before eventually being put away. I'm boring myself now - sorry. Time to try and persuade OB and his friend who is staying tonight that it would be a good idea to get ready for bed. They're out in the garden in the dark whittling arrows. Penknives in the dark? Hmmmm. Until next time, here's Trigger, who is sprouting his winter coat and Jack basking in today's sunshine. Have a lovely weekend all of you, wherever you are. Thanks for following; I really do appreciate it!