If you go down to the woods today….Your in for a few surprises!

Our first surprise was this handsome fellow.  At first I was not sure who was the most surprised…this Fallow Deer immerging from the bracken…..

Or me and Buster.  I froze and allowed him to ‘eye us up’ and very slowly got my camera from its bag.  There was no headlong flight from the Deer, just a slow appraisal of this strange man , his camera and his Jack Russell.  He obviously thought we were going to do no harm and paused long enough for another few shots……

 

If I am right in my thinking, Fallow Deer have finished their ‘rut’ so are all calm and no doubt exhausted. That possibly explains this chappies relaxed disposition.  Another few weeks and the Red Deer start to rut and they certainly will not be as relaxed and welcoming!

Our next surprise was on the outer edges of the woodland.  A fine crop of what I refer to as ‘Horse Mushrooms’ was on display.  I believe that the country name for these mushrooms is derived from their size….they are large.  This one stands some 15” high, in what I call the lollipop stage and is a youngster……

 

As the mushroom grows and develops the bulbous head start to open out……

It continues to grow till the head flattens out to form a a dinner plate size head, at least 10” often 12” across…..

Sometimes in a small group but mainly as individuals…..

Deeper in the woods this old fallen Beech tree now plays host to some very much smaller Fungi….

No doubt these are a sign that autumn is on the way.  Even so for the most part the woodland is still lush green with little sign of autumnal die back.  This veteran English Oak has again lived to see another year and has a full head of acorns…….

But only a few steps away the leaves of one Oak tree have started to turn a bright red. These are the leaves of a Rufus Oak, at the moment only one branch has turned,  soon this normally unassuming tree will catch everyone’s attention as the red comes to dominate the whole tree…..

 

Although the approach of autumn appears slow one good frost, or even just a very cold night, and the process will suddenly move into top gear and all the wood will soon be a mass of reds and gold…..and the Horse Mushrooms will quickly disappear until the next autumn begins…..

 

26th September

© David Oakes 2013