Monday 19 December 2016

Candle snuff fungus and a mysterious parakeet

Candle snuff fungus is a common fungus in the wooded areas of Edinburgh. It grows on rotting wood and is often found on fallen trees or rotten fence posts. It's an odd looking thing and until recently I was always forgetting its name.... It seems to be more common than usual this year, maybe something to do with the unseasonably warm winter we're having. These are two patches of candle snuff fungus that I found today in Colinton Dell alongside the Water of Leith.


Over the past few months, people have been telling me they've seen a parakeet in the Dells, the latest sighting was this weekend. I haven't seen this bird (though I may have heard it today!). Apparently it escaped from someone's house and now is hanging out with some magpies. If I ever see it I'll try to take a photo and share it here!

6 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello, cool looking fungus. I hope the parakeet survives the wild. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead! Wishing you and yours a blessed and Merry Christmas!

Jenn Jilks said...

Actual green! We're in a snowy deep freeze!!!!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

That's pretty fungi. Poor birdy, I hope he makes it through the winter. We have whole colonies of monk parakeets living nearby here in Florida -- also started from escapees, but our climate is more conducive.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

I'd love to see a parakeet! They seem to be getting more and more widespread

Lynn said...

A coworker and her mom once spotted a parakeet flying around their home. Her mom put her finger out like a perch and the parakeet landed on it. They put it in a cage. Sigh. I hope this little on in Scotland keeps getting to fly around free. (Although I wonder if it is too cold for it.)

Lowcarb team member said...

Wouldn't it be good if you do see that parakeet!

I like the fungus!

All the best Jan