The Valley Behind Leaves Green

The diagonal track into the valley from Ashmore Farm. Leaves Green, 3 December 2011.

This is another view of our walk on 3rd December. This valley is lovely in the summer. I walked down here in the middle of the year and there were interesting plants even right by the path, including Pyramidal Orchids just about where I was standing when I took this photo. That's so even though you can see that the area is thoroughly farmed and has power lines overhead.

But I don't want to suggest that it wasn't interesting last Saturday, well after the end of summer. For example, this large fungus, growing on the village green.

Parasol fungus.  Leaves Green, 3 December 2011.

It's a parasol fungus - I don't know the species. Those darker flaps attached to the top, that give it its distinctive appearance, are the remains of a veil that encloses the whole cap when it is small.

Parasol fungus.  Leaves Green, 3 December 2011.

And here, underneath the cap, you can see the lower part of that veil halfway up the stem. Some fungi have veils that enclose the stem as well, and some of those are very poisonous, so this is a good thing to watch for.

I was looking at the plants, but some of the group were birdwatchers, who enjoyed seeing buzzards circling above the trees. We also saw some Rose-ringed Parakeets, raucous and colourful birds that have recently become naturalised here.

Five Rose-ringed Parakeets, Psittacula krameri, in an oak tree on the straight path down from Ashmore Farm.
Leaves Green, 3 December 2011.

The bird-lovers are rather dismissive of these invaders, but I used to enjoy watching them come to my garden peanut feeder when I lived in West Wickham.

We also saw mosses and lichens. Here's one:

Lichen, Parmelia sulcata, on a tree.  Leaves Green, 3 December 2011.

I think this is Parmelia sulcata, though I am quite prepared to be corrected. It's very common, so I really should know it ... There were mosses, too. This one was fruiting and gave a good view of its distinctive spore capsules.

Moss, Rhynchostegium confertum.  Leaves Green, 3 December 2011.

But the most suprising thing we saw was this, seen through a hedge. At first there were a couple of horse riders, then suddenly a flock of sheep appeared! It is not at all usual for people to herd sheep on horseback here, though apparently it is in some parts of the world, so it's not likely that this was a flock that really needed herding.  Apparently some of them escaped into the woods, so if they are serious about this, they do need the practice!

Herding sheep on horseback.  The valley behind Leaves Green, 3 December 2011.