A First For Me

I saw a flash of red off to the side of the path and thought it was just a discarded wrapper.  On my return, I decided to investigate closer. That was when I realised that it was not litter, but a fungal growth of really unusual colour.

I have previously blipped 'orange-peel fungus' and 'eyelash cups' but this was different again.  Googling quickly identified it as Sarcoscypha coccinea, commonly known as the 'scarlet elf cup' or 'scarlet elf cap' fungus. A first for me. It is supposedly widespread and not rare but in over 5 years of blipping, I have never encountered it. (nor prior to that) though I have never gone deliberately to seek it out..