Last sunset of autumn

After a singularly dull and dreary week, it was wonderful to see the sunshine today. I spent the morning preparing food for Chris's birthday meal, a Caribbean feast, then at lunchtime I picked Chris up for a couple of hours of fungus hunting in Bedford Purlieus. There were definitely more species than on my last visit, but I think finding an absolutely perfect example of The Goblet Pseudoclitocybe cyathiformis (see extra) was the highlight.This doesn't seem to be very common locally, and the only other specimen I've seen was from Easton Hornstocks NNR, not too far away.

We decided to return home via Maxey Pits where there's been a regular starling murmuration for the past couple of weeks. However, tonight it was cool and rather blowy, so the starlings that did arrive flew in just above the water and hunkered down into the reed beds immediately. We may have to go a bit farther afield to a more reliable location...

The Caribbean feast was a great success - a starter of jerk chicken wings, okra with mango mole sauce and squid rings with jerk mayonnaise was followed by goat curry, green baked chicken, rice and peas and an amazing salad filled with kale, spinach, sugar-snap peas, red onion, fresh coconut and pomegranate, with a sharp citrus dressing. Dessert was a spiced rum cake served with a tropical fruit salad in Planter's punch and coconut ice cream. Needless to say we were all stuffed at the end!