Magpie Inkcap

Chris and I visited Castor Hanglands this afternoon in search of Dog Stinkhorn, which had been spotted on a fungus foray on Sunday. We didn't find those, but were rewarded with a group of Magpie Inkcap, in all stages of development. 

Like all inkcaps, the fruitbodies are short lived, and within a day or so the cap expands from an elongated egg to conical and then bell-like as the cottony universal veil remnant breaks into separate patches to reveal the glossy dark background. As with other large inkcaps, the gills of the Magpie Inkcap deliquesce, a process which aids spore dispersal particularly in wet weather.

This species is infrequent in Britain and Ireland, but is found throughout Europe but most commonly in areas with alkaline soil. Although I've seen many photographs, this is the first time I've seen it, and the NBN doesn't show any records for the Soke of Peterborough.