IN recent years there has been an increased interest in wild mushrooms and toadstools.
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There are many hundreds of native species, in an amazing variety of colours, sizes and shapes.
Most of them are shades of brown, but there are some stunning species in blue, purple, white, black, red, silver and green. Many have astonishing beauty and intricacy.
Today’s photo shows an attractive one found in the Wombat Forest. This was about 50 millimetres across.
Its unusual lilac colour and its white gills help to identify it as one of the Russula group.
Other colours in this group include rich plum, orange and a “crimson lake” colour. They can have matt or glossy surfaces.
Larger specimens in the Russula group can reach 100mm across. All have brittle flesh, which is white in many species, despite the coloured skin on their caps.
Stalks break readily and are often chalky-white. Gills are more brittle than many other fungi.They are usually found in leaf litter on the forest floor in eucalypt forests.
Fungi themselves are micro-habitats, supporting an assemblage of microscopic invertebrates, some of which are dependent on the fungi for their existence.
May and June are the peak months for fungi.
On Sunday, June 5, the Ballarat Field Naturalists Club will visit Mt Macedon to search for, photograph and identify numerous species occurring in that damp forest environment. Visitors are welcome.
Phone 0433 344 287 if wishing to attend.
EAGLES OVERHEAD
Wedge-tailed eagles are not rare in the Ballarat region, but they seldom fly over the built-up area.
A recent report of a pair over Ballarat East is therefore of interest, as also is one over the North Gardens Wetlands at Lake Wendouree.
These are rare occurrences.
Wedge-tailed eagles have large territories and can travel long distances, especially now in the non-breeding season.
Another interesting report is black kites (fork-tailed kites) in busy Wiltshire Lane in Delacombe. This species is increasing locally, but most reports have so far been in rural areas.
A spotted harrier has been reported at Burrumbeet.
Ballarat East has this month provided another exciting report in the form of a pair of black-faced woodswallows, only the second local record of this inland bird.
Good views were had of a pair near the Wildlife Park, with black under the tail, smoky-grey breast and black face all being noticed.
This is a very unexpected sighting.
