Fungi

Some fungi I recently came across. The first one was huge, the second much, much smaller.

I’m not much good at fungi identification, but I suspect that the large one is some kind of oyster mushroom. Don’t hold me to it though. I’m far from sure and I wouldn’t want anyone to eat a venomous mushroom on my say so.


I believe this one is an earth ball fungus. If so, it’s definitely to be avoided. The site I’ve linked to says:

Due to their small size and propensity to appear in lawns and other disturbed areas, kids and pets will run into these often. And they may be irresistible to little hands and curious pups. The good news is that earth balls aren’t poisonous in that they’ll kill you. However, they’ll probably give the ingester severe stomach pain, accompanied by nausea or other distress.

The symptoms usually pass in time, but if you know for certain your child or dog ate one of these, please seek help from the appropriate professionals (doctor or veterinarian). While it is unlikely they’ll be seriously harmed, it is essential that they be monitored, just in case.

Taken with a Sony RX10 IV

More Fungi

I spotted these fungi in a nearby woodland. I liked the first one because of the earth tones of the brown leaves, the blues and greens of the stone, and some of the moss on the fungi with the whiter parts of the fungi. The second one made me think of mountains and canyons.

Taken with a Sony A6000 and Venus Optics Laowa 85mm f5.6

Fungi

I don’t know much about identifying fungi, but after some research I think it’s called a “Violet-toothed Polypore” or maybe it’s a “Turkey Tail” (I did say that my fungus identification skills were somewhat lacking)? If it’s the former the “violet” edge apparently fades with age, so I guess this must be an old one as I can’t see a trace of violet.

Nice looking fungus though – whatever it is.

Taken with a Sony A6000 and Venus Optics Laowa 85mm f5.6

Some of my favorite pictures of 2023 – Color


Red Fody, Bronx Zoo, June 21


Street Photographpy. Well, it is a street, and not just any street. This is 42nd Street, Manhattan, New York City. December 11.


Leaf and Stumps, Camp Andree, Briarcliff Manor, NY. November 20.


Third Avenue and 55th Street, Manhattan. December 20.


Abstract Composition on the Charles River. Boston, MA. July 21.


Flower and Insect, Opus 50, Saugerties, NY. June 23.


Fallen Branch, Leaves and Reflections. Briarcliff Manor, NY. March 5.


Fungi. Briarcliff Manor, NY. December 7.


Bison Fighting/Playing, Bronx Zoo, NY. June 21


Member of the Fire Department on Memorial Day. Briarcliff Manor, NY. May 29.