Dundas Conservation Area 20120829

Usual route; Headwaters Trail from Martin Road west to Escarpement an back. Number of various Rusulae, but very hard to pick something useful - either dry or very buggy. Fair number of red variety:

Also some Boletus ornatipes:

 and Boletus griseus:

Anyway, did found several firsts for this year:
1. Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa)

 2. Honey mushroom

3. Heritzium americanum

Dundas Valley Conservation Area 20120831

 Left of Martin Road, towards Escarpment: the other side of the creek (not Trail).

Found several small patches of Xerula furfuracea. Edible stuff, but pretty chewy and nothing special in taste.



Unknown mushroom. This is the second crop this year. Some characteristics are pointing to Rhodocollybia maculata, but I never saw any spots or dark patches. It is usually bone white, becoming tan as matures. The pinkish color is actually spore deposit from the other cap.

 Nice specimen of  Birch Polypore (Piptropus betulinus)

 Several Lactarius Indigo, bu lot of them dried and ruined by buggs.

 Suillus americanus started to show up, but not yet in numbers worth picking (this one is good dried).

  
A great number of either Lactarius piperatus, or Russula brevipes. All too dry to check for milk.

Chicken of the the Woods (Laetiporous sulphureus)

Saw nice, smallish snake: very calm: did let me take quite a close-up, before slithering away:

 Looks like Eastern Garter Snake, but I am not sure.

Hamlock Woods 20120830

Visited coniferous woods near Ancaster, mainly hemlock(young growth).
Found great number of either Amanita frostiana or (more likely) Amanita muscaria:

 Also, a fair number of Lactarius deliciosus, but unfortunately, rather buggy

Several Lactarius indigo, TOTALLY infested:

 Some Macrolepiota rachodes: