[Cybershot]

In my eyes the sight of the first full blown Amanita muscaria - Fly Agaric heralds the arrival of Autumn (giving a quick glance in Shirley's direction) and though locally August was disappointingly sparse of fungi finds (reports from southern England of cancelled forays and field study courses) there are signs that the season's tardy arrival is slowly gaining momentum. A local fungus group recorded 30+ species in one viicinity yesterday, and my recent parambulations with the dog are at last bearing fruit: