a quick bit of guidance plz

[Stomperone]

I am just about to go out fungus hunting in about 30 minutes .. what type of woods are the best type to look in.. and what sort of area am I likely to find the bright red ones .. plz excuse the fact I do not know the names .. I am not going to pick any just photograph any i may find

[Hedge Witch]

Hi there, the red one, Fly Agaric, grows:

under birch and spruce trees on acidic soils

I think this must be a lot of people's all time favourite, judging by the fungi forum.

[diggleken]

just keep your eyes open and dont go too fast. Emergent fungi are quite small and are often under leaf litter for a while. If you see any like that, go back soon to check when they are mature and for better pics. When you see mature fungi they have usually lost their spores so you can pick or bend over to check for gill structure etc without detriment to the future colony.
Keep going anyway, as with all wildlife spotting, practice and experience always helps, complementing a good guide book. Look forward to your finds on WAB?

[fairplay]

Hi Stomperone,

I do take it you mean the 'Fly Agaric' and not the 'Sickener' ?

If so, off to a Birch wood you must go (they are not confined to Birch only though)
For fungi in general, a mixed woodland will be most productive with plenty of damp areas, but fungi are very unpredictable and tend to do their own thing.


Diggleken - when is a fungus 'mature' ?
I would say a fungus is mature when it begins to shed it's spores, and when there are no spores left (which is nigh impossible) then it will be way past the I.D. stage.

Neil.

[diggleken]

''Diggleken - when is a fungus 'mature' ?''
err, good point fairplay - just slipped in - mature is a bit misleading for fungi, although I would imagine my intent would be understood. Better to have used the phrase fruiting body is fully developed or emergent I guess.
Must be more accurate!
But, thanks for input to clarify.
cheers