Falkland at Dusk

Lunched at Falkland yesterday. The weather was terrible, heavy rain and high winds, but it was cheering to see the Christmas lights on the fountain.

Shaggy Parasol Mushroom

Another mushroom from a recent visit to the woods in Falkland Estate. There are several parasol mushrooms but these looked most like the shaggy parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes). Rhacodes is a mispelling of the greek rhakos or rhacos which means 'piece of cloth'. The cap is at first egg-shaped then opens flat and the outer skin breaks up into shaggy brown scales on a cream background. The stem is white.

Yellow Stag's Horn Fungus

Yellow Stag's Horn Fungus (Calocera viscosa) growing on dead wood in the Falkland Estate. It is a bright yellow, many branched jelly fungus which is abundant on conifer stumps and fallen trunks.

Some Falkland Artistry

Walking through the woods in the Falkland Estate came across these intricate wooden carvings, presumably carved using some of the wood from the trees that were damaged in the winter storms.

Also came acoss a decorated tree-trunk.

Autumn Colour in Falkland

Autumn colour in the trees in the Falkland Estate. (Falkland village is about 14 miles inland and North-East of Largo.)

Lomond Hills Landmark

Standing among trees on the edge of a hillside on the North side of the Lomond Hills in Fife is a landmark which can be seen for many miles. Yesterday we walked through the Fallkland Estate and then through the forest up to this monument. It is a 60 foot high stone-built tower, erected in memory of Onesiphorus Tyndall-Bruce of Falkland who died 19th March 1855. He was the instigator of the tree planting on the Lomonds and the surrounding area. The view from the statue over the Howe of Fife is magnificent.

A mile and a half East of the monument, in the village of Falkland and near the entrance door to the Church of Scotland is a statue to the same Onesiphorus Tyndall-Bruce. The statue was paid for by public subscription. He built the Church in 1849. He was an Englishman who married a Miss Bruce of Falkland. His Christian name is unusual, but it can be found in the Bible at 2 Timothy, chapter 1 verse 16.

Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtail at the edge of the fishpond in Falkland Estate.

Pied wagtails are a familiar sight, the grey wagtail less so. It was a beautiful day today, so went to Falkland (about 14 miles inland and North-East of Largo) and walked through the grounds of the estate. Just inside the gates there is a pond and there are usually mallards there. Didn't see any mallards today, but this grey wagtail was bobbing about at the water's edge.