Helen Baker
@helenbaker.bsky.social
Ornithology, Mycology, nature.
Seabird team leader JNCC.
Member BMS Field Mycology & Conservation Committee.
Own views.
Seabird team leader JNCC.
Member BMS Field Mycology & Conservation Committee.
Own views.
This is a parasitic fungus, Gomphidius roseus, the Rosy Spike, a gilled boletale, which targets the Bovine Bolete, Suillus bovinus, an ectomycorhizal species with pines. #FungiFriday
October 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
This is a parasitic fungus, Gomphidius roseus, the Rosy Spike, a gilled boletale, which targets the Bovine Bolete, Suillus bovinus, an ectomycorhizal species with pines. #FungiFriday
A rotter, this is Bulgaria inquinans, the Black Bulgar or Black Jelly, which is common in broadleaf woodland but most often on fallen oak. It can produce a turquoise dye if processed carefully, but more often a lovely green. #FungiFriday
October 17, 2025 at 6:50 PM
A rotter, this is Bulgaria inquinans, the Black Bulgar or Black Jelly, which is common in broadleaf woodland but most often on fallen oak. It can produce a turquoise dye if processed carefully, but more often a lovely green. #FungiFriday
It's waxcap season - fungi of nutrient poor grasslands that tend to peak in late autumn. This is the Date Waxcap, Hygrocybe spadicea, from grassland within the Balmoral estate. It is a rare species and an indicator of high quality fungi (CHEGD) grassland. #FungiFriday
October 17, 2025 at 6:45 PM
It's waxcap season - fungi of nutrient poor grasslands that tend to peak in late autumn. This is the Date Waxcap, Hygrocybe spadicea, from grassland within the Balmoral estate. It is a rare species and an indicator of high quality fungi (CHEGD) grassland. #FungiFriday
It's #FungiFriday and yesterday was world fungus day so here are a few recent finds. These are dinner-plate sized Scaly Tooth, Sarcodon squamosus, from the ancient Caledonian pinewoods of Ballochbuie in the Balmoral estate.
October 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
It's #FungiFriday and yesterday was world fungus day so here are a few recent finds. These are dinner-plate sized Scaly Tooth, Sarcodon squamosus, from the ancient Caledonian pinewoods of Ballochbuie in the Balmoral estate.
An unusual bolete that has pink pores and spores, the Bitter bolete, Tylopilus felleus
September 12, 2025 at 7:51 AM
An unusual bolete that has pink pores and spores, the Bitter bolete, Tylopilus felleus
A commoner species, the Jellied bolete, Suillus flavidus
September 12, 2025 at 7:47 AM
A commoner species, the Jellied bolete, Suillus flavidus
Pine bolete, Boletus pinophilus
September 12, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Pine bolete, Boletus pinophilus
A large, bearded milkcap, Lactarius repraesentaneus
September 12, 2025 at 7:38 AM
A large, bearded milkcap, Lactarius repraesentaneus
A few northern birch and pinewood fungi from the Strathspey last week for #FungiFriday
Blue Tooth, Hydnellum caeruleum
Blue Tooth, Hydnellum caeruleum
September 12, 2025 at 7:36 AM
A few northern birch and pinewood fungi from the Strathspey last week for #FungiFriday
Blue Tooth, Hydnellum caeruleum
Blue Tooth, Hydnellum caeruleum
A rare velvet milkcap, Lactarius lignyotus, growing under spruce in Aberdeenshire. Only c.5 records, but likely under-recorded. ##FungiFriday #UKFungusDay
August 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A rare velvet milkcap, Lactarius lignyotus, growing under spruce in Aberdeenshire. Only c.5 records, but likely under-recorded. ##FungiFriday #UKFungusDay
Up close to the magnificent Tall Ships in Aberdeen Harbour today. One has a 52m tall main mast, but it's hard to show just how massive and complex the rigging is.
July 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Up close to the magnificent Tall Ships in Aberdeen Harbour today. One has a 52m tall main mast, but it's hard to show just how massive and complex the rigging is.
BAP Union arrives into Harbour off overnight mooring in Aberdeen bay. A spectacular Peruvian Tall Ship.
July 18, 2025 at 8:43 AM
BAP Union arrives into Harbour off overnight mooring in Aberdeen bay. A spectacular Peruvian Tall Ship.
One more Tall Ship from the few that came in today. Early morning haar provided a very atmospheric entrance to Aberdeen bay.
July 17, 2025 at 6:50 PM
One more Tall Ship from the few that came in today. Early morning haar provided a very atmospheric entrance to Aberdeen bay.
More Tall Ships arriving today and plenty of dolphin action at the mouth of Aberdeen Harbour to greet them 😊
July 17, 2025 at 11:19 AM
More Tall Ships arriving today and plenty of dolphin action at the mouth of Aberdeen Harbour to greet them 😊
First of the Tall Ships coming into Aberdeen Harbour
July 16, 2025 at 5:01 PM
First of the Tall Ships coming into Aberdeen Harbour
Job alert: We are looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable marine ornithologist to join the JNCC Marine Species Team. More info here: www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cg...
June 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Job alert: We are looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable marine ornithologist to join the JNCC Marine Species Team. More info here: www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cg...
My first tree sparrow broods have fledged in the last few days. One parent is gorging on aphids on my roses, and although I suspect aphids might be the salad greens of the insect world, they must have nutritional value in bulk.
Photo from GardenBird.
Photo from GardenBird.
May 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
My first tree sparrow broods have fledged in the last few days. One parent is gorging on aphids on my roses, and although I suspect aphids might be the salad greens of the insect world, they must have nutritional value in bulk.
Photo from GardenBird.
Photo from GardenBird.
Field Mycology, a journal of the British Mycological Society, is now open access! Our paper on the first British record of Cortinarius oreoborealis is in the edition. fieldmycology.org/index.php/jo...
April 28, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Field Mycology, a journal of the British Mycological Society, is now open access! Our paper on the first British record of Cortinarius oreoborealis is in the edition. fieldmycology.org/index.php/jo...
Super troupers for #SuperSeabirdSunday - the gannet colony at Troup Head. Lots of #Seabirds along the coast and a beautiful adult white-billed diver in full summer plumage 💚
April 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Super troupers for #SuperSeabirdSunday - the gannet colony at Troup Head. Lots of #Seabirds along the coast and a beautiful adult white-billed diver in full summer plumage 💚
Finally, our paper on the first British record of Russula lapponica appeared in the May 2024 issue of Field Mycology. A crabby brittlegill, with that distinctive shellfish odour, we have so far found it at only one location near Banchory. Collected in 2023, it also fruited this year.
December 31, 2024 at 7:53 PM
Finally, our paper on the first British record of Russula lapponica appeared in the May 2024 issue of Field Mycology. A crabby brittlegill, with that distinctive shellfish odour, we have so far found it at only one location near Banchory. Collected in 2023, it also fruited this year.
December brings us back to aquatics. This is one of my favourites, Isthmotricladia brittanica, collected from the Burn of Angels near Potarch on 24 Dec and maybe quite festive 🤔
December 31, 2024 at 7:46 PM
December brings us back to aquatics. This is one of my favourites, Isthmotricladia brittanica, collected from the Burn of Angels near Potarch on 24 Dec and maybe quite festive 🤔
November tends to see our first hard frosts, but before this the waxcap meadows can still be productive. The rear lawn at Haddo House is especially good, although each year is different and 24 wasn't as good as previous ones. Still, this Hygrocybe punicea was amongst about 11 species.
December 31, 2024 at 7:42 PM
November tends to see our first hard frosts, but before this the waxcap meadows can still be productive. The rear lawn at Haddo House is especially good, although each year is different and 24 wasn't as good as previous ones. Still, this Hygrocybe punicea was amongst about 11 species.
October is when we venture into grasslands, but woodland forays can still be worthwhile. At Drum Oakwood we found a lilac-staining milkcap, rare in our region: Lactarius aspideus.
December 31, 2024 at 7:33 PM
October is when we venture into grasslands, but woodland forays can still be worthwhile. At Drum Oakwood we found a lilac-staining milkcap, rare in our region: Lactarius aspideus.