Still flying!

We had a walk around the Eastern Moors today. This is a part of the Peak Park which is now managed jointly by the RSPB and the National Trust, known as the Eastern Moors Partnership - very exciting!
It was a walk of two halves, both lovely but in different ways: the first half was wide open moorland, stone circles and red deer; the second half was woodland, mixed flocks of small birds and fungi.
The flying in my title is a double entendre: the mushroom as many will know is fly agaric (amanita muscaria) and gets its common name from the fact that at one time, it was broken up and soaked in milk to act as a fly killer, but it is also known for its hallucinogenic properties, and has it been suggested that there may be a connection with reindeer, Father Christmas and Shamanistic practices. This time last year, we were under a couple of feet of snow. This year, these fungi are still fruiting way past their usual season. I wonder if they'll still be with us for Christmas!

Happy St Andrew's Day to my blip friends north of the border!