Believe it or not I found a slow worm on my lunchtime stroll today, it was crossing a narrow lane as the spaniel and I came along. I can't remember ever seeing one before early April before. As luck would have it I was without my camera.

The other unusual find today was this fungus covering much of the trunk and branches of a small dead oak tree. I haven't been able to identify it with any conviction, perhaps a Ceriporiopsis or a Phellodon of some kind?