The Crab apple and the incredible fungus Terana coerulea.

Typical wheather for this time would be have 1'5 m. of snow in the mountain or more, but the truth is that except two small snow, we have not to much snow or rain, not in the dimensions to be considered normal in winter.
On this photo you can see here the crab apple (Malus sylvestris) that I have in my garden in Orbaizeta (Navarre) It is an exceptional specimen for the specie because it measures more than 10 meters.

Crab apple or Baxako.(Malus sylvestris)

The last  year had been very good for apple  trees, and they gave an unusual amount of fruit. In this case,3 months later, the most of apples from this specimen remain still on the ground, in perfect conditions.

I wonder how a fruit can be three months above the ground, outdoors, and not rot.
Surely there will be many animals feeding with them.

Pecked apple by a blackbird (Turdus merula)

I could see apples pecked by birds, probably from blackbirds (Turdus merula) but I could also observe eaten and defecated remains of carnivores like foxes.

With these apples, we make a liquor made with anise, very  much appreciated in these Pyrenean valleys, both in Navarra and in our neighboring valley of Garazi / Cize and Xiberoa / Soule across the border; the Baxaka or patxaka.

I picked up two boxes of these apples, which gave to my neighbors, and I did a test with few of them in white wine, to try out how it would catch the flavour of s the baxaka in white wine.
After three months I filtered, and bottled.
The result was a white wine with an astringent touch, and with a flavor reminiscent of quince.
I dont think so it is going to be fashionable to go bar hopping, but is cool.

It really heat up the stomach!!

Terana Coerulea

To finish, I leave you with this photo of a cobalt color mushroom,  eating this stick of boxwood. Although the picture clarifies a little bit, it has an extraordinary blue color. It´s the Terana coerulea,
Here you are two links:


http://www.biodiversidadvirtual.org/hongos/Terana-coerulea-(Lam.)-Kuntze-1891-img80449.html

http://eol.org/data_objects/26929958

He was elected fungus of the 2009 by the German Mycological Society, for the great antibiotic action on Streptococcus pyogenes, who causing bacterial pharyngitis, and framed in the type of meat-eating bacterias!
You see, a twig with a nice color, but it is much more than it seems!

The essential things are  invisible to the eyes!

Autum is coming! Colours mushrooms and gastronomy. Last photos

12 september 2014 Aribe ( Aezkoa valley)

 The arrival of autumn is anticipated by migratory birds, many of which have already taken their way  to the south to warmer climates with more food than there is for them in this land for the next months. It is  for common house Martins (Delichon urbicum) that meet every year at a certain point, in every town, and decide to start the long trip to sub-Saharan Africa.

And by the way I will comment that this painted wall corresponds to Trigolimpio, an association of  local farmers dedicated to market their organic meat of pony, beef and lamb from our Pyrenean valleys who lives in fabulous condition which we can see if we go to the higlands of Irati, and the sale reverts entirely in them, without intermediaries, enabling the survival of the livestock on these lands. I encourage you to taste it.

http://carneecologicanavarra.com/index.php?id_category=7&controller=category&id_lang=1

As you can see in the following photo, the colors of Irati take to come yet, and as usual, about 1 month, which is not to say that the forest is not pretty.
The warm temperatures, lack of consistent rain, the subsequent lack of wind, and it's still early, makes the leaf fall does not arrive.

Irati near from  Orbaizeta old munition factory , 26  september 2014

Orbaizeta 12 october:

I  add you some photos to look the colour of the forest. They already have more color, but there are still lots of green. My forecast is still for the last week of October, first of November.

 Aezkoa valley, from Orbaizeta,  1km to Irati

View of the Ori  mountain (Salazar valley,) from Orbaizeta (Irati south west)

Beeches and Scotch brooms (Cytisus scoparia)

Hygroscopic earthstar( Astraeus higrométricus)

5  november

The rain and cold, and because we are in the middle of the autum, they are favoring the final color changement. On the summits from 1200 meters,we can begin seeing the snow, and the color of the forest has increased very much. In the valleys we have still up to 40% green.
If you come this weekend, you will find it quite nice, and probably will not last much longer.

Olaldea /Garralda Oak forest, few kilometres to the south of Irati

The mountains further south, riches in different  species of trees have started earlier with the change of the colour that we expected in the beech forest.

 Arpea Cave ( Garazi/ Cize Valley)

This year the highlands of Irati are not so dry as is usual in other years , and they has continuously been sprouting grass. we can see in the photo the  Arpea cave, that looking the green hues (I have not retouched the photo ) seems spring.


Mushrooms have been a shy presence due to the high temperatures and lack of moisture, butspecies like the  Amanitas  seems get very well.

Fly amanita (Amanita Muscaria)

A mushroom consumed in Navarra, but not for all people, is the Galanperna or parasol mushroom, which has sprout abundant in meadows and beech forests, but in drier places did not be in existence for long before  dry as cardboard.

You can see the size of this item, it´s big like a hat:

Parasol mushroom  (Macrolepiota procera)

 I told you...

As big as a hut..

With the rut this year we had something similar; although normal in other years was to start around 15 September, this year has been delayed a lot, and it was not until earlier this week, on Monday 20, Tuesday 21, which has not begun to hear and low intensity and duration.


But what most people are waiting for is the begining of mushroom season. 
The boletus edulis, or Porcini, onddo beltza called here, have not yet come out in significant number, but  many months we started harvesting other types of mushrooms, such as Sweet tooth  or Tripaki  (Hydnum repadnum), the horn of plenty (Cratarellus cornucopioides), or  the  Zizahori or Chanterelle,(cantharellus cibarius), among others.

Obviously, there are also toxics, mortals and indigestibles, and that makes (and they do well) that many people  they dont catch species  unknowns.
What is best in my opinion, is to go slowly, expanding knowledge and continue to consume only those which are safe, but now some of them more.

 Therefore, every Saturday afternoon in October, we offer guided tours to the mountains, where we will see many things as usual, but also we will pick,mushrooms, goods and not edible specimens, later to classify them according to some simple keys  of  GARRAPO,company, and then have dinner every Saturday at a different restaurant in the valley, prepared differently, and all for a fixed price of € 40 + VAT. 

They will be small groups of no more than 10 people, because is a lot of work to clean and cook the mushrooms almost the same time that we  give they.
 Places are still available for the 4 Saturdays, so I encourage you!


CALENDAR OF TOURS AND DINNERS IN AEZKOA (NAVARRE)

v  4 october PARDIX Restaurant  (Orbaizeta) 948 76 60 01

v  11 october  ARIBE Hotel Restaurant (Aribe) 948 76 44 66

v  18 october  HERRIKO OSTATUA Bar (Garralda) 618 10 73 79

v  25 october   SARIGARRI inn (Abaurrepea) 948 76 90 61

The company GARRAPO are friends and managers of the mycological Ultzama Park whose magnificent web I recommend you,  ,http://www.parquemicologico.com/

With them I did last year a training course to complete the knowledge I already had beforehand, because when I was  I went going with my family  in many times to take  mushrooms.


 Finally, I will commentyou something about the fascinating world of fungi;
The photo  that you have below is the Armillaria ostoyae, somewhat old. It is a fungus that can be  a pest because  rot the healthy wood ,It is edible, although here there are no custom of eating.
The amazing thing about this fungus, and probably many others, is that in Oregon (USA), there is a clonal colony of this fungus, and at the moment, is the largest known organism with more than 890 hectares and 2400 years old. 
Do not imagin a typical mushroom out ground.Is the mycelium, like the roots, going underground among the roots of trees.

Armillaria ostoyae in Irati

Lactarius piperatus

The strange mushroom ( Phragmobasidiomicetes?)

Charcoal burner or Gibelurdina (Russula Cyanoxantha)

Irati  (Aezkoa valley)Navarre

¿Is not looking like Fangorn? (The lord of the rings)

It's time to water, floods and snow, and although it seems there are not many things in the forest that can surprise us, just with a little look will see that it is not true.

 Erlan stream (Irati)

 Today has again started to snow, but the truth is that until now there has been few snow and water that have fallen considering that January is usually a cold month and abundant rainfall.
In the  Erlan stream(Irati-Aezkoa) I found this specimen of Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), already in bloom, amidst the riverbed, so that we can already suppose that after the rain and snow of the last days it will be under water .Be the first sometimes has its drawbacks!

This plant is often used for colds, bronchitis, asthma and other lung illness, and for that reason it was introduced in the Americas.
But surely the queen of Irati at this time is the Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) who is now in flowering, when winter is getting worse.
As I talked about it in previous entries, I do not want to  bored you repeating the same data.

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)

Elsewhere in Navarra, more southerly, some Mediterranean plants also begin to bloom or they will in the next weeks.
Which I present you here, is a rare plant in Navarra, and is not common in the Mediterranean area too.
His name is Sternbergia colchiciflora and their presence in a little mountain of Navarre has been discovered recently.

Sternbergia colchiciflora, 13-1- 2014

Although the cold January is no friend of mushrooms, there are always exceptions, and have the opportunity to see saprophytic fungi (that is, that feed on dead wood,), colorful,
as these:

 Red peziza(Sarcoscypha coccinea) on mosses and lichens.

Turkey tail (Coryolus versicolor)

The fall in Irati forest

Arrazola (Irati) Valle de Aezkoa 11-10-2013

It seemed a month ago that the fall would be advanced, as in many places due to the lack of water the leaves of many trees were changing color.
Now, however, the forest is so green that it seems that we fall, if not for the high areas catching color before the low, and the abundance of fruits, both hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and the of themselves have, among others.
Possibly, but will have to go see him week after week, the increased intensity and amount will be achieved towards the last week of October / first of November. 

Beechnuts (edibles)

This year is a for the beeches a "vecero" year, that is, one year bear much fruit, others much less. The" vecería" is more pronounced  as  the species more wild  are.
Here we are the fruit of the seed open and ready to fall. Squirrels, dormices, wild boards and many kinds of birds will eat  them. Common finches are of those birds that we see frequently eating beechnuts on the road where they have fallen seeds, which were then crushed by cars, providing work.
They are edible for humans, once easily peel and remove the hairs that can give us a little itchy in the throat.
In the pastthey was used for human  meal making flour with them, and later for the pigs.

Common finch( Fringilla coelebs)

Arrazola(Aezkoa valley,Navarre) october 20, 2013

There has been some change in recent days and the forest is picking color, although there is still at least a week to take all those shades of color that characterize the beech forest.

Arrazola Information Point ( Aezkoa Valley )

The temperature has undergone rapid changes , and we've had days of small icy morning. However, what is prevailing  is the warm south wind , and so today at 9 in the morning we were at 15 degrees celsius .
In principle , the prognosis for the fall holds for the last week of October, first of November.
T

Hypholomas in the water reservoir area of  Irabia. They are toxic

We have hit boletus, but yes a big variety of species, so a visit to the forest at this time we can offer good opportunities for photography.

The birth of an amanita.

Cortinarius sp.

Pale tussock(Calliteara pudibunda)

This beautiful caterpillar, abundant at this time in the beech forests around the north of Navarre, will become a beautiful moth or heterocero, (Limantriidae family) will fly for the months of April to June. Its caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the beeches, oaks, willows and hawthorns, among others.Despite its fierce appearance, is harmless.

5 november 2103

Arrazola car parks (2). At this time, the 3 car parks of Irabia reservoir water were full 

Already passed the long weekend of all saints (Halloween) where more than 2300 people passed through the entrance to Irati forest of Arrazola (Aezkoa valley) seeking  the colors of the autum. However, this year the fall is a bit late, and probably in this weekend will be when maximum color that can reach before the wind and rain (yesterday was raining all the day, and today remains the same) pull the leaves.

Irati, from the window of my house at 9:21

In the bordering southern valleys , however, it is possible to lengthen a little more, because having lower altitude the cold and wind they affected less , and because around here  oaks holds longer the leaf than beeches  (also emerge later.)

Things to see in the winter of the Irati forest

This winter we are having unusually high temperatures for this time of year, and we have enjoyed precious days for walks through the forests.But some might think that going to the forest in winter, when the trees have no leaves, not worth it, but nevertheless, there is always many things to see, if you are ready.This photo is taken from the hill of Soraluze, near the western boundary of the forest of Irati, and important area with abundant megalithic dolmens and cromlech. Here goes the GR-12, or Euskalherria path.Nearby is Mount Urkulu, with the ruins of the ancient Roman tower keeping Astorga_Burdeaux Roman road, which passes close from here. In the background, you can see Mount Ori, eastern boundary of the forest of Irati, 2017 meters high, in the neighboring valley of Salazar

Dolmen of Soraluze (Aezkoa Valley,Navarre)

In this photo we have several starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). The black starlings (Sturnus unicolor) are such that sometimes we often forming large flocks at dusk when seeking roosts. These have come here to spend the winter, from  northern lands. Black starlings there are not commons in Irati  forest , but every year they are increasing their limits more to the north and more of them.
There are several good links on these birds.This bird web is from Argentina, where it is an invasive species and  they have many problems with it:
http://www.fotosaves.com.ar/Passeriformes/Sturnidae/FotosSturnidae.html


Very near  from Soraluze we can see the remains of this dried beech that seem to have gunned.Big chips line the grass at 180 º from where they have been detached by a type of woodpecker. If you look closely, you will see a very round hole in the top right of  the trunk, in the shadows.Is an old nest of a type of woodpecker.All this disaster had a purpose, that of finding succulent larvae that feed on dead wood, and the birds take to force the rotten wood chipping.





Here we are just 50 meters from the first, another dead tree with two old nests of woodpeckers,one forward and one to the right.

In an area of ​​grass near the edge of the forest, we found this  Badger´s(Meles meles) latrine. These animals deposit their droppings always in the same place. In this  one,we can see that has been used in at least three times, and in the first, fed on fruits with small seeds, probably wild rose, whose orange fruits remain  in the branches during part of the winter, and we can eat after removing the irritating hairs containing inside. They have lots of vitamin C.



In the trunk of a beech, we find this rare saprophyte fungus, (that feeds on dead matter) whose species, honestly it was the first time I watched. Probably is somewhat deteriorated. I put an euro coin on top of it so it can distinguish the size.If anyone knows what species can be treated, I would greatly appreciate the information.


In the reservoir water of Irabia (Aezkoa,Navarre)we found this  Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) perched a top a pole. We can see them throughout the year, but also have some of them during  the winter of the north . They measure about 1 meter in length and  a wingspan of 1.50 m. approx. They eat fish, and their presence, which increases without know very well the reasons (there was not a few decades ago in these valleys, but it seems that they lived here in the past) is for many people one of the causes of the decline of the trout population of Navarre Pyrenean rivers.

 To learn more about their food:
www.ardeola.org/files/330.pdf

Great Cormorant( Phalacrocorax carbo)

When we were leaving, we found two deer (Cervus elaphus) that ran for cover, but occasionally stopped to see what we were doing. That's when twe took photos, Before they came together in flight


In short, nature has a lot to offer us, wherever we go, wherever we are.