Orange Gorse Fungus

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One of the jelly fungus found on gorse. Probably Tremella mesenterica.  The name mesenterica refers to the intestines, so it is probably so called because it is convoluted like them.  However, the amount of water it takes up varies considerably with the climate and season and it may take on a variety of forms.  Another of its names is Yellow Brain Fungus.

This specimen was photographed near to Capel Garmon in Snowdonia

This is a flowering example of Gorse. It is a woody, thorny shrub with a profusion of bright yellow flowers that dominates some landscapes where it may be the climax community.  Often seen at the coast.

Mobbed by mallards

 Mallards are our most ubiquitous duck and due to the popularity of 'feeding the ducks' at the local pond, they have adapted their behaviour.  No sooner was I spotted approaching the pond, that a great frenzy of activity erupted in the duck population; those nearby immediately climbing out of the water and hurryingly waddling (if you can hurry and waddle) in my direction; others quacking furiously; some flying in and landing with a big splash. Presumably they thought I had food. ( I didn't. Please don't feed the ducks! Our processed food is not good for them, and food left around encourages pests like rats)

As they came near I was able to observe their features closely.  Whilst most male mallards were fairly typical with an iridescent greenish head, a white and black tail with a curl, and a bright blue/purple speculum (in case you are wondering, that is the bar or flash of colour in the secondary feathers that the birds use to signal their species to each other), I also saw this brown variant.  I say variant, because it is the size and shape of a mallard, but not the usual colour. Their are many domestic variants of mallards.  Some do breed with wild types and show hybrid features.

Jaws

You can tell a surprising amount from teeth.  Bones and teeth the most highly mineralised in the body.  They are connective tissues, which are tissues in which the living cells are suspended in a matrix of protein fibres and impregnated with inorganic minerals.  In bone the living cells are osteoclasts and the inorganic mineral is calcium.  The purpose of this is to make the tissue hard and durable, which is why bones, and teeth, remain long after a body has decomposed.

The dentition is informative about the diet and therefore a diagnostic aid to identification.
Broadly speaking, the animals can be divided into herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.  This classification is reflected in the type and number of teeth.

Herbivores have a teeth that are adapted for cutting plant material and then chewing it for long periods to break down the cell walls.  They have sharp incisors which act like scissors, and then a number of broad flat molars that grind in a side to side or round and round motion (chewing the cud).

Carnivores have large, sharp canines, for puncturing and tearing meat, and their jaw opens up and down to provide great force, but does not go side to side to chew.

Omnivores have small incisors, small canines and some molars, which is an adaptation to their varied diet.

We can deduce by the number of molars that this animal was a herbivore and most likely a sheep. (Also because it was found in the Welsh hills!)