Late Winter Fungi

 During the last week of February, I was still looking for my first butterflies of the year. None were encountered. However, a lovely species of fungus chooses this time of year to provide a splash of colour in the undergrowth.

Scarlet Elf-cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca or S. coccinea)

When you encounter this stunning fungus, you would be forgiven for thinking that it will be easy to identify but it could be one of two near identical species, only separated with any confidence by microscopic examination.

Even more difficult to identify to species level are brown cup fungi. Cup shapes and shades of brown can vary within each species. 

I think this might be Peziza vesiculosa (or other Peziza sp.)