Ettie’s Log #3 – Geese, Swans and Funghi

Continuing the adventures of Ettie the canal barge as she travels the canals of France.

We have just come through the Billy-le-Grand tunnel on the Canal de l’Aisne a la Marne.

Here are some other photographs from our trips in France.

Bar headed geese

Family of swans at St-Vallier on the River Rhone

Heron at écluse de Vaugris on the River Rhone

The pale yellow leaves on this tree belong to the mistletoe plant that is growing on it. The mistletoe plant is a hemiparasite (half parasite) because although it takes water and nutrients form the sap flowing up the tree it also makes food by photosynthesis in its leaves.

Trilobites in the Musée des Confluences, Lyon – a science centre.

Toadstools. Feeding fungus threads below ground have taken in enough materials to grow these “fruiting bodies” which are opening and releasing spores.

Bracket fungus. Feeding fungus threads inside the tree have taken in enough materials to produce this “fruiting body” which drops its spores into the woodland air.

Find out more about funghi fruiting bodies