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Thanks a lot, this was found in the grounds of the RSPB head office near where I live. They have a big estate. If there's any good reference books I'm all ears, I've heard good reports about Roger Phillips - Mushrooms.
jambon-
I’ll defer to others on field guides. In general, the more photos and drawings, the better. Taking note of habitat is also important for identification, so notes or photos in the field are better than laying your foraged haul out on a table and opening your book.
The challenges of mushroom identification and their often contested taxonomy are addressed in Merlin Sheldrake’s recent, excellent, book ‘Entangled Life’. Probably my book of the year.
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I hope I didn't seem discouraging, I was just trying to stop you shitting your pants.. haha. I have the Roger Phillips book, it is great but massive so a smaller book like the River Cottage mushroom book is great as you can take it out. It has a handy list of questions to narrow down what you are identifying.
I also use the Wild Food UK site for pointers.
Sharkstar
Cazakstan
Keep posting! You found one of the UK’s most easily recognisable and, arguably, visually stunning mushrooms. Eaten by berserkers before running into battle, possibly for their rageful effects but equally possibly to give them an excuse for shitting their pants.