Oi! Jelly Ears!

You won't find a lot of fungi around at this time of year and, if you do, it tends to be hardy forms of bracket fungus or small growths like candlesnuff. 

However, there are plenty of Jelly Ears about. I wrote about them previously here.

Jelly Ears (Auricularia-auricula judae), also known as Wood Ears, are a good starter fungus for new foragers as they can't really be mistaken for anything else. 

For a start they are generally only found on rotten Elder trees or fallen branches (though very occasionally you might find them on fallen Beech, Ash or Sycamore). They feed on rotting wood. Secondly, they are fleshy and rubbery like ears and they form cups that only open downwards. There are other cup-shaped fungi, like the Scarlet Elf Cap or Snow Mushroom but their cups all point upwards.. 

Jelly Ears can range in colour from a tan/orange red to a deeper brown/red. And they are completely edible. 

When I was a boy people called them Jew's Ears (hence the scientific name), although this is now frowned upon. That said, it was never (to my knowledge) a racial slur. The folklore tradition is that Judas hanged himself on an Elder tree after betraying Jesus. The 'ears' were supposed to be a sign of his tormented spirit being trapped in the tree. However, the Elder is a very weak tree and most specimens would be unlikely to support the weight of a human adult. 

Jelly ears don't have a strong taste so they are best used being cut into strips and used as an ingredient in stir-fries, soups etc. The flavour can be intensified by drying and rehydrating and you will find bags of them in some Asian supermarkets. Nature can also do the job for you as you will sometimes find desiccated Jelly Ears while foraging. They turn a black and creamy white colour and become crispy but they can still be picked and are perfectly usable.

The only word of warning with these fungi is that you shouldn't eat them if you have haemophilia or you are taking blood thinners. Jelly Ears contain an acidic polysaccharide which has been found to have an effect on reducing blood coagulation. In traditional medicine they were used to treat heart disease, constipation, haemorrhoids, and gall, kidney and bladder stones.

As always, obey the forager's golden rule - if you're not 100% of identification (or if you have a medical complaint that could be affected), DON'T EAT IT.