Wildlife Spotting

Sorry, I accidentally linked the thumbnail on the last image. here is the full resolution version: http://files.shroomery.org/files/12-41/990487639-PC050830.jpg

To clarify the pellicle thing, here's a picture of one being peeled off a Psilocybe cyanescens: http://files.shroomery.org/files/12-43/100971695-PC180982.jpg Alternatively you can gently stretch the cap margin so that the mushroom flesh splits. The pellicle, if present, should stretch over these splits and keep the whole thing together as it is more flexible than the flesh. Here is an example on a Liberty Cap: http://files.shroomery.org/files/12-41/990487639-PC050830.jpg

Yeah for sure. Most Psilocybe species, including Liberty Caps, have a separable viscid pellicle. That is a thin gelatinous membrane on the top of the cap which can be peeled off. This is useful for separating them from similar Panaeolus species, however it may be difficult to find and separate in older drier specimens. Other than that, the spore print should be a dark purple-brown and the stem should be more flexible than most other mushrooms. Oh and that campanulate pileus with an acute central umbo - that is the bell shaped cap with a sharp nipple on top, is a distinctive feature.

Mostly Psilocybe semilanceata don't blue much, but sometimes the psychoactive compound psilocin reacts with oxygen to produce a bluing effect.

Wow, these look really cool. I'm not 100% on my ID but they do look an awful like dried out Liberty Caps. I suppose in the Southern hemisphere it is about late autumn now and they have been reported from Victoria so it would make sense, but they are classically a European species. My one hesitation is the thin, straight and darkly coloured stems, but I suppose that could happen from drying. Are the caps slightly bluish?