Wildlife Spotting

The largest was 25mm, some appear larger due to being fused, the specimen I discovered earlier in year was more individual. You may be correct about the limits of a slime mold being exceeded, I have looked at both fungi and slime molds for an ID and had no luck.

It looks fungi to me but I guess the important thing here is the size. Slime mold structures are very limited size-wise.

It is definitely a fungus or slime mold, I have found the same organism several times, every time it is found growing from a well decayed log and not always same species. This specimen was growing among some carbon ball fungus, could be source of the black balls. The liquid inside had a pleasant odor, and at maturity the organism produces yellow spores. It is my understanding if you find a "puffball" and it contains goo instead of spores it is a slime mold?

Could it be some resin coming from the stump which was drying with a crust on it?

Those little black balls are curious things? Any sheep around?

Are you sure of slime mold? Something doesn't seem right to me. What size was it?