Whats going on with this beech?

[Benny360]

Has anyone got any ideas about what might be ailing this beech? (Im just trying to upload a picture now) It hasn't come into leaf fully this year but on inspection in the spring there were no signs of deadwood or decay in the crown or anywhere on the stem. I could see some small isolated branches lower dow which have come into leaf and died off this summer which suggests they have been girdled quite recently. Whatever has happened to it has happened very quickly. Had a good look around the base and I found some fungus that I've identified as Lacrymaria lacrymabunda which are not parasitic, no signs of any other bracket fungus or old fruiting bodies. Nothing else in its habitat seems to have changed i.e. soil levels/root damage and its in a row of about 8 other very healthy beech trees. Does anyone have any ideas?

[Benny360]

 

[sloth]

Can't really offer anything meaningful based on those pics I'm afraid. Any exudate on the stem, are you able to check back late summer or early autumn (after rain) for new fungal fruiting bodies?

[Graham]

I think I'd be looking for honey fungus or meripilus. Was there any thinning of the crown beforehand?

[Benny360]

Yeah I was thinking meripilus maybe, there's alot of work to do at this site so I will check back in autumn. No bleeding canker, the tree basically looks to be in perfect health apart from not coming into leaf. Looking up into the crown I cant see any deadwood or decay, all the small shoots are still there.

The fact that lower down I could make out small branches which had come into leaf this year and died back as if girdled recently must be quite telling?