New fungus species - Stump Puffball

A common puffball which is saprobic on dead wood but I hadn't recorded it here before.

Great show of wild dadffodils

The place in Manor Wood that has the wild daffodils is looking particularly good this year. Still a few days before peak daffs but already very presentable.

Frogspawn

100% increase in frogspawn thia year as for the first time it is in two ponds. I spread the spawn around last year in the two viable ponds and in two sinks that hold water in the garden. I didn't see any tadpole development in the second tiny pond and assumed the palmate newts that live there ate it all but maybe one or two frogs devloped and came back to spawn. Success.

First fungus of the year - Goblet

I've recorded the Goblet (Pseudoclitocybe cyathiformis) here before but perhaps surprising to have it fruiting in February.

Deer in Winter

There's a definite increase in deer more or less resident here. I spotted three of them looking to me nonplussed by the snow. Theyt just stood there as if wondering what to do next.

2024

Overall not a great wildlife year here but still some highlights and new species and there are always new and interesting things to see. First the lowlights - Orchid numbers dropped for the first time since we have been here and it was a big drop as well. I think its a combination of weather and predator numnbers (rabbits and deer) as numbers were also reduced even in the deer and rabbit proof cages. Also Butterflie numbers down and less species recorded. The same for Waxcaps with only 18 species recorded this year versus 24 species last year. Still a good number though for a small site. Highlights on the Orchid front was the reappearance of a Bee Orchid, only the third flowering in the 13 years we have been here. Fungi-wise its been a great year for Clavaroids with no less than three species to add to the list , Pointed Club, Beige Coral and Skinny Club. I note that the eDNA testing which showed a large number of Clavaroids that I had not recorded fruiting didn't indicate any of these three species. I might hope for more new Clavaroids in future years. There were also re-sightings of some favourite species - Stoat, Grass Snake and our Horseshoe Bat who has now been resident in our shed for 10 years - at least! I know it's the same individual as he always roosts in exactly the same place. Two major new species as well some new invertebrates (Beetles, a Hoverfly) - namely a Common Lizard and of course not quite on site but within a few hundred yards the sighting of a Pine Marten in Manor Wood. Actually I'm realising it's been quite a good year for wildlife here after all. Here's to 2025. Photoo taken by me in Scotland - hopefully a site photo will be available some time...

Waxcap #18 - Butter Waxcap

The last one recorded this year. Disappoining compared to last year's total of 24 but fungi are like that; not at all predictable. The Butter Waxcap (Hygrocybe ceracea) can be mistaken for a small Golden Waxcap or ideed any of the small yellowish ones but a combination of the texture of the cap, and the broadly attached, usually pale yellow gills serve to distinguish it.