Waxcaps #9 and #10 - Meadow and Cedarwood

It seems we're catching up on Waxcaps belatedly but I think a deep frost will put an end to the count before too long. Anyway I came across Meadow Waxcaps and Cedarwood Waxcaps in the West Field yesterday. Photo is the Meadows albeit small ones.

New(?) Species - Roughened Pinkgill (Entoloma asprellum)

Alway good to get a new CHEGD species fruiting on site - in this case a Pinkgill. Whilst it is new as a fruiting body this species was found in our eDNA survey in 2022. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo before identification as it was found as part of the Gwent Fungi Group foray here last Saturday and handed to me. If I see another I'll add a photo.

Waxcaps #5, #6, #7 and #8

All found today on the occasion of the Gwent Fungi Group foray (although three of the new ones were found by me - I do have a knack with Waxcaps). The species added are Parrot Waxcap. Spangle Waxcap, Yellow Foot Waxcap and Honey Waxcap (photo). A bit more respectable on the Waxcap front but still more to go I hope.

New Species - Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)

This was a surprising new species for me - a true bug from America that I found in our bathroom! It turns out that these bugs were inadvertently introduced to the UK in 2007 and have spread widely since. They also like to get somewhere warm for the winter, hence it entering the house. They feed on conifer sap of which there must be plenty around here due to the Larch and Douglass Fir (and other conifers) in Manor Wood

Waxcaps #3 and #4 for 2026

The dearth nof Waxcaps this year lerd me to forgetting to note that Waxcap #3 Golden Waxcap which has been appearing in large numbers for several weeks now. It was joined yesterday by the Snowy Waxcap - just a couple of small ones so far. The Gwent Fungus group are coming in a few days and I'm hoping there are more than two waxcaps for them to record. Last time they came at thgis time of year they recorded `16 waxcaps in an hour and a half! Photo - Snowy Waxcap (old photo)

Chaste Pinkgill

Not one that I encounter very often here but one of a few Pingills that are starting to fruit. In fact with just two Waxcaps fruiting there are actually more Pingills than Waxcaps at present. That's a first. The Chaste Pinkgill (entoloma infula) typically has the concentric rings effect on the cap.

New moth species - Agonopterix arenella

Most additions to The Beeches Moths list (currently 134 species) come about after my occasional moth trapping nights but sometimes I come across a moth in other circumstances. This micro moth was found when I opened up a folding table that had been stored in the barn. I took a quick photo and then asked my local moth expert who was able to identify as Agonopterix arenella (no English name).