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).

Goldcrest nest

I have seen Goldcrests here just once or twice in fifteen years. To be fair their song is at a higher frequency than my old ears can hear and they are a tiny elusive bird. However when clearing creeper from the walls I found an old very tiny nest and showing it to some experts tell me it is Goldcrest nest. The central area is about 2cm in diameter! I shall try and keep a sharper eye out for this fabulous bird next year.

Dryad's Saddle

It comes back every year - seemingly bigger each time and feeding on a poorly looking Ash. I think when the tree it is growing on succumbs to the disease affecting most Ash trees I am going to have a lot of firewood!

Lesser Horseshoe news

I've been delighted that a Lesser Horseshoe bat has been rossting in our shed for 12 years now even though it means I try not to use the shed when he's in residence. Single males I understood tend to roost alone and he was always in the same spot so I was happy that this was one individual. LH Bats can live up to 20 or 30 years of age but in the wild this is usually shorter. I opened the shed door today to see at least three Lesser Horseshoes - I quickly shut the door again so it's possible there were more. After a google I was told that males can be live alone in the summer but can also be found in small numbers together so that probably explains the increased numbers. He's brought some friends back! I'll go out this evening and see if I see any bats leaving the shed.

Sulphur Tuft

A common enough fungus and one that is easy to identify. It is often found on conifer stumps.