New waxcap here

Frustratingly I have not got a confirmed ID for what is undoubtedly a new waxcap species for The Beeches. It will be a world heritage site at this rate but I can't add this to the list of confirmed waxcaps yet. I found two pretty far gone examples of a dull orange waxcap with distinct squamules on its dry cap. At first I thought it might be H substrangulata but the environment is not right as it is an acid and bog lover. I am now convinced it is the Goblet Waxcap (Hygrocybe cantharellus) but the specimen I had did not get confirmed before its spores were dried out. Hopefully it will reappear.

Stag's Horn Fungi

This is a common fungi but I am not sure I have recorded it here before. Also called Candle-snuff fungus and best known as Xylaria hypoxylon, it is found growing on dead wood of (usually broad-leaf) trees.

Meadow Coral

The third Clavaroid to appear here this year after White Spindles and Apricot Club is Meadow Coral (Clavulinopsis corniculata). It is branched and appears in dense clumps.

Blushing Waxcap

The best find of the day at the book launch at Pentwyn was the Blushing Waxcap (Hygrocybe ovina) which is not seen very often. I found it in the same field that I have seen it before at Pentwyn although the example I found was pretty far gone. However finding rare waxcaps must run in the family as my sister found this magnificent specimen.

My favourite Waxcap

The Splendid Waxcap is appropriately named. I have only seen it here at The Beeches and only once before in 2015. It kindly made its reappearance on book launch day. It is distinguished from the other two big red Waxcaps by a dry cap and a distinctive shade of red, and has a stout contorted stipe and a strongly and sharply umbonate cap.

Crimson Waxcap

Back at The Beeches is the Crimson Waxcap (Hygrocybe punicea) which appeared for the first time last year. I found three examples of this superb waxcap on book launch day (22 October) plus some other fungi out for the first time this year.

Garlic Waxcap at New Grove

A new species for me - found at nearby New Grove Meadows. Brilliantly it smells faintly of garlic which helps a lot with the ID. A microscopic examination was also done as basically apart from the smell and the lab work it is difficult to nail down being very similar to the Vermillion Waxcap in most respects.

Black Fallow Deer again

We seem to have a number of black fallow deer as opposed to the usual fawn colouring. One young one was in the garden yesterday. This is a known colour variation and the lack of white even applies to the rump area. The flash of white from a fast disappearing fallow deer is often a means of identification for me.

New Waxcap Species - Oily Waxcap

I found a rather tired example of a waxcap that must be an Oily Waxcap. The gill colour together with the faded yellow cap are a giveaway. I am losing count of the number of waxcaps I have here - I must be moving from SSSI territory to NNR territory! Of course the reality is that waxcaps and grassland fungi in general are underreported so my daily forays here reveal the true extent of fungal species on what is probably one of many similar waxcap sites in the area. The management regime here is now geared towards waxcaps so that helps.

Wood Blewit

This is a very common fungus - here I find it on compost heaps where it is often profuse. The cap colour is variable from pure lilac to brown but the stipe colour is a distinctive mixture of lilac, white and brown striations. This is a very purpley version although it dries brown and these are fresh and young so not surprising. A very handsome fungus and allegedly edible but the books often say 'best avoided' due to the reaction of some people to it.

New Species - Stump Puffball

I found a whole clutch of Stump Puffballs (Lycoperdon pyriforme) on the footpath just outside the South Field. This is a common species but a first for me here.

NEW WAXCAP SPECIES!!! - Earthy Waxcap

The first time I have seen this Waxcap Species and I found it right here at The Beeches. The Earthy Waxcap (Cuphophyllus fornicatus) is quite distinctive and the ID has been confirmed. That makes it Species #23 (counting var Pallida as a Species) or #24 if the probable Vitellinus was counted. The question is how much of the extraordinary species count here is due to the fact that I visit it daily as opposed purely to the fungi value of the site.

Macrolepiota konradii

This fungus which has no english name has appeared in exactly the same place it appeared last year. It lives in the barn, right in the entrance where footfall is highest and where the soil is dry and dusty. It is essentially a woodland species although it can be found in grassland. No mention of barn entrances in the books!

Apricot Club - in the lawn

Now that I treat the grassy areas around the house more or less as meadows, cutting them in late summer rather than regularly stuff is starting to appear in them - both plants and fungi. The latest example is Apricot Club (Clavulinopsis luteoalba) in the grass below the South field.

It's bird feeding Jim - but not as we know it

I have had to desist from bird feeding again as I was in fact once again providing a breakfast bar for a Sparrowhawk. He (for it is the male distinguished by the orange breast colour) has taken to sitting on the wall near the feeders figuratively drumming those fearsome claws while he waits for the Tits to arrive. I saw him take two Tits and whilst I am sympathetic to the need for Sparrowhawk chicks to be fed, it's not fair to lure Tits to their death.

Small Tortoiseshell

I perhaps don't pay as much attention to the Small Tortoiseshell because it is one of the commonest butterflies - although not very common this year. There have been one or two around in the last few days and I was reminded how amazing their patterning is. Blue, orange, yellow, black, white and brown - that's some combo.

More Waxcaps here

Three more Waxcap species appeared here in the last two days - two pretty common ones Scarlet Waxcap and Blackening Waxcap and the much less common Dingy Waxcap (Hygrocybe ingrata) pictured above. That makes 11 species or 12 if you count the probable Gloioexanthomyces vitellinus.

White Spindles - Clavaria fragilis

The fungi pace picked up a notch with the appearance here of the first spindles of the year. White Spindles are C. fragilis because they are, well, fragile. Actually the only other spindle that is at all similar is Clavaria acuta which is smaller and less clumpy.

Death Cap

I had my first view of the Death Cap (Amanaita phalloides) yesterday, found in Chepstow Park Wood. I also heard of a recent local incident where some inexperienced foragers had collected a couple in amongst some edible fungi and were intending to eat them until it was discovered by chance. It is a fine looking fungus but I was careful to wash my hands after handling it.

Scarlettina Bolete

I spotted this magnificent fungus in a neighbour's garden. The Scarletina Bolete (Neoboletus luridiformis) is mainly found with Oak or Beech (in this case mid-way between one of each).

Pink Waxcap- waxcap #8 or #9 for 2017

Next species to appear is the Pink Waxcap (now Porpolomopsis calyptriformis) which is probably #9 or maybe #8 for the year (depending on whether that was definitely Gloioxanthomyces vitellinus or not the other day). There was a group of three and a couple more in the West Field today.

New species - Wood Mouse

A dead rodent outside the front door appears to be a Wood Mouse (based on fur colour and ear and other body part sizes). We have had House mice before (in the house appropriately enough) but I am not sure have definitely seen a Wood mouse before so it must count as one for the species list.

Persistent Waxcap

Another one for the 2017 Beeches Waxcap list (#7 if we don't count the probable vitellinus). The long bifid stipe with white at the base is a tell-tale sign.

Glutinous Waxcap

This species is distinguished from some of the other similarly coloured small waxcaps by generous amounts of gloop on the cap and stem. There's been a few around so far including in the small North Field where I don't think I have seen waxcaps before.

New fungi species - Leotia viscosa

I have a new ascomycetes species fruiting in some profusion close to some trees in the large field. The first one I found I identified as Leotia lubrica known as Jellybabies. However a closer look revealed some very similar fungi but with dark green caps. This appeared to be Leotia viscosa (English name Chickenlips) but I think the whole taxonomy is in doubt. Is Lubrica one, two or three species is the question. A website www.fungusfactfriday.com sums it up "These three species also overlap morphologically and many intermediate forms can be found. Apparently Leotia is due for a major shake-up sometime in the near future. It is impossible to say whether the result will be the three species are combined into one morphologically diverse species or they will be divided into numerous morphologically indistinguishable species." I show photos of the two differently coloured fungi. Of course it could be that I have Leotia viscosa and the brownish ones are dried out or mature green ones. Who knows?

Could it be waxcap #23?

I have recorded 22 waxcap species* here (which under Wald and Vesterholt's criteria would make it a site of international importance for grassland fungi!) and a possible but unlikely 23rd of Orange Waxcap (Hygrocybe aurantiosplendens) which I think was a misidentification on my part. Now I have another possible but unconfirmed 23rd when I came across what might be Gloioanthomyces vitellinus (no English name) but then again might not be. It certainly looks different to any thing I have seen here with a very long stipe but it is partly eaten away so I can't be sure of the id. * I am counting the Pale Waxcap (Cuphophyllus pratensis, formerly Hygrocybe pratensis var pallida) as a species which technically it is not anymore.

Female Common Blue

I spotted a brown butterfly which turned out to be a female Common Blue. Checking distribution maps it seems that in any case we don't get the Brown Argus here (although it is found on the coast 20 miles away or so). Telling the difference between the browner versions of the female Common Blue and the Brown Argus can require close observation. However the presence of some blue on the upper surface and the presence of dots on the in the bottom half of the underside of the forewing indicate it is a Common Blue and not a Brown Argus.

Fifth waxcap - Golden Waxcap

I came across a whole bunch of Golden Waxcaps (Hygrocybe chlorophana) today - rather battered by my cutting and raking but identifiable nonetheless. That makes five waxcaps here as the season hots up.

Female Common Darter

There has been dragonfly activity around the pond but I found this Common Darter (Sympetrum stiolatum) hunting at the top of the big field. She sat on a blade of grass turning her head from time to time, presumably on the look out for something tasty. Not as showy as the male but a stunning insect up close nonetheless.

Three more waxcap species

The last couple of days has yielded up three more waxcaps here making four for the year so far. Yesterday I found both the Spangle Waxcap (Hygrocybe insipida) and Butter Waxcap (Hygrocybe ceracea) as shown above. These can be similar so at first I thought the specimens were one or the other but one was classic H. insipida down to the red at the top of the stipe and another was clearly H. ceracea. Today I found a couple of Fibrous Waxcaps (Hygrocybe intermedia).

Good Year for Common Blues

It is another mixed year for butterflies but a good one for Common Blues here at The Beeches. There have been quite a few flying over the last week despite the fields having been around 50% cut.

Help from a Buzzard

We have been seeing a lot of Buzzard who kindly helps as I cut the fields. His job to remove any small animals I might have uncovered as I cut. Here he is waiting for service in a handy tree.

Slender Parasol

The fungi season is starting after the recent spell of rain. Here's one from my neighbour's field - a Slender Parasol (Macrolepiota mastoides). It has fawn scales and a prominent central smallish umbo.

First waxcap of the season

On the last day of July we have the first waxcap here at The Beeches- a Citrine Waxcap (Hygrocybe citrinovirens). Looking forward to a lot more species over the next four months or so.

Common Wasp - Vespa vulgaris

I have never really checked out any of the social wasps and I suppose I ignorantly assumed they tended to have nests in attics and rooves and trees so I was intrigued by a wasps nest in a hole dug probably by a rabbit. It turns out that the Common Wasp uses holes in the ground and it is the Tree wasp that nests in attics, rooves and trees. Of course!

New Species - Hemp Agrimony

Every year there are a few new flower species appearing on the site - today's new arrival is Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabium). It has taken up residence amongst brambles on some rough ground behind the garage.

Blackcap

My favourite birds to see, neither of which come to the feeders are Bullfinches and Blackcaps. Both are extraordinarily elegant to look at and the Blackcap has the additional benefit of one of the best songs around. Today it was a female in the apple tree next to the house that caught my attention.

Dog Fox hunting in the meadow

I haven't seen much of foxes in the last couple of years - which is surprising given the glut of rabbits. However there was a big dog fox in the field last evening and I quite like the way the picture came out taken through a long lens hurriedly.

Close up of young stag

This fine-looking deer came right up close to the house in its search for juicy tree shoots. Eventually my attempts to photograph it caused it to bound away but I managed a head shot before disturbing it.

New Moth Species - Black Arches

Dead and rather faded but there was a male Black Arches (Lymantria monacha) in the bedroom. It is a moth of mature oak woods. At first it appears quite restrained with a pattern of lines on a pale background but closer examination shows a couple of striking bright pink bands on the abdomen.

Hoverfly - Criorhina floccosa?

Another Hoverfly from the carcasses in the house - this time it has its head but the antennae are missing. Nonetheless I am reasonably confident in identifying it as Criorhina floccosa (but not certain). It certainly looks like a bee mimic and C floccosa is a mimic of the Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascorum). The clincher for me are the tufts of pale hair from the abdomen.

Hoverfly - Helophilus pendulus

I have been checking out some of the insects in the killing fields that are our downstairs when the doors are open. I managed to identify this hoverfly despite it not having its head (not sure how that happened). It is a female Helophilus pendulus. I have recorded that species before but last time it was a male so I attach the photo of the headless one.

Butterfly update

The hot spell has brought peak butterfly for this year so far. The Marbled Whites are still flying and the first Painted Ladies. and Gatekeepers are also in the air. Small Skippers and Common Blues are around as are Large Whites, Red Admirals, Commas, Tortoiseshells and of course Ringlets and Meadow Browns. All that's missing is a Fritillary of some sort - I've only ever seen one here. The Painted Lady is a fine looking butterfly with its wings spread but it maybe takes the prize for an outstanding underwing look - as shown above.

Marbled Whites and other returnees

Amongst the disappointing no-shows last year was the Marbled White butterfly I am delighted that they are back this year in their usual July time slot. Definitely the most impressive Monmouthshire meadow butterfly. The two other big no-shows last year were House Sparrows and Swallows. House Sparrows have returned in the form of one pair who are raising their second brood in one of the House Martin nest boxes I installed which is a step forward although not the three or four nests in our roof space that were occupied two years ago. Swallows have not returned to nest although there was one pair checking out the garage for a couple of days. I have seen swallows flying over the fields from time to time however so I am still hopeful they may return next year to breed.

New Hoverfly species - Volucella inflata

I have been remiss in identification of Hoverflies given that the Field Guide by Ball and Morris is so good but an expired hoverfly in the house gave me an opportunity to study one closely. It turned out to be Volucella inflata which is fairly close to the edge of its range in the UK here in Monmouthshire. The adults visit bramble (which we have plenty of) and the larvae inhabit sap runs on trees

New Species - Giant Wood Wasp

I saw this striking insect ovipositing into the Larch planks we recently clad our barn with. Part of the idea of replacing tin sheets with untreated Larch was to provide some wildlife habitat so it was gratifying to see it put to use already. The Giant Wood Wasp (Urocerus gigas) is not a wasp at all but a Sawfly. They are in the same Order, Hymenoptera, as Ants, Bees and Wasps but have cylindrical rather than the waisted bodies seen on Wasps.

Snout

I found a moth in the house which was easily identified as a Snout (Hypena proboscidalis). I have seen this once before, in 2014, again in the house. It is a common moth that uses Nettle as the larval foodplant - plenty of habitat here!

Orchid Summary

It looks like it for the orchids this year although I will continue looking to see if I have missed any. The total orchid is 136 spikes which is an increase of just over 10% on last year. That sounds OK but of course last year we had an increase of 95% over the year before that. However whilst the numbers may not have continued on their stellar upward trajectory, in other respects it has been a brilliant year. There has been a continuation of the spread of Common Spotted Orchids into new areas of the fields with a couple of outliers away from the main orchid area in the West Field and continued spread in the other fields. There has been increases in numbers in the East, South and North Fields which more than compensated for a small drop in total numbers of Common Spotteds in the West Field. But most importantly there has been two new Orchid species this year, doubling the species count from two to four. The Heath Spotted Orchid was a surprise but the Bee Orchid was jaw-droppingly surprising. I just can't fathom how it could have lain dormant for so long (we have been here six years and the area in question was clearly kept mown for years before we moved in) or alternatively where the seed could have come from as I know of no Bee Orchids in the area. Anyway - a very good year for Orchids again.

Skullcap

This is a flower of wet or boggy areas so I don't have it here on site but it is to be found in some meadows in the next village close by some clumps of Dyers Greenweed.