Toads

I rescued a small toad from an old sink which had filled up with water recently and that reminded me how few amphibians I have seen this year. It is true that a frog spawned in my pond for the first time but the tadpoles didn't seem to make it and I have seen very very few frogs and toads hopping around in the fields. Maybe that is an effect of this year's hot dry summer.

And still they keep coming..

More Waxcap species around including most recently, the Pale Waxcap (not really a separate species as it has the same specific name as the Meadow Waxcap even though it seems quite different to me!), the Dingy Waxcap and the Earthy Waxcap. Both these last two species seem to be thriving here which is great as neither is commonly found. That makes 17 species for 2018 so far (or 16 if you are a stickler about the Pale Waxcap). Still no sign of the large red species, the common Scarlet Waxcap which is usually here in big numbers, or the Crimson or Splendid Waxcaps which have each only appeared at one place and even then only in the last few years. Pictures is the Earthy Waxcap (Cuphophyllus fornicatus).

Waxcaps #9 to #13?

Just one small area of the West Field has become full of waxcaps suddenly. I spotted my first Pink Waxcap of the season two days ago, first, but walking up the field a bit further came across a great find, a few Orange Waxcaps (Hygrocybe aurantiosplendens). When I went back to take some photographs yesterday I found in the same area some Yellow Foot Waxcaps (Cuphophyllus flavipes) - already recorded this year -, a group of Honey Waxcaps (Hygrocybe reidii), a few Goblet Waxcaps (Hygrocybe cantharellus) and a probable (hence the '?') Gioixanthomyces vitellinus) but the last was a bit far gone to be absolutely sure. Why this one area is so diverse in waxcaps and indeed was surrounded by hundreds of Fibrous and lots of Citrine waxcaps as well, I have no idea. It must be the specific conditions that have affected this patch this year. Illustrated in the brilliant Orange Waxcap, a species I rarely see.

Waxcap #8 - Glutinous Waxcap

In the same place where I saw it last year, amongst moss (not surprisingly) at the edge of the North field. The cap was gloopy and the gills distant and semi-decurrent.

Helleborine reprise

I was sure that this year's orchid count was closed but a walk round the margins of the fields yielded five Broad-leaved Helleborines that I somehow had missed previously, including the above clump of four spikes. That makes up for the high proportion of Helleborines that had been eaten (by deer I think). Last year I had five Helleborines in total whereas this year the total is now sixteen. The addition of these five orchids now means the year's orchid total is 221 vs 138 last year so a very pleasing increase of 60% in one year.

Waxcaps #4,#5, #6 and #7

They are starting to appear in greater numbers and I was surprised to find a Yellowfoot Waxcap (Cuphophyllus flavipes) (pictured above) today in a field where I haven't seen it before. So that is species #7. #4, #5, and #6 were Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe Conica), Golden Waxcap (H chlorophana) and Citrine Waxcap (H citrinovirens). I am looking forward to reaching double figures soon.

Buzzard

At the moment I am seeing a lot of a Buzzard who is hanging around at the front of the house. It may be related to my clearance of an area which I am hoping to make into an enticing slope for solitary bees.

Waxcap #3 - Butter Waxcap

The third species has arrived - the Butter Waxcap (Hygrocybe ceracea). The give away to distinguish it from similar waxcaps are the translucent spot and striae, broadly attached gills and a knobbly surface to the cap plus a greasy cap but dry stipe. This one was a classic ceracea.