Lots of new Fungi Species

Now I have the list through from the Gwent Fungus Group foray I am delighted to see a raft of new species for The Beeches list. These are in addition to those I saw on the day and have already commented on. I would add that the Lepiota ignivolvata identified by me has been confirmed by the County Recorder and it turns out to be the first Gwent or South Wales record. On the list are the following: Stereum hirsutum - Golden Crust Russula ochroleuca - Ochre Brittlegill Tricholoma stiparophyllum - Chemical Knight Tricholoma ustale - Burnt Knight Hebeloma sacchariolens - Sweet Poison Pie Hypoxylon fuscum - Hazel Woundwort Psathyrella conopilus - Conical Brittlestem Rhodocollybia butyracea - Buttercap Rhytisma acerinum - Tar Spot This site has a serious fungi list.

New Species - Ramalina farinacea - Shaggy Strap Lichen

This piece of Hawthorn twig just keeps giving. I am happy with the id of this third Lichen species as it has these distinctive 'sorella' or little disks on its thin branches.

New Species - Evernia prunastri - Oakmoss

Another lichen identified (I think) from the same small Hawthorn twig. The distinctive features on this are the flat grey green forked branches with whiter undersides and it's common and looks just like the photos from Google! I'll return to the Hawthorn twig tomorrow.

New Species - Ramalina fastigiata - Dotted Ribbon Lichen

Now the fungi season is over the search for new species has drawn me to Lichens. One piece of Hawthorn branch seems to have several Lichen species and some Mosses too. The first one I feel confident about is Ramalina fastigiata which has distinctive flattened fruits which are a bit of a giveaway. I took the plunge identifying a few Moss species a while back and now I'll try one or two Lichens until my head hurts.

New Species - Shaggy Parasol

Way past its best but a Parasol on one of the compost heaps was identified as Shaggy Parasol (by the County Recorder so I know it's correct). That takes Parasols to four examples (if you count var Konradii of the Slender Parasol a separate example). We have on site Macrolepiota procera, M. mastoidea, M. mastoidea var konradii and now Chlorophyllum rhacodes (aka Shaggy Parasol.)

Lesser Horseshoe Bat

The bat has been using our shed for six years (to my knowledge) and generally that usage has been during the summer, perhaps for just a night or two or sometimes it seems for longer periods. It is difficult to be precise because I don't routinely check on whether it is there partly because I don't want to disturb it. I was surprised that it seemed to be there for the last six weeks or so as we have moved into and through November - I was expecting that it would have gone somewhere more protected to hibernate. However the weather has been unduly warm. The frosts of the last few days seem to have finally caused it to move and I can breathe a sigh of relief that is not simply a corpse hanging fron the shed ceiling!

Fungi Summary 2021

Overall it's been a good year for fungi here - in particular the number of new species which excitingly were augmented by an Earthongue and a Caterpillarclub at the GFG foray here on 7th November. As regards Waxcaps we ended up with 23 species which compares with 24 last year. We missed seeing Vermillion, Pale, Glistening and Orange this year. There was a great crop of Pinkgills but my id skills mean I didn't id them all. A notable new Pinkgill was the Shield Pinkgill (Entoloma clypeatum). Another new Spring species was the Spring Fieldcap (Agrocybe praecox). Also new is the Fiery Milkcap (Lactarius pyrogallus)and Beech Milkcap (although that was seen previously but not formally identified) and Agaricus Comtulus of which I saw a single example last year but which was positively identified this year. One of the best new species was the Mealy Meadowcap (Pseudotricholoma metapodium), a single example of which appeared in the South Field in September. The photo is the Mealy Meadowcap.

Butterfly Summary 2021

Not much to summarise really - a poor year for both species number and quantities. In 2020 I recorded 18 species here and this year just 14. Most species were down in numbers although there are always a lot of Meadow Browns. Perhaps more Whites both Small and Large in 2021. The one success story is the Marbled White - for the second year in a row there were masses and over a long period. They are appearing increasingly in the garden areas as well perhaps a response to me leaving more grass there longer. I cut some of the longer grass in the East Field this year but hopefully there is enough grass around and enough breeding went on to facilitate another good year for them next year. To celebrate here's another Marbled White photo.

Waxcap #22 for 2021 - Crimson Waxcap

Just a couple of fruiting bodies in the East field and late in the season as usual but the very impressive Crimson Waxcap (Hygrocybe punicea) is back.

Major new species - Trichoglossum hirsutum

I am still processing the new species found at the Gwent Fungi Group foray here last week. However the most exciting find has got an id now it - is the Earthtongue Triglossum hirsutum.It is perhaps the big wildlife surprise for 2021 - it's certainly the biggest fungal surprise. Earthtongues are restricted to long established unimproved sites and whilst the assemblage of fungi here already indicates that is the case, an Earthtongue provides another boost to the value of the fields here.

Common Puffball

A fine example of the Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum) in the West Field. By far the most impressive example seen here - or indeed anywhere by me.

New Species - Fiery Milkcap (Lactarius pyrogalus)

Another result of the Gwent Fungi Group foray was this new Milkcap. It is common enough and we have plenty of the host trees (Hazel) around but I hadn't come across it here before. The 'milk' is very hot and that is one of the defining characteristics.

New Species - Scarlet Caterpillarclub

The Gwent Fungus Group foray on Saturday produced a few new fungi species including the delightful Scarlet Caterpillarclub (Cordyceps militaris). A great addition to The Beeches fungi list.

Waxcap #21 - Splendid Waxcap

A bit battered but it's definitely fruiting - what a superb fungus.

Waxcap #20 - Butter Waxcap

A Butter Waxcap has appeared in the West Field at last and whilst I thought it was overdue I checked and it actually appeared three days later last year. That makes 20 for the year so far - currently missing Pale, Vermillion, Splendid, Crimson, Glistening and Orange. Not sure I amgoing to get more than a couple more at best.

Waxcap #19 - Spangle Waxcap

Quite a few fruiting in the East Field - that's one of the 'missing' waxcaps accounted for.

The Weasel returns

No photo but a Weasel was spotted yesterday just by the house, with some prey in its mouth. We get to see one enough to know they must be living on site - we have plenty of places in the stone walls for them to find a den.

Waxcap #18 - Scarlet Waxcap

Suddenly here in large numbers - in the East Field at the moment and I'm sure it will be all around the place shortly.

New Species - Agaricus comtulus

I found a single Agaricus last year in the East Field but was unsure whether it was A. lutosus or not. This year in the same area there were several and I have had it identified as the similar A. comtulus (No English name). Another good one for The Beeches fungi list.

Waxcap #17 - Earthy Waxcap

Found in the West Field so it is definitely in all three main fungi fields after only appearing two or three years ago. Had me thinking as to what it was but the gill attachment and distinctive smell confirm it as Cuphophyllus fornicatus.

Waxcap #16 - Parrot Waxcap

At the top of the West Field for a change. I usually get a lot of this waxcap so its probably the first of many.

Waxcap #15 - Honey Waxcap

Got to be one of the prettiest Waxcaps and with the added bonus of a smell that confirms identity, apart from it being quite distinctive to start with. Three lots of them fruiting close together in the West field - one of them with a couple of bonus tiny yellow spindles.

Waxcap #14 - Blushing Waxcap

Surprisingly I missed this until it was well past its best. However it was easy to identify this distinctive Waxcap that has appeared in the East Field for the last few years. The stipe and gills are unique and the gills (and other parts) stain quickly a vivid red/pink colour.

New Species - Silk Button Gall Wasp

I found an Oak leaf on the ground with the underside covered in little galls that are the sexual stage of the Silk Button Gall Wasp (Neuroterus numismalis). The Wasp remains in the gall over Winter emerging in the Spring.

Waxcap #13 - Goblet Waxcap

A surprising number of these are fruiting in the West Field - probably about twenty individual specimens in total.

New Species - King Alfred's Cakes (Daldinia concentrica)

A nice display of this fungus on an Ash stump. Very common but a new one for the list here.

Waxcap #12 - Snowy Waxcap

In the South Field a couple of Snowy Waxcaps are fruiting. Despite being a very common Waxcap I don't see a lot of it here.

Waxcap #11 - Slimy Waxcap

I don't think I recorded the Slimy Waxcap last year so it was good to see it back. With all the recent rain it was particulalry slimy as well.

Waxcap #10 - Meadow Waxcap

It's here in numbers all of a sudden. Our most prolific Waxcap.

Waxcap #9 for 2021 - Cedarwood Waxcap

A few around in the West Field.

Waxcap #8 for 2021 - Glutinous Waxcap

Almost camouflaged amongst the many Golden Waxcaps but unmistakably Glutinous Waxcaps (Hygrocybe glutinipes) on close examination - the gloop on the stipe is a giveaway.

Great new Species - Mealy Meadowcap

An excellent find in the South Field was a single Mealy Meadowcap (Pseudotricholoma metapodium) another classic unimproved grassland species and one I had not seen anywhere before. I also managed six Waxcap species plus a Crazed Cap and some other species that all together made a good exhibition for the Climate Change Festival in town.

Crazed Cap - West Field

A lot of places are devoid of fungi - in the whole of New Grove today I found just one fungus - a Fibrous Waxcap. Here at The Beeches in contrast I managed six species of Waxcap, a Meadowcap, several species of Pinkgill and a few other fungi including these Crazed Caps. They are a regular here but a damn fine looking fungus hence the photo.

'New' Species - Beech Milkcap

I actually found this last year and was fairly sure it was Lactarius blennius (Beech Milkcap) but I am happy to confirm this now. Although it looked a little more browny than I expected but everything else checks out for L. blennius and colour can be variable. Importantly it is under Beech and there are no other trees close by.

Waxcap #7 for 2021 - Yellow Foot Waxcap

A small group in the West Field. Not only easy to identify because of its yellow 'foot' but also has great gills - gorgeous grey with a hint of lilac.

First Pinkgill of the season - Star Pinkgill

A little past its best but the spores confirm it is a Star Pinkgill (Entoloma conferendum).

20 Plume Moth

I have recorded this species, Alucita hexadactyla, once before (2015) but I got a much better photo this time that shows the plumes it is named for better. I can also count all twenty this time! This is the only Plume Moth in the Alucitidae family - there are a whole stack of them in the Pterophoridae family. All are Micro Moths.

Waxcap #6 for 2021 - The Pink Waxcap

It's been a while since #5 but the recent rain has encouraged a couple of Pink Waxcaps to emerge in the East Field. There will be plenty more I'm sure as the site regularly produces a lot of this allegedly scarce species. It is scarce in most of Europe but here in the Wye Valley it is fairly frequently seen.

Excellent new species - Elephant Hawk Moth

Spotted the huge caterpillar of an Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor) in some vegetation at a field edge. If I ever get round to moth trapping I guess I would stand a good chance of seeing an adult in all its pink and green glory.

New Hoverfly Species - Eristalis horticola

I very quickly photographed four species of Hoverfly hanging around some flowers by the house. Surprisingly three of the photos were in focus and usable for id. Two turned out to be flies I had recorded before but the third is a new species for The Beeches, Eristalis horticola - the Stripe-winged Dronefly.

Roesel's Bush Cricket

I did see this for the first time last August but today I managed to get a photo and what a great looking Cricket it is.

Burnet Saxifrage

Recorded first in 2018 and then again in 2020 with both times being a single plant. This year - also a single plant though strangely I am not completely convinced it is in the same place. I think I need to preserve this plant from the deer/rabbit threat and then see if seeds develop which I can then facilitate dispersal of. That's the plan.

Scarletina Bolete

I last recorded this very colourful Bolete three years ago almost to the day. It was under Beech in the West Field. The colours are superb - a deep red/brown cap that brusies blue/black, a stipe that is scarlet flocules on a yellow ground, deep orange/red pores with yellow tubes above and yellow flesh that blues instantly when cut. There seems to be some uncertainty about nomenclature but I will follow Index Fungorum as usual and list it as Neoboletus luridiformis (Scarletina Bolete).

New Hoverfly Species - Banded Meliscaeva

I know that if I am to identify a Hoverfly to species level I am going to need photos of various parts and from various angles. Luckily today's Hoverfly stayed around long enough for me to get numerous photos and I was able to id it. The abdomen markings were quite distinctive and wing veination and the other features all check out. I can now add Meliscaeva cinctella (Banded Meliscaeva) to the short Beeches Hoverfly list.

Red Cracking Bolete

I am confident that the Bolete I found close to our Larch trees is the Red Cracking Bolete (Xerocomellus chrysenteron) despite the warnings about misidentification surrounding this particular Bolete. It ticks all the boxes,cap colour, thin red flesh layer, flesh slightly blueing when cut, angular pores turning a dirty olive yellow, red streaked stipe with a yellow apex, so I am happy to confirm. I found it in the same place a few years ago so this is not a new species for the site.

Return of a Muntjac

Last October we had a Reeves Muntjac here for the first time. Yesterday another sighting right by the house. It feels like they are increasing in the same way that all deer populations seem to be increasing in the Wye Valley. I guess control measures have taken a back seat during the pandemic. Certainly there are lots more reports of Fallow Deer in the village.

Waxcap #5 - Blackening Waxcap

Cheating slightly with an old photo as the Blackening Waxcap I found today in the East Field had been through the drum mower and was in pieces.

Good year for Slow Worms

Seen a few this year, perhaps a result of the amount of long grass and field margin areas this year. This one was a victim of the hay cutting but is a good size at more than a foot. It may be RIP but still a beautiful animal.

Quaking Grass

It doesn't seem to be spreading much but it is hanging on in one spot in the East Field. My favourite grass so it gets another blog entry this year.

Outstanding year for Marbled Whites

Earlier in the year there were not many butterflies. Thirteen species so far so only a few not spotted at all but certainly lesser numbers than in a good year. However this hot spell coinciding with the Marbled Whites flying season coupled with their excellent year last year (and the year before) has led to unprecedented numbers out and about in the fields over the last few weeks. I hope my recent start to cutting has not impacted them. For the moment I am enjoying seeing three or four in an eyeful almost anywhere I go in the fields or garden. Top, top butterfly. (old photo - it's too hot to be chasing them round for a picture).