Waxcap #14 Cedarwood Waxcap (Cuphophyllus russocoriaceus)

I've recorded a lotof Snowy Waxcaps this year and also a lot of the very similar Cedarwood Waxcaps- the main difference is the smell although the latter has more beigy colour in the cap than the more pure white Snowy.

Waxcap #13 - Honey Waxcap

Also in the East Field where most of the fungi action is taking place. One of the best the very cute Honey Waxcap with its bright orange look usually with a thin yellow margin on the crenullated cap - and it smells of honey.

Waxcap #12 - Scarlet Waxcap

All of a sudden popping up in numbers. A little later than expected and therefore contemperaneous with the Crimson Waxcap which usually comes later.

Waxcap #11 - Crimson Waxcap (Hygrocybe punicea)

Good to see this impressive Waxcap gradullay spreading here - I found three fruit

ing bodies in a slightly different place to where there was just one last year.

New Species - Field Horsetail

These are apparently not welcome in gardens or fields but this little patch is hanging out of one of our walls so I think I can leave it. They are technically leafless and non-flowering so a bit of an oddity in the plant world.

Waxcap #10 - Spangle Waxcap

The Waxcaps are definitely coming through now - Hygrocybe insipida is fruiting in the East Field. I have seen it in August before but most of the Waxcaps are fruiting significantly later than usual.

Waxcap #9 - Snowy Waxcap

All the fungi coming up seems to be in the East Field at the moment. Included in today's showing is the next Waxcap - the Snowy Waxcap - distinguished from the Cedarwood Waxcap mainly by smell (or lack of it).

Waxcap #8 - Meadow Waxcap

No doubt there will be thousands soon but here's the first ones of the season. It may be common but it's a cracking looking Waxcap.

eDNA Results - New Species - Fanvaults

One surprise for me was that the eDNA survey revealed two species of Fanvault, honorary members of the CHEGD class of Grassland Fungi. One the Matt Fanvault (Camarophyllopsis schulzeri) is described as 'rarely recorded' in Collins and the other, the Dark Velvet Fanvault (Camarophyllopsis atrovelutina) is not even in there. Once I find one or both of them fruiting I'll post a photo!

New Species - Pearly Parachute

Clearance of some brambly areas on the edge of the South Field revealed a new fungus record Marasmius Wynnei (Pearly Parachute). It was a relatively easy id as it had all the right features including a distinctive two tone stipe.

Waxcap #7 - Parrot Waxcap

Fruiting in one of their normal places in the South Field, a nice group of Parrot Waxcaps (Gliophorus psitticanus). We're getting there Waxcap-wise but slowly.

Dermoloma Update - new species

I have recorded two species of Dermoloma here - the relatively common Crazed Cap and the less common Dark Crazed Cap. The eDNA survey however caught an even less common Dermoloma - Black Magic (Dermaloma magicum). Dermolomas are the D in CHEGD so are an important indicator of unimproved grassland. Old photo of a Crazed Cap as I don't have a photo of something found by DNA survey.

Pinkgills major update - eDNA results

They are appearing at last this season and there are a lot of Lilac Pinkgills (photo above) in the South Field as well as some Felted Pinkgills in the West Field. The major new species however come from the results of the eDNA survey which have just come through. This was organised by Gwent Wildlife Trust who took soil samples in April which Aberystwyth Uni processed. They found five Pinkgill species in the sample areas but three of them had not been recorded by me E. ameides (Bubblegum Pinkgill), E.asprellum (Roughened Pinkgill) and most surprisingly E. henrici (Matt Pinkgill). The last is considered pretty rare. That takes my list up to 18 species which is a great list for such a small site.

Waxcap #6 - Pale Waxcap

Because of their small size and their appearance in the East Field where I have not seen them before I didn't recognise these as Pale Waxcaps at first but the cap colour, the powdery texture on the cap, the stout stipe and contorted gills confirmed them as Pale Waxcaps (C. pratensis or C. berkeleyi - take your choice)

Agaricus comtulus - back in numbers

I first found a single broken specimen a couple of years ago in the East Field and also a few last year. Now it has a ring of its own. A lovely small Agaric with a delicate ring that bruises yellow on the lower part of the stipe and smells of bitter almonds. Strangely I think this is the only Agaric I get here.

Another Small Copper

Surprisingly late in the season a Small Copper was seen briefly yesterday but did not stop for a photo. That follows a single sighting of the same species in May, so actually a good season for them in comparison with most years!