Aftermath grazers back at work

The Jacob's sheep that do the aftermath grazing here are back on site - only four of them this time and plenty of new growth grass fopr them to get through.

Waxcap Summary to date

It's been a very busy October Waxcap-wise after only finding one species by the beginning of the month. I am now up to 24 species although there has been no sign of the Dingy, Fibrous or Earthy waxcaps so far, so it is possible we may add one or two more. Still 24 Waxcaps is not a bad haul considering 22 indicates a site of international importance. Photo is the latest to appear - the Goblet Waxcap (Hygrocybe cantherellus or Hygrocybe lepida depending on who you think has the correct taxonomy)

Blushing Waxcap

Another of the favourite Waxcaps is the Blushing Waxcap (Neohygrocybe ovina). This years specimens are definitely on the small side but have the distinctive colouration - moody browns abd greys with that bright red that appears quickly at the site of any bruising.

Could it be?

I spotted a fungus in the grass below the South Field which looked roughly the colours of a common species called Plums and Custard but seemed the wrong shape ande in the wrong place as Plums and Custard is usually growing out of a piece of wood. Looking at G Kibby's book I saw he included a species of which there had been only one possible UK record (at least in 2020 when it was published). It was called Bracken Plums and Custard (Tricholomopsis pteridicola). This fitted my description perfectly and looking at my photos I could see an old Bracken stalk nestling up against the fungus. I have contacted him and Kew fungarium to see what interest they have in my specimen. I'm awaiting a reply.

Good display of Crimson Waxcaps

Spotted yesterday along with the Splendid and Citrine Waxcaps. I normally get a few Crimson Waxcaps (Hygrocybe punicea) but I counted more than ten yesterday. These four show that although they start dark they can fade with age.

Waxcaps at the double

Today three more species - all excellent ones. The Splendid Waxcap, the Citrine Waxcap and the Crimson Waxcap. I think that makes 20 species for 2025 which is starting to look like a respectable figure for the site - and of course just two more species would make it of International Importance according to Wald. I'll add a summary of species in the next few days. Here's the Splendid Waxcap (Hygrocybe splendidissima).

First Clavaroids of the season

I've been waiting to see some clubs, corals or spindles and this week both White Spindles (Clavaria fragilis) and Meadow Coral (Clavulinopsis corniculata) have fruited. The latter is of interest because Aber Uni want some samples on which to conduct genetic testing. They have a hypothesis that there are four species or perhaps distinct varieties of it. I'll send them off this week.

Deer at the Cupressus tree

I wondered which animal was responsible for the dead or dying branches from a couple of Cupressus trees we have near the house. I don't mind as I don't particularly care for the trees. Now a know as I saw a deer biting or rubbing some thinner branches until they were broken. I am not sure what it was getting out of the process - food, medicine, scratching an itch?

Waxcap #5 - Yellowfoot Waxcap

So easy to identify because of the yellow 'foot', this otherwise slightly dowdy Waxcap is back in the West Field.

Papillate Waxcap back (#4 for 2025)

Great to see the rarely recorded Papillate Waxcap fruiting again - first spotted in 2023. It's in the same place near the fruit cage.

Waxcap #3 - Snowy Waxcap

They are starting to appear now although it strikes me that the three that have fruited are roughly at the right time - it is the early waxcaps that are absent - so far. This group of Snowy Waxcaps (Cuphophyllus virgineus) were inb the East Field.

Waxcap #2 - Spangle Waxcap

A scrawny specimen but recognisable as a Spangle Waxcap (Hygrocybe insipda). In the East Field.

First Brittlegill of 2025 - Purple Brittlegill (Russula atropurpurea)

I'm not skilled at separating out the many Brittlegills (Russula sp) but this common one is reasonably easy to id. I did have pause for thought as to whether the three specimens in the photo were all the same species as the colouration is different but I think it is just an ageing fading thing. They were in the panhandle of the West Field close to an Oak.