A big charm

A group of goldfinches is known as a charm and I spotted a whole lot of them around the birdfeeder. I can spot 17 on this photo but there was one or two more out of shot. There was some squabbling as they vied for a place on the feeder. A nice sight.

Pinkgills summary

It has been an excellent year for Pinkgills and I have let the side down in not being able to id them all (microscope problems partially). However I am still confident of nine species and two of those are new. We have had Star, Silky, Scented (new), Lilac, Sepia, Chaste, Glaucus, Papillateand Dark (new). Given there were at least three I didn't get to id this year and quite a few that have previously been found here we are probably at around 20 or so species. That is an outstanding total. Next year I will get to better grips with them! Photo is the Glaucus Pinkgill (Entoloma exile) which has a useful id feature of an orange spot at the base of the stipe.

Waxcap summary

I think we've seen the last of them after the frosts last week. Thgis year I recorded 22 spoecies which incidentally would make this a site of International Importance according to Wald and Vesterholt's definition. In addition two species that I always get did not appear, almost certainly due to the dry summer as they are early fruiting. They are the Fibrous and Dingy Waxcaps. Last year I only recorded 18 species and the year before 23 species. Photo - the Pale Waxcap - only one sighting this year.

Fallow Deer social groups

There's definitely a lot going on socxially with Fallow Deer. Having got used recently to seeing a big buck with some does in tow around the place yesterday the primary school outing group appeared - around 15 or 16 young deer with a couple of older does. They skittered around quite a bit.

Pink Waxcap at last

A single trampled Pink Waxcap in the West field. Not the usual display of this iconic species but at least it has fruited here this year. Photo is an old one.

New Species - Dark Pinkgill (Entoloma anatinum)

It's been a prolific year here for Pinkgills and my identification efforts have not always been successful. However I am reasonably confident that I have found the relatively uncommon Dark Pinkgill. It fits all the macro and microscopic descriptions, is in an appropriate habitat and is not one I've seen before. I'm very gradually building up a list of Pinkgills and adding to my site's CHEGD swcore.

Waxcap Season - there's a lot of them this year

The season started late and missed out some early species but it is definitely the most prolific fruiting we have had here, This is illustrated by the Crimson Waxcaps that I would typically see four or five of - this year I reckon more than fifty! Here's a few that are still fruiting.

Parrot Waxcaps

These have been fruiting in huge numbers here this year. They are usually people's favourite Waxcap and part of that is the wide range of colours they show, varying between clumps and within individuals. Yellow, Orange, Pink, Brown and of course always Green somewhere. The Green is what remains wherever the light cannot get to it so the top of the stipe is usually a giveaway except on the oldest specimens. Here's a couple of specimens from this year exhibiting some interesting shades.