Sparrows house hunting already

Onc e again checking out the safew and dry spaces under our fascia board. This the space they usae every year except the year we had the roof replaced which irritated them no end. Good to see them pairing up - we have built a good population on site with nest boxes and nesting spaces over the last few years.

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.

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.

First Waxcap of 2025 - and about time too

The honour goes to the Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) which is fruiting in the South and West fields. I'd had seven species by this same date last year so I'm not sure what to expect over the next month.

Big year for Parasols

Fungi sites I have been to over the last few weeks all seem to have stacks of Parasols (Macrolepiota procera). Now they have started appearing in the East Field. It's been interesting this year how the unusual weather conditions, hot and dry in the spring/summer and wet recently have favoured some species and not been good for others. Certainly lots and lots of 7-spot Ladybirds and for fungi lots of Field Mushrooms and Parasols and no sign of the usual waxcaps.

Many Pinkgills - no Waxcaps (yet)

A strange grassland fungi season has started with (I think) five species of Pinkgills here and no Waxcaps yet. I am unable to check spores at the moment so id is difficult but I am confident I have found Entoloma ameides known as the Scented or Bubblegum Pinkgill. The smell was fruity/chemical and strong and I had alteady reached a conclusion before checking the eDNA survey done two years ago. There indeed was E. amiedes so that's a wrap. I found it in both the East and West field.

Fallow Deer Group

There's been a group with four females and a couple of youngsters spending a fair amount of time here over the last few weeks. Now they seem to have acquired a buck!

Lots of Larch Boletes (Suillus grevillei)

A group of about 25 to 30 specimens under one of our two large Larch trees. Luckily this is one of the more easily identified Boletes with its distinctive colours, upward facing ring, rusty coloured bruising of the small yellow pores and, of course, association with Larch trees.

Wood Cauliflower in woods near Maryland turn

An impressive fungus at the base of a Scots Pine turns out to be a Wood Cauliflower (Sparassis crispa). A first for me and that's one woodland fungus I will remember,

Grassland fungi season starting here

Later than usual because of the very dry summer I guess, but things are starting to fruit in the fields. I now have many Field Mushrooms (eaten on toast yesterday) plus another less common agaric now known as the Mini Mushroom (Agaricus comtulus) which has appeared in two places and some Orange Mosscaps(Rickenella fibula) in the East Field. Photo is Mini Mushroom

First Pinkgill of 2025 - Silky Pinkgill

A couple of Silky Pinkgills (Entoloma sericeum) in the rough grass outside the kitchen are the first 'CHEGD' fungi of the year. Usually I see Waxcaps before Pinkgills but no Waxcaps have appeared this year yet. The Silky pinkgill is a relatively common Pinkgill but not one I see every year.

Immature Bullfinch

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New Manor Wood fungus species - Giant Polypore

Seen in a couple of locations in the last few days, Giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus) is a common polypore that is often found on Beech stumps. One is on an old Beech stump and one on a dying Oak tree. As its name implies this is one impressive fungus.

Haycut complete

I think this is the earliest I have completed the haycut cycle - 21st August. The season seems to be ahead so the earlier start and finish is appropriate. The very dry summer has helped as well as I have not been held up significantly.

Roesels Bush Cricket

I have not spent any time identifying grasshppers and crickets this year though there are plenty about. However there is one that can be identified without close examination because of its distinctive crescent shaped marking. It has been regarded as one of the less common orthoptera but I think it is well established in our meadows. Photo is an o;d one.

Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris)

A common enough fungus but one I have only recorded here once before. I guess the deer provide the necessary nutrients for this mushroom.

Haycut

I've done just over 60% of the haycut in July (excluding my neighbour's field) which is a change from the 40% I used to aim for. This is partly because everything has come a bit earlier this year and partly because I have a feeling we might pay for the extended period of dry days with an extended period of wet days in August. Whilst in the fields today I saw a tiny Slow Worm and a Painted Lady butterfly - both first sightings for 2025. That takes the 2025 butterfly species list to 16 with 2 more probables (Green-veined White and Holly Blue) neither of which I got close enough to to confirm. For comparison I recorded 16 species in 2023 and only 9 species in 2024.

New hoverfly species

Unfortunately I have not yet made a final id and am trying to get some help. To me it looks like a hoverfly fropm the Parasyrphus genus and specifically either P. nigitarsis or P. malinellus but either would be an unusual find here so I am keen to get an expert opinion. A stunning looking hoverfly whatever its id.

Gatekeeper butterflies

It's been a much better year for butterflies than last year and perhaps the biggest winner are Gatekeepers that are everywhere at the moment. This is one of four right in front of the house this afternoon. Although the douible spot is often cited as the way to distinguish them from Meadow Browns they are a more colourful, sharper flying elegant butterfly whereas the Meadow Brown is blowsy in appearance and flight.

Green-winged orchid introduction??

I am cautious about introducing any species but I have been tempted by Green winged orchids as they were last recorded in the village itself a couple of fields away about 20 years ago. I feel they would have been seen in our fields in the past. Now that this species has been found less than half a mile away I decided to try a reintroduction and was given seed by the owner of the newly discovered plants. I have sprinkled some seed in six places two in the West field, one in the South field and three spots in the East field. Now just to sit back and wait afew years to see if anything transpires.

7-spot Ladybirds

It's been a much better invertebrate year than last year but the biggest increase seems to be 7-spot ladybirds. In fact all the ladybirds I have seen have been 7-spot and that is also surprising. They are everywhere and here is a couple on our ragwort patch. I wouldn't give much of a chance to the aphid currently hiding in the flower next to the topmost ladybird!

New species - Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia)

I spotted a tiny but striking spider atop a Spear Thistle flower and went back for my camera but it had gone when I returned so no photo. However the striking pale lemon yellow body together with milky white legs and it sitting on a flower give me confidence it is a Crab Spider known as the Flower Spider or Goldenrod Crab Spider. I do have trouble identifying spiders so it is good to get one that is readily identifiable.

Small Copper

A couple of butterflies to add to this year's list this week - a Gatekeeper which are common enough and the much less often seen Small Copper, one of my favourite butterflies. Checking up I see that I have only recorded it in five of the 14 years we have been here. Certainly the long hot dry spell is racking up the butterfly count this year. This is an old photo of a Small Copper.

Another ex grass snake

This the third time I have found a dead grass snake - all of them largish adults. It is perhaps good news that they clearly are resident here despite lack of suitably sized ponds around although next door has a small one. I have also seen live ones it's fair to say. This one had bad injuries and the obvious explanation is that I had been cutting the field earlier a few metres away. Next doors cat was also around and there are other candidates as I did see an animal run away from the site of the snake but couldn't tell what it was - cat, stoat??

Ragwort patch mini-habitat

Looking at the translocated Cinnabar Moth larvae I had a chance to notice the comings and goings on the Ragwort patch. The first thing I spotted was three tiny Cinnabar larvae in addition to the original six (not four as previously stated). They must have been translocated as eggs or very tiny caterpillkars that I hadn't spotted. I also had regular vists from two Hoverflies, both of which had been recorded before - The Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) and the Glass-winged Syrphus (Syrphus vitripennis). The latter can be difficult to distinguish from S. ribesii but between the excellent Hoverfly book and Steven Falk's photos online the ID becomes clear. There was also a mining bee but so far no ID on that. Another difficult area is Mining Bees! Photo of the male Glass-winged Syrphus clearly showing the colouring on the rear femur that distinguishes it from S. ribesii.

Cinnabar Moth larvae

I leave some Ragwort to flower to accommodate Cinnabar moth larvae but I haven't seen any of the distinctive caterpillars for a few years although I did spot an adult in flight last July. Whilst at a friend's house in the next village I was shown scores of the caterpillars so I was able to take four and restock our site. They are now happily feeding away from the crowded Ragworts where they came from.

Another Bolete - Scarletina Bolete

This proved a little difficult to nail down although I have seen it before locally. Similar to the previous bolete so I had to list the candidates and then check against that list. There have been name changes and Kibby also says it is a poorly defined species and doesn't include it but basically it is the Scaletina Bolete (Neoboletus luridiformis) which has some distinctive colour changes when bruised and cut.

My favourite butterfly appears

I didn't record the Marbled White last year and hadn't seen it this year until this week. I was concerned about their viability as theyt do keep local. In faqct I still am until I see some more individuals. Also seen today was a Comma and in fact we are already at 12 species in 2025 versus 9 species last year. Still nowhere near the 18 or so species I recorded a few years ago but there is time yet. Old photo of Marbled White.

New pond construction - attempt #3

The second pond in the North Field was designed to make up for the first pond losing most of its water due to the lining being torn - those badgers have sharp claws! To avoid using a liner I went for a clay based lining bvut the initial build didn't hold water sufficiently so a second attempt involved lots and lots of clay. This also didn't do the trick with the suspicion that it was leaking slowly out of the uphill bank of the pond. So attampt number 3 is to dig out most of the clay, lay a pond underlay (double thickness), then a puncture resistant liner, then clay on that. Also I now have a feed from the roof of the woodshed to provide enough water in the summer. So far its working although there is still some tidying up to do. It will hopefully provode a suitable habitat for tadpoles next year and also of course newts and dragonflies.