It's Bluebell time

Following on from Wild Daffodil flowering we now have the Bluebells starting. Lots of the woodland and most of our fields will be a carpet of Bluebells very soon. Here's an example - actually close to Tintern rather than The Narth but worth a photo.

New Species - Redstart

I have seen Redstarts before but up in wild areas like Bannau Brechiniog. I was completely surprised to see one here - no photo I'm afraid. I checked and they had been seen in the area a few days previously.

Second fungus of 2025 - Turf Mottlegill

A couple fruiting in the West Field- these are essentially dung fungi so can occur in the Spring. They are very similar to the Brown Mottlegill but have a black spore print whereas the Brown Mottlegill has a very dark brown spore print.

Fox hunting rabbits

I guess it must be fox cubs back in the den that's causing it but there was a fox looking for prey in the day time which seems to occur at this time of year. I'm happy for a bit more control over the rabbit population although it is lower that it was before the mixy outbreak in late 2024, but foxes need surprise as they don't seem to have the speed needed.

First fungus of 2026

Often seen early in the year is the Fragrant Funnel (Clitocybe fragrans) which is easily indentifiable due to its strong aniseed smell. Just one small specimen in the East Field. (Old photo)

First Orchid rosette - 28th March

I think this is the earliest I have seen an orchid rosette - all previous funds were April or later. In fact today on the 29th I have seen five more. Whether that is weatrher related or an effect of climate change, or maybe just me getting better at spotting them I don't know. I can't really take it as a sign of a prolific year at this early stage.

Wild Daffodils

This year we have possibly the best show I've seen and just a few yards away in Manor Wood.

New Species - Black Snail Beetle

An invertebrate expert was on site today finding all sorts of tiny things under rocks. In the slightly larger category was a pair of Snail Beetles ( Phosphuga atrata) which were overwintering under a stone in the low wall in front of the house. He's coming back in April to find lots more invertebrates.

Frogspawn

Here and lots of it - certainly more than last year. I shall move some to the new pond although I am not certain that it is yet able to support tadpole development. I haven't seen a lot of frogs but they are definitely a few resident.

We've broken the 30 barrier...

The first time I've counted more than 30 fallow deer in one of our fields. I think they had been spooked by something as they looked a bit nervous - maybe a dog in the woods.

Intruiging DNA result

I sent off a dried portion of the suspected (very strongly by me) Bracken Plums and Custard (Tricholomopsis pteridicola) and have just got the results back. It turns out not to be that species, which to be fair has never been recorded in the UK, but only, I think in France and Spain. It has been returned as a yet undefined Tricholomopsis species which has been recorded once in Cornwall and once in Spain. It is probably the same as a couple of other finds in Wales some years ago that were not DNA tested but seem to be similar in field characteristics. So the next step is to send the remains of the dried specimen to the Kew fungarium and hope that a name and a definition emerges.

Welcome to 2026

Not much happening on the wildlife front here because it's January and quite cold. The constant however are the deer - between 23 to 25 in the East Field yesterday morning - quite an impressive sight. They also augment the aftermath grazing, so useful as well.