Wildlife gardening

I don't disapprove of the usual wildlife gardening suggestions which typically focus on leaving some areas wild or planting of species that are useful to native insects and birds. My approach is different though. On the small areas that we have that might be considered garden such as some grass between the back door and a retaining wall I just make sure that I tweak things in favour of any wildflowers that may find a home there. What surprises me is how little of a tweak is required. The photo shows a brilliant patch of Bugle (Ajuga reptans) enjoying a shady spot by the wall that is at the moment a hive of insect activity. All that was required was to leave uncut a couple of spikes of Bugle for a couple of years and hey presto! For me better than anything at Chelsea.

Spring Sedge with added insects

I finally found one of my little patches of Spring Sedge (Carex caryophyllea)and took my camera out to take a few photos of this delicate little plant. I found a couple of tiny tiny insects interacting on one of the spikes. I have no idea what they are.

Feeding frenzy

The bird feeders are a hive of activity with a constant stream of visitor including some birds I haven't seen on the feeders before. For the first time we have three separate feeders which helps capacity and species wise but it surprises me to see Blackcaps for example as regular visitors. I have just totted up the species seen in the last week and it comes to fifteen, namely - Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin and Blackcap. Pictured above is the agile Siskin enjoying some Sunflower Hearts.

Wood Forget-me-not close up

I am sometimes unsure of the extent to which some of the wildflowers I record on site are either deliberately planted in the past or are garden escapes. Perhaps it doesn't matter. One of those species is the Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica). Whatever it is easy to characterize the Forget-me-nots, particularly the tiny-flowered ones as 'small blue flowers' but up close they are surprisingly colourful.

Fallow Deer

This is the first deer I have seen this year at The Beeches and she has been around for a couple of days - hopefully leaving the apple trees alone! Various other deer species are seen in the Wye Valley but nothing other than Fallow Deer so far here.

Fungi season so far

Now the first frosts have come and the fungi season is coming to an end it is worth reflecting on what a great season it has been for my first intensive period of finding and identifying grassland fungi. With expert help I have been present whilst well in excess of 100 species of fungi have been photographed and named. I guess it is already obvious that I am drawn to the amazing genus of Hygrocybe aka waxcaps and it has certainly been a great waxcap season. My favourite finds have been the Splendid Waxcap (H. splendissima), the Blushing Waxcap (H. ovina), the Toasted Waxcap (H. colemanniana) and the variety of the Snowy Waxcap that has a dark centre and faint brown striae (H. virginia var fuscescens). All are relatively rarely reported but being in the right part of the country in the right type of grassland and in a great waxcap season does increase your chances considerably. Illustrated is the delightful Hygrocybe virginia var fuscescens.

Great new waxcap - Blushing Waxcap

I haven't reported a new waxcap for a week or two although I have come across one or two new ones. Yesterday's find though was the spectacular Blushing Waxcap (Hygrocybe ovina), found in the neighbouring village of Penallt right at the end of a very wet fungi foray. Another of those waxcaps, undoubtedly underreported, but nonetheless having less than 20 reported sightings in Wales in the last 35 years according to one online source. Previously this year I have found several instances of Hygrocybe ingrata (no English name) which has a similar level of reporting.