Female Common Blue

I spotted a brown butterfly which turned out to be a female Common Blue. Checking distribution maps it seems that in any case we don't get the Brown Argus here (although it is found on the coast 20 miles away or so). Telling the difference between the browner versions of the female Common Blue and the Brown Argus can require close observation. However the presence of some blue on the upper surface and the presence of dots on the in the bottom half of the underside of the forewing indicate it is a Common Blue and not a Brown Argus.

Fifth waxcap - Golden Waxcap

I came across a whole bunch of Golden Waxcaps (Hygrocybe chlorophana) today - rather battered by my cutting and raking but identifiable nonetheless. That makes five waxcaps here as the season hots up.

Female Common Darter

There has been dragonfly activity around the pond but I found this Common Darter (Sympetrum stiolatum) hunting at the top of the big field. She sat on a blade of grass turning her head from time to time, presumably on the look out for something tasty. Not as showy as the male but a stunning insect up close nonetheless.

Three more waxcap species

The last couple of days has yielded up three more waxcaps here making four for the year so far. Yesterday I found both the Spangle Waxcap (Hygrocybe insipida) and Butter Waxcap (Hygrocybe ceracea) as shown above. These can be similar so at first I thought the specimens were one or the other but one was classic H. insipida down to the red at the top of the stipe and another was clearly H. ceracea. Today I found a couple of Fibrous Waxcaps (Hygrocybe intermedia).

Good Year for Common Blues

It is another mixed year for butterflies but a good one for Common Blues here at The Beeches. There have been quite a few flying over the last week despite the fields having been around 50% cut.

Help from a Buzzard

We have been seeing a lot of Buzzard who kindly helps as I cut the fields. His job to remove any small animals I might have uncovered as I cut. Here he is waiting for service in a handy tree.

Slender Parasol

The fungi season is starting after the recent spell of rain. Here's one from my neighbour's field - a Slender Parasol (Macrolepiota mastoides). It has fawn scales and a prominent central smallish umbo.