Yellow Archangel

Has really got a foothold under our small group of Oak trees after some sporadic floering in previous years. Meanwhile closer to the house I am trying to eradicate all of the cultivated version of the flower with its horrible variegated leaves.

Badger cubs?

I spotted this tiny Badger paw print so I suspect there are some cubs about. Time to get the trailcam out!

Dryad's Saddle

The Dryad's Saddle on the big old Ash tree just keeps getting bigger each year. The Ash tree is unlikely to survive very long as it is somewhat rotten at the base before Aash Dieback gets a hold. At the point it comes down I shall have many years supply of firewood!

New Species - Spring Fieldcap

I knew it was something I hadn't seen before when I found this fungus in the rough grass I laughingly call a lawn. With some help I can confidently identify it as Spring Fieldcap (Agrocybe praecox), a common spring species that is probably based on some wood in the grassland. The small ring on the stipe is one of its features and the brown spore print also distinctive.

First 7-Spot Ladybird of the year

There was two or three in the field - good to see when a lot of Ladybirds are of the Harlequin invasive variety.

Red and white in tooth and claw

I mentioned the two white rabbits last month and there is a definite thought that they might be more vulnerable to predation, particularly from a Buzzard or Goshawk. This morning I saw a dog fox kill a white rabbit in broad daylight. I assumed that it was one of the two born last month but this afternoon I saw the original two in their usual feeding place and a further, smaller white rabbit also. I am now assuming it was one of the younger, less street-wise white rabbits that was taken. Th fox picked it up and took it down into the woodlqand, presumably as food for some cubs.

A Twayblade appears.....

Not a new species as for the last two years we have had a single Twayblade - but not the same one. For the third year in a row a single Twayblade has appeared but again nowhere near where the other two came up. I'm hoping a second one comes up this year and then we might get some serious Twayblade pollination going on.