New Species - Pearly Parachute

Clearance of some brambly areas on the edge of the South Field revealed a new fungus record Marasmius Wynnei (Pearly Parachute). It was a relatively easy id as it had all the right features including a distinctive two tone stipe.

Waxcap #7 - Parrot Waxcap

Fruiting in one of their normal places in the South Field, a nice group of Parrot Waxcaps (Gliophorus psitticanus). We're getting there Waxcap-wise but slowly.

Dermoloma Update - new species

I have recorded two species of Dermoloma here - the relatively common Crazed Cap and the less common Dark Crazed Cap. The eDNA survey however caught an even less common Dermoloma - Black Magic (Dermaloma magicum). Dermolomas are the D in CHEGD so are an important indicator of unimproved grassland. Old photo of a Crazed Cap as I don't have a photo of something found by DNA survey.

Pinkgills major update - eDNA results

They are appearing at last this season and there are a lot of Lilac Pinkgills (photo above) in the South Field as well as some Felted Pinkgills in the West Field. The major new species however come from the results of the eDNA survey which have just come through. This was organised by Gwent Wildlife Trust who took soil samples in April which Aberystwyth Uni processed. They found five Pinkgill species in the sample areas but three of them had not been recorded by me E. ameides (Bubblegum Pinkgill), E.asprellum (Roughened Pinkgill) and most surprisingly E. henrici (Matt Pinkgill). The last is considered pretty rare. That takes my list up to 18 species which is a great list for such a small site.

Waxcap #6 - Pale Waxcap

Because of their small size and their appearance in the East Field where I have not seen them before I didn't recognise these as Pale Waxcaps at first but the cap colour, the powdery texture on the cap, the stout stipe and contorted gills confirmed them as Pale Waxcaps (C. pratensis or C. berkeleyi - take your choice)

Agaricus comtulus - back in numbers

I first found a single broken specimen a couple of years ago in the East Field and also a few last year. Now it has a ring of its own. A lovely small Agaric with a delicate ring that bruises yellow on the lower part of the stipe and smells of bitter almonds. Strangely I think this is the only Agaric I get here.

Another Small Copper

Surprisingly late in the season a Small Copper was seen briefly yesterday but did not stop for a photo. That follows a single sighting of the same species in May, so actually a good season for them in comparison with most years!