eDNA results - Clavaroids

I have blogged a couple of times about the eDNA survey of our fields this year mentioning the results for Pinkgills and Fanvaults, but actually the most amazing and surprising results were for Clavaroids. Not only were there nine species that I had not recorded but some of those new species are not even featured in my extensive collection of fungi books. Take Ramariopsis avellano-inversa which I understand has only been recorded fruiting in New Zealand and Italy. Then there is R. crocea which Collins describes as 'very rarely recorded' and R. flavescens which is not in Collins or Laessoe and Petersen. What are we to make of all three being found in a small sample area in my fields and even more amazing to be found at 29, 23 and 16 respectively of the 30 Monmouthshire sites tested. My take is that it is not feasible that there has been regular fruiting of these species whcih has not been spotted. Maybe they fruit irregulalrly or not at all. Maybe they have been misidentified - R. crocea is somewhat similar to the fairly common C. corniculata for example. It's puzzling evidence and I shall be focusing on Clavaroids next year.

2022 - Flower Summary

I think the most positive news on the Flower front is that Orchids increased in number yet again albeit only by 5% and reached a total of 810 spikes. Even better than that was the surprise appearance of a single Great Butterfly Orchid. However the Fallow Deer have caused havoc this year eating pretty much any unprotected Orchid and also on the negative front numbers of Orchids that were not Common Spotted were down. The weather was strange this year so perhaps I should not draw too many conclusions but I didn't see a few of the less common flowers this year - the single Burnet Saxifrage, the small patch of Hairy Lady's Mantle, Quaking Grass - all eluded my view this year. As ever there were one or two new species recorded Teasel and Greater Butterfly Orchid were the notable ones plus Field Horsetail (which is actually a fern rather than a flower). The photo is of course the Butterfly Orchid.

2022 - Butterfly Summary

Slightly better than last year for species in that 16 species were recorded versus 14 in 2021. Numbers of most species were low however particularly some formerly 'common' ones such as Peacocks and Large and Small Whites. In addition the Small Copper was seen just once and the Small Skipper just a couple of times. On the positive side there continue to be good numbers of Marbled Whites - we seem to have a stable or perhaps growing colony based here. The particular management which leaves some longer grass until later in the summer must work for them but the weather at breeding time has also been kind for the last couple of years especially this year. There were reasonable numbers of Common Blues as well but perhaps not as many as lasy year which was particularly good for them. Photo - the elusive Small Copper.

Stu the Stoat is back

After an absence of seven months or so the Stoat who lived under our conservatory for a while has returned. He ran past us with a bird in his mouth - a Goldfinch I think. The local Rabbits need to up their alert status.

Waxcap #22 - Glutinous Waxcap

Another cheat for what looks like it might be the last Waxcap for the year. I found one tired Hygrocybe glutinipes in the West Field but I have substituted for a gloopy photo from the past. That has been a feature this year - some grotty specimens or pieces of specimens so not many good new photos.

Waxcap #21 - Orange Waxcap

There are some here but nothing compared to this beauty seen at Brockwell Meadow the other day so I've cheated by using that photo.

Waxcap #20 Pink Waxcap

New photo this post as this is a very pretty Pink Waxcap. There were only two much later than normal and a small fraction in terms of the usual quantities I get of this iconic Waxcap. The climate is certainly affecting fungal fruiting.