New Species - Tree Wasp (Dolichovespula sylvestris)

I'm sure this has wasp has been around but as this is the first time I have formally identified it it must count as a new species and is the fourth wasp to go on the wasp's list. The other two social wasps I have identified are the Common Wasp and the German Wasp. The nest was at ground level hidden (until I accidentally uncovered it) amongst some brambles and thistles.

Silver-washed Fritillary

I recorded this magnificent butterfly in 2018 and 2020 but not since until yesterday. It is one of the largest UK butterflies and quite a stunning sight. It is a butterfly of Oak Woodlands so its presence is due to the woodland that borders our fields and the large oak trees on site. No photo yesterday so the photo is one from a past record here.

Ferns (2)

The second Fern to be identified is the Common Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas). This is bipinnate with serrated pinnules, rolling up and shrivelling indusia, there is no black mark where the costa joins the rachis and there are beige stipe scales.

Focus on Ferns

We get a lot of fernage here! I am working on getting rid of the bracken as it becomes so dominant and is always looking to take over the meadows but the other ferns are interesting. I made th mistake of buying a field guide (Britain's Ferns) and that has shown me that id is not as straightforward as I thought so I am going to try and make a fern list fpr the site. First up is Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina). This bipinnate with backward curved pinnules when in full sun, crescent shaped sori and indusia. The backward curving pinnules give the fern a much sparser look when in a sunny spot.

Butterflies

Not a great year for Butterflies so far but the Marbled Whites are back. Certainly not as many as last year at the moment and yesterday was the first time I saw two together. I couldn't tell whether they are Male and Female but there is a 50/50 chance there was a breeding apir in close proximity. Not many other butterflies except lots and lots of Meadow Browns - swarms of them!

New Fungi Species - Wood Mushroom (Agaricus sylvicola)

I have wondered why I have not seen more fungi from the Agaricus genus here - not even the relatively common Field Mushroom. In fact prior to this find the only Agaricus I have recorded is the relatively uncommon grassland species Agaricus comtulus. This Wood Mushroom was in the compost heap in the West Field and I am pleased to say I used my new found microscopy skills to help confirm the id including spore measurements.

New Species - Palmate Newt

I have seen newts in the first pond I built but just brief glimses and I never established whether they were Smooth Newts or Palmate Newts. That pond is looking very degraded now with the water largely drained due to animal tears in the lining but to my surpise there are four Palmate Newts in the tiny rigid plastic pond I installed in the route of the spring that runs when it rains. THe Palmates can be distinguished from Smooth Newts by looking at the undersides as the Palmates have unspotted throats. Also the males have webbed back feet and a filament emerging from their tail. Photo - Female Palmate.