Waxcap #2 for 2023 - Fibrous Waxcap

Always one of the early Waxcaps to appear and it is currently fruiting in the West Field in the part of the field I cut a couple of weeks ago. Unmistakeable with its hairy cap and strong orange colouration and yellow gills.

Ferns - #3 - Polypody

This fern grows in the dry stone walls and is uncommon on site compared to some of the larger bipinnate ferns that dominate here. It has pinnate fronds which are close to parallel sided and circular sori.

Weasel returns!

No photo as I was too entranced watching a Weasel at close quarters as it ducked in and out of gaps in the low stone wall at the front of the house, presumably looking for Bank Voles who seem to live in the wall or at least use it a lot for moving around. The Weasel is very different to the Stoat once you have seen both close up. The Weasel is smaller with a shorter tail (with no black tip) but both are very sweet looking psychopaths!

Red-cracking Bolete

I have recorded this attractive Bolete before but it is worth mentioning its location and association. It has apprently been the subject of misidentification. Kibby says 'In Britain it appears to be confined almost entirely to conifer woods although very occasionally it can appear with Fagus'. Laessoe and Petersen however say 'Occurs predominantly with Fagus but also in conifer forests'. Previously I found it in the East field but under Larch, this time in the same field but under Beech. In any case the field characteristics are right so Xerocomellus chrysenteron it is.

New Species - Field Mushroom

Not long after our second Agaricus species we have a third - the Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris). This a common enough mushroom in pastures around here but not seen here by me until today. It doesn't smell of aniseed, doesn't bruise yellow and has crowded pink gills.

New Hoverfly Species - Glass-winged Syrphus

Believing that four photos (body, wing veins, face and head/thorax junction) would generally get me an identification, I was disappointed to find that the male Hoverfly I photographed yesterday could only be determined if the hairs on the hind femur could be seen. So today I went out and found a female of the same species and that can be separated by the colour of the hind femur - much easier to see! On that basis I can say that this Hoverfly is the Glass-winged Syrphus (Syrphus vitripennis).

Amphibians

I came across a Toad today so that make all three of the amphibian species I am likely to see here (Common Frog, Toad and Palmate Newt) in the space of a couple of weeks. Given the state of the ponds I am pleased all three species are hanging on here.