Twayblade time

Twayblades are out both at Pentwyn and New Grove and for me they are a particularly beautiful orchid. They seem plentiful at New Grove this year.

Burnet Companion

I haven't tried to identify any moths yet but a day-flying moth flew into view yesterday so I can now record my first moth species. No photograph I'm afraid, as it had disappeared by the time I got my camera, but it was a Burnet Companion (Euclidia glyphica)whose larval foodplants include Bird's Foot Trefoil of which there is plenty in our fields.

Masonry bees

There are a lot of bees showing great interest in holes in the stone on the front of the house. For the moment I will assume this is the common mason bee Osmia rufa, as I struggle to identify different species of bumblebee let along the 20 species of mason bee found in the UK. If I get a book on them I will do a more precise ID.

Daffodils

We live very close as the crow flies to Maragaret's Wood, which has a slope down to the road which is currently ablaze with wild daffodils - and a fair few wood anemone as well.

Antlers

Two fallow deer with presentable antlers came by today. Strangely both deer had a limp. It was interesting to note that they clearly had a memory of the land in that when I went outside they casually went to go through a gap in the hedge that I had in fact blocked some months ago. Finding it blocked they panicked a little and rushed off to find another escape route.

Coral Fungus

As well as a range of waxcaps we also have a coral fungus in our 'East' field. The particular species is Crested Coral (Clavulina coralloides)which the books say is normally found in woodland. However I am told it also turns up in grassland if there are trees nearby.

Scarlet Waxcap

I was only vaguely aware of waxcaps before discovering a whole range of them in one of our fields but they are an amazing sight. The extraordinary range of intense colours makes them quite different to other fungi which are (in general) much more subdued in hue. Here is the Scarlet Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccinea.