Spring Sedge - spreading well

I first found Spring Sedge (Carex caryophyllea) last year but only two or three spikes in each of the West Field and the East Field. This year there are dozens of examples in the West Field so this delightful sedge is doing well.

Swallow returns

A swallow arrived exactly a week ago. I have delayed posting hoping I could get a current photo but having failed to do so I decided to use a photo of a young swallow from last year to mark the event. It turned up and perched for some minutes on top of the TV aerial facing in several directions as if surveying its summer home again. Since then I have seen a swallow hunting over the fields. Of course I may be being anthropomorphic - there is no firm evidence that this is one of the swallows from last year.

Weasel close-up

No pictures I'm afraid but two great sightings of a weasel which I first caught a brief glimpse of last year as it ransacked the bank vole home next to the house. Yesterday morning I saw it running along the top of the same wall where the bank voles hang out. Later in the day I was sitting by the open door to the room next to the wall when it stuck its head in the door and then dashed off as soon as it saw us. I am wondering whethre it is living close by so I have put out the trail camera and will see if it records any activity.

New Species - Devil's Coach Horse

Now it's really Spring and stuff is appearing all over the place. I saw my first Ladybird in the East Field this morning (a Seven-spot) and later found a Devil's Coach Horse (Staphylinus olens) which was in my shoe when I put it on. Luckily the beetle was no worse for being almost crushed except for being obviously cross which it demonstrated by arching its rear end and excreting fluid.

Not really wildlife - but they are conservation volunteers

I think I am justified in recording the birth of lambs to the Jacob's sheep that do such a good job of aftermath grazing here at The Beeches. Here's the twins born to 'Badger Face' at a day and a half old.

First grassland fungi of 2015 - Clytocybe fragrans

I'm not 100% sure of the ID but I think it must be Clytocybe fragrans. The fruiting body itself is a little bit unremarkable but what was distinctive was the strong smell of aniseed. This is diagnostic for C. fragrans and the specimen fits the description in other respects including a cream spore print. I was worried about the fruiting time being wrong but I have found a reference that says it can be found in April/May in Europe as well as the more normal July to November season.

Badger on site

Strangely just a few days after seeing a live badger in the area for the first time and saying I wished to see one here at The Beeches I have found a dead one on my land next to the barn. There are no obvious marks of injury on it so I have no idea what killed it. I have called the Animal and Plant Health Agency who say they will pick up the carcass (they are particularly interested in testing for bovine TB) but there is no sign of them yet. Previously I had suspected badgers were around given some pathways in the fields and little signs of digging but a trail camera left at night only took pictures of foxes. Close up you can see the immense power of badgers feet, claws and teeth. A magnificent British mammal - it's difficult to understand why the government felt justified in killing them over the border in England.