Month: Oct 2019

Posted in nature

More Fabulous Fungi

Posted on by BITM

The autumn colours were glorious last week; particularly the Acers like the Acer dissectum below.

Another tree that I loved seeing was a Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipfera).

This tree is so called because the flowers look similar to tulips. I have never noticed it flower but I will try to remember to keep an eye out for them next summer.

The recent wet weather has had opposite affects on wildlife. I haven’t seen many pollinators lately but have continued to see lots of fungi. Infact the timing of this wet weather has meant it’s been a bumper year for fungi.

The few pollinators that I have noticed include Common wasps (Vespula vulgaris) on some Ivy (Hedera helix) flowers

and one White tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) on Monday.

I also saw a couple of moths at the end of the week too. The first one was a Winter moth (Operophtera brumata)

and the second one was a Scarce bordered straw (Helicoverpa armigera). The latter moth is a migrant visiting the UK.

I was a little surprised to see some Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) still flowering in one garden. I enjoy seeing this daisy like wild flower and like it’s common name Bachelor buttons.

The mushrooms I noticed last week were varied in size and colour.

*Once again, please do not use this post as a guide to edible mushrooms.*

I have managed to identify some but have placed question marks next to those I am unsure of.

The mushrooms I saw last week were;

– the Common puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum).

[The second photo was from a few days later. I noticed that they had matured, ready to release their spores].

-Orange Bonnet (Mycena acicula)

-Purple brittlegill (Russula atropurpurea)

-Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor)

-Lilac bonnet (Mycena pura)?

-Rosy bonnet (Mycena rosea)

-Milking bonnet (Mycena galopus)?

-Horse mushroom (Agaricus arvensis)?

-and Cortinarius umbrinolens?

The week ended with a brief visit from a Jay (Garrulus glandarius) to the Rowan tree outside my home. I can’t wait to see if I get Redwings (Turdus iliacus) visit soon as well. I usually have a few snacking on the berries each year; hopefully they come before all the berries disappear. The UK conservation status of this thrush is red so it’s always special to see them. Redwings look similar to thrushes but have a splash of red under their wings.

Posted in nature

Fabulous Fungi

Posted on by BITM

One thing is certain at this time of year, I will see fungi and mushrooms in most gardens as I mow and collect leaves.

I made a point of trying to identify each one I saw this year, although this is a difficult task with fungi. I am not a hundred per cent confident that I have correctly named all of the mushrooms photographed; for this reason I would never eat any or advise others on which ones to forage.

Please do not use this post as a guide to edible mushrooms.

Unfortunately I didn’t see Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) last week; that iconic mushroom with a red cap and white spots from fairy tales (although I have seen it growing nearby in previous years). Those fungi I did see were;

– Silver leaf (Chondrostereum purpureum) fungus

– Mower’s mushroom (Panaeolus foenisecii)

– Brown roll-rim (Paxillus involutus)

– Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare)

– Mica cap (Coprinellus micaceus)

– Stinking parasol (Lepiota cristata)

– Ivory funnel (Clitocybe dealbata)

– Banded mottlegill (Panaeolus cinctulus)

– Clustered bonnet (Mycena inclinata)

– Shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus)

– Neoboletus luridiformis

Posted in nature

What a Difference a Month Makes

Posted on by BITM

A month ago I had a weeks holiday. Signs of autumn were beginning to mingle with late summer. Now October is here autumn has definitely arrived.

As I had another week off I decided to revisit my local park, observing changes from a month ago.

In September Roesel’s bush crickets (Metrioptera roeselii) were chirping everywhere, butterflies were flitting about and some flowers still bloomed amongst the meadow (see Relaxing into Autumn).

Upon my return last Tuesday the only sounds I heard were birds singing and the meadow area had been cut and baled. Cobwebs were visible in the long dew dampened grass around the edges of the woodland too.

Hawkweed, Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), Red clover (Trifolium pratense) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) were only just flowering still while the Ivy (Hedera) was in full bloom.

Ivy is fantastic for pollinators at this of year. I saw a few hoverflies flying to and from several flowers but the Honey bees (Apis mellifera), that were still active from the nearby hives would probably visit them too.

It was lovely to see dried seedheads of Wild carrot (Daucus carota)

and Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)

as I wondered around the park. They look beautiful but they are useful for insects to shelter in as well. In fact I noticed a ladybird snuggling amongst one of the Cow parsley seedheads. I also discovered field mushrooms (Agaricus campestris) growing amongst the grass.

Trees and shrubs were starting to show autumnal colours along with their ripe fruits. I found elderberries, sloe as well as haws on the Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) alongside Rosehips. However there were no longer any blackberries left on the brambles.

I noticed the leaves of one Horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) affected by the Horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella) moth.

Similarly there was evidence of caterpillars (most likely another moth) having been on a Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) tree.

The eggs and excrement are still visible on the nibbled leaves.

I ended my weeks holiday with a visit the Horniman museum in London.

On route to the train station I saw a Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) running across a path. It attempted to cross the road until either the traffic or pedestrians scared it into fleeing towards a nearby hedge. Once I arrived in London I realised that I never see rats in the underground any more. I used to enjoy seeing them scurrying between the tracks. I have owned pet rats for many years so I find wild rats intriguing. I also like to watch Squirrels as rodents tend to act in similar ways to one another. After lunch I observed two Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) scamper about.

The nearest squirrel had an acorn in its mouth and appeared to bury it in different places. I once saw a television programme on squirrels in which one was observed ‘pretending’ to bury a nut in several places while in the presence of other squirrels to avoid their stash being taken. Presumably this was occurring with the squirrels I was watching on Friday.

There is a butterfly house and aquarium at the Horniman museum. The butterflies were looking a little aged with their wings rather worn, however they were still beautiful. As soon as I entered the butterfly house a Malachite butterfly (Siproeta stelenes) landed on me which felt wonderfully welcoming.

The photo below shows a selection of the many butterflies I saw.

Feeding on the fruit are one Blue morpho (Morpho peleides), one Brown clipper (Parthenos Sylvia philippinensis), two Blue clipper (Parthenos Sylvia) and three Owl butterflies (Caligo memnon).

There were lots to see in the aquarium as well but my favourites were the White spotted jellyfish (Phyllorhiza punctata); watching them was so relaxing.

Even at the weekend nature was visible. As I ate breakfast on Saturday morning I heard and watched a group of Coal tits (Periparus ater) on the Rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia) outside. I have never seen Coal tits on this tree before, I hope to see them again.

Another animal I became aware of last week was a Red fox (Vulpes vulpes). I first noticed it on my way home on Wednesday night and again on Sunday morning. It was making itself known on Saturday night too as it was being very vocal.

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A Chill in the Air with Beautiful Sunrises.

Posted on by BITM

Occasionally I am still surprised by nature. One instance of this occured on my way home last Monday when I saw a Heron (Ardea cinerea) standing on a rooftop. I had to double take to confirm it was real; thankfully it moved it’s head slightly. The house was near a river but I guess it was looking for an easy dinner from someone’s pond. Infact this wasn’t the only time I saw Herons during the week. On Wednesday I also noticed a couple flying above where I worked. One of them was calling but I think it was warning the other off because they eventually went their separate ways.

Jay’s (Garrulus glandarius) also became more visible last week as they harvested acorns before the squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). I love the Jay’s colouring and the meaning behind their Latin name. Garrulous is a word that refers to their noisy chattering while glandarius translates as ‘of the acorn’, very appropriate.

Garden spiders (Araneus diadematus) seemed to be very busy creating their orb webs amongst perennials and shrubs; especially as I often managed to get my face tangled amongst them by accident (meaning their well deserved rest was cut short).

There was a chilly start to Thursday and I woke to a beautiful sunrise. Even though the temperature has dropped slightly, my Asters and Penstemon continue to flower well. Hopefully pollinators are still visiting them. I noticed some bees and a Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) flying about in other gardens.

A Honey bee (Apis mellifera) visiting Helenium ‘Lemon Queen’.
A Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) visiting some Aster flowers.

On Friday however, I saw
2 Box tree moths (Cydalima perspectalis). These pretty moths with a purply-brown pattern set against white wings were not such a welcome sight. This is the first year I have noticed these moths. I first saw their caterpillars in another garden during the summer too. It is the caterpillars that cause the damage as they defoliate Box (Buxus) plants. They are considered a pest and are spreading further across the country (for further information see Butterfly Conservation).