Monday 30 September 2013

Another grass down - Deschampsia cespitosa, Tufted Hair Grass

Finally found a home for these photos - one of the easiest grasses to pick out because of its structure. Better double check for flexuosa ...




Unphotographed Vascular Plants

From the Current List ...

107 wildflowers
4 ferns
38 grasses, sedges & rushes
13 trees

Most of the trees are Salix spp. Not likely to be photographing foxglove anytime soon probably, but there's plenty to work on there.

Sunday 29 September 2013

Chickweed, Nipplewort

Both added to Wildflower pics, Nipplewort added to Vascular Plant list

Nipplewort keyed out in Rose very easily (Daisy key) - all straplike florets, fruit withou pappus


Friday 27 September 2013

Rhytisma acerinum

I think may be present at Cullaloe


Pics added and updated in Wildflowers

Autumn Hawkbit (added)
Cat's ear (replaced)
Creeping Cinquefoil (added)
Dandelion (added)
Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil (added)
Greater Plantain (added)

Sea Mayweed (added)
Yarrow (added)

Compartment Map

For the purposes of surveying the reserve is divided into 9 compartments based on physical features/habitat type. I can never remember which number relates to which compartment, so I've given them nicknames for when I'm taking notes!

(with thanks to SWT for permission to reproduce the map here)

1A  “Big Pond” 5 “Orchid Meadow”
1B  “Small Pond” 6 “Woodland”
2 “Pond Surrounds” 7A   “Southern Reservoir Bed”
3 “Road and Filter Beds” 7B  “Dour Burn”
4A   Unimproved Grassland Banking 8 “Paddock and Eastern Leg”
4B  “Dam and Pathway” 9 “Extreme Eastern Leg”

Compartment 1A/1B
1A comprises a hallow loch (generally < 2m) in the north-western section of the reserve. From satellite pictures you can see the old road running through its middle. Dabbling ducks feed even near the centre. 1B is the small pond to the south-west of the loch, with uniform depth of 1.25m. The "sacrificial" pond where some illegal fishing seems to be tolerated.

Look out for:

plants:
Shoreweed, Blue water-speedwell, Toad rush, Marsh pennywort,
Celery-leaved buttercup, Creeping buttercup, Lesser spearwort, Marsh yellow-cress,
Water-pepper, Redshank, Water forget-me-not, Water mint, Brooklime,
Common spike-rush, Branched bur-reed, Water-plantain,Soft-rush, Great willowherb,
Reed canary-grass, Bulrush. Noteworthy in the small pond is Canadian pondweed.

birds:
Ducks, Coot, Moorhen, Kingfisher, migrant waders when the water's low

Compartment 2
Scrub, woodland and wetland communities surrounding the loch and the pond. Vegetation includes mixed broadleaved woodland to the east, willow carr and tall swamp bounding the northern and western edges of the loch and pond and a strip of Birch and Willow along the southern boundary of the loch. The south-western boundary is formed by more recent scrub and swamp that surrounds the loch.

Look out for:
plants:
Salix spp. especially

birds: Moorhens, Water Rail, Warblers in summer


Compartment 3
Mainly man-made compartment in the southern section of the reserve, consisting of the access road from the B9517, the parking area, the filterbeds and the foundation of the old pumphouse. The roadside hosts an interesting variety of trees and road bordering plants while the filter beds provide rich habitat for plants and animals alike.

Look out for:
plants:  Sycamore, Horse Chestnut, Aspen by the roadside, Branched Bur-reed and Water Mint in the filter beds. Also the abundant and tall Reed Canary Grass

birds: Check the filter beds and Dour Burn for Dippers, which will depart sharpish on noticing you! Migrant passerines can sometimes be found here - Whinchat, Stonechat, Spotted Flycatcher.

Compartment 4A
Across the bridge on the East side of the Dour Burn. Unimproved neutral and acid grassland on the banks of the old dam.Lots of bracken and gorse and hard to penetrate beyond cleared path area.

Look out for:
plants: Elders covered in lichen and moss
birds: In September keep an eye open for Spotted Flycatchers.

Compartment 4B
An irregular-shaped compartment which comprises unimproved neutral and acid grassland and fen stretching from the old dam in the southern section of the reserve past the orchid meadow to the Scot's pine plantation south of the loch.

Look out for:
plants:
Varied grasses and Wildflowers.Orchids in spring and early summer.

birds:
Flocks of tits skipping along the pathside. Goldfinches on mature thistle heads

also: Varied butterflies in season, which almost all can be seen in this area


Compartment 5
The so-called orchid meadow, bounded on the west by a stone dyke which separates it from the B9157 and compartment 4B on the east.

Look out for:

plants:
Tufted Hair Grass, Meadowsweet, Marsh Thistle.


Compartment 6
Largely 19th century mixed beech and Scot's pine plantation woodland. The present compartment includes the old car park and access road, which was dug up and planted with trees.

Look out for:
plants: Pine, Beech and Bramble, Goat Willow and a couple of quite large Ivys.
birds: Goldcrest and Coal Tit. Best place to look for Treecreepers. Also Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

Compartment 7A
The bed of the former southern reservoir which supports a mixture of successional vegetation types, principally willow scrub with open patches - the so-called ‘mossy barrens’ - where vegetation growth is inhibited by toxins in the soil and dominated by brown mosses. The latter are, however, being slowly encroached by scrub.

Look out for:
plants:
Willows

birds:
Garden and Willow Warblers in summer, and Grasshopper Warblers in May at least. Used to hold Snipe and Jack Snipe in winter but Willow succession may have put an end to that.

Compartment 7B
A long linear strip of swampy vegetation bounding the Dour Burn, which forms the eastern boundary of the reserve.

Look out for:
plants: Hawthorn

birds: Sedge Warblers in summer.

Compartment 8 An area of unimproved neutral and acid grassland and fen on the north-eastern boundary of the reserve. It is bounded by a stone-lined ditch and hedge along its northern boundary.

Look out for:

plants: Hawthorn

birds: Whitethroats in hedge areas in summer, Fieldfares and Redwings in winter

Compartment 9
A narrow, unsurveyed section adjacent to the eastern boundary of compartment 8 and stretching all the way to the A909.

Look out for:

plants:

birds: Skylarks and Lapwings in adjacent fields in summer, Buntings in the hedge in winter



Aspen, Populus tremula

Along with Common Orache, another new addition to the plant list for the reserve - seems to be a common theme for trees. Looks like maybe they weren't really recorded except for the results of a Willow survey which gives a good representation of that group. There are a number of Aspens along the roadside down to the main car park.

When these leaves catch the wind they look fantastic, especially when they turn gold and remind me of the time when I used to live in the Rockies.The way they vibrate I guess is why their species name is tremula.


Common Orache

After going back and forth with this one for a while I think it's Common Orache, Atriplex patula. Will keep an eye on it as it develops, and maybe someone who knows can spot if there's a mistake. Discovered beside the road near the car park.


Unearthed a couple of nice illustrations while trying to confirm this ID (which still looks OK)



Thursday 26 September 2013

Carder Bee

Carder Bee at the filter beds at lunchtime today adds 1 to my Hymenoptera list and to the Hymenoptera pics


Rhytisma acerinum and various online keys

Check for "tar spot" fungus on Sycamores.

Check this survey guidance for searching out this and several (9) indicator lichens:

http://www.opalexplorenature.org/sites/default/files/7/file/OPAL-Air-Chart-web.pdf

For wider Lichen keys and other keys:

http://www.opalexplorenature.org/Identification


Lacewing note

Two days ago while passing the Ash tree at the corner of the "Orchid Meadow" a Lacewing landed on my arm. On the day my camera battery had died and I wasn't able to get my phone to focus before it flew off. There are 14 species of Green Lacewing in the UK apparently, and probably fewer in Scotland - a beautiful luminous light green thing with lacey wings.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/lacewing

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings and Allies)
 
 Most common seems to be Chrysoperla carnea. No Lacewings are currently listed in the reserve list as far as I can tell.

Pic added - Prickly Sow Thistle

Horrible weed or welcome addition to my Cullaloe plant list? Yes :)

25/09/2013

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Moth pics unpicked

Two moth species identified by DD - Udea Lutealis, a Pyralid, and Anthophila fabriciana, the Nettle-tap Moth. See moth pics for visuals.

Both are additions to the Cullaloe list as it stands at the moment.

List - Fungi


Pics of Cullaloe's Fungi

(last updated 11/05/2016)


Scientific name English name
Amanita cecili  Snakeskin Grisette
Amanita rubescens
Ascocoryne sarcoides Purple Jellydisc
Ascodichaena rugosa A hyphomycete fungus
Auricularia Auriculae-judae Jew's Ear
Bisporella citrina Lemon Disco
Boletus badius Bay Bolete
Botryobasidium conspersum a corticioid fungus
Botryobasidium subcoronatum a corticioid fungus
Byssomerulius corium
Calocybe gambosa St.George's Mushroom
Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa  n/a (NB: really a Slime Mould)
Chlorociboria aeruginascens Green Elfcup
Claviceps purpurea Ergot
Clavulina rugosa Wrinkled Club
Clitocybe fragrans Fragrant funnel
Clitocybe nebularis Clouded Funnel
Coleroa robertiani A fungus on Herb Robert
Collybia dryophila Russet Toughshank
Conocybe aporos
Coprinellus micaceus Glistening Inkcap
Coprinus comatus  Shaggy Ink Cap
Coprinus plicatilis
Corticeum roseum a corticioid fungus
Cortinarius hinnuleus
Crepidotus cesatii
Crocicreas amenti
Cymadothea trifolii Clover black spots
Cystoderma amianthinum Earthy Powdercap
Dacrymyces stillatus Common Jellyspot
Daedaleopsis confragosa  Blushing Bracket
Dasyscyphus apalus Rush Disco
Dasyscyphus virgineus
Diatrype disciformis Beech Barkspot
Eichleriella deglubens a corticioid fungus
Erysiphe alphitoides Oak Powdery Mildew
Exidia recisa Willow Brain
Exidia thuretiana White Brain
Fomes fomentarius  Hoof/Tinder Fungus
Gloeocystidiellum porosum A corticioid fungus
Gnomonia alni-viridis A pyrenomycete fungus
Gymnopilus penetrans Common Rustgill
Gymnopus confluens Clustered Toughshank
Gymnopus erythropus Redleg Toughshank
Hebeloma crustiliniforme Poisonpie
Hebeloma pusillum
Hyaloscypha fuckelii An ascospore fungus
Hygrocybe conica Blackening Waxcap
Hygrocybe virginea Snowy waxcap
Hygrophorus hypothejus Herald of Winter
Hyphoderma definitum a corticioid fungus
Hyphodontia alutaria a corticioid fungus
Hyphodontia nespori a corticioid fungus
Hyphodontia pallidula a corticioid fungus
Hyphodontia sambuci a corticioid fungus
Hypholoma fasciculare Sulphur Tuft
Hypoxylon fragiforme Beech Woodwort
Inonotus radiata Alder Bracket
Jaapia argillacea A corticioid fungus
Kretzschmaria deusta Brittle Cinder
Laccaria amethystina Amethyst Deceiver
Lacrymaria lacrymabunda Weeping Mary
Lactarius blennius  Beech Milkcap
Lactarius glyciosmus Coconut milkcap
Lactarius piperatus  Peppery Milkcap
Lactarius pubescens Bearded Milkcap
Lactarius subdulcis Mild Milkcap
Lactarius torminosus Woolly Milkcap
Leccinum scabrum Birch Bolete
Leocarpus fragilis A myxomycete (slime mold)
Lepista nuda Wood Blewit
Leptosporomyces garzinii a corticioid fungus
Lophodermium pinastri Pine-needle Split
Lycogala epidendrum A slime mould
Lycoperdon perlatum Pers.  Common Puffball
Lycoperdon pyriforme  Stump Puffball
Marasmius epiphyllus Leaf Parachute
Melampsora caprearum A rust
Melanoleuca polioleuca Common Cavalier
Melanomma pulvis-pyrius A pyrenomycete fungus
Merismodes anomala
Microthyrium ciliatum
Mollisia cinerea Common Grey Disco
Mycena arcangeliana
Mycena epipterygia Yellowleg Bonnet
Mycena filopes Iodine bonnet
Mycena pura Lilac bonnet
Mycena speirea Bark Bonnet
Otidea onotica Hare's Ear
Panaeolus acuminatus
Panaeolus olivaceus
Panellus mitis Elastic Oysterling
Panellus serotinus Olive  Oysterling
Paxillus involutus Brown Rollrim
Peniophora limitata a corticioid fungus
Peniophora lycii a corticioid fungus
Peniophora nuda a corticioid fungus
Peniophorella praetermissa a corticioid fungus
Phacidium multivalve
Phlebia radiata a corticioid fungus
Phlebia tremellosa Jelly rot
Phlebiella pseudotsugae a corticioid fungus
Phoma complanatum
Phoma samararum A fungus n ash seeds
Phragmidium violaceum a fungus on Rubus spp.
Plicatura crispa
Pluteus cervinus Deer Shield
Pluteus phlebophorus Wrinkled Shield
Polyporus brumalis Winter Polypore
Polyporus leptocephalus Blackfoot Polypore
Postia subcaesia Blueing Bracket
Propolis farinosa An ascomycete fungus
Psathyrella lacrymabuna Weeping widow
Puccinia phragmitis a rust on Rumex and phragmites
Puccinia poarum Coltsfoot rust
Rhopographus filicinus Bracken Map Fungus
Rhytisma acerinum  Tar spot fungus
Russula atropurpurea
Russula auruginea Green Brittlegill
Russula caerulea Humpback Brittlegill
Russula fellea Geranium Brittlegill
Russula nitida Purple Swamp Brittlegill
Russula nobilis Beechwood Sickener
Russula ochroleuca Ochre Brittlegill
Russula sanguinea Bleeding Brittlegill
Schizopora paradoxica Split porecrust
Septoria arundinacea A fungus on Phragmites
Sistotrema diademiferum a corticioid fungus
Sistotrema oblongisporum a corticioid fungus
Stereum gausapatum Bleeding Oak Crust
Stereum hirsutum Hairy Curtain Crust
Stereum sanguinolentum Bleeding conifer crust
Strobilurius tenellacus
Strobilurus esculentus
Suillus luteus Slippery Jack
Taphrina betulae Birch Leaf Blister
Taphrina populina Aspen Leaf Blister
Trachyspora intrusa Ladies Mantle Rust
Trametes gibbosa Lumpy Bracket
Trametes versicolor Turkeytail
Tremella mesenterica Golden Jelly Fungus
Tricholoma sciodes Beech Knight
Tricholoma ustala Burnt Knight
Tricholoma virgatum Ashen Knight
Trimmatostroma betulinum
Triphragmium ulmariae
Trochila ilicina
Tubaria furfuracea Scurfy Twiglet
Tubulicrinis subulatus a corticioid fungus
Ventura ditricha A pyrenomycete fungus
Xylaria carpophila A fungus
Xylaria polymorpha Dead Man's Fingers
Xylaria hypoxylon Candlesnuff fungus
(153)

Pics - Fungi

List of Cullaloe's Fungi

SLIME MOULDS

Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa

Really a Slime Mould, but included here for want of a better place currently

06/10/2013

Lycogala epidendrum

25/05/2014

FUNGI

Auricularia auricula-judae, Jew's ear

28-12-2013

Coprinellus micaceus
19/01/2014

Coprinus comatus, Shaggy Ink Cap

28/09/2013

Coprinopsis radiata


26/10/2013

Dacrymyces stillatus, Common Jellyspot


Daedaleopsis confragosa, Blushing Bracket



Exidia recisa, Willow Jelly

16/01/2014

Fomes fomentarius, Hoof Fungus

06/10/2013

Gymnopilus penertans, Common Rustgill

Philips page




04/12/2013

Hygrocybe virginea, Snowy Waxcap


28/10/2013

Hygrophorus hypothejus, Herald of Winter

first-nature species page




04/12/2013

Hyphoderma definitum




17/04/2014

Hypholoma fasciculare, Sulphur Tuft


21/11/2013

Kretzschmaria deusta

20/03/2014

Lactarius blennius, Beech Milkcap

26/10/2013

Lactarius piperatus, Peppery Waxcap



25/10/2013
Lactarius glyciosmus, Coconut Milkcap

21/10/2014, Mossy Barrens

Lactarius subdulcis, Mild Milkcap


31/10/2013

Leccinum scabrum, Birch Bolete

10/10/2013
01/11/2013

Lycoperdon pyriforme, Stump Puffball




Lycoperdon perlatum, Common Puffball

25/09/2013

25/09/2013

Mycena filopes, Iodine Bonnet

16/11/2013

Mycena Pura, Lilac Bonnet




22/12/2013

Paniophora lycii





Phlebia tremellosa

31/03/2014

Phragmidium violaceum



19/03/2014

Pluteus phlebophorus, Wrinkled Shield



Polyporus brumalis, Winter Polypore

22/12/13

Puccinia phragmites

18/03/2014

Rickenella fibula, Orange Mosscap

03/11/2013

Rhytisma acerinum, Tar Spot

27/09/2013

Russula nobilis, Beechwood Sickener

29/10/2013

Stereum gausapatum, Bleeding Oak Crust

26/10/2013

Stereum hirsutum, Hairy Curtain Crust


05/12/2013

Trametes versicolor, Turkeytail



Tricholoma cingulatum, Girdled Knight

08/10/2013

Tubaria furfuracea, Scurfy Twiglet




27/11/2013

Xyleria hypoxylon, Candlesnuff Fungus

27/10/2013