Coconut milkcap

Decided to root around amongst the beeches and willows as I haven't checked it recently for fungi. I won't pretend I wasn't hoping for a giant Amanita, but it didn't happen. Instead I found the small and charming Coconut Milkcap Lactarius glyciosmus, which is a Beech lover. I found a Russula too, which promptly collapsed to mush in 24 hours - not sure if that one's going to be resolved. I'm thinking not, but you never know. There are a number of smallish Russula which are reddish though, so it's not straightforward maybe

There be dragons

Still some insect life around despite the late date - a sunny day saw this Common Darter around the filter beds on Friday

Melanoleuca mushroom

Not so many new additions of late what with holidays and weather, but a nice new addition to the fungus list yesterday with this mushroom. Shame I had no camera when I found it for an in situ shot. The meadow has been half mown today and the verges and paths cut, so somebody's been busy, and I tried to shut the water off, but failed - hopefully there isn't a serious blockage that will cause problems. Water's still pretty high anyway though

Hell or high water

Returned from holiday to find that Cullaloe has again lost its marginal mud to high water. I guess wader season is over, and probably mudwort season too. Oh well. Here's a nice Wryneck from my local patch in Turkey.

Pinks in

Just before I toddle off to Turkey the Pinkfeet are in. Thought I heard some the other night while mothing but the sound didn't persist after I started listening more carefully. This time they're here for sure though.Also a few Wigeon have been about recently, although they may not always be the same ones!

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Quite frequent around the reserve these days and this tree at the reserve entrance is a prime location to see one.

Mudwort and Canary-shouldered Thorn

Finally with the water levels remaining lowered a bit I wandered around the far side to check for Mudwort (Limosella aquatica). The mud hasn't been exposed for long and there are only a few signs of its presence. Here it is:

Spectacular isn't it? Even more so when the flowers come (you will have to use a search engine of your choice to see for the moment).

More spectacular is this Canary-shouldered Thorn, one of two caught on the 20th