Cullaloe Velvetshank

Flammulina velutipes - another welcome fungal addition to the Cullaloe fungal flora

Tubulicrinis subulatus

A corticioid fungus from pine in the woodland, 19th December

Like fallen snow

Cystidia easily visible at low magnification

Spores @ x1000

 

Cystidia with encrustation

Vascular surprise

The one thing I wasn't expecting on an outing to Cullaloe on the 28th December was to find a new vascular plant, but under the Willows, where I was searching for fungi, there they were - two serious bushes of Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum) - not only a new species for the year but new to the reserve list! I did also find Fragrant Funnel (Clitocybe fragrans) and Blueing Bracket (Postia subcaesia), and an as-yet-undetermined corticioid fungus, but this was definitely a bonus.

Springtail

Shaken from Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus under the pines yesterday, I reckon this springtail is most likely Isotomurus palustris based on its setae.I'd like to see more pattern on it ideally, but I can have another look

Here's a nice illustrated key: Collembola key

New species - from 2013!

iRecord mollusc records have been examined and a mis-identified slug has turned out to be a new species for the reserve - Arion distinctus, or Brown Soil Slug. Here's a photo of said slug basking in the middle of a toadstool. Bonus points for identifiying the toadstool.

Sigh

That's it - no more people on the reserve. I'm locking the gates I swear!

Distribution of records across taxa

Approaching 650 species for the year, which will be a nice round number. Still unfinished business with lichens and maybe now spiders, but in reality there will probably be enough fungi to reach that target of three more species. If I could reach my target of three ferns and 5 lichens that would be nice! I'm also two short of 150 target for flowering plants.

Taxon Group	Recs	Taxa
acarine	1	1
amphibian	4	2
bird	94	82
centipede	1	1
conifer	1	1
crustacean	2	2
fern	4	2
flowering plant	231	148
fungus	77	67
harvestman	1	1
horsetail	5	2
insect - Coleoptera	24	19
i - butterfly	35	13
i - Odonata	3	3
i - Dermaptera	1	1
i - Hymenoptera	14	11
i - Moth	267	122
i - Orthoptera	1	1
i - Mecoptera	1	1
i - Plecoptera	2	2
i - Hemiptera	8	8
i - Diptera	245	57
lichen	4	4
liverwort	19	13
millipede	4	3
mollusc	3	3
moss	99	68
slime mould	2	2
spider (Araneae)	5	4
terr. mammal	7	3
	1164	647

Spider - Segestria senoculata

Not from Cullaloe, but from my kitchen sink. Still interesting though, I hope. Back fresh from a spider workshop on Saturday I used my new-found techniques to play with this little guy, who appears to be new to NT19. It may also be the second record for Fife. Usual NBN caveats apply.

Ironically the only other record from Fife is one GC picked up at Cullaloe!A more sensible map from SRS features at the bottom. Clearly the Cullaloe record didn't come from SRS, and I'm inclined to think there's an issue here which may take some time to get to the bottom of.

Patterned abdomen

Lanterny male palps

Spiny metatarsus

NBN range map

Catch-up

Finally caught up with both Grey Squirrel and Treecreeper this morning while on a fungal foray. And not before time! Some fungi were also gathered, some of which will hopefully go on to be identified. They include this bruiser from below the pines:

Amanita cecili, Snakeskin Grisette