End of January - 209 species

No visit tomorrow, so today's totals are the same as tomorrow's. Coverage in January has been pretty good, and some squares with no apparent records were visited but I didn't record from them. I will try to do the same coverage in each month in order to find those corners where things grow quietly undisturbed and unseen. There's nothing much going on in the paddock at this time of year and the side of the burn is mostly Canary Reed-grass.

The first target of the year has been reached - 5 lichens. Hopefully I can expand on that a bit, but probably not much! Birds are already half way there, but about par for the course with only Pintail counting as unexpected (an annual drop-in passage visitor almost certainly). Bryophytes at 62 are almost to the target I intend to aim for (75) and which should comfortably be reached. The most gratifying aspect is the 18 new species already recorded in what is one of the quieter periods of the year. Now I only have to record one species every 4 days to reach 100, although in reality I expect to easily exceed that.

Numbers by group:

Taxon Group	Records	Taxa
bird	47	42
conifer	1	1
crustacean	1	1
fern	1	1
flowering plant	69	60
fungus	43	35
insect - true fly (Diptera)	1	1
lichen	5	5
liverwort	12	10
moss	66	52
terrestrial mammal	1	1

Pintail

A nice species found a couple of days back by Derek Roberston, Pintail isn't a common visitor to the reserve, and I missed it by minutes! Fortunately it was snapped for posterity, as I haven't seen it since either.

To see more of Derek's bird shots have a look at the bird pictures page which has had some tricky photographic gaps filled (Osprey, Treecreeper, Kingfisher) and some fine pics of other species too. Not included (yet) is this fine shot of a Reed bunting

I'll post a few more in a special feature later

The numbers game

Numbers so far from recording have been beyond expectations, with 18 new species recorded and a couple of groups getting close to targets, albeit a low target for lichens!

Lichens, bryophytes and fungi can all be re-focussed towards the end of the year, but I'd like to be at 50 for fungi before end of February, leaving an easier run-in to 100 from autumn. I only hoped to get 75 bryophytes this year, and already getting close with some easy and common species un-recorded. Additionally I hadn't anticipated adding new species quite so easily at this time of year. Long may it continue.

It seems reasonable to expect that the overall target of over 100 fungi species will be achieved fairly easily. Vascular plants, standing at 275, are tantalisingly close to the 300, so I'll be re-doubling efforts in that area. Not sure I can make it this year, but I'll give it a bash. Mostly I think this will be accomplished by covering all the territory at least once a month. Unexplored corners often yield the most unexpected results.

Those taxa which are already romping ahead will soon be de-emphasised in favour of pushing up the counts on creepy crawlies, especially since I took possession of an uber-sweep net from SWT yesterday. I'll be having beetle and fly headaches before I know it.

The counts so far:

Taxon Group	Records	Taxa
bird	43	39
conifer	1	1
crustacean	1	1
fern	1	1
flowering plant	69	61
fungus	42	34
insect - true fly (Diptera)	1	1
lichen	4	4
liverwort	12	10
moss	63	51
terrestrial mammal	1	1

Swandering about

I think one of last year's Mute Swan young may be somewhat troubled, either physically or mentally. I had to make my way along the path slowly at the weekend so it could wander back to the water. I am assuming it's the same one that has been feeding in the spillway for a while now

Finally, in pictures, species #200!

By way of my phone to the PC ... Gloeoecystidiellum. Isn't it lovely?

Tuberculate and cracked - cracking typical of genus

Gloeocystidia

More Gloeocystidia

2015 - the first 200!

This evening the 200th spot for species recorded in 2015 at Cullaloe was taken by the corticioid fungus Gloeocystidiellum porosum. Fitting that it should be a fungus, though a bryophyte might be equally suitable. Even more so a corticioid one without an English name, or even any sort of real form! Magnificent form under the microscope though. It also seems to be the same species I found but couldn't identify taking the form of a moss a couple of weeks ago.

It comes hot on the heels of Pleuridium acuminatum (to be confirmed), which is a species with few records in Fife and none in NT18 (BBS Bryo Atlas, 2014). If it turns out to be P.subulatum it will still be equally noteworthy, so I don't mind either way. Also today's Marchantia was a new species for the reserve, albeit a common one.

Anyway, the 200, whout further ado ...

	Preferred name	Common name	First date
200	Gloeocystidiellum porosum	A corticioid fungus	2015-01-24
199	Carduelis spinus	Siskin	2015-01-24
198	Marchantia polymorpha	A liverwort	2015-01-24
197	Pica pica	Magpie	2015-01-24
196	Porcellio scaber	Common Rough Woodlouse	2015-01-24
195	Pyrrhula pyrrhula	Bullfinch	2015-01-24
194	Corylus avellana	Hazel	2015-01-23
193	Cynosurus cristatus	Crested Dog's-tail	2015-01-23
192	Geum rivale	Water Avens	2015-01-23
191	Glechoma hederacea	Ground-ivy	2015-01-23
190	Leptodictyum riparium	Kneiff's Feather-moss	2015-01-23
189	Plagiomnium undulatum	Hart's-tongue Thyme-moss	2015-01-23
188	Pleuridium acuminatum	Taper-leaved Earth-moss	2015-01-23
187	Scleropodium purum	Neat Feather-moss	2015-01-23
186	Ceratodon purpureus	Redshank	2015-01-21
185	Fringilla coelebs	Chaffinch	2015-01-21
184	Juncus acutiflorus	Sharp-flowered Rush	2015-01-21
183	Juncus articulatus	Jointed Rush	2015-01-21
182	Juncus conglomeratus	Compact Rush	2015-01-21
181	Metzgeria furcata	Forked Veilwort	2015-01-21
180	Achillea millefolium	Yarrow	2015-01-19
179	Corvus frugilegus	Rook	2015-01-19
178	Galanthus nivalis	Snowdrop	2015-01-19
177	Larus argentatus	Herring Gull	2015-01-19
176	Larus fuscus	Lesser Black-backed Gull	2015-01-19
175	Physcia leptalea		2015-01-19
174	Schistidium apocarpum	Sessile Grimmia	2015-01-19
173	Sorbus aucuparia	Rowan	2015-01-19
172	Radula complanata	Even Scalewort	2015-01-18
171	Sanionia uncinata	Sickle-leaved Hook-moss	2015-01-18
170	Ulota phyllantha	Frizzled Pincushion	2015-01-18
169	Alliaria petiolata	Garlic Mustard	2015-01-17
168	Dendrocopos major	Great Spotted Woodpecker	2015-01-17
167	Mercurialis perennis	Dog's Mercury	2015-01-17
166	Plagiothecium undulatum	Waved Silk-moss	2015-01-17
165	Primula veris	Cowslip	2015-01-17
164	Buteo buteo	Buzzard	2015-01-16
163	Byssomerulius corium	Netted Crust	2015-01-16
162	Hypnum andoi	Mamillate Plait-moss	2015-01-16
161	Septoria arundinacea		2015-01-16
160	Chroicocephalus ridibundus	Black-headed Gull	2015-01-14
159	Columba palumbus	Woodpigeon	2015-01-14
158	Galium aparine	Cleavers	2015-01-14
157	Larus canus	Common Gull	2015-01-14
156	Phragmidium violaceum	Violet Bramble Rust	2015-01-14
155	Racomitrium heterostichum	Bristly Fringe-moss	2015-01-14
154	Regulus regulus	Goldcrest	2015-01-14
153	Teucrium scorodonia	Wood Sage	2015-01-14
152	Typha latifolia	Bulrush	2015-01-14
151	Veronica chamaedrys	Germander Speedwell	2015-01-14
150	Viola riviniana	Common Dog-violet	2015-01-14
149	Calliergon cordifolium	Heart-leaved Spear-moss	2015-01-11
148	Capreolus capreolus	Roe Deer	2015-01-11
147	Elodea canadensis	Canadian Waterweed	2015-01-11
146	Peniophora lycii		2015-01-11
145	Prunella modularis	Dunnock	2015-01-11
144	Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum	Water-cress	2015-01-11
143	Alnus glutinosa	Alder	2015-01-10
142	Botryobasidium subcoronatum		2015-01-10
141	Bryum dichotomum		2015-01-10
140	Cladonia coniocraea		2015-01-10
139	Corvus corax	Raven	2015-01-10
138	Fragaria vesca	Wild Strawberry	2015-01-10
137	Lophodermium pinastri	Pine Needle Split	2015-01-10
136	Mollisia cinerea	Common Grey Disco	2015-01-10
135	Peniophora nuda		2015-01-10
134	Phytomyza ilicis	Holly Leaf Gall Fly	2015-01-10
133	Hyphodontia pallidula		2015-01-07
132	Bryum pseudotriquetrum	Marsh Bryum	2015-01-04
131	Caltha palustris	Marsh-marigold	2015-01-04
130	Clitocybe fragrans	Fragrant Funnel	2015-01-04
129	Conocephalum conicum		2015-01-04
128	Exidia recisa		2015-01-04
127	Gallinago gallinago	Snipe	2015-01-04
126	Lamium album	White Dead-nettle	2015-01-04
125	Orthotrichum affine	Wood Bristle-moss	2015-01-04
124	Orthotrichum anomalum	Anomalous Bristle-moss	2015-01-04
123	Phragmites australis	Common Reed	2015-01-04
122	Plantago lanceolata	Ribwort Plantain	2015-01-04
121	Polyporus leptocephalus	Blackfoot Polypore	2015-01-04
120	Prunella vulgaris	Selfheal	2015-01-04
119	Rumex obtusifolius	Broad-leaved Dock	2015-01-04
118	Scolopax rusticola	Woodcock	2015-01-04
117	Silene dioica	Red Campion	2015-01-04
116	Amblystegium serpens	Creeping Feather-moss	2015-01-03
115	Atrichum undulatum	Common Smoothcap	2015-01-03
114	Certhia familiaris	Treecreeper	2015-01-03
113	Corvus corone	Carrion Crow	2015-01-03
112	Crataegus monogyna	Hawthorn	2015-01-03
111	Cygnus olor	Mute Swan	2015-01-03
110	Dacrymyces stillatus	Common Jellyspot	2015-01-03
109	Dicranella heteromalla	Silky Forklet-moss	2015-01-03
108	Dicranum scoparium	Broom Fork-moss	2015-01-03
107	Diplophyllum albicans	White Earwort	2015-01-03
106	Erithacus rubecula	Robin	2015-01-03
105	Eurhynchium striatum	Common Striated Feather-moss	2015-01-03
104	Exidia glandulosa	Witches' Butter	2015-01-03
103	Fagus sylvatica	Beech	2015-01-03
102	Fissidens taxifolius	Common Pocket-moss	2015-01-03
101	Gymnopilus penetrans	Common Rustgill	2015-01-03
100	Hedera helix	Ivy	2015-01-03
99	Hypoxylon fragiforme	Beech Woodwart	2015-01-03
98	Lonicera periclymenum	Honeysuckle	2015-01-03
97	Luzula sylvatica	Great Wood-rush	2015-01-03
96	Mnium hornum	Swan's-neck Thyme-moss	2015-01-03
95	Myosotis scorpioides	Water Forget-me-not	2015-01-03
94	Oxyrrhynchium hians	Swartz's Feather-moss	2015-01-03
93	Passer domesticus	House Sparrow	2015-01-03
92	Pellia endiviifolia	Endive Pellia	2015-01-03
91	Periparus ater	Coal Tit	2015-01-03
90	Phasianus colchicus	Pheasant	2015-01-03
89	Phlebia radiata	Wrinkled Crust	2015-01-03
88	Phlebiella pseudotsugae		2015-01-03
87	Plicatura crispa		2015-01-03
86	Polytrichum commune	Common Haircap	2015-01-03
85	Racomitrium ericoides	Dense Fringe-moss	2015-01-03
84	Racomitrium fasciculare	Green Mountain Fringe-moss	2015-01-03
83	Racomitrium lanuginosum	Woolly Fringe-moss	2015-01-03
82	Rhytidiadelphus loreus	Little Shaggy-moss	2015-01-03
81	Salix cinerea	Common Sallow	2015-01-03
80	Schizopora paradoxa	Split Porecrust	2015-01-03
79	Stereum sanguinolentum	Bleeding Conifer Crust	2015-01-03
78	Tubulicrinis subulatus		2015-01-03
77	Turdus pilaris	Fieldfare	2015-01-03
76	Acer pseudoplatanus	Sycamore	2015-01-02
75	Aesculus hippocastanum	Horse-chestnut	2015-01-02
74	Anas crecca	Teal	2015-01-02
73	Anas penelope	Wigeon	2015-01-02
72	Anas platyrhynchos	Mallard	2015-01-02
71	Aythya fuligula	Tufted Duck	2015-01-02
70	Barbula convoluta	Lesser Bird's-claw Beard-moss	2015-01-02
69	Campylopus introflexus	Heath Star Moss	2015-01-02
68	Cirriphyllum piliferum	Hair-pointed Feather-moss	2015-01-02
67	Climacium dendroides	Tree-moss	2015-01-02
66	Corvus monedula	Jackdaw	2015-01-02
65	Crepidotus cesatii		2015-01-02
64	Cyanistes caeruleus	Blue Tit	2015-01-02
63	Didymodon insulanus	Cylindric Beard-moss	2015-01-02
62	Fraxinus excelsior	Ash	2015-01-02
61	Frullania dilatata	Dilated Scalewort	2015-01-02
60	Fulica atra	Coot	2015-01-02
59	Glyceria fluitans	Floating Sweet-grass	2015-01-02
58	Ilex aquifolium	Holly	2015-01-02
57	Malus sylvestris	Crab Apple	2015-01-02
56	Medicago lupulina	Black Medick	2015-01-02
55	Peltigera		2015-01-02
54	Pinus sylvestris	Scots Pine	2015-01-02
53	Polytrichum juniperinum	Juniper Haircap	2015-01-02
52	Pseudocrossidium revolutum	Revolute Beard-moss	2015-01-02
51	Quercus robur	Pedunculate Oak	2015-01-02
50	Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus	Big Shaggy-moss	2015-01-02
49	Rubus fruticosus agg.	Bramble	2015-01-02
48	Thuidium tamariscinum	Common Tamarisk-moss	2015-01-02
47	Trametes versicolor	Turkeytail	2015-01-02
46	Turdus merula	Blackbird	2015-01-02
45	Aegithalos caudatus	Long-tailed Tit	2015-01-01
44	Auricularia auricula-judae	Jelly Ear	2015-01-01
43	Bellis perennis	Daisy	2015-01-01
42	Betula pendula	Silver Birch	2015-01-01
41	Brachythecium rutabulum	Rough-stalked Feather-moss	2015-01-01
40	Bryum capillare	Capillary Thread-moss	2015-01-01
39	Calliergonella cuspidata	Pointed Spear-moss	2015-01-01
38	Coleroa robertiani		2015-01-01
37	Cruciata laevipes	Crosswort	2015-01-01
36	Daedaleopsis confragosa	Blushing Bracket	2015-01-01
35	Dicranoweisia cirrata	Common Pincushion	2015-01-01
34	Dryopteris filix-mas	Male-fern	2015-01-01
33	Eurhynchium praelongum	Common Feather-moss	2015-01-01
32	Flammulina velutipes		2015-01-01
31	Geranium pyrenaicum	Hedgerow Crane's-bill	2015-01-01
30	Geranium robertianum	Herb-Robert	2015-01-01
29	Geum urbanum	Herb Bennet	2015-01-01
28	Grimmia pulvinata	Grey-cushioned Grimmia	2015-01-01
27	Homalothecium sericeum	Silky Wall Feather-moss	2015-01-01
26	Hypericum androsaemum	Tutsan	2015-01-01
25	Hyphodontia sambuci	Elder Whitewash	2015-01-01
24	Hypnum cupressiforme	Cypress-leaved Plait-moss	2015-01-01
23	Juncus effusus	Soft-rush	2015-01-01
22	Lophocolea bidentata	Bifid Crestwort	2015-01-01
21	Metzgeria violacea	Blueish Veilwort	2015-01-01
20	Orthotrichum pulchellum	Elegant Bristle-moss	2015-01-01
19	Parus major	Great Tit	2015-01-01
18	Phalaris arundinacea	Reed Canary-grass	2015-01-01
17	Postia subcaesia	Blueing Bracket	2015-01-01
16	Potentilla reptans	Creeping Cinquefoil	2015-01-01
15	Potentilla sterilis	Barren Strawberry	2015-01-01
14	Ranunculus repens	Creeping Buttercup	2015-01-01
13	Rhynchostegium riparioides	Long-beaked Water Feather-moss	2015-01-01
12	Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus	Springy Turf-moss	2015-01-01
11	Rumex acetosa	Common Sorrel	2015-01-01
10	Sambucus nigra	Elder	2015-01-01
9	Scapania undulata	Water Earwort	2015-01-01
8	Senecio vulgaris	Groundsel	2015-01-01
7	Taraxacum officinale agg.	Dandelion	2015-01-01
6	Tortula muralis	Wall Screw-moss	2015-01-01
5	Troglodytes troglodytes	Wren	2015-01-01
4	Tubaria furfuracea		2015-01-01
3	Ulota bruchii	Bruch's Pincushion	2015-01-01
2	Xanthoria parietina		2015-01-01
1	Xylaria hypoxylon	Candlesnuff Fungus	2015-01-01

Overlooking the obvious

Going to have to be careful with commoner species - found out today that species I added just for the sake of a mini-survey of the orchid meadow hadn't been recorded yet when I thought they had. I'll have to use last year's list as a checklist to make sure I don't simply forget to record something. Having trouble getting images off my camera again, but new additions are:

191	Corylus avellana	Hazel	23/01/2015
190	Cynosurus cristatus	Crested Dog's-tail	23/01/2015
189	Geum rivale	Water Avens	23/01/2015
188	Plagiomnium undulatum	Hart's-tongue Thyme-moss	23/01/2015
187	Scleropodium purum	Neat Feather-moss	23/01/2015
186	Ceratodon purpureus	Redshank	21/01/2015