Drapetisca socialis

Tree bark loving Linyphiid spider Drapetisca socialis

Fungus frenzy

Back from holidays and back to adding new species to the catalogue!

A couple of new fungi added to the list and a couple of new spiders for me, although one is already recorded on the reserve (Meta segmentata). Spider pics to follow since I left my camera at home.

The first fungus is Hebeloma pusillum, growing in association with willows on boggy ground. The second is Russula fellea, the Geranium Brittlegill (because it smells like geraniums). Other fungi were added to the year list, but weren't new (Wrinkled Shield, Woolly Milkcap, Clustered Toughshank, Redleg Toughshank)

The second spider is Drapetisca socialis, a Linyphiid which was in its expected niche of Beech tree bark.

H.pusillum

H.pusillum

Geranium Brittlegill

Blushing bracket, Rosy Minor

Everything's coming up rosy these days

The blushing bracket, which likes willows, bruises pink and eventually becomes an outrageous red colour

This rosy minor was new for the reserve on 1st September. Pretty little thing.

Painted Lady

At long last the much vaunted arrival of .. one Painted Lady!. Well, one's better than none. Maybe there are more out there today with the sun continuing to shine

Inverkeithing guest appearance

Lovely band of the orange lichen Caloplaca marina along the rocks at Inverkeithing. Everyday things that you can take for granted. imagine how many millions of asco-spores are being churned out.

Gribbit

From a splendid morning yesterday I wish this frog photo had turned out better, but I only had my phone and the result isn't as nice as it could have been

As well as a Green Sandpiper and some nice Water Rails out in the open I also added a new lichen (Hypogymnia physoides) and found some heather growing in the middle of the mossy barrens. Will it settle and expand? Why not? On the other hand it's in an area I'd rather it didn't expand in. Everything changes sooner or later though.

Lovely lichens

A duo of completely different lichens - first up is Aspicilia contorta, which is a common concrete lover and which I found on the concrete buttress of the wall in the car park area. The last two pictures is on top of the wall and I believe is the older, more settled version where the "jelly tots" have all flattened down into tilework

The second is a lovely Cladonia chlorophaea with chunky soredia. This is from Mossmorran though, amongst the heather.