Newchurch again this afternoon, dull and warm and then suddenly sunshine at the end of the walk!

When the sun finally came out so did 11 Common Darters on Shemmy Moss. A better picture of one of the darters on 6th Oct shows it to be a dark Common Darter rather than a Ruddy Darter.

A Hornet was seen flying over Shemmy Moss too.

Again a fungi type of day! A lifer fungus today was 40 Yellow Stainers (Agaricus xanthodermus) on the edge of Shemmy Moss (Photo 2). This is an exact replica of the Field Mushroom at first sight but which is poisonous and probably the most common cause of fungus poisoning in the UK. Luckily I suspected this was not an edible agaric and scratched the cap which instantly turned bright yellow, lucky because I was collecting a few edibles for use later! Other new species for the year were a Birch Brittlegill (Russula betularum) on Shemmy Moss and 7 Common Rustgills (Gymnopilus penetrans) in Gull Pool Wood. Repeat finds were 3 Blushers near Gull Pool, 35 Deceivers on Shemmy Moss, a Bay Bolete in Gull Pool Wood, 105 Fly Agarics on Shemmy Moss, 3 Tawny Grisettes in Gull Pool Wood, 5 new Common Puffballs on Shemmy Moss, and now 45 Frosty Webcaps on Shemmy Moss.

As an aside my mini forage (I only take a few fungi, enough for 1 meal!) included 6 wild edible mushrooms and a few sweet chestnuts! (Photo 1).

 

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 11th of October 2025 06:12:49 PM

An afternoon on my Patch, starting on Shemmy Moss and ending around Big Pool. Mild and dull weather.

The only invertebrates of note were 2 Sap Beetle species (Nitidulinae sp.) found inside one of the Stump Puffballs, at a couple of mm long further ID was hard, if not impossible without microscopy.

Another fungus day. New for the year (and maybe ever!) were, on Shemmy Moss, 69 Rufous Milkcaps (Lactarius rufus), 23 Frosty Webcaps (Cortinarius hemitrichus), and 80 Stump Puffballs (Apioperdon pyriforme), whilst 2 Sickeners (Russula emetica) were new for the year but had been seen previously. The first 6 Butter Waxcaps (Hygrocybe ceracea) were found at 'Waxcap Corner' near Big Pool. Counts of previously seen fungi included 3 Tawny Grisettes, 16 Stinking Dapperlings, 60 Brown Birch Boletes, 45 Fly Agarics, 1 False Chantarelle and over 100 fungi infected with Bolete Eater fungus, all on Shemmy Moss. In Gull Pool Wood repeats included 2 Bay Boletes and 15 Spotted Toughshanks.

Nearby in our horse paddocks on Foxwist Green I found a Rabbit Hutch False Widow spider (Steatoda bipunctata).

 

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 9th of October 2025 02:33:08 PM

An afternoon on the Shemmy Moss section of my Newchurch Common patch in hot sunshine, nothing like October!

A male Migrant Hawker, a male Ruddy Darter, 7 Black Darters and 10 Common Darters were seen on an excellent day for odonata.

A Hornet was by the patch between the moss and the nursery fields.

A Sericomyia silentis hoverfly was on Shemmy Moss as well as a Marmalade Hoverfly.

Ladybirds seemed to be everywhere, landing on me as I walked! The final counts were 65 Harlequin Ladybirds and 14 7-spot Ladybirds. A Dock Bug and a Common Green Shieldbug were photographed.

A Four-spot Orb-weaver was on a web on gorse.

Again fungi featured heavily with the first 5 White Saddles (Helvella crispa) seen by the entrance road. The first Yellow Stagshorns (Calocera vicosa) were in a birch area on the west side of Shemmy Moss. Repeats were 3 Bay Boletes, 17 Fly Agarics, and 35 Sulphur Tufts, 

There were around 20 Hare's-tail Cotton Grass stems with full new fluffy seedheads.

Morning on Newchurch Common around Big Pool, dry at first but the rain soon came in and was torrential.

Another fungi-dominated walk, with several new species added. New for the patch ever were 125 Tricholoma populinum and 2 Cortinarius subbalaustinus, all in the woods between Island Cut and Beach Peg. New for 2025 were 36 Blackening Waxcaps (Hygrocybe conica) at 'Waxcap Corner', and 12 Peeling Oystering (Crepidotus mollis), 8 White Domecaps (Clitocybe connata), 2 Shaggy Inkcaps (Coprinus comatus) and 3 Blue Roundheads (Stropharia cyanea) all in woods by Big Pool Island Cut.

Repeat sightings but new specimens for iRecord were 15 Fly Agarics between Beach Peg and Big Pool Island Cut, and a Red Cracking Bolete and 3 Blushers nearby, and 7 Stinking Dapperlings near the parking area/entrance.

On Newchurch Common again am, sun mainly.

Another fungi filled day! New for this year were a Cortinarius species, probably the Stocking Webcap (Cortinarius torvus) in Big Pool Island Cut Wood, and around 75 Glistening Inkcaps (Coprinellus micaceus), 10 Veiled Poisonpies (Hebeloma mesophaeum), 3 Rosy Bonnets (Mycena rosea), and Iodine Bonnet (Mycena filopes), all in the same area.

Repeat sightings included 4 Stinking Dapperlings near the main track, a False Chantarelle near the Pine Belt, and c.1000 Fairy Inkcaps, 75 Sulphur Tufts, 25 White Fibrecaps, 55 Candlesnuff Fungi, 10 Poison Pies, 4 Deceivers, 6 Variable Oysterlings, 4 Brown Birch Boletes, and a Blushing Bracket, all in Island Cut Wood.

Newchurch am, in the pools area, dull and dry.

Just a few fungi to report. In the Big Pool island Cut Meadow around 35 Turf Bells (Galerina graminea) were new for the year. The inkcaps previously IDed as Firerug Inkcaps are now in their deliquescent stage and can be re-IDed as Haresfoot Inkcaps (Coprinellus lagopus), a species seen on patch before but still new for the year.

On the mossland section of my Newchurch Common Patch this am, warm & sunny.

There were still 2 Common Darters flying on the mossland edge.

Again fungi dominated. A lifer fungus was found on the edge of Gull Pool Wood, 12 Slippery Jack fungi (Suillus luteus), a type of bolete that I had never found before. Sadly several had been cut through on the stem and discarded, probably by forages who just hoover everything up only to throw away the inedibles later  A new for year fungus was a nice Cep (Boletus edulis), found on a path on the western edge of Shemmy Moss as well as a just emerging Fly Agaric, a repeat find since earlier this week. Also repeat finds were a young Blusher, on the edge of Gull Pool Wood, and also 2 Deceivers, 3 Common Bonnets and 40 Brown Roll-rims here.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 25th of September 2025 04:26:49 PM

Willow emeralds at Poynton Pool & Jackson's brickworks in the last few days

Another sunny, quite warm, morning walk on my Newchurch local patch, again on the mosslands.

A Clusterfly (Pollenia sp.) which is likely to be Awkard Clusterfly (Pollenia rudis) was on bracken by the nursery approach road.

Again the walk was dominated by fungi. New species for the year were Stinking Dapperling (Lepiota cristata) by one of the mossland tracks by Shemmy Moss, and Snakeskin Brownie (Hypholoma dispersum) and Milk White Brittlegill (Russula delica), both on Shemmy Moss proper. Repeat sightings on Shemmy Moss included a Birch Bolete, 10 False Chantarelles and 18 Scurfy Deceivers.

On Newchurch Common in the pools area this morning, overcast and warm.

A Comma and 3 Speckled Woods were the only butterflies seen.

A nice male Ruddy Darter was photographed in Big Pool Island Cut and a Common Darter was seen nearby. Two Common Blue Damselflies were by Big Pool.

Some new fungi were again seen. There were 2 Firerug Inkcaps (Coprinellus domesticus) by the footpath leading to the Pine Belt, a totally new species for patch. New for the year were 40 Milking Bonnets (Mycena galopus) at the top NE corner of the Pine Belt and 2 Turf Bells (Galerina graminea) in Big Pool east meadow.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 19th of September 2025 05:13:25 PM

Lymm Dam & The Bongs 13.00-16.30

3 pristine Red Admiral butterflies in the woodland, plus

a couple of Speckled Woods in the shaded areas.

No dragonflies seen throughout.

On the mossands part of my Newchurch Patch this morning. Mainly sun but cloud later.

The only new species seen was Red Oak (Quercus rubra) by the entrance road to the nursery.

Brockholes LNT reserve Afternoon visit

1 Common Toad (Matchbox sized) seen crossing the riverside path.

The only insects seen were 4 Migrant Hawker dragonflies (Seen alongside riverside woodlands)

and several small swarms of midges.

Newchurch again am, dry and fine.

A superb fresh Small Copper north of Big Pool was the highlight. This looked smaller than the norm too. Today 5 Red Admirals were seen of note.

A nice male Migrant Hawker was by the main track. Around 4 Ruddy Darters and 8 Common Darters were on the wing.

I've not been out anywhere due to a bad ACL injury. After diagnosis at hospital I had an enforced period of rest and painkillers. I started the prescribed gentle exercise on the flat today on patch on the Newchurch Common main track. Warm with a bit of drizzle.

Since it was my first September walk I recorded all inverts looking at possible late dates for any. Just four butterfly species but included 5 Commas on one small bramble patch by Big Pool. Also 4 Speckled Woods, Large White and Green-veined White.

A good total of six odonata species included 2 male Southern Hawkers, 3 male Migrant Hawkers, a male Ruddy Darter and 9 Common Darters including one ovipositing and two pairs in cop. Also seen were Common Blue Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly.

A male Vapourer was a nice moth species with 2 Nettle-tap moths also seen.

A Marmalade Hoverfly and a Dock Bug were in Big Pool SW Glade.

Tatton Park Knutsford

13.00-16.45

Dragonflies :- 2 Emperors (1 patrolling the boggy area on the South side of Melchett Mere,

the other chasing a Southern Hawker along the Western edge of Tatton Mere),

at least 8 Southern Hawkers (Mainly in the open grassy areas or around the big oaks

to the South of Melchett Mere. A couple came very close, as if they were greeting me.)

and numerous Migrant Hawkers (Mainly in the boggy areas around Melchett Mere or around

the nearby mature oaks. A few Common Blue Damselflies were on the path along the NW side

of Tatton Mere, they seemed more numerous though around the square pool at the top of

mere.

Butterflies :- 2 Small Copper and a few Large Whites.

A wee walk on Newchurch Common am, sunny & warm but quiet!

There were 2 Smooth Newts under logs in Gull Pool Wood.

Also in this area were 2 Abax parallelepipedus carabid beetles under logs too, and possibly the first of 2025 to boot!

Things seemed to be in two's as 2 Tachina fera flies were by the pools.

A couple of new fungi were added for the year, 31 Bearded Milkcaps (Lactarius pubescens) and 65 White Fibrecaps (Inocybe geophylla), both in the woods by Big Pool Island Cut. Another new species in this wood was a Dog Vomit Slime Mould (Fuligo septica) on a Birch Tree.

Again no patch visits today due to a medical emergency I had to attend to, all OK now though. But a couple more missed out records that I have found:

3rd Aug: Shemmy Moss - 2 Entoloma elodes fungi on sphagnum area. 8 Pavement Mushrooms, new specimens since 1st Aug ones.

17th Aug: Shemmy Moss - Hairy Shieldbug nymph.

 

On the mossland and Gull Pool part of my Newchurch Patch am and pm in hot sunshine.

A good count of 6 male Migrant Hawkers indicated an emergence today. Up to 4(3m) Ruddy Darters were also seen.

It was a good day for fungi too with the first False Chantarelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) in Gull Pool Wood and the first 5 Yellow Swamp Brittlegills (Russula claroflava) nearby in the same woodland. A lone Deer Shield and 5 Spotted Toughshanks were all in Gull Pool Wood and repeat sightings for 2025. Another repeat was 6 Bog Bell fungi in the sphagnum around Gull Pool.

We are all allowed to re-think things and looking at flight times and adult emergence the moth cocoon has to be a Drinker Moth cocoon (Euthrix potatoria)..... final answer 

 

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 17th of August 2025 09:40:01 PM

A Morning on the mosslands, Newchurch Patch, sand a brief pop onto the pools area pm. Changeable!

A moth cocoon and hatched chrysalis inside it was found on Shemmy Moss, best bet from size is Fox Moth.

At least 10 Heather Colletes and 6 Heather Mining Bees were on Shemmy Moss.

Around 20 Sericomyia silentis hoverflies were on Shemmy Moss. A male Long Hoverfly (Spaerophoria scripta) was seen to confirm this species for the year as females cannot be nailed to species without dissection.

The best invertebrate find of the day was the migrant Locust Blowfly (Stomorhina lunata), a parasite of locusts and found mainly in the south of the UK (only as a migrant) and with only one previously documented Cheshire record. This again was on heather on Shemmy Moss.

There were 3 Bog Bush Crickets recorded on Shemmy Moss.

An unusual sight was 7 Leiobunum rotundum harvestmen on one small plant near Big Pool Island Cut.

A new fungus added were 7 Scaly Earthballs (Scleroderma verrucosum) in the woods by Big Pool Island Cut. Also in Big Pool Island Cut were 8 Coral Brittlegills and 6 Brown Roll-rims, repeat fungi for 2025. Also a species seen before was a lone Bog Bell on Shemmy Moss.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 15th of August 2025 09:51:53 AM

Morning on the mosses and afternoon on the pools area of my Newchurch Patch. Sun and rain but generally warm to hot!

The sun brought out the inverts with 10 species of butterfly, the best being a tatty Small Copper on Shemmy Moss and 2 Holly Blues inside the entrance barrier from Novia Scotia Lane. Other species were Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Large White, Small White, Green Veined White, Speckled Wood and Gatekeeper.

I also had 10 species of odonata. These were Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Black Darter, Azure Damselfly and Emerald Damselfly on Shemmy Moss, 6 Brown Hawkers, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Common Blue Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly on Newchurch Common.

A migrant Rush Veneer moth was notable on Shemmy Moss.

Lots of fungi were seen, especially early when it was too gloomy for inverts! New for the year were 40 Bay Boletes (Imleria badia) on the edge of Gull Pool Wood and a Deer Shield (Pluteus cervinus) in the same area. Up to 20 Powdery Brittlegills and 20 Brown Roll-rims in the same area on the edge of Gull Pool Wood were repeat sightings for 2025. A Red-cracking Bolete and 6 Common Earthballs were also repeats and on the edge of the same wood. There were 2 Tawny Grisettes on Shemmy Moss, again not a new species.

A really successful and interesting day at Macclesfield Forest yesterday. I was taking part in an Invertibrates Record day in conjunction with Liverpool Museum. As well as there being lots of common insects like Brown and Southern Hawkers, painted lady, several brimstone etc... the stand-outs were two lifer Hoverflies for me:- Sericomyia superbiens and the nationally scarce Eriozona syrphoides, and a larch ladybird, also new, and only a second ever Physocephala rufipes: a striped millipede was perhaps for the purists. I've attached a photo of E.syrphoides as many will not be familiar with it (thanks to the lady from Sorby Inverts Group who told me about it).

-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Saturday 9th of August 2025 10:54:10 PM

Morning on Newchurch Common near Big Pool, fine and dry but probably the quietest walk all year !!

A smattering of butterflies and odonata. Best butterflies were 2 Meadow Browns, newly out and the first for a while. A Southern Hawker and a Migrant Hawker were both near Big Pool Island Cut.

A few moths were recorded, all repeats. These were Common Carpet, Straw Dot, Mother of Pearl and Shaded Broad-bar. Also a reasonable count of at least 25 Straw Grass-moths again.

A nice group of 8 Southern Brackets (Ganoderma adspersum) were near Island Cut and were the first this year. Whilst nearby a fungus that is being seen in the biggest numbers ever were seen again in the shape of 2 Pale Brittlestems.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 8th of August 2025 04:13:26 PM

Both am and pm walks, fine with sunshine for a lot of the time. All sightings for Shemmy Moss.

A Common Lizard and a Common Frog were recorded.

The best butterfly again was a Holly Blue.

Around 30 Black Darters were seen as well as 2 Migrant Hawkers and 2m Ruddy Darters.

A Dotted Clay moth was a new addition whilst 3 Nettle Tap moths were repeat sightings. Another new mothwas the plume moth Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla.

At least 15 Sericomyia silentis hoverflies were seen.

A queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee out nectaring was a surprise.

The heather was covered with a conservative estimate of 60 Dilophos febrilis Bibio flies. There were still around 30 Linnaemya vulpina flies and 3 Yellow Dung Flies.

At least 15 Bog-bush Crickets were recorded.

A Metellina segmentata (prob) spider was seen. A Garden-cross Orb-Weaver was photographed.

A new fungus was 2 Spotted Toughshanks (Rhodocollybia maculata) and a repeat were 16 Red-cracking Boletes.

Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) was in flower and fruiting. White Beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba) was abundant on the boggier areas.