As mentioned in another post I was on my Newchurch Common Local Patch at 4.20am this morning testing a Thermal Imaging Monocular for a review I'm doing at work.

The star mammal picked up by it was a Stoat, bounding along at the edge of Gull Pool Wood next to a field full of Rabbits, a species seen in every grass field I passed, in huge numbers. The other highlight was a Wood Mouse watched at only 10 foot range and showing in enough detail to confidently ID down to species.

Many moths were seen in the monocular but as expected no ID was possible!!

Away from the bird interest on my Newchurch Common local patch today I was really pleased to find my first frogspawn of 2023, in two traditional breeding pools. The Common Frogs may be out A-Wooing but the newts are still hibernating evidenced by another Smooth Newt found under a log in one of the wet woodlands. Under the same log was a small group of fungi tentatively IDed as Tubaria furfuracea. Another fungi seen was a stunningly colourful Turkeytail, which I just had to photograph as it almost glowed in the spring sunshine. A queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee was out looking for a nest site but no butterflies were seen today.

Redesmere Cheshire (Midday)

A huge Pike was seen in the outflow stream from Redesmere leading towards the pools on the Capesthorne estate.

A Newchurch Common again today.

Lots of Grey Squirrels and a single Rabbit were seen.

Two specimens of the common carabid beetle Pterostichus niger were found.

The bracket fungus Polyporus varius (also called Cerioporus varius) was recorded.

Moore NR Cheshire at Round Cherval / opposite Fiddlers Ferry. Otter tracks on the mudbanks.

A walk on Newchurch Common produced more fungi than I expected this deep into winter, but many were the same as seen late last year.

Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes) was expected as the typical winter fungus, but nice to see near Big Pool. In the same area I recorded Silverleaf Fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum), Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor), Common Jellyspot (Dacrymyces stillatus), Black Milking Bonnet (Mycena galopus) and Scurfy Twiglet (Tubaria furfuracea). North of Big Pool I found Yellow Brain Fungus (Tremella mesenterica), Crystal Brain Fungus (Exidia nucleata), Bark Bonnet (Mycena speirea), Variable Oysterling (Crepidotus variabilis) and on the dung heap lots of Common Dung Cups (Peziza vesiculosa).

As on New Years Day Hairy Curtain Crust (Stereum hirsutum) and Candlesnuff (Xylaria hypoxylon) were seen.

A new lichen for patch was the striking Powdered Speckled Shield Lichen (Punctelia subrudecta) again north of Big Pool.

Westbrook Warrington

At least 3 bats in flight this afternoon, around the Northern edge of Gullivers World theme park.

2 appeared to be "Pipistrelle" sized, the other noticeably larger, but perhaps not quite "Noctule" sized.

On Newchurch Common.

A late addition to the fungus list was most likely Skeletocutis amorpha, a white crust fungus found on a dead branch near the main track between the 2 pools. This is a member of a family of very similar looking fungi but given that the dead wood it was on was from a confer then this is the most likely species.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 27th of December 2022 10:01:24 PM

An afternoon walk produced 1 new fungus species - Alder Bracket Fungus (Inonotus radiatus) near Small Pool.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 7th of December 2022 10:45:55 PM

A morning on Newchurch Common.

I thought that my fungus walks were over but I had a good walk this morning. A few new species were added and other nice specimens photographed.

New for the patch were Common Jellyspot Fungus (Dacrymyces stillatus) and Frosty Bonnet (Mycena adscendens), both near Small Pool. Also new was a clump of Glistening Inkcaps (Coprinellus micaceus) near Big Pool.

Seen before but recorded today were Common Rustgill, Spectacular Rustgill, Hoof Fungus and Coral Spot Fungus (all Gull Pool Wood), Iodine Bonnet (Small Pool), Common Puffball and Blushing Bracket (both Big Pool), Collared Earthstar and Upright Coral Fungus (both Shemmy Moss) and Sulphur Tuft (Whitegate Way).

The Springtail Dictyrtomina ornata (probable) was seen on the Coral Spot Fungus in Gull Pool Wood.

A morning visit to Newchurch Common.

Fungi are getting scarcer now but a new species seen was Saffron Oysterling (Crepidotus crocophyllus) to the NE of Big Pool.

A Clouded Funnel was still present NE of Big Pool. Also seen was Ribbed Bell on the mossy meadow E.of Big Pool.

A new plant was Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) in flower NE of Big Pool.

 

Lunt Meadows NR

A single Water Vole was seen swimming across the River Alt, alongside the reserve.

A couple of visits to Newchurch Common concentrated on birds this time!!

A couple of bits. A new fungus on the dungheap north of Big Pool, a Wrinkled Field Cap (Agrocybe rivlosa). Also on the dung was a Tarzetta sp. fungus, a tiny cup which may have bee impossible even with microscopy!

Other fungi seen before but photographed today included Common Dung Cup, Hare's Foot Inkcap and Witches Butter. A Suillia fungus feeding fly was again seen and photographed.

Another morning walk on Newchurch Common for fungi.

On Sandy Lane a previously seen mushroom had been 'kicked' over so I collected it and the size and odour of aniseed confirmed ID as Horse Mushroom (Agaricus arvensis), my first confirmed on patch and one to be consumed in the near future! Other new species were Pipe Club (Macrotyphula fistulosa) north of Big Pool, Fairy Inkcap (Coprinellus disseminatus) near Big Pool Island Cut and Small Moss Oysterling (Arrhenia retiruga) in the same area.

Other repeat finds included a new huge stand of Wrinkled Club north of Big Pool and Variable Oysterlings everywhere!

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 6th of November 2022 06:40:04 PM

Chelford Sand Quarries

Singles of Common Darter dragonflies seen at Mere Farm Pools and Lapwing Hall Pool.

Several caddis flies (Similar to Anabolia nervosa) seen around Lapwing Hall Pool.

Last night's moth trapping in my garden produced a Cheshire (and lots of other places) rarity - Scarce Bordered Straw, a rare migrant moth which is only recorded a few times a year here and had zero sightings for 10 years between 2005-2015 in Cheshire. Understandably it was a lifer moth for me!

Woolston Eyes No 3 Bed

3 Red Admiral butterflies were still to be seen, showing a keen interest in the few remaining buddlela flowers.

A short walk this afternoon at Newchurch Common concentrated on fungi again.

New species are getting harder to find so it was nice to add Mycena pseudocorticola, a tiny bluish fungus on a moss covered tree, and Slender Club (Macrotyphula juncea) a fungus growing like stems of fine grass from the leaf litter. Both species were tiny and could have easily been overlooked. A new slime mould was added, Dog Sick Slime Mould (Mucilago crustacea) on grass N.of Big Pool, a white slime mould not to be confused with the yellow Dog Vomit Slime Mould that grows on bark.

In the meadow E.of Big Pool lots of waxcaps still thrived, of the three species already recorded, Snowy Waxcap, Butter Waxcap and Blackening Waxcap. Other species seen and photographed that had been seen before included a lovely specimen of  Grooved Bonnet, Upright Coral Fungus, Candlesnuff Fungus and Shaggy Parasol. One of the commonest species now seen is Clouded Funnel.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 26th of October 2022 09:25:27 PM

Another fungal walk on Newchurch Common this morning added a few more species including a fab lifer.

The highlight was a patch of at least 20 Butter Waxcaps, a new species for me anywhere, just E.of Big Pool. In the same area my first 8 Blackening Waxcaps of the year were seen. North of Big Pool I found Crystal Brain Fungus (Exidia nucleata) and Witches Butter (Tremella mesenterica). A tiny 1mm high Orange Bonnet (Mycena acicula) was new for me too, again N.of Big Pool). Netted Crust (Byssomerulius corium) was new and was N.of Big Pool. Coral Spot (Nectria cinnabarina) was another new species and N.of Big Pool again.

Repeat sightings, all near Big Pool, included Variable Oysterling, Parasol, Shaggy Parasol, Clouded Funnel and White Fibercap.

A nice patch of the small white slime mould Diderma effusum was found on the dung heap N.of Big Pool. This is either scarce or under recorded, so was a great discovery and a lifer for me.

Hoary Rosette Lichen (Physcia aipolia) was new for me, and was on gorse N.of Big Pool.

A Hornet was seen, which is always nice.

 

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 22nd of October 2022 01:50:01 PM

Burtonwood (Arable fields just to the North of the M62) Midday

Very few insects were seen, mainly just the occasional bee visiting the few remaining flowers.

However 3 Stonechats were seen performing numerous aerial fly catching sorties from a bramble patch near

Dial Post Farm.

In the same area I found the caterpillar shown below, also on brambles, near hawthorns alongside an overgrown pond.

I'm pretty sure this the caterpillar of the Yellow-tail Moth, but please correct if I'm wrong?.

Working a couple of days but Sunday off for another fungi hunt at Newchurch Common this morning. New species becoming harder to find, but still managed a few today!

My new species were : North of Big Pool on a dung heap ; Common Dung Cup (Peziza vesiculosa), Hare's Foot Inkcap (Coprinopsis lagopus) and Petticoat Mottlegill (Panaeolus papilionaceus), near Big Pool ; Tan Pinkgill (Rhodocybe gemina), Angel's Bonnet (Mycena arcangeliana) and Crystal Brain Fungus (Exidia nucleata), near Small Pool ; Dark Honey Fungus (Armillaria ostoyae), and in the horse fields off Novia Scotia Lane  Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes), Conical Brittlestem (Psathyrella conopilus) and Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris).

Also photographed were a nice stand of 6 Collared Earthstars (Geastrum triplex) near Finch Hedge and The Miller (Clitopilus prunulus) in the horse fields off Nova Scotia Lane.

Wolf's Milk Slime Mould (Lycogala epidendrum) was seen and photographed near Big Pool.

Honey Bees, Marmalade Hoverflies and Tapered Droneflies were nectaring on Ivy flowers in the sunshine.

Many thanks for confirming the ID of the caterpillar Lez.

Regards

John

Another morning on Newchurch Common looking for fungi.

New species were found, near Big Pool ; Bay Bolete (Boletus badia), Hairy Curtain Crust (Stereum hirsutum), Weeping Widow (Lacrymaria lacrymabunda) and The Miller (Clitopilus prunulus), in Gull Pool Wood ; Pale Bramble Rust (Kuehneola uredinis), Scurfy Deceiver (Laccaria proxima), Spectacular Rustgill (Gymnopilus junonius) and Grooved Bonnet (Mycena polygramma), and near Small Pool ; Nitrous Bonnet (Mycena leptocephala).

Other species photographed were, near Big Pool ; Aniseed Toadstool (Clitocybe odora), in Gull Pool Wood ; Brown Rollrim (Paxillus involutus), Hoof Bracket (Fomes fomentarius), Common Bonnet (Mycena galericulata) and Blushing Bracket (Daedaleopsis confragosa),and near Small Pool ; Birch Polypore (Formitopsis betulina).

The galls of Spangle Gall Wasp (Neuroterus quercusbaccarum) were on dead oak leaves near Small Pool.

A small Raspberry Slime Mould (Tubifera ferruginosa) was in Gull Pool Wood.

 

Yet another fungal foray on Newchurch Common this am, dry and bright.

Had a bumper day with several new species found. These were Birch Milkcap (Lactarius tabidus), Blueing Bracket (Postia subcaesia), Clouded Funnel (Clitocybe nebularis), Dead Moll's Fingers (Xylaria longipes), Green Brittlegill (Russula aeruginea), Lilac Fibrecap (Inocybe geophylla var. lilacina), Veiled Oyster (Pleurotus dryinus), Variable Brittlegill (Russula versicolor) and Blackfoot Polypore (Polyporus leptocephalus). New for the year was The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata). Other ones photographed but seen before in 2022 included Blusher (Amanita rubescens), Brown Rollrim (Paxillus involutus), Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum), Candlesnuff (Xylaria hypoxylon), Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), Iodine Bonnet (Mycena filpoes), Parasol (Macrolepiota procera), Poison Pie (Hebeloma crustuliniforme), Red Cracking Bolete (Xerocomellus chrysenteron) and Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare).

Also seen was the ground lichen Peltigera hymenina.

If anyone is interested in joining me on a fungal stroll just private message me and if free I'll gladly show folk around.