MID YARE VALLEY: Strumpshaw fungi

Mid-October 2021

A fungus foray at October was quite productive, although having done several here in October its always interesting to see the variation, with some common species seen previously not fruiting at all this time. A few species pictured below, Brown Cup (Rutstroemia firma), Funeral Bell (Galerina marginata) and Spring Hazelcup (Encoelia furfuracea). Highlight for me was actually a Sallow moth found resting beside the path on the way back, which was a new one as I catch very few moths at home in the autumn.

On the way back to Norwich I stopped near Postwick were I went to have a look at a scarce plant, Stinking Fleabane, which had been found by Louis along a cycle path a few weeks earlier. It had all gone to seed, but as it lines a major road it will undoubtedly spread further, so it was good to get an idea of what it looks like first hand.

NORWICH: Garland Roundhead

Mid October 2021

One morning I was at Norwich Research Park for a meeting, and noticed there was a nice looking bit of grassland along the edge where I was waiting. As you'd expect at this time of year there were a few fungi growing on it, and in particular I noticed some that looked like Stropharia. Finding one that had already been uprooted I was able to confirm that it was Garland Roundhead, Stropharia coronilla, with the distinctive crown-like upper edge to the stem ring. Whilst I was looking at it several flocks of Redwings flew over, which gave a proper autumnal feel.

NORWICH: Some rare plants found by other people

Mid October 2021

In between other things I managed to visit a couple of sites in east Norwich during October, taking advantage of sterling work put in by Louis and Chris. Firstly at a woodland site I finally caught up with two tiny plants that I had unsuccessfully looked for in the past, Allseed and Chaffweed. Whilst there I also saw a fungus that has eluded me for a long time, Bracken Club fungus. Despite Bracken being very common in many of the places I visit, this was a new one for me.

The other species I had a quick look at was Stinking Fleabane, Dittrichia graveolens. This new to Norfolk plant had been found earlier in the month growing along the A47 near Postwick. Unfortunately by the time I got there it had gone to seed, but given that there is a large population and its a very busy road, it's likely to spread out quite quickly I would imagine.

WHITLINGHAM: Canada Goose influx and Ragweed

Early October 2021

I made a couple of visits to Whitlingham early in the month, but wildlife numbers remain low for the time of year. The exception to this was a big flock of Canada Geese, with 121 counted on the Great Broad around the conservation area bay (so with the possibility that additional birds were present and out of sight on the island). For context since taking over the WeBS counts in Dec 2012 the highest October Canada Goose count has been eight. An interesting non-native plant, Ragweed, that I found here back in September was still present along the broad edge near the ruined hall.

NORTH NORWICH: A scarce fungus gnat

September 2021

Near the end of the month I called in at Broadland Country Park to have a look at an interesting species found by Milly Kenward. Whilst looking at fungi, Milly had noticed some large white cocoons on Hoof Fungus. After passing on the photos, these were eventually confirmed as Sciophila rufa, a fungus gnat with larvae feeding on Hoof Fungus. It is mostly a Scottish species, so the population here appears to be only the second site in Norfolk. I was able to find a few of them, mostly vacated. The white cocoons blended in well with the birch bark, but the black frass grains helped pick them out. Whilst here I also found a population of Red-banded Birch Aphids, having seen them for the first time on a small birch near Waterloo Park following a tipoff from the county aphid recorder.

YARE VALLEY: Wheatfen car park and environs

September 2021

Two visits to Wheatfen would usually result in a whole host of interesting records, but as both of mine were for events at the study centre I made do with a quick search around the near part of the reserve on the first visit and a look around the car park on the second. Highlights were Zoned Tooth (Hydnum concrescens), previously found by some Fungus Study Group members, Uroleucon jaceae (aphids on knapweed) and a beetle found on my car roof, which I think is Calodromius spilotus.

WHITLINGHAM: Ectemnius and a Backswimmer

September 2021

A couple of visits to Whitlingham, one of which was the WeBS count, but the most notable things were a large Ectemnius wasp (I had hoped that with reasonable photos I might be able to identify this to species - E. cephalotes was my suggestion, but the resounding silence on the BWARS Facebook page suggests it probably has to stay at genus) and Notonecta glauca, one of the Backswimmer family of water boatmen.

WHITLINGHAM: A couple of visits to Trowse

September 2021

A couple of brief visits to Trowse Meadow and the burial ground, a rather negelected bit of my patch of late, turned up a few interesting things. On my first visit I noticed a new patch plant, Balm, whilst some fibrecaps were probably (but not confirmed as) Deadly Fibrecap (Inocybe erubescens). There were a couple of nice galls on some roses too.

On the next visit I looked for and found a couple of species I'd seen elsewhere recently, Dogwood aphid and Spindle scale insect, and photographed some pondskaters that I have frustratingly failed to identify.

NORWICH: An abundance of mildews and other plant fungi

September 2021

Wildlife recording during September was mostly incidental as I went about my business in Norwich. As we entered autumn plant fungi, particularly mildews, became more obvious, and I made an effort to check out quite a few of them by carrying around a bag and taking the odd leaf. Here are some of the highlights.

Entyloma cosmi - a white smut on Cosmos, flagged up by Stewart Wright. Present in the UK for a few years although overlooked and not officially on the UK list yet. This was at Waterloo Park.

Erysiphe aquilegiae on Columbine

Erysiphe berberidis on Mahonia

Erysiphe platani on London Plane

Erysiphe platani microsopy

Erysiphe symphiocarpi on Snowberry

Erysiphe symphiocarpi microscopy - pacman like!

Ampelomyces quisqualis picnidia - a mycoparasitic fungus that parasitises mildews

Erysiphe knautia on Scabious, parasitised by the species above

Phrgamidium tuberculosum on Rose

Phrgamidium tuberculosum teliospores

NORTH NORFOLK: Enchanted

Late August 2021

A picnic and walk around Bacton Woods was pleasant as always, and inspection of some Enchanter's Nightshade plants provided sightings of Enchanter's Nightshade Mildew (Erysiphe circaeae), Enchanter's Nightshade Rust (Puccinia circaeae) and Enchanters Cosmet moth (Mompha terminella).

Earlier in the day Gary White had texted to say that he had caught a Clifden Nonpareil, and we were welcome to come and visit to see it if we wanted. This large species, known in the past as the Blue Underwing was a very rare species in Norfolk, but appears to be successfully recolonising, and is one of a handful of species that I was particularly keen to see. As we were coming back from North Walsham it wasn't much of a diversion to go via Wroxham, and we all enjoyed seeing the Clifden Nonpareil. Gary had moved during lockdown so this was our first visit to the new house, and we had a poke around the garden before leaving, seeing amongst other things Pink Domecap.

BRECKLAND: West Stow Beowulf trail

Late August 2021

Having been thinking of places to go for walks, we decided to try the Beowulf and Grendel trail at West Stow Country Park. This wasn't quite as well signposted at various points as most trails are, but was enjoyable and I do like a good dragon.

The lush vegetation alongside the river was particularly productive for insects, with one section in particular hosting Net-winged Beetle (Platycis minutus), Tree Damselbug, Xylota sylvarum and Xylota segnis.