Finally Unexpected find Ashridge Estate. Rare glimpse of Ivory Woodwax Hygrophorus eburneus in favoured Beech Woodland. Just 533 National Records, caps covered in Slime, hence large blobs on stipe. Called Cowboy's Handkerchief in North America #fungifriends

The most Beautiful Rosy Bonnets Mycena rosea I've seen this year in Epping Forest. Lovely deep Lilac-Pink, radial lines, tapering stipe towards apex, downy hair at base, Lovely upturned Gills. Distinct smell of Radish wafting through the Woodland air too! #fungifriends

Lovely examples of Variable Oysterling Crepidotus variabilis Epping Forest. Whereas most Oysterlings are a uniform shape, Variable having a Sessile attachment, appear as either semi-circular brackets or full circular fans. Also Thrilled to find Fenugreek Stalkball Phleogena faginea #fungifriends

Lovely to see Meadow Coral Clavulinopsis corniculata Birkrigg Common. Grows just 4cm in short cropped Habitat. Branches split dichotomously into blunt antlers. Important Unimproved Grassland Indicator species of Biodiversity-rich environments. Pretty Lemon Disco Calycina citrina too! #fungifriends

Another Dazzling spectacle in Herbert's Meadows, Ulverscroft. An amazing Purple Parrot Waxcap Gliophorus psittacinus! A combination of Bottle Green, Yellow, Orange, Purple or Blue are always possible to be seen on these Beautiful looking individuals #fungifriends

Astounding find NT Clumber Park. Extremely Rare glimpse Aspen Bolete Leccinum albostipitatum. Terracotta orange caps margin overhangs pores. White flocculose stipe bruises Blue. Just 26 National Records. Also Lovely Orange Oak Bolete Leccinum aurantiacum found in Epping Forest #fungifriends

Undoubtedly Star of the Kerridge Hill Waxcap Show, Rare encounter with most Beautiful Pink Ballerina Porpolomopsis calyptriformis I've ever seen, wonderful moist Lilac Pink, one of eight seen. Nearby another one with impressive gills tutu! #fungifriends

Special find Ancient Beech Woodland near 11th Century Norman motte-and-bailey Castle remains Erddig Park. Rare glimpse of Verdigris Roundhead Stropharia aeruginosa, looks Emerald Green projects deep Blue-Green. Retains Flaky veil unlike Blue Roundhead #fungifriends

Lovely looking Amethyst Deceivers Laccaria amethystina in Bole Hill Quarry. Nice contrast of Lilac-Purple with Caps showing upturned margins as they mature. Also in dry weather they're White Bloom surfaces, eventually turning Pale #fungifriends

Seasonal Highlights of Colourful Fungi finds on my extensive travels. An Impressive looking White Saddle Helvella crispa along Banks of River Braan at Inver village. Plus Extremely Rare glimpse of Nationally Scarce Prunes and Custard Tricholomopsis decora Heatherhall Woods Ladybank #fungifriends

Surprise find Cwm Idwal Mountain path Rare glimpse of New-Zealand Willowherb Epilobium brunnescens Long Orange-Brown stems heart shaped leaves. Introduced Edinburgh 1904, found in upland areas, requires 1350mm annual precipitation @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Lovely to see Pale Pink three-lobed flowers, Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica Boggy areas around Llyn Idwal. Also Nationally scarce Parsley Fern Cryptogramma crispa, Cwm Idwal Mountain ledges. Indicator species of Acidic Scree slopes @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Special find at Cwm Idwal Snowdonia last week, Alpine Clubmoss Diphasiastrum alpinum. Amongst our oldest Native vascular plants 430 Million years old. Lovely to see some delightful looking Sneezewort Achillea ptarmica too! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Further Summer Highlights from the Little Butterflies in life that really matter. Lovely looking Small Blue Cupido minimus at Pembrey Burrows dunes Carmarthenshire, plus equally Beautiful Small Copper around St Abb's Head Scotland last week @s4r4h-l.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Butterfly Highlights this Summer, a wonderful looking Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxerxes ssp. salmacis at Smardale Gill Cumbria. Also lovely to hear an audible drumming sound from a Male Small Tortoiseshell on Female wings at Wheatfen NR Norfolk @s4r4h-l.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Further Summer Moth Highlights, a glorious looking Magpie Moth Abraxas grossulariata Green Down NR Somerset, plus an elegant looking Mother of Pearl Moth Pleuroptya ruralis at Leicestershire WT Cloud Wood #mothweek #teammoth #MothsMatter

Some colourful Summer Moth Highlights. A dazzling Forester Adscita statices on Battlesbury Hill Warminster, and delighted to find a Beautiful Female Clouded Buff Moth Diacrisia sannio hiding in boggy Sherbrook Valley, Cannock Chase. Perfect for National #mothweek #teammoth #mothsmatter

Real delight to see growing together across extensive Ancient Woodland BC Mabie Forest Dumfries, both Pink and Rare White form of Pink Purslane Claytonia Sibirica. Pink Pollen and inner Yellow markings clearly standout on the latter @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Some wonderful colour on upper levels of Temple Ewell NNR Kent. Wonderful to see Hound's-tongue flowers open for a change, plus lovely magenta flowers of Native Procumbent Sainfoin Onobrychis vicifolia across Chalk downland @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

A successful early Spring visit to the Upper levels of Cwm Idwal, where I managed to find both Purple 'Mountain Saxifrage, Saxifraga oppositifolia, plus the basal rosette of Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris in a nearby Sphagnum Bog! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Further Spring delights, a Beautiful looking Orange Ladybird Leics WT Cloud Wood, which feed on Dog's Mercury mildew. Plus a Rare glimpse of Ramsons Hoverfly Portevinia maculata at BC Mabie Forest Dumfries, requiring extensive areas of Ancient Ramson Woodland #WildWebsWednesday #InsectThursday

Special Spring visit to Drigg Dunes Cumbria to finally track down Nationally Scarce Northern Dune Tiger Beetle Cicindela hybrida, found in only two Locations in Britain, and my goodness they're fast! Great to see a Green Tiger Beetle nearby too #WildWebsWednesday #InsectThursday

Amongst the more interesting Moths I've encountered so far this Spring, the Bright colours of Hedge Beauty Alabonia 'geoff'rella at Temple Ewell NNR Kent, plus a Rare daytime glimpse of The Minister Eulia ministrana, a glorious looking Moth of the Highest Order! @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #MothsMatter

Amongst the pick of my Spring Butterfly sightings so far, a lovely looking Pearl-bordered Fritillary at BC Mabie Forest Dumfries, and a relaxed Wall Brown sunbathing at Drigg Dunes Cumbria @s4r4h-l.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social

Great to see lush looking Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolia in Celtic Rainforest Aber Falls NNR, plus a diminutive Mountain Brownie Psilocybe montana just reaching 2cm above equally Rare Thorn Lichen Cladonia uncialis! @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour #FungiFriends

Lovely to see a pair of Minotaur Beetles Typhaeus typhoeus in close proximity, emerging from deep underground 1.5m burrows, in the late afternoon Sunshine last week on Bradgate Park Moorland. Males use their Bull-like Horns to guard tunnel entrance! #coleoptera #beetle #beetles

Some colourful Fungi from a visit to New Lount Colliery, including some very Orange looking Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes, plus an amazing Valentines Day Heart shaped Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha austriaca #fungifriends #fungi #mycology

Some Glorious Lichens in Celtic Rainforest of Coedydd Aber Falls NNR. Hoary Rosette Lichen Physcia aipolia, grows into tree nodes of Hawthorn & Blackthorn, plus some shapely Old man's Beard Lichen, most likely Usnea subfloridana #lichen #lichens #LichenFriends

Round up of February Highlights on my travels. Wonderful Liverworts in Celtic Rainforest of Coedydd Aber Falls NNR. Lovely looking Lesser Featherwort Plagiochila porelloides & dazzling colours of Tamarisk Scalewort Frullania tamarisci @bsbibotany.bsky.social #bryophytes #liverwort

Review of 2024 - Finally my Favourite Moss & Lichen, some Beautiful Shining Hookaria (lucens) Moss in Ban-y-Gor (Wattle Wood) Lancaut Gorge Chepstow. Plus some super Giraffe Lichen Cladonia rangiformis Brown Hills Quarry Leics. Check out their long Giraffe's Neck! #BritishBryophytes #lichen

Review of 2024 - amongst my Favourite Fungi this Autumn, a magnificent structure of Orange Peel Fungus Aleuria aurantia Granby Wood Longshaw Estate, plus some squawking Parrot Waxcaps at Cathays Cemetery Cardiff @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #fungifriends #mycology #fungi

Review of 2024 - Amongst my Favourite flowers this year - Endangered species Purple Milk-Vetch Astragalus danicus Dumbarnie Links NR Fife, plus Nationally scarce Spiked Speedwell Veronica spicata Great Orme Llandudno @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Review of 2024. My favourite Insects - Rare glimpse of Nationally scarce Dune Spurge Bug Dicranocephalus agilis, on host plant Sea Spurge, Ynyslas NNR, plus a lovely adult Drake Mackerel Ephemera vulgata, one of Britain's largest Mayfly at 20mm on River Tame #InsectThursday #Bugsky #uknaturalists

Review of 2024. My Favourite Moth encounters this year, Rare glimpse of Nationally scarce Argent & Sable Rheumaptera hastata Flanders Moss NNR Scotland, plus a beautiful Lace Border Moth Scopula ornata at Butterfly Conservation's Prestbury Hill Cheltenham #UKmoths #teammoth #MothsMatter

Review of 2024, My favourite Beetle encounters - extremely rare glimpse of Nationally Scarce Four-spotted Carrion Beetle Dendroxena quadrimaculata Hopwas Wood Staffs, plus a lovely Rufous Shouldered Longhorn Beetle Anaglyptus mysticus Cloud Wood Leics #UKwildlife #uknaturalists #InsectThursday

Review of 2024. My Favourite Butterfly encounter a delightful looking Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia, perfectly content to sit alongside me at Battlesbury Hill Warminster, admiring the Iron-age Hillfort views across Salisbury Plain @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #UKbutterflies #savebutterflies

My Review of 2024 travels which I've finally narrowed down to eight posts. First up, a Beautiful Female Red-tailed Mason Bee Osmia bicolor, on the hunt for empty Snail Shells, and a colourful looking Ruby-tailed Wasp, both taken at Aldbury Nowers, Herts #UKwildlife #uknaturalists #Naturephotography

Two delights I haven't yet posted from Ainsdale NNR, only sighting this year of Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris lovely triangular bracts, and gorgeous Magenta-Pink banners of Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea Lathyrus latifolius @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Early Winter highlight NT Clumber Park, glorious looking Rhododendron Leafhopper Graphocephala fennahi, also called Scarlet and Green Leafhopper in Native USA. Especially active in November, laying eggs on newly emerged buds. Occasional find, mainly in Southern Britain #ento #UKwildlife

Surprise find this week around oldest part of Epping Forest 500 BC Ambresbury Banks, a rare December Fly Agaric, usually gone by late October. Not as glamourous as Pooley Hall Colliery variety (right), but still unusual to see one this late on @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #FungiFriends #Fungi

Lovely sight this week NT Ashridge Estate, gelatinous Golden Yellow Brain Fungus Tremella mesenterica, with its favourite food source Peniophora sp. firmly in view!. Abundant here as surrounding area suffering from Ash dieback, which they take advantage of @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #FungiFriends #Fungi

Great to see at Cloud Wood, only sighting this year of Fork-palped Harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus agg. named after impressive pedipalps! Dark colour usually indicates a Male. First UK record Bournemouth in 1957, finally reaching Scotland in 2000 @britishspiders.bsky.social @megabunus.bsky.social

As Waxcap Season draws to a close, two of my favourite sights this Autumn, a glorious looking Snowy Waxcap appearing like a White Rose at NT Clumber Park, plus a lovely cluster of colourful Scarlet Waxcaps, at Cumbria WT Brown Robin NR #MushroomMonday #mycology #FungiFriends #Fungi

Great to see attractive looking Oak Spangle Gall Neuroterus quercusbaccarum, fallen from an Old Oak tree NT Hardcastle Crags. They emerge from Currant Galls in Summer, forming flat circular shapes once the central egg is fertilised, adult cynipid wasps emerging next Spring #UKNature #Nature

Lovely to see Reindeer Moss Cladonia rangiferina a Beautiful Lichen, starting to form cushions across Pooley Hall Colliery floor on top of Bristly Haircap Moss. Provides a year round food source for Britain's only naturalised Scottish Highland Reindeer @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Lichen #FungiFriends

Healthy looking Navelwort Umbilicus rupestris along embankment of The Great Pit, 55m deep former Swithland slate quarry, first referenced early 1300's. Today part of Swithland Wood, which retains many of its Ancient Charnwood Oaks @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

One of this year's standout moments. Rare encounter with critically Endangered Black-veined Moth Siona lineata. Thanks to Fantastic conservation work by East Kent Farmers & Natural England restoring Tor Grass across Chalk Downland, National numbers increased to 250 #UKMoths #TeamMoth #MothsMatter

Lovely to see Red-tipped Pixie Cup Cladonia diversa, part of the Cladonia coccifera aggregate, starting to appear around 540 Million year old Bradgate Park Sliding Stone Breccia Rocks. Let's hope they evolve as stunning as those seen last February (right) #LichenFriends #Lichen

Attractive looking Meadow Coral Clavulinopsis corniculata, Ancient grassland of Roydon Woods, New Forest. Unlike much larger Golden Spindles, they barely reach beyond 2-4cm, and are quite brittle too. An important Unimproved grassland indicator species @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #FungiFriends #Fungi

Late Summer visit to Ynyslas NNR Dunes & Saltmarsh, lovely Diamond shaped leaves & Lime Green centre of Knotted Pearlwort Sagina nodosa, and attractive twirling flowers of Common Cord-grass Spartina anglica, despite invasive Nature! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour