A level of natural history beyond me, a proper mycologist has looked at the spores of the Morels I found at Hilton GP: ", its Verpa conica. With 8 spores in the ascus instead of 2 in V. bohemica. Images of spores part asci and paraphyses below. In congo red in water."

A fine morning starting at Willington GP with 9 warblers including Grasshopper Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat, and the Cuckoo still present from yesterday. Called in at Barrow GP and a Whimbrel was present until it was spooked by gulls and flew north, plus 1st Common Tern of the year and 3 Wheatear

Two new species today, possibly at opposite ends of the cuteness scale: Red Mining Bee (Osmia bicornis) and False Puffball (Reticularia lycoperdon), which is actually a Slime Mould

Walked the first 8 miles of my journey to London today. The fog hung over the river on a beautiful morning. 54 species

Nomada goodeniana (Gooden's Nomad Bee) at Long Eaton GP today was my 50th new species of the year

Found an impressive Sand Martin colony on the Dove at Egginton. I estimated 135 birds in the air around me at one point

Four new species today. Apioperdon pyriforme (Stump Puffball) at Hilton Gravel Pits NR, and Ramalina farinacea (Shaggy Strap Lichen), Cryphaea heteromalla (Lateral Cryphaea) and Platycheirus albimanus) at New Lount NR

My first Whitethroat (3), Yellow Wagtail and Common Sandpiper of the year at High Bridge GP today

Three new species at Hilton Gravel Pits NR yesterday: Raspberry Beetle (Byturus tomentosus), Thimble Morel (Verpa conica) and St George's Mushroom (Calocybe gambosa)

First Orange-tip and Holly Blue of the year today

Three new species at Ticknall Limeyards yesterday: Silky Wall Feather-moss (Homalothecium sericeum), Bibio johannis, and Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus)

Yay. Thank you so much @southderbyshiredc.bsky.social You have saved one of the best areas for pollinators in Melbourne. More of the same, please 🙏

This is my favorite climate change chart. Japanese monks, aristocrats, and emperors kept meticulous records of cherry blossom festivals for 1,200 years and accidentally built the world's longest climate dataset.

Three new species at Hilton Gravel Pits NR yesterday: Common Dog-lichen (Peltigera membranacea), Fabricius' Nomad Bee (Nomada fabriciana) and Common Tamarisk-moss (Thuidium tamariscinum). Also, the first Mallard chicks of the year (only brood of 2)

March photo of the month, the eerie coating of the bushes in flood debris at High Bridge GP

Saw my first bird carrying food of the year today, Blackbird in Melbourne

1 Barnacle Goose, 7 Shelduck, 1 Dunlin, 14 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 50 Fieldfare and one of the last reliable Yellowhammer territories in the patch at Foremark fields and Anchor Church GP today

High Bridge GP: 1 White-fronted Goose, distant Whooper Swan with Mutes over the river, 6 Goldeneye, 3 Redshank, 5 Cattle Egrets over, 1m Marsh Harrier, 1 Swallow and 3 singing Blackcaps. Willington GP 7 Curlew. The old Barn Owl tree from Fisherman's Gate has fallen, presumably in gale this week.

Not paid regular visits to Melbourne Pool this year, but Coots were absent throughout October to December and they are back now. 16 today. Also 2 Red Kites, 4 Wigeon, 2 Oystercatcher and 1 Little Egret

A new one on me. Larch flowers scattered under the Larches at South Wood today

Why the white stork? 🤍 After 600 years, their return will support us to: 🐦 Enhance wildlife corridors 🐸 Create new wetland features 🦋 Enhancing woodland understory 🤝 Reconnect us with nature Find out more: https://derbyshirewildlifetrust.pulse.ly/xbrlrpdxti #WilderDerbyshire

69 spp at Willington Wetlands this morning included 2 Pintail, 7 Goldeneye, 6 Curlew, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Willow Tit and 1 Sand Martin at Willington GP, 1 Whooper Swan, 1 Green Sandpiper and 5 Redshank at High Bridge GP, and 10 Chiffchaffs between the two sites

Two new species so far this month: Cape Thread-moss (Orthodontium lineare) on a veteran Oak at Calke Park and Pointed Spear-moss (Calliergonella cuspidata) in our garden

February photo of the month. The boys dwarfed by one of the eight standing Ancient Oaks at Calke Park

This was a lunchtime of butterflies in 15 degrees sunshine: 6 Peacock, 4 Brimstone and 4 Comma in 90 minutes, plus a Woodcock and Marsh Tits calling in at least 3 locations

There are 14 Ancient Trees on the inventory along my regular walk at Calke Park. I went around them today and 4 have fallen. The Old Man of Calke and it's much bigger sibling, probably of a similar age live on, though and will doubtless see me out

First flowering Primroses of the year today. Highlight though, was hearing that a drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has been picked up by one of my bioacoustic devices. They really are out there 😊

2 Pink-footed Geese and a Barnacle Goose at Ingleby, and a Ringed Plover and Dunlin at Anchor Church GP. In less good news, I locked myself out of the car《facepalm》

Another new experience today. Trained to fly a thermal drone for my sabbatical finding and protecting wader nests in the SW Peak District. Willow Tits and a brief glimpse of a Goshawk were bonuses

A new patch record of 76 species today at Willington Wetlands. Highlights were 55 European White-fronted Geese, 1 Pintail, 1 Woodcock, 3 Marsh Harriers and the Willow Tit at Willington GP, and 1 Whooper Swan, 24 Pintail, 10 Golden Plover (over), 1 Curlew and 1 Red Kite at High Bridge GP

Willow Tit survey at Willington Wetlands today turned up a singing bird ata site I have walked past twice a week since a pair fledged young there last year and nothing until a male responded to playback today. Amazingly elusive

First bumblebee of the year. Buff-tailed queen at South Wood today

Two new ones at Calke Park today. Chicken of the Woods and a Slime Mould which I tentatively identify as Physarum album on fallen branches beneath a Beech tree

A new adventure. Can we find Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Derbyshire this year?

How regular are Glaucous Gull in Northumberland now @markaeaton.bsky.social ? A 1st Winter flew through Cresswell today. Rare as Rocking-horse **** in Derbyshire these days

I think that this is new patch species #26 for the year, Hart's-tongue Thyme-moss (Plagiomnium undulatum) today along the Cloud Trail at Weston on Trent. The leaves really do look like minature Hart's-tongue Fern

Spot the river competition

Today's new species was the leaf-mine of Chromatomyia scolopendri in Hart's-tongue Fern at Ticknall Limeyards

Crescent-cup Liverwort (Lunularia cruciata) at Ticknall Limeyards today

Two new ones on the wall at Melbourne cemetery yesterday: Wall Screw-moss (Tortula muralis) and Capillary Thread-moss (Bryum capillare)

Walked along the River Soar from Kegworth to Sutton Bonington today. Nice to have a footpath along the riverbank, although this may also explain the paucity of birds on the river 🤔 200 Linnets and 30 Chaffinches around a game cover crop best sightings

I literally doubled the number of Bryophytes I've identified in my patch today with this 5th new species of the day, Springy Turf-Moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus) at Spring Wood

I have regularly visited the road bridge overlooking the southern end of Staunton Harold Res since I was 10 years old, but today was the first time I noticed the variety of mosses growing there

Photo of the month. A winter's walk at Calke Park

3 more new patch ticks in January: Dog Vomit Slime Mould (Fuligo septica, not to be confused with Dog Sick Slime Mould, which is totally different!) at Ticknall Limeyards, and Neat Feather-moss (Pseudoscleropodium purum) and Peltigera hymenina at Willington. Finished month with 17 new patch ticks

4 Marsh Harriers and 5 Cattle Egrets out of roost at WGP today best of 55

...and two new fungi for the patch this month: Oak Blackhead and Elder Whitewash, taking me to 14 new patch species so far this year

Four more new lichens for the patch this month: Cladonia foliacea and Cladonia cervicornis at Willington, Cladonia fimbriata at Calke and Physcia adscendens at Willington GP

8 Bean Geese, 155 Pochard, drake Pintail, Green Sandpiper and 2 Chiffchaffs at High Bridge GP

Spectacular walk from the house around King's Newton with male Merlin and male Marsh Harrier hunting in game cover area. Harrier flushed a wisp of 10 Snipe. Also year ticked Stonechat (2), Skylark and Yellowhammer all in the same game cover