Abbey Meadows

Abbey Meadows

Tuesday 18 November 2014

Snowy waxcap



Snowy Waxcap (Hygrocybe virginea)


Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes)


Wood Blewit (Lepista nuda)



Bay Bolete (Boletus badius)

Snowy Waxcap and other Hygrocybes are out in their thousands in grassy areas around Abbey Meadows and Monks Ridge areas of Morpeth. The Velvet Shank is also quite numerous around Morpeth woodland and both the Bay Bolete and Wood Blewitt were photographed at Druridge Bay Country Park.

Saturday 1 November 2014

Stobswood and the last GMS



Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acer)...Stobswood brickworks


Tynesde Leopardsbane (Ligularia przewalskii)...Stobswood railway bank


the expanding reedbed at Widdrington tip


Grizette (Amanita vaginata)...Stobswood

At Widdrington tip or Stobswood 'Alder carr' there were hundreds of small birds. Good numbers of Goldfinch, lesser Redpoll, 2 individual flocks of Long tailed Tit numbering 30 each with other Tit family members present, Goldcrest and Chiffchaff. Worth looking through these flocks as this is just the place one of those Northerners might turn up one day. Hundreds of Redwings and Blackbirds and large numbers of Wrens; at least 30 in the hedgerows. A nice party of 15 Bullfinches were piping along the Guelder Roses at the back of the old pit heap. The Reedbed is establishing itself well in the carr and at the brickworks Blue Fleabane has reached almost every corner of this brownfield site. Some plants were still in flower but many had gone to seed like the Ligularia przewalskii (also known as Tyneside Leopardsbane) which is spreading along the railway baffle banks. Recently I commented on PC wanderings blog on Grisette fungi (Amanita vaginata) saying it is years since I had seen a one (Beacon Hill in the 90's) when I stumbled upon the one pictured above below Birches in Grangewood behind the brickworks. They are not uncommon but hard to see and can be variable in appearance, this one has veil remnants on the cap.




Last night was the last night of the GMS scheme and in the trap this morning was Red Sword-grass, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths and a Garden Rose Tortrix.

Tuesday 28 October 2014

Recent Moths


This Feathered Thorn found its way into the house last night




Recent GMS catches included a trio of carpets with Spruce, Pine and Juniper.


Shuttle-shaped Dart


Angle Shades


Blair's Shoulder Knot


This large caterpillar made its way into the moth trap the other night I think its Large Yellow Underwing.

Sunday 12 October 2014

Mycena




Giving the lawn what is probably its last cut this year this morning I always check first for any small flowers or fungi. I came across these tiny Mycena in the lawn. The top pics are Ivory Bonnet (Mycena flavoalba) and Nitrous Bonnet (Mycena leptocephala) below.

Thursday 9 October 2014

Cheviots




Feral goats near Mozie Law


Always Ravens around Mozie Law and Windy Gyle


Below Swineside Law


Summit of Windy Gyle


Refreshments for Bennyboy at Rowhope burn ford


Ruby Tiger Moth caterpillar near Mozie Law at over 500metres asl

One of my favourite Cheviot walks is from Rowhope burn up the Street and over Mozie Law, tacking my way over the invisible Scotish/English border to the summit of Windy Gyle than back via Rowhope farm down to Barrowburn and a welcome cup of tea and cake at the Barrowburn cafe. I walked this recently with my daughter and Bennyboy. I tend to see the goat herd along the border ridge and there were two separate herds of 8. Many Red Grouse, Ravens and Fox moth caterpillars as well as a single Ruby Tiger Moth caterpillar.

Saturday 27 September 2014

Golden Scalycap





Golden Scalycap (Pholiota aurivella)

My reference books describe this species as occasional and more frequent in the South. I find these annually around the woods in Morpeth. The most spectacular ones grow at the bottom of someones garden beside Morpeth Common at the foot of a Beech stump. A bit of sunshine would do this lovely species justice. Other things around Morpeth have been Speckled Wood butterflies in large numbers on almost every bit of woodland edge and Kingfisher(s) at Oliver's Mill and Oldgate bridge...my first sighting on the river in Morpeth for nearly 2 years.

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Autumn ground colour




Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana)...Monks Ridge, Morpeth



Autumnal Crocus (Crocus nudiflorus)...Whorral bank


Brick Tuft (Hypholoma lateritium),,,Abbey Gate


Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)...Bluebell woods, Bees go in striped and come out of the flower white


Slime mould (probably Fuligo septica), orange form/stage...Carlisle Park

Plenty of colour this time of year with bright berries and changing leaves but sometimes to get the best out of our local wildlife you have to get on your hands and knees to appreciate the colour and texture of our least popular or observed species.

Thursday 18 September 2014

Pale Brittlestem




Pale Brittlestem (Psathyrella candollenna)...garden lawn



Elder Whitewash (Hyphodontia sambuci)...Postern woods


Trooping Funnel (Clitocybe geotropa)...Postern woods


Common Earthball (Scleroderma citrinum)...Wanney line


Monday 15 September 2014

Late summer colour


Late summer colour at Pegswood Moor


Hoary Plantain (Plantago coronopus) Pegswood Moor



Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe conica) garden lawn


Lemon Disco (Bisporella citrina) Carlisle Park