"Dark-centred" in the Latin name is a good clue to this species ID. Likes Pine and Birch. In the brownfield area of Dalgety Bay this is exactly the combination and the only place I've ever seen it (anywhere). Does it require both host plants? That would definitely explain why I haven't seen it with Birches before in the absence of Pine.
After an update with lots of missing fungi (recorded on iRecord but not included in the list) this is now species #2643.
At least as far as I know. The Atlas does have a NT18 dot, so somebody has seen it somewhere around here. On this occasion there were a small handful of plants around the Sailing Club rough ground.
Popped up in the garden in perfect condition, and showing the stunning yellow coloration that makes it an easy ID. Apart from the yellow, it looks a lot like your average supermarket mushroom. That's a shame because it's poisonous! If you're going to eat wild mushrooms you definitely need to be aware.
The root of the stipe (the yellow part here) smells very strongly of ink.
A quick lunchtime "foray" onto the grass down by the coast turned up both Golden Spindles (Clavulinopsis fusiformis) and Parrot Waxcap (Gliophorus psittacinus), which are both unrecorded so far. Fungal investigations weren't even in my thoughts before I spotted an upturned Parrot Waxcap as I was wandering towards the water.
A remarkable evening on Saturday night in the fog produced lots of migrants at Charles Hill. Most notable were four Convolvulus Hawk-moths that came barreling into the Lepiled.
Additional supporting cast:
2 Rush Veneer
1 Dark Sword-grass
23 Silver Y
21 Angle Shades
7 Setaceous Hebrew Characters
2 Autumnal Rustic
1 Turnip Moth
A Harlequin Ladybird yesterday was the first for Dalgety Bay. Not the most welcome of additions, as there seems to be a correlation between the appearance of these and the reduction in other ladybirds. Time will tell.
After finding Jersey Cudweed new to Fife at Stenhouse a couple of weeks back it now seems it's also a pavement weed in Dalgety Bay. iRecord shows that it seems pretty well established in Edinburgh, already way in advance of the Atlas distribution
Athripsodes albifrons - a Caddis fly - also new to Dalgety Bay and scarce records from Fife though it seems to be a more-or-less ubiquitous species. There were other Caddis present, but this is the only one I caught. Probably there are a good number of species that could be added to the Bay list.
East of Braefoot point, below Monk's Cave, I staked out the moths from 22:00 for a couple of hours, adding 4 species to the Bay total. This is what I consider to be the eastern limit of Dalgety Bay. It skirts Aberdour golf course, but Monk's Cave is in the Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay administrative area and it ain't Inverkeithing. Anyway it has lots of lovely calcicole plants and a nice coastal grassland/heath feel about it. Enough Rock Rose to host NBA too.
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| Lepiled and Braefoot terminal |
More than met expectations with more Annulet, which I expected, but also Lobesia littoralis and Agonopterix nervosa, which I hadn't.
As a bonus, on the way out I saw a badger galumph across the road and into the undergrowth.
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| Annulet |
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| A.nervosa |
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| Lobesia littoralis |
A last minute quick trip to Downing Point with the Lepiled produced an Annulet moth new to Dalgety Bay (and me) during a quick session from about 11 until midnight. This is a predominantly coastal species which is recorded from a handful of places on Fife's coast.
And even broader:
A quick session last night produced White Plume Moth. This is a species which likes a bit of bindweed, of which there is plenty along the coastal path in this location.
A couple of new species on the 28th in the hoverfly Leucozona laternaria and a caterpillar of the Chamomile Shark moth
A species that I saw coming into flower at St.Margaret's Marsh this week, but was surprised to also find growing along the hedge/roadside at Barns farm this morning. No idea how many times I've walked down this road, including this week, but in my defence I was doing a BBS survey at the time.
There were about 10 plants along a stretch of about 10m, some of them a pretty decent size.
Thus far overlooked in Ross Plantation, but now flowering in one tiny area there.
In the woods behind my house, and presumably there all along without my noticing. Flowering in February is a sneaky trick.
It's also species 2441 on my Dalgey Bay list, which means I only need 59 more to reach my target 2.5k
So the beetle drive ended ignominiously under the target by far, with a loss of weather and inclination. I shall make up for it with a record number of records and species through the year as penance. Maybes.
This morning a Song Thrush was giving it big licks behind the house, so I diverted from matters entomological to memorialise the occasion in lino print.
Quickie round the back of the house in the woods to pick up Collared Earthstar (a gimme) and added Psathyrella conopilus (Conical Brittlestem) to the Bay list. Soon be at 300 fungi and 2.5k total species list. Never expected that would be at 2.5k before Cullaloe.
Been a long time since last blog. Overnight a Juniper Carpet made its way into my MV trap. Quite a scarce moth and not seen in Fife for a while.
Wow - it's been over a month since any updates.
Last week, when the tides were low I managed to sneak out a couple of lunchtimes and turn over a lot of rocks. The aching hamstrings and worn fingers were worth it, with a couple of new fish for the Bay records. There were a few other new things too. Here's a selection.
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| Eelpout - a viviparous fish of mostly NE Britain |
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| Green Sea Urchin |
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| Brittlestar and Long-clawed Porcelain |
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| Five-bearded Rockling |
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| Five-bearded Rockling |
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| Velvet Swimming Crab |
A random find in the back of the industrial estate while out cycling with the boy. About 20 plants here, and another in a different back street on the way home. Flowering plant 414 for the Bay
