2024 continues to get off to a slow start, with the rain rarely letting up here in Bristol, although it has been relatively mild. We did however record a new fungi in the the Garden. The rather gothic looking Blushing Bracket fungus, alternatively known as Daedaleopsis confragosa, growing from a cut branch. An amazing looking fungus, blackening off as it ages.
And the frog chorus began on the same day we recorded the above, 4th February. By the 10th February we found our first frog spawn of the year in the fish pond.
Our new wildlife pond on the middle level of the Garden is making slow progress, mainly on account of the weather but also the amphibians themselves. Frogs started arriving in January and we have recorded our first newt since 2021. We only got a quickish look at it, but suspect it was a male palmate newt. It was under a fold in the new pond liner, as was a breeding pair of frogs and another male frog on its own (still no sign of toads). So we are having to pause working on things until we are sure we wont harm any of our amphibian friends. We were however able to create the small beach area shown below…
Our January diary page is now in the calendar, but really there was nothing much to report other than to confirm the new moss spotted in the meadow area, noted in our post of the 2nd January, we believe belongs to the genus Fissidens, click HERE. The plan as stated is to wait to see if it can continue to establish and grow, allowing us to take a sample and check it out under magnification.
Wildlife Garden 