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 lookingContinue reading “New Fungi species plus the Amphibians are back in town”
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Another species of Springtail
Our Springtail species list hit double figures with the following species, we think belonging to the genus Isotomurus, recorded yesterday. We suspect it may be Isotomurus maculatus, but there is just enough doubt in our minds not to record it to species level. It was recorded heading towards a large clump of moss. Moss beingContinue reading “Another species of Springtail”
Big Garden Bird Count
Last weekend we decided to take part in this years Big Garden Birdwatch, an RSPB survey conducted every year at the end of January. The general idea being that for each species you record, you note the maximum number of that species you see landed in your garden at any one time. This hour canContinue reading “Big Garden Bird Count”
Another Coprinellus species (or the same one?)
The weather was mostly dry today so a quick nose in the Garden was in order and whilst shifting some cut branches about we came across the following… …which we can only describe as a fungi doing an impression of an acorn. But fungi they clearly were, however being only partially emerged we didnt expectContinue reading “Another Coprinellus species (or the same one?)”
Daddy Longlegs
In most parts of the country the insect we refer to as a Daddy Longlegs is one of a number of similar looking flies called Craneflies. Although some people also call Harvestmen, arachnids rather than insects, by the same title. We very recently (24th December 2023) uploaded a video to you tube showing what aContinue reading “Daddy Longlegs”
First new species record of 2024
Nature, as we know, is pretty amazing. You don’t have to wait long before something new comes along to surprise you, making encouraging, observing and recording wildlife so rewarding. This proved the case yet again on new years day 2024 when out in the Garden we spotted a new species of fungi, our first newContinue reading “First new species record of 2024”
Being tiny changes everything!
We recently recovered a small petri dish mistakenly left outside for several months gathering rain. Rather than just wash it out we decided first to see what had colonised the dish during this time. We could already see that lots of algae had formed throughout the dish. Lots of detritus had also arrived as well.Continue reading “Being tiny changes everything!”
The Common Chrysalis Snail
Today we confirmed our first ever record of the normally very common land snail, Lauria cylindracea. Sadly we only found it’s shell, the animal itself obviously recently perished. It was attached to some Nostoc (a cyanobacterium) in amongst the mosses on the concrete steps as shown below. Known as The Common Chrysalis Snail, we assumeContinue reading “The Common Chrysalis Snail”
Sparrowhawk
On the 12 December whilst sat at a bedroom window I spotted, out of the corner of my eye, what can only be described as a “Blur” near the garden fence. This was followed immediately by a puff of feathers and soon afterwards a cacophony of cries from circling carrion crows, magpies and gulls. IContinue reading “Sparrowhawk”
The Return of 2 Favourites
We tend to focus on recording new species as we attempt to demonstrate the amazing diveristy of wildlife a single small urban garden can attract. But sometimes it’s nice to see species return, especially ones that we find particularly interesting or attractive. Two such species recorded in recent days fall into this latter category. FirstlyContinue reading “The Return of 2 Favourites”
Wildlife Garden 