Favourite Encounters during 2022

 As we approach the end of 2022 and look forward to the start of a new season, I have been looking back at some of my favourite insect encounters during the year. It has reminded me of some lovely moments.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne) (female)

This species of butterfly is one that I really look forward to seeing in the Spring. My first sighting is usually of a male patrolling low over a woodland glade looking for a female but in 2022, my first sighting was of this female happily resting on a bluebell.

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) (male)

This species of dragonfly is a stunning creature and rarely allows close approach but as I wandered through the bracken of a wealden wood, I saw this male at rest. The sun had gone behind a cloud for several minutes and I had enough time to plan my approach before the sun reappeared. Just before it took off, it looked up to reveal its sparkling green eyes.

White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)

This understated beauty had a very good year in my local wealden woods and I regularly saw up to half a dozen on the wing within the same view. I have enjoyed observing camilla for some years but had never before seen courtship that led to mating. I was thrilled to see such an event in 2022.

(males)

(female)

(mating)

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

As with the previous species, paphia also had a good year and in recent years it has become more common and widespread in East Sussex woodlands. Consequently, the occurrence of the female form valezina has become more frequent. I had some good moments with this species.

(female)

(male)

(mating) (valezina female)

(female) (form valezina)

I came across this female resting with her wings open in light rain. I managed to get my camera out just in time to get this one shot before heavier rain sent her to the canopy.

Sawflies.

I have taken a much closer interest in sawflies in recent years and I managed to have some good moments with these very fidgety insects.

Abia sericea (Scabious Sawfly) (male and female)

Tenthredo mesomela (female)

Tenthredo scrophulariae (Figwort Sawfly) (male)

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) (female)

Whilst focusing on this willow stem bearing ovipositing scars left by a previous female, this female landed, rather fortuitously, in just the right place.

Winter Woodland Work takes a Pause

 After a very wet November and the recent cold spell, days spent working in the wood have been few and far between. In the last few months however, I have managed to reclaim another acre of  Wealden woodland from a jungle of rhododendron. I am itching to get some bonfires lit when we get a dryer spell and to complete some tree thinning. I hope that by the time the first butterflies appear in the Spring, the view through the wood will be greatly improved. 

Apart from woodland birds and deer, there is not much wildlife to find at this time of year but continuing my fungi education, species of crust fungi are fairly easy to find. 

Stereum hirsutum (Hairy Curtain Crust) (on dead fallen birch)

Stereum rameale (on dead standing sweet chestnut)

   

Some Moths during November and December

 With a very wet November just gone and the prospect of sub-zero night-time temperatures for the foreseeable future, I suspect that I am unlikely to get the moth-trap out again until the first mild spells in the new year.

Over the last few weeks, my moth catches have been paltry. Apart from the eponymous November Moth and December Moth, I have only seen one or two other species.

December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) (males)

November Moth (Epirrita dilutata)

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)

Light-brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)

Some other insects remained active well into the very mild Autumn.

Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) (female)

Hornet (Vespa crabro)

Two individuals guarding the nest entrance in a dead beech trunk.

I regularly come across amphibians when I am working in the woods, especially during Autumn and Spring.

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

More Autumn Fungi

 As I said in my last post, this Autumn has been an excellent season for fungi and I have had plenty of opportunities to continue to hone my fungi identification skills, such as they are.

I am still very much a beginner and I have long since realised that it is not enough just to take photographs of your finds and expect to be able to make a positive identification from books when you get home. 

Some species are easy to identify but the vast majority are tricky to pin down to species level. I am learning to use bruise and peel tests when helpful but I still get home to check the books and read about another test that would have proved diagnostic.

Of the following images, I am fairly confident that most are correctly labelled but a few have been more tricky.

Orange Grisette (Amanita crocea)

Honey Fungus (Armillaria mellea)

White Saddle (Helvella crispa)

Penny Bun (Boletus edulis)

Bay Bolete (Imleria badia)

Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum versipelle)

Beefsteak Fungus (Fistulina hepatica)

Blue Cheese Polypore (Postia caesia)

Giant Polypore (Meripilus giganteus)

Yellow Stagshorn (Calocera viscosa)

Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe conica)

This species changes colour and form as it ages and the following four images were taken of the same specimen over a two week period.

Rosy Bonnet (Mycena rosea)

The Russula group can be very confusing to identify to species level.

I think the following three are right, or maybe not!

Beechwood Sickener (Russula nobilis)

Dawn Brittlegill (Russula aurora)

Charcoal Burner (Russula cyanoxantha)