More Magnificent Mushrooms

                    Clouded  Clitocybe                                                               

After the plate-size Parasol mushrooms (see below) another large mushroom has appeared in large numbers in the valley- the Clouded Clitocybe, Clitocybe nebularis.  Said to be common amongst leaf litter in deciduous and coniferous woods its relative scarcity in the valley is perhaps a reflection of our lack of woodland rather than anything else. The distinguishing feature is the ash grey cap which sometimes has a yellowish brown tinge and may be up to 20 cm in diameter. The group shown above form a small part of a 'fairy ring' some 30 m in diameter.   Under Edibility the book says 'best avoided as it causes gastric upsets in some people.'                                                           

Beavers.

Exciting news in the latest Dorset Wildlife Trust magazine, Dorset Wildlife, is of the intention to set up home for a pair of Beavers in the county, with plenty of space to safely study how they impact on wildlife and water.
 DWT  believe they will find the beavers improve water quality, help reduce flooding and their presence and waterway engineering will improve the area for a host of other creatures too, (*including kingfishers, water voles and dragonflies.) 
The project will enable people to get a close up view of these wonderfully charismatic animals. The trial site will be used as a place of learning, for people from all backgrounds, farmers, landowners, anglers, conversationalists, local communities and academic institutions. A significant part of the funding has been aquired, but more is needed in the shape of match funding, whereby every £1 donated may release a further £10.
Details are at dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/beaverappeal
The chosen site has not been disclosed and  the South Winterborne, with its close proximity to roads, doesn't seem a likely choice, but the introduction of beavers as a means of flood control (their dams slow down the flow of water) does highlight that modern flood control methods involve slowing down the flow, not attempting to speed it up as has been  the objective in recent years in the valley.

Magnificent Mushrooms.

New, to me at least, in the valley is the Shaggy Parasol Mushroom, Macrolepiota rhacodes, several specimens of which nestle in the hedge bottom half way up to Ewelease Dairy.

Shaggy Parasol Mushroom.  Click to enlarge.  Photo. John Elliott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This large mushroom, which may be up to 15 cm in diameter, has a cap which is at first smooth, dark pinkish to cinnamon brown, then breaking up, except at the centre, into large scales revealing the underlying white flesh.  It is edible, but some people are allergic to it.

  Shaggy Parasol Mushroom.  Click to enlarge. Photo. John Elliott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The smooth stem is characteristic of this mushroom, the other two species of Parasol mushrooms have snakeskin stems, and also the ring round the stem just below the cap. This is a feature also found on the Amanita mushrooms which include the deadly poisonous Death Cap and the Destroying Angel. so be very cautious. Even though it has a ring it may not be the very edible Parasol mushroom.

Harlequin Ladybirds

‘Invasion of cannibal ladybirds carrying STIs wreaks havoc,” says the Sun.,  and they have arrived in Martinstown! Several dozen of these very variable ladybirds were seen today basking in the autumnal sun on the Old Cricket Ground fence.

Harlequin Ladybirds.    Click to enlarge.  Photo. John Elliott

Harlequin Ladybird larvae.  Click to enlarge.   Photo. John Elliott

This very variable species, the spots can vary between two and twenty, was used to control aphids in the US in the 1980s. Quickly spreading to Europe, it arrived in Britain in 2004, and has now spread country wide in record time. On first arrival it started eating, not only aphids, but also our native Ladybirds.However it is now thought that small wasp species are predating the insects and that a balance will be achieved in time.

Southern Hawler Dragonfly.

The beautiful and intricate markings of a male Southern Hawker dragonfly showed up well today as it hung on the Choisia bush in my front garden. This hanging pose is characteristic of this species, which makes identification easier than it might otherwise be.  The very similar Common Hawker and Migrant Hawker  both have more blue colouration and much thinner antehumeral stripes, (the two greeny/yellow stripes behind the head)  than the Southern Hawker, but do not adopt the hanging perching position.

                Southern Hawker.       Click to enlarge.                       Photo. John Elliott

Butterfly Aberation.

Occasionally aberant forms of common butterflies turn up, and I was lucky enough to see one on the Broncham Hill section of the Ridgeway at the weekend. I was very puzzled at first as it was unlike any of the  Dorset species normally seen, but its size and behaviour hinted that it might be some form of Small Copper, and so it turned out to be. Devoid of the normal coppery red colour, this is the rare aberant albino form, Lycaena phlaeas alba.  

Small Copper, albino form alba.                    Photo.  Jill Weller.

Migratory Birds

September is the month when many of the birds that have spent the summer with us start their migration south, mainly to Africa. Portland is an important take-off point, with daily records being being put online by Martin Cade, the warden of the Portland Bird Observatory, (portlandbirdobs.blogspot.co.uk). Inland funnels to Portland include the Hog Hill/Maiden Castle valley with reports in the last week of Redstart, Wheatear,  Winchat, Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher and Corn Bunting. 

Daily reports of Dorset birds, including many from the Martinstown area, may be seen at dorsetbirds.blogspot.co.uk