Tag Archives: Cosmeston Lakes Country Park

285/365 Mousepee pinkgill

12 Saturday Oct 2019

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What’s in a name? That which we call a Mousepee pinkgill
By any other name would still smell like mouse pee!
(with apologies to William Shakespeare)

191012 mousepee pinkgill (2)

Truth be known, I have no idea what mouse pee smells like (and these fungi had been rained on for several days so the smell may well have dissipated) but I’m fairly sure that is what these fungi are. The greenish stem is a bit of a giveaway, and these are definitely not Parrot waxcaps, which are the only other green-stemmed fungi I know (though that, in itself, doesn’t mean there aren’t others).

191012 mousepee pinkgill (1)

You can read up on the Mousepee pinkgill (Entoloma incanum) on the most excellent First Nature website here.

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279/365 A yellow Red-veined darter

06 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by in insects, nature

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What’s bright yellow, flies like a helicopter, has relatively huge eyes that are half reddish-brown and half blue, and can sometimes be found in marshy, reed-filled areas in the south-west of Britain?

191005 red-veined darter

I wasn’t sure until I looked it up but it seems this stunning creature that I photographed at Cosmeston a couple of days ago is an immature male Red-veined darter.

272/365 A polypore

29 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in autumn, fungi, nature

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Sadly, between one visit to Cosmeston and the next this spectacular fungus had almost been obliterated.

190929 polypore (1)

I think it’s a specimen of Polyporus squamosus, also known as Dryad’s saddle, which can grow to 60cm across, usually on the wood of deciduous trees, sometimes singly, occasionally in limited layers.

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This one had been munched on top, probably by a slug or snail, but I imagine its downfall came at human hands, or feet, as it was growing in an area of woodland that is often frequented by children. A shame, as I was looking forward to following its growth.

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Nibbled area top left

271/365 Wildflowers at Cosmeston

28 Saturday Sep 2019

Posted by in autumn, flowers, nature, wildflowers

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Last Monday, on the day of the autumnal equinox, I decided to see how many still-flowering wildflowers I could find during my wander around the east and west paddocks at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park. My total was 33 – though I probably missed a few, I thought that number was impressive for the time of year. Here they are …

269/365 Still hovering

26 Thursday Sep 2019

Posted by in 365DaysWildin2019, autumn, insects, nature

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Despite the wind and rain of recent days, which continued through part of today, when the sun came out at Cosmeston there were still a few hoverflies about. I’ve forgotten everything I ever knew about hoverflies, which wasn’t much, but I think these are Syrphus sp. (these usually need microscopic examination to identify to species), Eristalis sp. (my photo doesn’t show enough details to be sure which species this is – maybe E. tenax), Eristalis nemorum, and ‘The footballer’, Helophilus pendulus.

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267/365 Flitting

24 Tuesday Sep 2019

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With every step I take through the dampish long grass and reed-filled ground in Cosmeston’s west paddock, small creatures flit up and away from my intrusive legs and feet. These are craneflies, probably the species Tipula oleracea.

Marsh cranefly (1)

I am no danger to them but they are right to flee: a couple of days ago, I was sitting eating my lunch at a picnic table in a nearby country park, watching as a Magpie strutted through the grass, picking off cranefly snacks for its lunch.

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266/365 The charm of it

23 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by in 365DaysWildin2019, birds, nature

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This charm of Goldfinches numbered at least 60.

190923 goldfinches (1)

They were feeding in the wildflower fields at Cosmeston this morning, plucking at fluffy seedheads, nibbling at the exposed seeds.

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They were skittish though, constantly whirling about from one area to another, into the nearby trees and back again, chattering all the while. Such a pleasure to watch!

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262/365 Ratty’s second breakfast

19 Thursday Sep 2019

Posted by in animals, birds, mammal, nature

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It’s been a while since I’ve walked past the dipping pond at Cosmeston but I’m glad I did today as one of the resident water voles made an appearance.

190919 water vole (1)

It was quite well concealed amongst the reeds at the side of the pond – that brown fur really helps them to blend in.

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In the past I’ve only seen them eating lily pads but today this little chap was munching on reed stems.

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Eventually, it noticed me standing on the boardwalk but didn’t seem too bothered and carried on eating.

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But it sure freaked out when one of the juvenile Moorhens came by to say hello!

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260/365 Stonechats

17 Tuesday Sep 2019

Posted by in 365DaysWildin2019, autumn, birds, nature

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The Autumn migration flow of birds continued through Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, with several species reported: a Redstart, a Whinchat, a Spotted flycatcher and several Stonechats, two of which very kindly popped up in the hedge right in front of me.

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256/365 Reed bunting

13 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in 365DaysWildin2019, autumn, birds, nature, plants

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190913 reed bunting (1)

This is not the setting I would normally associate with Reed buntings – not a reed to be seen – but this little beauty seemed perfectly at home searching for insects amongst the umbellifers in Cosmeston’s west paddock this afternoon, and the colours made for good camouflage as well.

190913 reed bunting (2)