Lichens and Collembolids in Toft 1

Delighted to find these two different species of Collembolid in my photo when I downloaded it - I had wondered what all the dark spots were - now resolved as the faeces of these two different species of Collembolid (Dicyrtoma fusca and  Dicyrtomina saundersi on Xanthoria parientina). These were photographed during a walk to the church and back. Species suggestions mainly tentative at this stage!!! I do like the appropriately named Asterisk Lichen - 3rd image.. 

 

Early Spring at Cambridge Botanic Gardens

 The Snowdrops, Aconites, Hellebores and even Daffodils are in bloom in the University Botanic Gardens in Cambridge - unusually early.

RSPB Sandy Walk with Paxton Volunteers

A very enjoyable walk round RSPB Sandy today - the rain that was expected in the morning didn't arrive though the afternoon proved wetter than forecast. We were mainly hunting for interesting fungi, slime moulds and lichens but with the warmer temperatures some of the creatures were on the move. I have never recorded the Spotted Snake Millipede before so that was a good find. There were lots of brackets and crusts on the trunks, a few 'toadstools and we found a few slime moulds though not as many as I hoped. Tentative IDs in the sheets.

 

Madingley Wood - Elf Cups and other Fungi among the Snowdrops

A visit to Madingley Hall this morning in bright sunshine revealed a single Scarlet Elf Cup along with a couple of Slime Moulds with number of different fungi and slime moulds among the newly emerging Snowdrops, Aconites and Spurge Laurel. More fungi etc to follow.