I don't know whether it is just luck or that spring has come to North Cornwall, but we are extremely fortunate in the two species new to me and quite unusual.
On Monday, 7th February, we decided to take one of our regular walks around Upper Tamar Lake. We had heard that there were some rare Geese seen in the previous week. Although we had not expected them to still be around, we did look for them anomgst the large flock of Canada Geese on the fields bordering the western (Cornwall) side of the lake.
We were in luck! Around 200 Canada Geese were grazing on the open field with three Tundra Bean Geese on the edge of the flock. Even better, they were not too close to take flight nor too far to be photographed.
So, one species new to us - a major "tick" Anser serrirostris.
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| Two Tundra Bean Geese amongst Canada Geese |
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| A resting Anser serrirostris. |
Today, 10th February, was my day for Riverfly - surveying my local stream, the Tidna for freshwater invertebrates. The stream is found in a deep Cornish wooded valley about 200 feet down a set of steps to the valley bottom.
Once the survey is complete, it is a slow climb back up stopping occassionaly to catch my breath. About halfway up I spotted a dead branch beside the steps with an interesting row of tiny orange fungi growing along it. I stopped to examine them and was surprised to recognise a fungus previously seen on Lundy.
They were Orange Ping Pong bat fungi, an invasive species only recently found in the UK and spreading around Cornwall and Devon.
The cap is only around 7mm in diameter (the picture shows a ruler with 1mm divisions) but the underside is distinctive and diagnostic.
Although invasive, it is no threat to the flora of the UK in that they decay dead and dying timber only.
The rest and the find gave me a spring in my step and the remaining steps did not slow me at all.
What a find two rare species in one week!
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| Orange Ping Pong Bat fungus underside |
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| Favolaschia calocera - 7mm cap |
