October 6: Latrigg Common, Cumbria, for waxcaps, Seen today was the scarce Blushing Waxcap (Hygrocybe ovina) which turns pink when handled and was becoming dried in the strong wind. Also another scarce waxcap H. citrinovirens with pale lemon-yellow umbo-shaped cap with splitting margins and similarly coloured stem, and the greenish yellow H. psittacina. Also present, were H. laeta, H.pratensis. Waxcaps weren't quite abundant as usual possibly because of the dry weather?

H ovina

H citrinovirens

H psittacina

View from the waxcap grassland (in the left foreground)

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September 29: Ladybirds amongst conifers at Swinsty Reservoir, west Yorkshire.

Eyed Ladybird, a rather dark form

Orange Ladybird

18-spot Ladybird



September 27: Tansy Beetles by the River Ouse at York. These beautiful iridescent green beetles are mainly to be found on Tansy plants in riverside meadows along a limited stretch of the river here. Their larvae feed on the leaves of the tansy and the adults spend most of the winter underground. There is also a small, recently re-discovered (2014) colony at Wood Walton Fen, East Anglia.

Rawcliffe Meadows, York, 27 September 2016

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