Nature with Nev

Taking a walk through my favourite woodland today gave me a species I haven't seen for some time. It was the distinctive smell that straight away made me know that a Stinkhorn was growing close by. And sure enough, I quickly spotted the above specimen. The smell is what usually gives away their presence, and it is this almost rotting meat type smell that is designed to attract insects to it. Early morning is a good time to smell out a Stinkhorn.  This species emerges from an 'egg' (see picture below) that develops beneath the leaf litter. These eggs can be seen in the summer months, however they can be found at any time of the year. Eventually the cap will change to an olive-green colour and become covered with a ' gleba ', which is a smelly spore-laden coating. This is what attracts the insects to it, which in turn collect the spores on their bodies and distribute them elsewhere.  Even though the cap hasn't developed the colour yet, it is already attract...

The grasslands and meadows have been swamped recently with an influx of fresh Meadow Brown butterflies, but today I got to see my first Ringlet butterfly of the year. I do like this little butterfly, not because of any bright colours because it certainly lacks those, but for when it is resting and the under wing in particular shows off a line of rings - hence it's name. The false eyes or spots - three on each fore-wing and five on each hind-wing, confuse birds as to the position of the butterflies vulnerable body. They can vary in both size and colour. Found from late June to August in wet grassy places, the corners of fields, ditches and woodland glades, they have  a life span of just two weeks. Although they fly on warm days, they will also fly on dull days and even in the rain.  The caterpillars, which live for about eleven months, usually feed on grass during the night. If disturbed, they will drop onto the ground and lay very still.  Now here is a fascinat...

Mamhilad Park Estate in Pontypool has large grounds stocked with mature trees including Birch which is a food plant for the Large Emerald moth - and also a lifer for myself. As I walked into the foyer by the main building, I do what I do every time I pass, look on the whitewashed wall which regularly holds moths. This week there has been a Riband Wave moth on this wall, but this week I was thrilled to see the above beauty. Its green colour struck me straight away, and I knew this was going to be a species I was not familiar with. Sure enough once identified, my suspicions were confirmed - a lifer. There are nine species in the UK with the Large Emerald being the largest of this group. It flies at night between June and August and prefers Beech woods, areas of Silver Birch, in Hazel coppices and along streams where Alder grows. The caterpillar is called a 'looper' after the way it moves. It draws the rear end of its body up to the front so that it forms a loop, and ...

  Round-leaved Sundew Yesterday I visited the Craig-y-Cilau Nature Reserve nestled above the village of Llangattock near Crickhowell. This raised bog area is a haven for plants with some rare specialities too. The site is shadowed by a Limestone escarpment which has the rare Whitebeam growing, but today my focus was on the bog plants. I was hoping to find a lifer in the form of a Bog Orchid, but although none were found (and the habitat is ideal for them), I did find a set of leaves that looked promising, so fingers crossed on their identity. I have sent the picture off to Leif Bersweden, the author of 'The Orchid Hunter' who I correspond with regularly. Time spent in the bog paid off however as I did have a lifer. I visited with my friend Kerry who is also a keen botanist, and notable straight off were the Round-leaved Sundews - this time they were coming into flower. This perennial loves bare peat bogs and grows amongst the Sphagnum Moss which carpets this area. The small...