I've never been one to let rain stop me from going out so when I looked out of the window and thought maybe I should have stayed in bed but thought I cannot let the rain beat me so I went up to Dare Valley Country Park and searched for the Golden Eyed Lichen. I was on site for two hours and still could not find it and was starting think I am in the wrong place. I saw some cracking lichen and heard a Pheasant Calling in the distance. On getting too the top of the path I spotted the male Pheasant standing on a clump, it was calling it's heart out and he was has wet as me but by now I did not care it just great to be out, then a second bird called near by. I was thinking so much for third time lucky and failed to find it again. I worked my way up though the birch wood and onto the path and thought I would head up to the top and look for Wheatear. As I headed up I checked out a bit of rock face and thought I had found Mark's lichen but on looking closer I now think it's not and open to offers. I also found this lichen which looks like Matchstick Lichen which was just started to colour up. I was half way up and spotted a Flag in the distance and thought all that is missing now is Zulu drums in the backround and would be like Rorke's Drift . On finally getting too the top I had a couple of Meadow Pipits displaying in the high winds and saw a male Stonechat trying to display and getting blown backwards but sadly no Wheatears anywhere .
I so this and thought Rob might be camping in the country park .
Some nice Pheasant droppings and must have been up there for a bit but I did not see or hear them last time I tried.
I also found this amazing moss down by the stream near the Golden Eyed site
I found these two Common Toads in the top Res and after seeing so many last year I thought a poor show or have been and gone.
I see this badge and wondered how many people have every seen them there .
On the river there was three Grey Wagtail together and a pair of dippers
The moss appears to be Polytrichum juniperinum (have a close look at your photos, to see if the leaves have reddish brown tips).
ReplyDeleteThe lichen I posted (Solorina saccata) is only found on limestone, so you won't find it up there.
I took the opportunity to catch up on identifying the rust and microfungi specimens I collected last weekend in Cwm Taf Fechan.
Yes i think it,s Polytrichum Juniperinum and also found it over Abercwmboi Lake and any ideas on the lichen Mark.
ReplyDeleteWith those turbines in the background looks more like War of the Worlds.
ReplyDeleteyes i think so too and makes you wonder how they stay up in that wind.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure it is a Parmelia, but I wouldn't like to try and ID it from just a photo. I've seen it quite a lot, especially on the millstone grit. In one of the photos of it, there is some vivid red staining on some of it. I am sure I read somewhere that it is caused by some sort of parasitic fungus, but can't now find the reference.
ReplyDeleteI've seen similar reference to red staining on lichens in trees, but can't recall where.
ReplyDeleteOn lichen site on facebook say they need better views of the lobes and will try get back up there on wednesday after work and take more shots and the match stick lichen type is a different one than i normally see .
ReplyDeleteTake a look at the underside of the Parmelia and note its colour, because that can be diagnostic too.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Cladonia looks a bit like floerkeana.
Has anyone been to the Pyramidal Orchid site recently. I keep meaning to do so, to check whether the bramble and scrub clearance has been done yet.
ReplyDeleteNo not for a bit and almost went up there yesterday afternoon and changed mind last minute and will try soon and let you know .
ReplyDelete