Please refer to the Introduction Page to understand the context behind the monthly photographs.
Butterflies
Scenery
Bees
The Tree Bumble Bee (Bombus hypnorum) is one of the less common bumble bees. It was first recorded in the UK in 2001 in Hampshire. Now can be found from southern England to as far north as Aberdeenshire. The Queens fly from March and the workers and males from May.
Insects
St Mark's fly - Although harmless these all black flies drift over vegetation with their legs dangling which appears a little sinister. They appear April-May around St Marks Day the 25th April.
Fungi
Lichen
Lichen are only recorded at each new OS Grid location (hover for Grid Ref). They are then entered on the British Lichen Society spreadsheet and submitted for their Warwickshire VC38 Lichen database and Lichen mapping.
Churchyard lichens - St Mary Magdalen Church - Great Alne
The story of St Mary’s goes back to Saxon times. The original church building probably suffered during William the Conqueror’s Harrying of the North activities, and consequently became a rectory in the patronage of the Treasurer of York Cathedral (who also was Lord of Alne). Hence the current church is primarily of the Norman period, with alterations and additions over the centuries.
Churchyard lichens - St Mary the Virgin Church - Kinwarton
A Grade II* listed building largely rebuilt c.1316 ; turret C16 or C17. Restored 1850. Limestone and lias, rubble and irregular coursed stone. Old tile roofs; weatherboarded turret with pyramid shingle roof.
Usually Phlyctis argena is found on trees and only rarely on basic stone which was a pink/red sandstone pedestal cross in the case below. The same applies to the photograph of Lecanora hybocarpa (L. chlarotera agg.) also on the same sandstone.
Non-Churchyard lichens
Lichenicolous fungi
Ones that escaped the camera lens this month
a) A muntjac deer.
b) Roe hind and young.