This fungus was found growing in horse dung in May 2004. We believe it to be a member of the Palaeolus family.

Our thanks to Ivan Buxton who tells us this is a Panaeolus Fimibratus. Following on from that we found it in Keizer (1997) who also calls it "Anellaria semiovata "

But an even greater puzzle is this . This pile of grass started to appear in May 2004 and continued to grow for a month or so. Notice it has a slight depression in the middle. We don't know what caused it , but Steve, who keeps the ponies, tells us that the ponies won't go near that particular spot, whereas previously they regularly grazed near there. Ivan Buxton suggests either a fox or badger.

Bob H also suggests badger, but it is quite a way from any setts that we have.

We found this one in the middle of May in Field One. Although it is a long way from the stream we believe it to be a Water Shrew ( Neomys fodiens). It doesn't seem to have the yellow banding of the Common Shrew and has a distinct line between the black and the white. The Water Shrew has a bite that is poisonous to small animals and can kill small fish and frogs. Its also the largest of the native shrews.

Ivan Buxton agrees with us on this one, so I shall move this picture to its rightful place when time allows.

This settled on a pair of jeans, so you can get an idea of the size from the weave. The nearest we can find is a Rove Beetle (fam-Staphylinidae).

Since we put this up on the web Jerry Dicker has kindly e-mailed us to tell us that he believes it to be a Paederus riparius.

Ivan Buxton suggests that it is a Paederus Littoralis. Having now looked on Google for both names I have to admit that I can't tell the difference from the various pictures on the internet.

If I remember "riparius" is to do with rivers and "littoralis" is to do with coasts?

We found this pellet on the 22nd May 2004. Most likely an owl? But what are the pink and green bits in it?