Rob Yaxley
@robyaxley.bsky.social
Naturalist: lichens, moths, beetles, bugs and anything else that catches my eye. “What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.”
A few lichen things from a damp wander round the old trees in Felbrigg Park today. Coniocarpon cinnabarinum, Pyrrhospora quernea, Diarthonis spadicea and Cresponea premnea. The Diarthonis looks much better wet than it does dry!
February 7, 2026 at 6:45 PM
A few lichen things from a damp wander round the old trees in Felbrigg Park today. Coniocarpon cinnabarinum, Pyrrhospora quernea, Diarthonis spadicea and Cresponea premnea. The Diarthonis looks much better wet than it does dry!
Just for your amusement. Spores of lichen Amandinea punctata from a stone wall, fungus Hysterium angustatum from a sycamore trunk, and sickle-shaped conidia of script lichen Opegrapha vulgata from oak bark. Such features are important in identifying these inconspicuous gems.
February 6, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Just for your amusement. Spores of lichen Amandinea punctata from a stone wall, fungus Hysterium angustatum from a sycamore trunk, and sickle-shaped conidia of script lichen Opegrapha vulgata from oak bark. Such features are important in identifying these inconspicuous gems.
Reposted by Rob Yaxley
More harvestman line drawings completed. Leiobunum species have such long legs that I didn't even try and fit them on the page.
February 6, 2026 at 2:56 PM
More harvestman line drawings completed. Leiobunum species have such long legs that I didn't even try and fit them on the page.
Reposted by Rob Yaxley
A reminder for members & those with a particular interest in lichens, that there is an NNNS walk at Houghton Hall on Sunday 8th Feb @10:30, led by county lichen recorder
@robyaxley.bsky.social
Park in the main car park, PE31 6TY. For full event details: norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/events-pa...
@robyaxley.bsky.social
Park in the main car park, PE31 6TY. For full event details: norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/events-pa...
February 5, 2026 at 8:47 PM
A reminder for members & those with a particular interest in lichens, that there is an NNNS walk at Houghton Hall on Sunday 8th Feb @10:30, led by county lichen recorder
@robyaxley.bsky.social
Park in the main car park, PE31 6TY. For full event details: norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/events-pa...
@robyaxley.bsky.social
Park in the main car park, PE31 6TY. For full event details: norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/events-pa...
Under some damp bark of a fallen poplar was this Hololepta plana, a curiously vertically challenged beetle.
February 5, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Under some damp bark of a fallen poplar was this Hololepta plana, a curiously vertically challenged beetle.
Something instinctively told me that beavers were in the area. My mammal field skills were not tested.
February 5, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Something instinctively told me that beavers were in the area. My mammal field skills were not tested.
Scytinium gelatinosum (I think) from the @britishlichensociety.org.uk trip to Carlisle cemetery at the weekend.
February 4, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Scytinium gelatinosum (I think) from the @britishlichensociety.org.uk trip to Carlisle cemetery at the weekend.
Reposted by Rob Yaxley
reading about organisms that aren’t your specialty is like
margins of the quorbus eplungulate, ploobular processes bent posteriorly towards the foobulum
define term “eplungulate”
- lacking plungae. synonym: thubulous
margins of the quorbus eplungulate, ploobular processes bent posteriorly towards the foobulum
define term “eplungulate”
- lacking plungae. synonym: thubulous
February 2, 2026 at 10:14 PM
reading about organisms that aren’t your specialty is like
margins of the quorbus eplungulate, ploobular processes bent posteriorly towards the foobulum
define term “eplungulate”
- lacking plungae. synonym: thubulous
margins of the quorbus eplungulate, ploobular processes bent posteriorly towards the foobulum
define term “eplungulate”
- lacking plungae. synonym: thubulous
A couple of alula feathers from a dead woodcock I found. I don’t know who discovered it, but they make excellent brushes for manipulating insect scales when dissecting. I am planning to mount one on a small wooden handle. Might be good for cleaning lichen specimens too.
February 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
A couple of alula feathers from a dead woodcock I found. I don’t know who discovered it, but they make excellent brushes for manipulating insect scales when dissecting. I am planning to mount one on a small wooden handle. Might be good for cleaning lichen specimens too.
Cladonia diversa is very variable, with some podetia bearing swollen bright red fruiting bodies, and others just tiny red studs on the cup rim. Heaths and dunes.
January 29, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Cladonia diversa is very variable, with some podetia bearing swollen bright red fruiting bodies, and others just tiny red studs on the cup rim. Heaths and dunes.
A grey form of Evernia prunastri seen today, which could be forma herinii, which is deficient in usnic acid. Growing alongside the normal greenish version.
January 29, 2026 at 7:32 PM
A grey form of Evernia prunastri seen today, which could be forma herinii, which is deficient in usnic acid. Growing alongside the normal greenish version.
Reposted by Rob Yaxley
Results of the recent NNNS research project at Broadland Country Park are being published and sent out next month. We are now inviting everyone to a conference to discuss what we found, next steps and challenges. The event is free, but booking is required: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/norfolk-no...
January 28, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Results of the recent NNNS research project at Broadland Country Park are being published and sent out next month. We are now inviting everyone to a conference to discuss what we found, next steps and challenges. The event is free, but booking is required: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/norfolk-no...
Reposted by Rob Yaxley
The poster for this NNNS event has been changed today (28/01/26) to clarify that whilst everyone is welcome to attend this event, it is free for NNNS members but there is a small charge for non-members (£3/£2 for students). Apologies for the confusion.
January 28, 2026 at 8:24 PM
The poster for this NNNS event has been changed today (28/01/26) to clarify that whilst everyone is welcome to attend this event, it is free for NNNS members but there is a small charge for non-members (£3/£2 for students). Apologies for the confusion.
Reposted by Rob Yaxley
Our #Bookofthemonth for January: Lichens of Britain and Ireland: An Introductory Guide by Frances Stoakley and Dr Rebecca Yahr. Filling a desired niche, it's a really useable and accessible guide for beginners and a faithful field guide for all! www.summerfieldbooks.com/product/lich...
January 28, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Our #Bookofthemonth for January: Lichens of Britain and Ireland: An Introductory Guide by Frances Stoakley and Dr Rebecca Yahr. Filling a desired niche, it's a really useable and accessible guide for beginners and a faithful field guide for all! www.summerfieldbooks.com/product/lich...
Some tideline pebbles on the sheltered (saltmarsh) shore of the dunes at Burnham Overy had lichens on them. This one turned out to be Lecanora helicopis, which was previously recorded at the same site in 1989, only 37 years ago.
January 25, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Some tideline pebbles on the sheltered (saltmarsh) shore of the dunes at Burnham Overy had lichens on them. This one turned out to be Lecanora helicopis, which was previously recorded at the same site in 1989, only 37 years ago.
Reposted by Rob Yaxley
A developing slime mold, Arcyria stipata. NWT, Canada. #fungifriends #myxomycetes The photo covers about 2 to 3cm left to right.
January 24, 2026 at 1:35 PM
A developing slime mold, Arcyria stipata. NWT, Canada. #fungifriends #myxomycetes The photo covers about 2 to 3cm left to right.
A couple of nice things from Burnham Overy dunes today: Dung Button, Poronia erici on a rabbit dropping; and Diploschistes muscorum growing over Cladonia. Also a jelly lichen which could be Scytinium teretiusculum, minutely lobed.
January 24, 2026 at 5:25 PM
A couple of nice things from Burnham Overy dunes today: Dung Button, Poronia erici on a rabbit dropping; and Diploschistes muscorum growing over Cladonia. Also a jelly lichen which could be Scytinium teretiusculum, minutely lobed.
All change in the woods - dead ash stools sit amongst coppice which is now dominated by hazel, while ivy creates an impenetrable matrix of stems around standard oaks.
January 23, 2026 at 5:09 PM
All change in the woods - dead ash stools sit amongst coppice which is now dominated by hazel, while ivy creates an impenetrable matrix of stems around standard oaks.
Reposted by Rob Yaxley
Another exceptionally wet walk today, but spotted this stunning deep blue lichen in the hedge - any pointers to to possible ID appreciated! North Herefordshire/ UK #Lichen #WinterWatch
January 23, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Another exceptionally wet walk today, but spotted this stunning deep blue lichen in the hedge - any pointers to to possible ID appreciated! North Herefordshire/ UK #Lichen #WinterWatch
Reposted by Rob Yaxley
The lichen Fellhanera bouteillei is a leaf specialist, here on a live and a dead rhododendron leaf. North Elmham today. Rarely recorded but rarely looked for!
January 22, 2026 at 5:09 PM
The lichen Fellhanera bouteillei is a leaf specialist, here on a live and a dead rhododendron leaf. North Elmham today. Rarely recorded but rarely looked for!
The white dots on the green lichen turned out to be pycnidia, bearing hook-shaped conidia, making this Bacidina modesta, new county/ VC record.
January 22, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The white dots on the green lichen turned out to be pycnidia, bearing hook-shaped conidia, making this Bacidina modesta, new county/ VC record.
A couple of lichenicolous fungi seen on a visit to Eaton Park in Norwich the other day, both county firsts as far as I can tell. Arthonia phaeophysciae (black pustules on Phaeophyscia orbicularis) and Lichenoconium lichenicola (black dots on Physcia adscendens) Stunning😉
January 21, 2026 at 5:33 PM
A couple of lichenicolous fungi seen on a visit to Eaton Park in Norwich the other day, both county firsts as far as I can tell. Arthonia phaeophysciae (black pustules on Phaeophyscia orbicularis) and Lichenoconium lichenicola (black dots on Physcia adscendens) Stunning😉
