Nature calendar 2017

cover - Emerald Swallowtail, Papilio palinurus

Our 2017 calendars have shipped. Each year we choose photos taken since the previous one. This is our eighth year of publication and we enjoyed reviewing the year's photography.

January - Flame, Dryas julia
February - Beautiful Demoiselle, Calopteryx virgo
March - Brown Hairstreak ♀, Thecla betulae
April - Broad-bodied Chaser ♀, Libellula depressa
May - Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
June - Ruby-tailed wasp, Chrysis species
July - Common Purple and Gold, Pyrausta purpuralis
August - Marsh Tit, Poecile palustris
September - Large Skipper, Ochlodes sylvanus
October - White Admiral, Limenitis camilla
November - Peacock, Inachis io
December -  Wood White, Leptidea sinapis

Scarlet Berry Truffle, a new fungus for Sussex

Scarlet Berry Truffle, Paurocotylis pila

Recently I was searching for earthstars with Mark Colvin. At one site I spotted an unusual looking fungus lying on the soil surface. There were a few clumps of soft red fungal tissue up to 45mm across. I had no idea what they were so put photos on www.ispotnature.org.  Within a day fungus expert Sheila had advised that it was a New Zealand Truffle, aka Scarlet Berry Truffle (Paurocotylis pila). We returned to take more photos and counted 8 specimens.

This truffle is an import from New Zealand. There are 35 records in UK, all in the north bar one from Devon. Sussex county recorder, Nick Aplin has confirmed the id from a tissue sample and kindly supplied a photomicrograph of the spores.

  Mark has posted an informative blog about the fungus: http://bit.ly/2gKkj4j

to view a gallerywith more photos, click here

Scarlet Berry Truffle, Paurocotylis pila

The Coral Reef Life of the Maldives

Blue-faced Angelfish, Pomacanthus xanthometopon

I have been photographing fungi during the recent fine weather and at the same time I've been preparing a presentation for the Arundel WWT supporters group about The Coral Reef Life of the Maldives. I gave the talk last night and Sue plus friends Jackie, Terry and Mark attended. I was pleased by the comments I received afterwards. I had fun checking my Maldives photos which were taken 2008-20012 with a Canon G9 powershot, a present from Dhahran Dive Association when I retired from Aramco.

to view a slideshow, click here

These are my favourites from the show:

Oriental Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus vittatus

Bandit Moray, Gymnothorax breedeni

Barred Parrotfish, Scarus caudofasciatus

Bigeye Barracuda, Sphyraena forsteri

Black and white Snapper juvenile, Macolor niger

Octopus cyanea

Vermilion Rock Cod, Cephalopholis miniata

Black-spotted Pufferfish, Arothron nigropunctatus

Blackside Hawkfish, Paracirrhites forsteri

Peacock Rock Cod, Cephalopholis argus

Blacktip grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus

Smallscale Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis oxycephala

Broad-stripe Cuttle, Sepia latimanus

Clark's Anemonefish, Amphiprion clarkii

Bigeye Barracuda, Sphyraena forsteri

Clown Triggerfish, Balistoides conspicullum

Darkspotted Moray, Gymnothorax fimbriatus

Ember Parrotfish, Scarus rubroviolaceus

Flutemouth, Fistularia commersonii

Green Mantis shrimp, Odontodactylus scyllarus

Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas

Greencheek Parrotfish, Scarus prasiognathus

Hawksbill Turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata

horny coral

Imperial Angelfish, Pomocanthus imperator

Indian Dascyllus, Dascyllus carneus

Longfin Batfish, Platax teira

Longnose Hawkfish, Oxycirrhites typus

Magnificent Firegoby, Nemateleotris magnifica

Maldive Anemonefish, Amphiprion nigripes

Red-toothed Triggerfish, Odonus niger

Indian Dascyllus, Dascyllus carneus

Manta Ray, Manta birostris

Masked Bannerfish, Heniochus monoceros

Mushroom Leather Coral, Sarcophyton species

Nobbed Sea Slug, Phyllidia varicosa

Octopus cyanea

Orange-striped Triggerfish, Balistapus undulatus

Orange-striped Triggerfish, Balistapus undulatus

Oriental Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus vittatus

Palette Surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus

Peacock Rock Cod, Cephalopholis argus

Red-toothed Triggerfish, Odonus niger

Regal Angelfish, Pygoplites diacanthus

Sabre Squirrelfish, Sargocentron spiniferum

Saddled Sharpnose Puffer, Canthigaster valentini

Sergeant Major, Abudefduf vaigiensis

Shadowfin Soldierfish, Myripristis adusta

Slender Sweeper, Parapriacanthus ransonneti

Smallscale Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis oxycephala

Teardrop Butterflyfish, Chaetodon unimaculatus

Threespot Angelfish, Apolemichthys trimaculatus

Titan Triggerfish, Balistoides viridescens

Two-bar Anemonefish, Amphiprion bicinctus

Undulated Moray, Gymnothorax undulatus

Variegated Lizardfish, Synodus variegatus

Vermilion Rock Cod, Cephalopholis miniata

Vermilion Rock Cod, Cephalopholis miniata

Yellow Boxfish, Ostracion cubicus

Yellowhead Butterflyfish, Chaetodon xanthocephalus

Zebra Moray, Gymnomuraena zebra