The Vicious Cheese

2026 Northern Ireland Fungus Group Forays {tranche 1} May 16th Movanagher, Kilrea June 20th Bashfordsland, Carrickfergus July 18th Gortin Glen Forest July 25th Tievenadarragh/Bohill Wood All 11-4pm. Plans change - e.g. due to weather, so let us know if you are planning going.

@thremnir All the flea beetles that were vaguely close clearly had shiny scutella, not matt..

@ViciousCheese Haha - yes, wet woodland marsh beetles are a bit of a curiosity! The pale patch on antennal segments 2/3 is diagnostic for this species, so far as I can tell.

At #TheGlen yesterday: the Scirtid (Marsh Beetle) Odeles marginata. Nice to find, as the adult phase is quite short (late March - early May):-

A profusion of Wild Garlic at Knockatrina Woods, Durrow this weekend. @BSBIbotany

You lot really liked the Bluebells, so here is yet another area of that forest. All photos were taken this weekend gone. Great variety of insects at this site.

@YourGreenPal The garlic smell is a lot stronger than the bluebell scent, but thankfully there are more bluebells than garlic!

@ViciousCheese That looks like an absolute dream spot this time of year—bluebells and wild garlic together must smell incredible.

My favourite local Bluebell place, with a bit of Wild Garlic thrown in.

@IrisBloom691 If only! In reality, it was more Grumpy Teenager Forest, I had one of those with me!

@ViciousCheese They look wonderful. Is it what they call Elf Forest? 🤣😍😎

@Mr_Funnigan I think the scent is reduced if your local Bluebells have hybridised with Spanish Bluebells.

@ViciousCheese I'll have to keep an eye out for them so I can catch a whiff! I don't believe I've noticed before.

@Mr_Funnigan It has a nice scent too, very subtle.

@ViciousCheese Very beautiful!

Was so excited to find one of my bucket list mushrooms this weekend, super rare in this part of the world!

@barracuda147 Great to know I can go for a walk there again. The Fungus Group have slated doing a foray across the two later in the year, so we can have a look and check if it is worth it. It is currently scheduled for 25th July 11-4pm if you are interested, but note we move very slow....

@ViciousCheese Tievenadarragh is definitely passable. There's an occasional minor obstruction, but nothing that would force you to turn back (visited early this week).

Visited Bohill Wood yesterday. The short main path has been cleared, but the hinterland is still littered with fallen timber. My daughter did manage to get up to the top cairn, but only with great difficulty and determination. Butterflies and wild flowers managing well though.

@thremnir Is it mostly human population bias in distribution records tho' do you think?

Well this is cool! The cuckoo bee #Nomada goodeniana has a markedly eastern bias in its Irish distribution. So I'm chuffed to have found it on #LoopHead last weekend! The host Andrena nigroaenea is present in the area. Possibly the first Clare record west of the #Fergus!

@FoBBG_ Do need to be careful about these as Rosemary says, as they look like the Giant Woodwasp (Actually a sawfly species not really a wasp) which is harmless and there aren't many of those.

Threat to pollinators. #AsianHornet

Prasocuris phellandri, Criorhina berberina and Emphemera danica this evening (Date: 27.iv.2026) an Aluvial Woodland, Doorly Park, Co Sligo, Ireland.

Three obliging Gooden's Nomad Bees at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, Belfast, today. Three!

On our most recent episode, legendary Porcupine Tree keyboardist and sonic pioneer Richard Barbieri dives into his world of synths, sharing insight into the techniques behind his signature sound. An absolute joy to have him on.

Up on the Cooley Peninsula, Co Louth today and walked the new greenway between Newry and Omeath. The first greenway linking Northern and Southern Ireland, it is unique in having water on both sides for much of the route. If in the area, it is well worth giving it a go.