James Common
Exploring North East Wildlife
North East Wildlife
Welcome to Common by Nature, a little blog I started back in 2011 to share my love of nature in my native North East England. Here, you’ll find blogs on wildlife, large and small, across Northumberland, Newcastle & beyond. Warning, there will be plants…
Botany
Notes on botany in the North East, plant identification and great places to visit.
Ladybirds
An amateur take on the exciting and addictive world of British ladybirds.
Urban Flora
Posts on my favourite topic of all, our adaptable and intriguing urban flora.
From the blog
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Urban Gems: Where to Enjoy Wildlife In Newcastle
To help inspire your next urban walk, enjoy a curated list of ten of the best places to enjoy wildlife in Newcastle.
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Identifying 25 Common Grasses
Get started identifying a range of widespread yellow composites in a new simplified crib covering most common species.
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Urban Flora of Newcastle – 2024 so far
A short progress report on going efforts to survey the urban flora of Newcastle and neighboring parts of North Tyneside.
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Early Dog-violets in North Tyneside
A surprising find and local success story with the discovery of two Early Dog-violet populations in North Tyneside.
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Identifying Yellow Composite Flowers
Get started identifying a range of widespread yellow composites in a new simplified crib covering most common species.
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On the trail of Northumbrian Snowdrops
An account of a delightful few weeks spent searching for some truly exquisite Northumbrian Snowdrops
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10 Great Places to Enjoy Wildflowers in Northumberland
Northumberland, my home county, is a haven for botanists, offering a rich tapestry of landscapes that range from windswept hills and expansive moors to coastal dunes, wetlands, and impressive woodlands. As a lifelong resident, I may be a tad biased, but the flora here truly spoils enthusiasts for choice. To help inspire your next stroll…
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Urban Flora of Newcastle – Musing over maps
With recording for ‘Plants of Newcastle’ progressing well and new local botanists joining in, for the last few weeks, I’ve been able to catch up on some of the more mundane parts of the project. Top of that list was a need to ‘reaquaint’ myself with some sort of GIS programme, hopefully to save a…
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Poplar Ladybird (Oenopia conglobata) in Newcastle
A quick account of a morning in the company of a rather rare ladybird, Oenopia conglobata, discovered recently in Newcastle.
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Identifying Common Willowherbs
Get started identifying the widespread willowherbs you’re most likely encounter in a new, simplified crib
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New Year Plant Hunt: What’s flowering this winter?
I love the New Year Plant Hunt. Each year, this nifty project provides the perfect reason to head outside and find some interesting plants.
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Identifying Forget-me-nots
Get started identifying the widespread forget-me-nots you’re most likely encounter in a new, simplified crib
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What people say About James
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James Common was an excellent guide, knowledgable, funny, inclusive.”
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James was both knowledgeable and engaging. His explanation of the differentiating features plants was particularly useful.”