For those interested in ladybirds, it isn’t every day you have the chance to admire a major rarity. Surprises don’t turn up all that often but when they do, they can be truly spectacular. Today was one of those days.
Following a post online from a local recorder who had discovered a most unusual pink ladybird in a local cemetery, today I was lucky to see it for myself. Meeting with fellow recorders to take a look, there was little doubt that this could be Poplar Ladybird (Oenopia conglobata). A truly spectacular discovery for reasons I’ll share below.
Oenopia conglobata is found in continental Europe, North Africa and temperate regions of Asia, but is conspicuously absent from the British Isles. Indeed, explore the NBN Atlas and you’ll see there are only two records of this species in the UK: one at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, and another not far from Glasgow. It is by all accounts, a majorly rare species in the UK turning up either as an accidental import from the continent or as a genuine visitor. I don’t have the answer to that, however.
In their Field Guide to British ladybirds, Helen Roy and Peter Brown list this species as a potential colonist in future so the fact it has popped up in an unassuming part of my home city is fascinating, to say the least. That said, regardless of rarity and dubious origins, this ladybird is a real beauty. With light pink wing cases and a striking black seam, it has square spots somewhat reminiscent of the 14-spot Ladybird. You can take a closer look at its various forms here.
The ladybird will need to be scrutinised by the experts before Newcastle appears on the map alongside Flamborough and Glasgow. Until then, a huge well done to the recorder. British ladybirds don’t come much better than that!
I love the BSBI New Year Plant Hunt. Each year, this nifty citizen science project provides the perfect reason to head outside, brave the winter air, and find some interesting plants – not something I would have considered just a few years ago! Better still, the project is providing some valuable data about how our wild and naturalised plants are responding to a changing climate. A win win, really!
With only a few days of the holiday left, I confess I have gone a little crackers this year when it comes to the New Year Plant Hunt, with fourwalks in different corners of the local area. A nice way to burn off those Christmas calories perhaps?
Tynemouth
On Saturday morning, the first session of my new ‘Botanist’s Year’ course provided the perfect excuse for some group plant hunting. Meeting attendees at Tynemouth, we set about recording flowering plants growing in sea defences, coastal grassland, priory walls and nearby streets. Cutting a long story short, there wasn’t overly much to see with just 21 species noted in bloom. That said, some of these were rather nice with a good showing of Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), ample Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and even a solitary example of Fool’s-parsley (Aethusa cynapium) – I am not sure I have ever seen that one flowering in winter.
Of course, the reliable winter-blooms featured in our total too: Daisy (Bellis perennis), Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua), Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) and Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) to name but a few. The group also encountered a stray Garden Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana) in a pavement crack – a surprisingly common occurence.
No visit to Tynemouth would be complete without a moment of appreciation for the copious amount of Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) which grows on site as a relict of cultivation by local monks. They weren’t in flower on this occasion, mind you.
Talking plantainsCommon Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)Garden Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana)A great bunchWild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
Heaton
For the last four years Matt and I have carried out an annual New Year Plant Hunt on the streets of Heaton, close to home. While being awful good fun, this has also allowed us to gain a good idea of localised changes in the flowering times of several species. Suffice to say, 2023 seems to be a bit of a poor year and in three hours, we recorded just 31 species compared to the 50+ of 2022. Perhaps it was was a touch of frost, or even over-zealous weeders?
The usual supects mentioned previous all featured in our Heaton hunt and by large, most of the plants found were ones you would expect to see in winter. Neophytes (human introductions) in Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana), Adria Bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana) and Yellow Corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea) that seem to flower year-round and typical winter wildflowers in Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna) and White Dead-nettle (Lamium album). It was, however, interesting to note several grasses still in flower with sightings of Water Bent (Polypogon viridis), False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) and Wall Barley (Hordeum murinum). I wonder what next year will bring?
One very wet botanistWhite Dead-nettle (Lamium album)Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)
Scotswood
The most botanically interesting hunt of the week now and a new route for Matt and I at Scotswood. Scotswood Road and its associated grassland, scrub and industrial plots is usually rather interesting and in total, we chalked up 31 flowering plants during our yomp. The ‘common ones’ featured heavily again with examples in Gorse (Ulex europeaus) and Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) but there were surprises also. On a particularly nice stretch of verge, we found both Field (Knautia arvensis) and Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) in flower alongside Musk-mallow (Malva moschata). Quite a nice display for winter! Elsewhere, we noted Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens) and Smooth Hawk’s-beard (Crepis capillaris) while Common Vetch (Vicia sativa) featured surprisingly frequently.
For once, it was actually the non-flowering plants that proved most interesting at Scotswood. Having sadly lost many of them to the mower in spring, it was fabulous to note well over 200 Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) rosettes on nearby areas of amenity grassland and some recent roadworks provided a sighting of Parsley-piert (Aphanes arvensis), an entirely new one for the urban flora!
Gorse (Ulex europeaus)Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)Pretending to like plants…Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)Musk-mallow (Malva moschata)
Ouseburn
New Year’s Day now and the last New Year Plant Hunt organised through the Natural History Society of Northumbria. Setting off to explore the streets of Heaton and later, taking a detour to the Ouseburn Valley, we were thrilled to find 35 species of wild and naturalised plant in flower. Better still, the sun was shining – a rare thing of late!
Once again, the usual suspects were out in force but what was more interesting was the abundance of typically ruderal/arable plants blooming in forgotten corners and neglected planters. As a group, we were particularly excited to find Small Nettle (Urtica urens) and Green-field Speedwell (Veronica agrestis), followed closely by Ribbed Melilot (Melilotus officinalis), Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) and Small-flowered Crane’s-bill (Geranium pusillum). Down by the Ouseburn, the first Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) of the year had emerged too. Always nice to see…
All in all, a lovely way to spend New Year’s Day and a great way to round off a busy week jampacked with plants!
Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)Peering at plants in wallsCommon Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)Who’d have thought planters could be so diverse?Admiring Small Nettle (Urtica urens)Botanising Heaton’s side streetsSticky Groundsel (Senecio viscosus)
A not so quick account of a brilliant two days spent botanising Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s East Chevington reserve.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust‘s reserve at East Chevington has to be one of my favourite places. Not only does it support an incredible diversity of insect and bird life – we saw a Hobby, woo – but also an incredible array of wildflowers. Sympathetic management by the Trust made a huge difference and alongside a mix of habitats ranging from sandy shores and dunes to wetland, woodland and calcareous meadows, has created a veritable goldmine for passing botanists. You can imagine my delight then at being able to visit not once but twice this week as part of an NHSN course I’m leading. I’ll be combining two trips into one with this post but hopefully will give a flavour of what a fantastic place this is in high summer.
East Chevington’s calcareous grasslands are perhaps some of the best in Northumberland. Visiting these first, we were immediately struck by the abundance of Bloody Crane’s-bill (Geranium sanguineum) and Burnet Rose (Rosa spinosissima), two species characteristic of the coast here. Looking closer, there was much more to see with Lesser Meadow-rue (Thalictrum minus), Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), Quaking Grass (Briza media) and plenty of delightful Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea). All species I don’t see too often living where I do in the city.
When walking here, it is easy to get drawn in by the more vibrant species growing on site. To counteract this, at least some of our time was spent exploring the less showy species found on site. Grasses were interesting with Yellow Oat-grass (Trisetum flavescens) and Heath-grass (Danthonia decumbens) both noted and several sedges were observed including Carnation Sedge (Carex panicea) and Sand Sedge (Carex arenaria). Far more obvious that these, the devilsome yellow composites were blooming en masse and a little searching revealed Smooth Hawk’s-beard (Crepis capillaris), Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus) and Mouse-ear-hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum). These failed to hold our attention long, however, and soon it was back to the more blousy things.
Orchids turned out to be a real ‘flavour of the day’ during our visit. In drier areas of the grassland, dozens of Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata) were seen while Common Spotted-orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) were present in abundance. More interesting perhaps was a fantastic example of a Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), the only one noted during both visits. This species is numerous elsewhere along the county’s coastline but is strangely lacking from South Northumberland.
Topping off our grassland explorations nicely, one of our attendees was quick to draw attention to an ‘attractive bindweed’ growing on an area of exposed sand – Sea Bindweed (Calystegia soldanella)! This species is only known from two sites in VC67, East Chevington being one of them. That said, it appears not to have been recorded on site since 1988 and thus, was a very exciting find.
Departing the grassland, our next point of call was the mouth of the Chevington Burn where a small area of beach is notable for the abundance of shoreline species. Sure enough, we observed Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides) and Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima), as well as an abundance of Frosted Orache (Atriplex laciniata) glistening in the sun. While this was clearly the dominant atriplex, it was nice to note and compare Spear-leaved Orache (Atriplex prostrata) in addition. Perhaps the most interesting plant here was the curious-looking Prickly Saltwort (Salsola kali) shown below. A Rare Plant Register species in South Northumberland, I was surprised to see so much of it.
Not travelling far from the burn, a poke about the margins of a pond in the dunes turned up Sea Club-rush (Bolboschoenus maritimus), Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre) and Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) among other more common species.
Having explored the coastal areas of the site, all that remained was a walk along the coast path which bisects the reserve. Towards the South of the site, the pools came up trumps with the delightful flowers of Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre), yet more Common Spotted-orchids and several examples of the hybrid between this and Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza x venusta). There was also the opportunity to compare Hemlock (Conium maculatum) with its namesake Hemlock Water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata). They may look quite different but both are rather toxic.
Veering off slightly to explore a particularly exciting damp flush, the group were pleased to see the delicate flowers of Celery-leaved Buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) growing where the cattle used for conservation grazing had kindly disturbed the ground. Here too, one of the day’s target species was found in the form of several blooming Marsh Helleborines (Epipactis palustris). East Chevington appears to be the last bastion of this orchid in the vice-county though even here, it is far from numerous.
Having had our fill of the flush, it was back to the path for dash to a secluded corner of the reserve and something a little special, though not before pausing to admire the abundance of Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium) and Dyer’s Greenweed (Genista tinctoria) growing in ranker areas. The latter is a particularly scarce plant locally and a real beauty.
Reaching our destination, everyone present was soon elated with the sight of the seventh and final orchid of the outing – the Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia). This species has declined horribly across much of the UK and is now present at only a handful of sites locally. Here, however, it is doing well, thanks in no small part to targeted management by the Trust.
And there we have it, a not-so-short round-up of a great series of trips to East Chevington. Of course, there was plenty more plantlife to see and enjoy, some of the more interesting of which I have included below for reference. All that remains to be said here is that East Chevington is a wonderful site for a whole manner of interesting plants. I wonder what else will pop up in the near future?
A quick account of a fantastic botanical outing to the famed Hen Hole, one of the Cheviot’s hidden gems.
Last Sunday I finally ticked off an ambition I’ve held since I first became involved with botanical recording in Northumberland – a visit to the fabled Hen Hole gorge, located at the foot of the Cheviot. Now, as well as being perhaps one of the most remote and beautiful areas of the county, this site is fabled locally as a botanical hotspot. A ‘must-see site’ in a local context.
Visited by successive generations of botanists from Baker & Tate to George Swan, Hen Hole is renowned as one of the few sites locally at which to observe a range of rare arctic-alpine plants, from Alpine Saw-wort (Saussurea alpina) to Roseroot (Rhodiola rosea). Unique quirks outstanding, with its dramatic landscape and tantalizing plants, it reminded me a lot of Upper Teesdale.
Spoiler: we saw neither the saw-wort nor Roseroot – our legs had all but given in by the time we reached the fabled spot. A full account of the history and botanical notability of Hen Hole can, however, be found here courtesy of Chris Metherell.
While we didn’t catch up with the famed rarities on our first visit, there was still lots to see and no end of incredible scenery to enjoy. Some of this is summarised below…
Setting out…Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile)Hat definitely needed in the blazing sunA surprisingly chipper Matt
Beginning our hike at Mounthooly, the walk to the gorge was an enjoyable one. We passed first through an area of stunted woodland where it was exciting to note Red-berried Elder (Sambucus racemosa) and later, through a large expanse of grassland rich in sedges, great drifts of Silver Hair-grass (Aira caryophyllea) and large expanses of both Hare’s-tail (Eriophorum vaginatum) and Common Cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium).
It wasn’t until we reached the rocky, moss-laden banks of the College Burn that things began to get really interesting. Here, in the splash zone, rocks were adorned by New Zealand Willowherb (Epilobium brunnescens), an invader, and plenty of Starry Saxifrage (Micranthes stellaris), a most pretty native. More interesting still, we also encountered a few examples of Alpine Willowherb (Epilobium anagallidifolium), one of the area’s specialties, and Matt was drawn to a creeping mass of forget-me-nots which lo and behold, turned out to be Pale Forget-me-not (Myosotis stolonifera). Another one off the bucket list.
Inspecting the banks further, areas of scree and exposed stone on the site of previous collapses proved interesting, most notably for their ferns. Here, the dominant species seemed to be Narrow Male-fern (Dryopteris cambrensis), a new one for me. There were also a few examples of the common Male-fern (Dryopertis filix-mas) in there too and, much more exciting, several examples of Parsley Fern (Cryptogramma crispa) which we diligently mapped. I do like this one and if my memory serves, this is only the second site at which I’ve seen it up here.
Beyond these, other sightings included Wood Crane’s-bill (Geranium sylvaticum), Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) and some likely Mountain Male-ferns (Dryopteris oreades) grouped together on the steep slopes opposite. I left these to scramble to next time but the sight of multiple ‘shuttlecock’ growths clustered together looked promising.
Beginning our ascent into the gorge, things became more interesting still. Not least the scenery with multiple waterfalls, including the well-known Three Sisters, coupled with slopes, scree, and some hulking outcrops. Were I a geologist, I’d surely have been elated.
Here too, insects became more prominent with plenty of Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) butterflies darting about and astronomical quantities of bees. The most notable of these being Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola) found on almost every patch of Wild Thyme (Thymus drucei) we encountered. We also spotted Heath Bumblebee (Bomus jonellus) and Forest Cuckoo Bee (Bombus sylvestris).
Impressive bouldersThe three sistersBilberry Bumblebees (Bombus monticola)Thew view, a little higher up
Dalience with bees concluded, our attention turned back to the plants, and here with enjoyed more of the same, albeit in greater quantity. New additions came from Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), a carnivorous plant, and Chickweed Willowherb (Epilobium alsinifolium), another of the area’s specialties. Annoyingly, in my excitement, I forgot to photograph this!
Upon hauling ourselves up the final waterfall, we were greeted by the pleasant sight of many Heath Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza maculata) in full bloom, alongside less striking plants in Deergrass (Trichophorum germanicum) and Carnation Sedge (Carex panicea).
Feeling the strain in our legs and realising that we had spent almost five hours exploring already, we concluded our trip here. Had I gone a little further, and up a few more hills, we likely would have encountered several of the more specialised plants mentioned in Chris’ report above. That said, there’s always next time and I plan to return in July alongside a few friends to explore further. Throughout the walk, I did manage 150+ records which gets me off to a good start at least!
Since becoming a botanical co-recorder for North Northumberland (VC68) I’ve been gradually getting acquainted with some of the area’s notable botanical sites. Hen Hole was right there at the top of the list and as far as first impressions go, it was wonderful. I’ll be back soon…
An account of a wonderful weekend on the coast taking in Embleton Quarry, Bamburgh and other sites.
Last weekend, Matt and I had the pleasure of spending two days galavanting around North Northumberland and while botany was not the only purpose of trip, there was more than enough to keep this botanist happy throughout.
Saturday first and a visit to the fabulous Embleton Quarry, a relatively new nature reserve owned and managed by the community of nearby and namesake town. A former quarry and landfill site, it has been lovelingly restored to a quiet santuary for both people and nature.
Arriving at Embleton Quarry
Setting off into the reserve, I was immediately drawn to a rather striking fumitory growing on a disturbed patch beside the path. Jackpot I thought, this site is afterall known for the rare Purple Ramping-fumitory (Fumaria purpurea) but alas, it was far too early for that. Instead, what we found was a healthy example of White Ramping-fumitory (Fumaria capreolata). Still a pretty scarce plant up here and nice to see.
On a wall close to the entrance, we also encountered several nice examples of Black Spleenwort (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum), while the pathsides by the track into the reserve held a real mix of oddities. White-form Hedgerow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pyrenaicum), Perennial Cornflower (Centaurea montana) and Lamb’s-ear (Stachys byzantina) included. The latter recorded for the first time in the vice-county here by Chris Metherell a few years earlier.
Further into the site where the path begins to splay out in all directions, it was nice to see the hybird of Red and White Campion (Silene x hampeana) growing beside its parents while Matt was drawn to a renegade Garden Peony (Paeonia officinalis) growing among a patch of scrub. He does like a garden escape!
Spending a bit of time milling about the grasslands at Embleton Quarry, it was nice to spot our first ‘real’ display of Northern Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza purpurella) of the year. There were quite literally hundreds of them blooming across damper areas. In drier areas nearby, the exquisite red flowers of Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis) could be seen, as could a large patch of Garden Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), a pretty frequent escape these days. Concluding our fleeting visit, a few other interesting invaders were to be had close to the periphary of nearby homes. The most interesting of these were Hidcote Comfrey (Symphytum x hidcotense), a first for me, and Poet’s Daffodil (Narcissus poeticus), ever the last narcissus to bloom each year.
For those interested, non-botanical highlights from Embleton Quarry included Buffish Mining Bee, Wall, Common Blue, Vestal Cuckoo Bee and lots of Tree Sparrows. A pitiful list but my eyes were focused mostly on the ground!
Next on Saturday’s agenda was a quick pitstop at a local train station known to host a colony of Rustyback (Asplenium ceterach), a scarce fern in these parts. Sure enough, we quickly found three plants growing in masonry beside the platform – a joyous sight to a someone usually confined to the urban extremes of Newcastle where this species doesn’t occur.
Concluding our trip with a stop-off at Bamburgh (complete with epic views of the castle) a few interesting odds and ends were had along the circular route around the ramparts. A nice medley of Thrift (Armeria maritima), Sea Campion (Silene uniflora) and naturalised Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri) was certainly a welcome sight. Once again, however, it was alien plants that stole the show and slightly further south, it came as a surprise to see the dunes awash with the blousy red blooms of Oriental Poppy (Papaver setiferum). Indeed, I have never before seen this species beyond the confines of gardens!
Bamburgh Castle. An iconic vista if ever there was one…Sea Campion (Silene uniflora)
Mixed in with the poppies, the familiar blooms of another fence-hopper, Bearded Iris (Iris germanica) could be seen and along the path to the village, gardens and roadsides had been colonised by Leopard’s-bane (Doronicum pardalianches). After that, all that remained was a sortie for ice-cream and much-needed after sun.
Matt with a sea of Oriental Poppy (Papaver setiferum)Oriental Poppy (Papaver setiferum)Oriental Poppy (Papaver setiferum)Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)
Monday now and with the sun beaming yet again, we opted to explore a different stretch of the coast. Heading this time for a very busy Craster, the aim was to walk the mile or so North to Dunstanburgh Castle, though not before stopping just outside the village to track down another patch of Rustyback on a roadside wall. We succeeded!
Cutting a long story short, the walk between Craster and the castle proved uneventful and dare I say it, a little boring. Much of the grassland along this stretch of coastline has been grazed and trampled to within an inch of its life and interesting plants are in short supply. We did find a small, sickly patch of Purple Milk-vetch (Astragalus danicus) near the castle, though this was a shadow of what it would be absent the wooly grazing machines.
A little downtroden by the poor diversity of the former site, before heading home we decided to stop at one I knew would be more exciting – Cullernose Point, a delightful stretch of coastline complete with cove, grassy clifftops and ample seabirds. Located just South of Craster, this is a really lovely site to visit in early-summer.
First on the agenda at Cullernose was the colony of Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinum) known the inhabit the various nooks and crannies under the cliffs here. Sure enough, after a little scrambling, we found several rather healthy plants tucked away out of sight of passers-by. This isn’t a common plant in VC68 with only a scant few colonies strewn between here and Berwick in the North.
Moving upward from the beach, next came a stop at the clifftops where (mercifully) some rather large expanses of Purple Milk-vetch were in full flower. A real local speciality, this one is without doubt a real beauty. With it, plenty of Spring Squill (Scilla verna) could be seen too, another notable plant which while it had gone slightly over, still looked good in places.
Also noted at Cullernose were Sea Campion, Northern Marsh Orchid, Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris), Heath Groundsel (Senecio sylvaticus) and Kidney-vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), though the rest of the flora here failed to top the splendor of the afformentioned plants.
The North Northumberland coast really is a thing of beauty. I look forward to exploring it further over the weeks ahead.
A short account of a spring visit to the botanical paradise that is Upper Teesdale.
As part of an ongoing course I’m leading for the Natural History Society of Northumbria, this past Saturday I had the pleasure of visiting the botanical paradise that is Upper Teesdale. Stopping first at Cow Green reservoir and travelling later to Bowlees for a walk upstream at Low Force, there was a great deal to see. Not least a great many fascinating plants! Highlights of our trip are captured below though this is far from exhaustive. Indeed, one of the few problems associated with visiting Teesdale is that there is always way too much to take in…
Cow Green first and having met attendees in the car park, we soon set off along the natural trail stopping every few meters to admire the flora of the sugar limestone here. Spring Gentians (Gentiana verna), perhaps the most sought-after of Teesdale’s plants, were numerous along the track sides and we paused too to admire Mountain Pansy (Viola lutea), Blue Moor Grass (Sesleria caerulea) and many Common Dog-violets (Viola riviniana) which try as we might, we could not transform into the fabled Teesdale Violet (Viola rupestris).
Further along the trail, our next stop was the series of sykes (wet flushes) that spill out over the track. Here we noted many blooming Bird’s-eye Primrose (Primula farinosa), another must-see plant, alongside the diminutive Variegated Horsetail (Equisetum variegatum), several examples of Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) and a curious sedge retrospectively identified as Rare Spring-sedge (Carex ericetorum). We might have found far more here but alas, we did need to keep to schedule!
Grassland and exposed rocky areas beside the trail here also held an interesting mix of relic Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa), Spring Sandwort (Minuartia verna) and Knotted Pearlwort (Sagina nodosa) as well as commoner plants in Thrift (Armeria maritima), Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima) and Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna).
Heading back to our cars, our attention was drawn to a striking, blonde bumblebee basking on a tussock – a queen Moss Carder Bee (Bombus muscorum)! This isn’t a species I see often at all and it was nice to finally spot one in typical upland habitat. A stop at a rocky outcrop along the roadside here also provided a few interesting ferns, most notably Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride), but there were also examples of Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. trichomanes). In the car park, a rather colourful beetle was revealed to be Carabus nitens – perhaps the most colourful of the UK’s ground beetles.
Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride)Carabus nitensMoss Carder Bee (Bombus muscorum)
Following Cow Green, the decision was taken to relocate to Bowlees and following a spot of lunch at the superb visitor centre, we set off towards Low Force. Though not before stopping to admire a good-sized patch of Good-King-Henry (Blitum bonus-henricus) flowering at the roadside. At Low Force itself, insects breifly took over and we all enjoyed the sight of a huge nesting aggregation of Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria), as well as its associated cuckoo, Lathbury’s Nomad Bee (Nomada lathburiana). Here too there were Sandpit Mining Bee (Andrena barbilabris) and a few Clarke’s Mining Bee (Andrena clarkella) foraging on willow. Not to mention the whopping Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus) shown below.
The plants at Low Force were interesting also with Bitter Vetch (Lathyrus linifolius), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) and Tea-leaved Willow (Salix phylicifolia) noted.
Refocusing our efforts on the plants growing along the Tees, we were amazed by the diversity of the riverside flora pausing every few yards to admire something new. Globeflower (Trollius europaeus) was a highlight for many but we also observed Pyrenean Scurvygrass (Cochlearia pyrenaica), False Oxlip (Primula × polyantha), and Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum).
We never did make it as far as High Force, the intended end point of the day’s outing – botanists seldom move at a brisk pace. We did, however, reach the mid-point where we were pleased to encounter Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa), Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale) and Stone Bramble (Rubus saxatilis) growing in the fissured rock lining the banks of the Tees.
Stone Bramble (Rubus saxatilis)Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa)
All in all, we had a fantastic day in Teesdale. For several people, this marked their first experience of this wonderful part of the world and I’d like to think that many will be back in the future to explore the area further. I certainly will – even with three visits this year alone, I fear I am only just scratching the surface.
Admiring a patch of Spring SandwortExamining Shrubby CinquefoilMore Shrubby Cinquefoil!A chance encounter with False OxlipNope, it definitely isn’t Teesdale VioletObligatory group shot
A short round-up of an excellent few days spent recording alien plants in Newcastle.
Last weekend was a busy one on the botanical front. On Saturday, alongside members of the Northumberland Botany Group, I spend a good few hours rummaging around Jesmond Dene and on Sunday, another urban flora square found Matt and I botanising the banks of the Tyne at Elswick. Both trips yielded a range of interesting sightings and of course, a great many fascinating alien plants.
Jesmond Dene
Jesmond Dene first and aside from a whole host of interesting ferns, our walk was dominated by exotics. Starting out, a quick look at spring bulbs proved productive with three species of crocus: Early Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus), Yellow Crocus (Crocus x luteus), and Spring Crocus (Crocus neapolitanus), by far the commest urban species. It was nice too to note a single Greater Snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii) too.
Nearby, the more established aliens were on full show. Milling around near Pet’s Corner, we noted Wilson’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida), Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa), and Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) and by the Ouseburn, the first leaves of Abrahem-Isaac-and-Jacobs (Trachystemon orientalis) were just starting to emerge.
Further into the dene, a far larger patch of Abrahem-Isaacs-and-Jacobs was in full flower and we were surprised to find both Bear’s-breeches (Acanthus mollis) and a large patch of Italian Lords-and-Ladies (Arum italicum) by the Ouseburn. A lone patch of Kidney-saxifrage (Saxifraga hirsuta) draped across the riverside stones by the stepping stones was also looking lovely. Add to this Winter Heliotrope (Petasites pyrenaicus) and some introduced Wood-spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. robbiae) showing signs of absconding and there was certainly lots to see.
The Victorians and later, successive generations of park managers have displayed a tendency to plant random things in the dene. This is starkly apparent in the trees present – Wellingtonia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) to name but one – but also in the shrub layer. Looking closer at a few of these, we noted Sweet Box (Sarcococca confusa), Yellow Azalea (Rhododendron luteum), and a new one for me in American Holly (Ilex opaca).
Jesmond Dene is an odd place but an interesting one from an urban botanist’s point of view.
Group members admiring a fern
Elswick Riverside
Fast forward to Sunday now and keen to keep progressing with the ongoing and slightly daunting Urban Flora of Newcastle, Matt and I headed for Elswick for a potter along the riverbanks there.
Now, there were a few interesting native species to be seen here – Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) was certainly welcome and Wild Celery (Apium graveolens) isn’t common in the city. Despite this, however, it was the aliens that drew attention. Mere minutes after leaving the car, we were greeted by a huge patch of Stinking Helleborine (Helleborus foetidus) growing in the riverside walls and further upstream, a surprise in Spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola) in full bloom.
Many of the shrubs growing in the walls here have clearly escaped the confines of the nearby industrial estate. Ignoring any that seemed planted, we recorded Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) and more notably, Chinese Barberry (Berberis julianae) growing seemingly wild. There was even an Oleaster in there too but alas, I struggle with those.
Stinking Helleborine (Helleborus foetidus) Trying to get close to the Spurge-laurelSpurge-laurel (Daphne laureola)Chinese Barberry (Berberis julianae)
Of course, when speaking of absconding shrubs, you cannot help but touch on cotoneasters. Here, there were a good 6-7 species growing in close proximity. Among these, some like Wall Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horozontalis), Willow-leaved Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster salicifolius) and Waterer’s Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster x watereri) are commonplace in Newcastle. Others, however, were more noteworthy. Here too there was Swedish Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster x suecicus), Small-leaved Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster microphyllus) and Late Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lacteus) at what seems to be only its second local site.
All in all an interesting few days and a handful of urban flora ticks to boot…
A short account of a frosty trip to Hareshaw Linn in Northumberland last weekend
Hareshaw Linn, a designated SSSI near Bellingham in Northumberland, is a truly lovely spot. One which I have visited previously in summer (writing about it here) but never during the colder months. Given the site’s reputation as a botanical hotspot perhaps that is little wonder – most plants tend to vanish in winter – but keen to get out and about in the winter air, we thought we would give it a go anyway. We certainly weren’t disappointed.
Ferns are a real specialty of Hareshaw Linn with the wooded valley and shady slopes here playing host to myriad rare and unusual species. While many of the ground-dwelling species had been flattened by recent frosts, during our walk, we noted several species including Lady-fern (Athyrium filix-femina), Male-fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) and Hard-fern (Blechnum spicant). The scaly ferns had taken a battering but it was still possible to discern Golden-scaled Male-fern (Dryopteris affinis) and its cousin, Borrer’s Scaly Male-fern (Dryopteris borreri). Hard Shield-fern (Polystichum aculeatum) with its rigid fronds also proved numerous – a welcome change to other sites I have visited recently.
Ferns growing higher up on rocks and trees seemed to have fared better than their relatives on the floor. On tree trunks strewn throughout the gorge, we noted both Common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) and Intermediate Polypody (Polypodium interjectum), while boulders held Brittle Bladder-fern (Cystopteris fragilis) too. Of course, the area around the waterfall proved most productive with both local specialties observed. Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis) can be seen in good numbers here at its only Northumberland site. Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride) was harder to come by but still present.
Of course, ferns are not the only thing to appreciate about Hareshaw Linn. The site is rather beautiful in any season but now, in the depths of winter, looks remarkable clad in snow and ice. Given the sub-zero temperatures, the famed waterfall here had partially frozen making for an impressive sight. Better still was the presence of ice pancakes on the burn itself. Believed to form when foam floating on the water’s surface begins to freeze, this was the first time either of us had seen these. An impressive sight!
A frozen plunge pool beneath the fallsThe Hareshaw waterfall with Matt for scaleIce pancakesAttempting to photograph said pancakes
While everything looked more than a tad wintery at the Linn, signs of spring could also be seen and heard. The leaves of typical spring flowers such as Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) had begun to appear and in the wood, various birds had begun singing. It was nice to catch the drumming of Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) in particular.
This weekend provided a nice opportunity for our new local botany group to visit Walker Riverside. Here’s what we encountered.
Botany (and wildlife recording in general) can often be a solitary affair. For many of us, I suspect, myself included, that suits us just fine. At least most of the time. Sometimes, however, it is nice to do things as a group. Not least only for the company but also for the support and increased brainpower that comes with combining noggins!
It is for the reasons listed above that a few friends and I wanted to get the ball rolling on a new informal group for botanists North of the Tyne. Both to make things a little more social and support one another and to ensure that we’re working with local experts to capture important plant records. I am pleased to say that this weekend, this came to fruition with our merry band meeting for the first time at Walker Riverside in Newcastle.
As you’ll see from the photos below, we had a jolly good day and learned a lot. A big thank you to those who came along! Now, what about the plants?
A lesson in Speedwell IDScrutinising some Black SpleenwortOh no, a St. John’s WortObligatory group shotSt. Peter’s MarinaPhotographing Clustered Bellflower
Walker is a very diverse site I have written about several times. What never fails to surprise here is the tendency for it to throw up new and unusual discoveries, several of which were made during our visit. Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) was a particularly interesting one and nice to compare with some nearby Common Ivy (Hedera helix) and Persian Ivy (Hedera colchica). Megs Rogers, VCR for South Northumberland, also came up trumps with a candidate for Small Gorse (Ulex minor) and last month’s county first Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata) was also admired. The latter ID may well change now someone more knowledgeable than I has taken a look…
As a group, we also noted several other interesting plants between St. Peter’s Basin and Walker Riverside Park. Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) was still in bloom, as was Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) and Green Field-speedwell (Veronica agrestis). Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) was a nice find on the cycleway, and rare locally, and it was nice to note Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acer) still clinging on. A few other finds are mentioned alongside some excellent photography in Ho-Yin Wong’s tweet below.
Revisited Walker today with the new botany recording group led by @CommonByNature
Some finds include: Rubus tricolor/Chinese Bramble; Catoneaster salicifolius/Willow-leaved Cotoneaster; Erigeron sumatrensis/Gurnsey Fleabane; and some E. acer/Blue Fleabane still flowering. pic.twitter.com/t1XCNMpWWd
Having never tried my hand at aphid identification, this Summer proved quite a steep learning curve!
No, I haven’t gone mad. Spending a lot of time looking at both plants and ladybirds, it is inevitable that you’re going to encounter your fair share of aphids too. This year, while rummaging in pine trees, shrubbery and weedy verges, I have certainly seen a good number. Of course, this has meant trying to identify a few of the little green blighters for myself (okay, relatively few are actually green!).
Now, to say I am that I am a beginner with regard to aphids would be a colossal understatement. I haven’t a clue really but am fairly confident about those shown below. Mostly because they appear to be some of the more obvious aphids out there. How many do you recognise?
Pink Tansy Aphid (Metopeurum fuscoviride) on Tansy
A really nice one to start with and I believe these delightful little pink and grey aphids are Pink Tansy Aphids (Metopeurum fuscoviride). Found (of course) on Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), they have peachy bodies and blackened rear ends. Having found these first at Walker Riverside, I have since recorded them a few times locally. Not that anyone verifies aphids on iRecord – perhaps I am getting a tad niche!
Ragwort Aphid (Aphis jacobaeae) on Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)
A slightly daunting one given that there seem to be only three records of this species on NBN. That said, I think these blackish-looking aphids are Ragwort Aphids (Aphis jacobaeae) on account of their dark green colour and pruinose appearance. They were also found on Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) which helped narrow it down.
Rose Aphid (Macrosiphum rosae) on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.)
Slightly less of a punt with this one. I think the aphids shown above with their dark kneecaps and feet are Rose Aphid (Macrosiphum rosae). As you can see from the picture, the colour of these critters ranged from lime green to rosy pink. These were recorded on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.),
Mugwort Aphid (Macrosiphoniella artemisiae) on an ornamental Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Quite an attractive little aphid with a powdered, grey-green body and striking black legs, I think these are Mugwort Aphids (Macrosiphoniella artemisiae). They were found on Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) by a busy roadside close to Gosforth Nature Reserve. As is often the case, having noticed them once, I have now spotted them in several locations – despite there being no verified local records. As far as aphid identification goes, these are fairly nice.
Yarrow Aphid (Macrosiphoniella millefolii) on Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
I do like a species which is (almost) identifiable by foodplant. Strolling through Gosforth Nature Reserve this summer, I was pleased to spot the above aphids crowded on Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). A little googling and it looks like they are the aptly named Yarrow Aphid (Macrosiphoniella millefolii). Slightly less ‘powdery’ than the former species, these have brownish as opposed to black legs.
Black Cherry Aphid (Myzus cerasi)Myzus cerasi damage to Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
Spotted not by the aphids themselves, but by the damage caused to my local Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) trees, there is little doubt these are Black Cherry Aphid (Myzus cerasi). They are known to cause the crinkled, deformed leaves shown in the picture above. A shiny, brown to plum-coloured aphid, they are tended by ants which offer protection as they remain concealed with the leaf.
Large Pine Aphid (Cinara pinea) swept from Scots Pine
I like this one. Apparently a favourite food of our conifer specialist ladybirds, this impressive, gold-looking creature is the Large Pine Aphid (Cinara pinea). A great brute of an insect, at least by aphid standards, it was found on Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). This species appears brown/gold while young before turning grey later on. They’re also dotted in fine black spots just about visible in the above picture.
Dyer’s Broom Aphid (Aphis genistae) on Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum)
If I am not horribly wrong, I am quite excited about this one. Indeed, walking along Scotswood Road a few months past, I was surprised to find a planted Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) completely covered in frosted-looking aphids. A black aphid covered in a waxy meal, there are currently only three records of Dyer’s Broom Aphid (Aphis genistae) on NBN.
Sycamore Aphid (Drepanosiphum platanoidis) on Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Probably the most recognisable aphid, this (I think) is the one known for covering unfortunately parked cars in excrement at the height of summer. Turning over Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) leaves at Prudhoe in the summer, I was pleased to find lots of what I think are Sycamore Aphids (Drepanosiphum platanoidis). The dark cross-bars associated with this species aren’t yet showing in the individual above but I think it was pretty young.
Large Knapweed Aphid (Uroleucon jaceae) on Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)
Probably the one I’m least sure of now but with femora part pale, part dark and given the host plant, I am fairly sure these are Large Knapweed Aphids (Uroleucon jaceae). Not a species recorded frequently at all, it is a reddish/maroon colour with black tubercles and contrasting legs. Interestingly given a surplus of local Knapweed, I have only noted these once.
