Ancient woodland indicator species are plants that take a long time to colonise new areas. Because they prefer the stable, undisturbed conditions of long-established woods, they can help us tell whether a woodland is truly ancient.
The exact species to look for vary from county to county. Spotting just one doesn’t prove much on its own, but the more indicator species you find, the more likely it is that the woodland has been there for centuries.
Below is the current list of ancient woodland indicator species for Northumberland, which includes flowering plants, grasses, and ferns that are used locally to identify this special habitat. A separate list for County Durham can be found online (here). As a rule of thumb, finding at least 10 species gives a good chance of confirming ancient woodland. The more you find, the stronger the evidence and usually, the healthier the woodland.
At the end of the list, you’ll also see a few extra species. These aren’t on the official list, but I’ve included them because they have a strong connection with ancient woodland in this area.
Herbaceous Plants
Field MapleAcer campestre
MoschatelAdoxa moschatellina
RamsonsAllium ursinum
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
Lords-and-ladiesArum maculatum
Giant BellflowerCampanula latifolia
Alternate-leaved Golden SaxifrageChrysosplenium alternifolium
With so many plant ID apps available, it can be hard to know where to turn when trying to identify that pesky plant. Here, we set out to discover which plant app truly stands out as the best choice for beginner botanists
Though it may beggar belief, a post I shared here on Common By Naturecomparing the best plant ID apps for beginner botanists, has become my most-viewed article to date, racking up over 25,000 views since 2022. Clearly, this is a popular topic, and more and more people are turning to plant identification apps to help identify their botanical finds. With that in mind, I thought it was time to revisit the topic three years on.
As I said back then, plant ID apps are a contentious subject among many botanists. Some dismiss them outright, claiming they’re unreliable and detract from what purists might call “proper” botany. Others take a more open-minded approach and, even among relative experts, treat plant ID apps as just another tool in their botanical toolkit, much like a hand lens or a wildflower guide.
Wherever you stand on the issue, it is clear that plant apps are here to stay. Thanks to advances in image recognition and Artificial Intelligence (AI), these apps are becoming more accurate, more sophisticated, and increasingly useful for enthusiastic amateurs and budding botanists alike. Not only to help identify unfamiliar plants but also as a means by which to deepen their interest and engagement with the natural world.
Of the many plant ID apps available, a few names crop up again and again. Most people will have heard of PlantNet, Seek, or Google Lens. Others, like Flora Incognita, are a little less well known, but all aim to do the same thing. The question is: are any of them truly a cut above the rest when it comes to plant identification?
Inspired by the ongoing interest in my original post, I decided to return to the subject three years later to find out what the best plant app is today.
Once again, some ground rules
Just like last time, and to standardise our little plant app experiment, I’ve introduced a few rules to keep things fair:
One image only. While some apps allow for multiple images, we wouldn’t want to give any one of them an unfair advantage, would we?
Quality images. We’ll only use clear photos showing enough of the plant to reach an accurate identification.
British plants. I’ve chosen species that are commonly found in Britain, making the test more relevant to British botanists. That said, the odd non-native or garden escapee might sneak in too, just to keep things interesting.
A small change
This time, I thought I’d make things a bit more challenging for our candidate plant apps by including several trickier groups of plants. Whereas last time we focused mainly on flowering species, this round will feature grasses, ferns, and even a sedge. That should really test their mettle…
On reflection, I’ve also decided to drop the “leaves only” rule. Realistically, most people are going to be using plant apps to identify flowers, so it makes sense to reflect that in the test. We’ll also be testing three more identification apps not covered in my last post.
Meet the subjects
I’ve selected the ten plants below based on their varying levels of difficulty. Some, like Herb-paris and Caper Spurge, should be relatively straightforward for the apps to identify. Others — Sea Spleenwort, for instance — may prove more of a challenge. The inclusion of Mountain Melic is admittedly a bit mean, given the lack of clear identification features, but hey, this is my blog, and we’re here to really put these plant apps to the test, aren’t we?
For comparison’s sake, we’ll stick with a similar scoring system to the one used in the previous post. Any plant app that correctly identifies the plant as their first choice will receive 1 point. If the correct plant appears lower down the list, points will be deducted based on its position. For example, if Oxford Ragwort comes as the fourth suggestion, it would earn 0.6 points. I may also award bonus points in certain cases if an app manages to genuinely impress me.
Garden Privet Ligustrum ovalifolium
Beech Fern Phegopteris connectilis
Oxford Ragwort Senecio squalidus
Mountain Melic Melica nutans
Sea Spleenwort Asplenium marinum
Herb-paris Paris quadrifolia
Remote Sedge Carex remota
Dog-violet Viola riviniana
Caper Spurge Euphorbia lathyris
Chickweed- wintergreen Lysimachia europaea
Score (0-10)
PlantNet
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 0.7
✔ 1
✔ 1
9.7/10
PlantSnap
✖
✖
✖
✖ 0.1 (it did get Melica)
✖
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.1/10 (Stopped counting)
Picture This
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✖
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
9/10
LeafSnap
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 0.9
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
9.9/10
Seek
✔ 1
✔ 1
✖
✔ 1
✖0.1 (Spleenwort, at least)
✔ 1
✖0.1 (It did get sedge)
✖
✔ 1
✔ 1
6.2/10
GoogleLens
✖ 0.5 (Points for privet)
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✖
✔ 1
✖
✖0.1 (for violet
✔ 1
✔ 1
6.7/10
FloraIncognita
✔ 0.9
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✖
✔ 1
✔ 1
8.9/10
Obsidentify
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 0.9
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
9.9/10
And there we have it, gang — a winner! Well, two actually, and only just by the skin of their teeth. In our little test, ObsIdentify and Leafsnap came out on top, closely followed by PlantNet, with PictureThis a smidgen behind. We’ll take a closer look at those top performers shortly, but first, let’s talk about the plant apps you might want to avoid…
The Losers
If you’re looking for an accurate plant app, best give these ones a miss. Particularly the first…
PlantSnap (0.1/10)
So bad I gave up…
PlantSnap struggled at nearly every turn, misidentifying four out of five plants and earning only a fractional bonus point for narrowing down Mountain Melic to the correct genus. Even more frustrating is its restrictive usage model — users are granted only a handful of free identifications before being hit with a 12-hour delay, clearly designed to push non-subscribers toward paying. Based on what I’ve seen, paying for this app would be, frankly, a waste of money.
PlantSnap performed poorly in our first test back in 2022, and despite the time that’s passed, it’s obvious little has improved. My advice? Avoid this one at all costs.
Seek (6.2/10)
iNaturalist is improving, but not enough…
The last time we tested Seek, it performed abysmally and earned a rather negative review. I’m pleased to report that the app has shown some improvement. By correctly identifying six species — including both a grass and a fern — it managed to impress me to some degree.
That said, it’s still not quite strong enough for me to recommend it as a go-to plant ID tool. There are certainly better options available. Seek failed outright on Oxford Ragwort and Dog-violet, two fairly common species, and struggled with the sedge and one of the trickier ferns.
Given iNaturalist’s popularity among biological recorders, you’d hope Seek would perform better. For now, it still falls short of the mark.
Google Lens (6.7/10)
Meh, should do better with all that funding…
Google Lens is an immensely popular app, built into many smartphones by default. It has a wide range of uses — and performs well in many of them — but when it comes to plant identification, it falls slightly short of the mark.
Once again, it struggled with sedges and ferns, performed poorly on Dog-violet, and, somewhat surprisingly, failed to correctly identify Privet. Given the vast resources behind it, I expected better. While it’s certainly not the worst option out there, I still wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking to accurately identify botanical finds.
In short, it’s far from the best plant ID app available.
Better Choices
Flora Incognita (8.9/10)
The worst of the good apps, but only just…
I had never used Flora Incognita before and didn’t include it in the last test, so I was genuinely excited to give it a try this time around. Truth be told, it performed quite well — just fractionally behind the top-performing apps — and deserves credit for correctly identifying both Sea Spleenwort and Remote Sedge, two species that tripped up several of the less accurate contenders. The only plant it really struggled with was, once again, the Dog-violet.
One particularly nice feature of Flora Incognita is that it allows users to make an initial classification (e.g. herb, shrub, grass, or fern) to help narrow down the search. It also supports multiple photo uploads, which I didn’t take advantage of this time but suspect could have improved the results. Another welcome touch is the inclusion of a confidence level with each ID suggestion — a small detail that adds transparency to the process.
All in all, this is a relatively strong choice for plant identification, and one I’d be happy to use again.
PictureThis (9/10)
Getting better all the time, and very nearly perfect…
PictureThis impressed me this time around, I must say. With the exception of Remote Sedge, it correctly identified all the plants down to species level with relative ease. The app is sleek, user-friendly, and offers a generally smooth experience. Its plant health assessment feature might not be of much interest to botanists, but it could be a welcome bonus for gardeners.
For those who enjoy background detail, PictureThis provides a wealth of information covering everything from characteristics and symbolism to pests, diseases, and garden uses. As I noted back in 2022, it remains a comprehensive and reliable option, and overall, a good, safe bet for botanists.
The Winners
If you are looking for an accurate, reliable plant app to help you on your botanical excursions, I’d choose from these…
PlantNet (9.7/10)
An old favourite performs well yet again…
When I last reviewed PlantNet, I admitted to being a fan, both for its plant identification capabilities and for its useful option to search by regional floras. This feature allows users to narrow their search to a specific geographical area, helping rule out, for example, North American species when the record is actually from the UK or Greece. It performed well in the previous test, but did even better this time, correctly identifying all but one plant to species level. The only slight miss was with the Dog-violet, which it listed as the third option, behind a couple of admittedly similar species.
Once again, this app comes highly recommended. Like all plant ID apps, it shouldn’t be relied on with absolute certainty, but it remains a valuable tool in any botanist’s arsenal.
LeafSnap (9.9/10)
One of the best botanical apps out there…
LeafSnap does it again, finishing ahead of the competition in joint first place! This result echoes what we found in 2022, when the app narrowly beat out contenders like PlantNet and Seek with a respectable 5 out of 6. This time, it performed even better by correctly identifying all the plants to species level, with the exception of Sea Spleenwort, which it listed as a very respectable second option.
If I have one minor complaint, it’s that the in-app prompts and ads seem to have become more frequent since my last test. That said, they’re easy enough to navigate and, in the grand scheme of things, a small price to pay for this level of accuracy.
LeafSnap remains a strong recommendation from me. It boasts all the features you’d want in a reliable plant app.
Obsidentify (9.9/10)
I didn’t include ObsIdentify back in 2022, but I really wish I had. This is a downright impressive app that matched LeafSnap on the scorecard, receiving only a minor deduction for Remote Sedge which it listed as a second choice. It might well have nailed it with a better photo — but let’s be honest, shoddy images are part and parcel of real-world use. In truth, I can’t fault this app on design, ease of use, or accuracy.
What sets ObsIdentify apart from the competition is that, while it’s a reliable choice for plant identification, it also covers all taxa. That means it works just as well for moths, hoverflies and other wildlife groups. The only area where it still struggles is fungi, but to be fair, most fungi can’t be confidently identified from a photo alone.
If you’re looking to streamline the number of apps on your phone, this is the one I’d recommend. Not only will it help with those pesky plants, but you might also find yourself getting hooked on identifying other species too. For beginners especially, it could become a trusty companion.
It has become a bit of a tradition on this blog to share a round-up of the previous year’s highlights, discoveries and memorable moments. Indeed, it is always nice to look back and reflect, and nicer still to revisit similar posts from 2015 onwards (even if I do cringe a bit at my writing back then). As 2024 draws to a close, lets go again with some highlights of the past 12 months, both here on Common by Nature and across the wider North East.
As ever, a massive thank you to the friends, colleagues, naturalists and likeminded locals who have helped make 2024 another enjoyable and productive year. The natural history community is a thing of beauty and I am so very grateful for the advice, support and nuggets of wisdom offered once again!
Recording the Urban Flora
This one won’t surprise you – I’ve harped on about urban plants several times on this blog in 2024 [try here and here]. As many of you know, the vast majority of my time outside of work this year has been spend recording and writing an Urban Flora for Newcastle and North Tyneside – something I hope to finally bring to fruition in 2025.
This year alone, I have visited over 100 monads in the city, logged some 17,000 plant records and noted no less than 800 species growing in a wild and naturalised state among the terraces, alleyways and brownfield plots of Tyneside. Still, after several years of recording, it never ceases to amaze me just how diverse our cities actually are. From relic native plants such as Lesser Water-parsnip thriving in an urban burn and Autumn Gentian colonising a former spoil heap to hardy invaders, there is ever so much to see. Indeed, the total count for the survey area now stands at 1,020 species – that’s a fair chunk of the British flora!
A project like this would not be possible without the support of others so a huge thank you to everyone who has shared a record on iRecord this year. Particularly to Chris Barlow and James Bowyer for their helpful surveys.
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)Traveller’s-joy (Clematis vitalba)Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)Garden Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana)Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Special Places
The same places crop up time and time again in these roundups; though that is not necessarily a bad thing. We all have our favourites and for me, 2024 provided opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of the the two that matter most to me: Lindisfarne and Upper Teesdale.
I have visited Lindisfarne on no less than seven occasions this year, alone, with friends, with groups, you name it. Still, there has been an awful lot of of new spectacles to enjoy. Inspired by the Metherell’s superb book, Small Adder’s-tongue (Ophioglossum azoricum) finally revealed itself and at last, I made time to seek out the vice-county’s only example of Common Sea-lavender (Limonium vulgare). Add to that my first encounter with the island’s Coralroot Orchids (Corallorhiza trifida) and record counts of Frog Orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis) and you have the makings of a very happy botanist.
Teesdale too has been a enjoy, with careful scouring finally revealing Moonwort (Botrychium lunaria) and Shady Horsetail (Equisetum pratense). Of course, fantastic displays of Spring Gentians (Gentiana verna) were not to be scoffed at too.
Away from these places, there have been exciting excursions to Hadrian’s Wall in search of Waxcaps, Hareshaw Linn for ferns, and many, many more wonderful outings. I have been spoiled.
If there is one part of my ‘day job’ I love best, it is the opportunity to get out and about sharing natural history with others. This year, I have had the pleasure of leading some 80 sessions across the North East, visiting some wonderful places with many inspiring people.
The highlight this year has definitely been the education courses, including my new ‘Botanist’s Year’ programme delivered for NHSN which saw almost 20 visits to botanical hotspots across the region and covered everything from snowdrops and cotoneasters to willowherbs and pesky yellow composites. I am not sure about the attendees, but I had a blast. Add to this our 200 Plants and Counting Course, returning Urban Botany course and standalone sessions on grasses, trees and even a few insects, and 2024 has been a pretty productive year. I definitely feel more confident in this regard – had you known me a few years past, you would know this hasn’t always been the case.
Closer to home, NHSN’s super Gosforth’s Wild Web project has meant plenty of walks, talks and ID sessions in urban parts of Newcastle. I’ve particularly enjoyed spending time with the Friends of Hebburn Riverside Park and several bioblitzes held in Newcastle’s city parks. Truly, there is no such thing as a dull day at the office…
The BSBI New Year Plant Hunt back in JanuarySearching for Sea Spleenwort at HowickFerns at Hareshaw LinnBotany (and litter picking) in ShieldfieldSearching for fungi at HebburnFerns at Upper Teesdale
interesting Plants
As you might expect, most of this year’s interesting discoveries have taken place in and around the city. Still, there have been several and some of them at least were rather notable. Rummaging this year has revealed a good few ‘county firsts’ in the form of Egyptian Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum), Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Chia (Salvia hispanica), Lawn Lobelia (Pratia angulata), False Buck’s-beard (Astilbe japonica) and several more.
Away from the dodgy aliens, it was exciting to note Lesser Water-parsnip (Berula erecta) at Seaton Burn, a plant once thought extinct in VC67, and new populations of Rare Plant Register and local scarcities such as Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella), Common Wintergreen (Pyrola minor), and Rustyback (Asplenium ceterach).
All of this goes without mentioning the botanical ‘twitches’ that have taken place in 2024. Especially memorable are encounters with Lady Claremont’s Spleenwort (Asplenium x clermontiae) and Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis) but there have been many.
This blog has changed much since it launched in 2011. Where once it was a journal of sorts it has now become a repository for any random thought that pops into my head – identification sheets, project updates, trip reports, exciting finds, you name it. My writing here had waned somewhat over recent years but this year, it seems to have made somewhat of a resurgence. Mainly because a good few people keep reading it!
Though it beggars belief, this year, Common By Nature has been visited some 42,000 times (a 200% increase on last year) by around 34,000 individual visitors. While it is true that I have put a little more effort in, I am not entirely sure what has caused this. I still giggle that a post I published in 2022 on ‘The Best Plant ID Apps‘ continues to draw in around 100 readers per day.
I guess what I am trying to say is thank you for reading!
As someone with ASD, I confess that I am prone to heading down rabbit holes from time to time. Usually, these forays last for a few weeks before dissipating, never to emerge again. Recently however, a few of these deep dives appear to be sticking and may even become a key focus in the future.
On a light note, one of these ‘fads’ seems to have become snowdrops! Besides an obligatory glance each spring, these plants seldom got a look in before but now, seem to have become somewhat of a seasonal obsession. So much so that our tiny yarden in Heaton is now home over a dozen species and several more cultivars won in hard fought eBay auctions. This has since resulted in a great many hours spent combing the wider countryside in search of new or unrecorded species and in some cases, unique varieties. Just look at the wonderful yellow one below…
On a more serious [and far more stressful] note, I seem to have also stuck with Cotoneasters. Why, I am not sure, likely my husband would prefer it if I hadn’t given how many weekends this year have been spent searching for and identifying them – sometimes successfully. Regardless, I do love them and recently shared a concise atlas for the species found growing wild on Tyneside.
Rumour has it I’ll also be talking about them to BSBI members in a few months time…
Hollyberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster bullatus)Galanthus nivalis group ‘Sandersii’Exploring snowdrops in a Northumbrian churchyard
Looking Ahead
It is always nice to set a few resolutions for the New Year, and to publish them here so i can be held accountable when inevitably, some of them fail to come to fruition. That said, in 2025 I do have a few aspirations…
Finish the urban flora! With around 50 ‘top up’ surveys still to complete, much of next year will be spent exploring our urban plants. I do, however, hope to wrap up the project in 2025, finish writing and hopefully, find a publisher willing to print such a thing. If any readers have any ideas in this regard, I’d love to hear from you…
More, more, more! I’ve already mentioned how much I love getting out there [in good company] to explore our region’s wildlife. In 2025, I am excited to launch several new courses as part of my role with NHSN. So far, new additions included standalone sessions on willowherbs and trees, a new grasses courses taking place over four instalments, and even a programme dedicated to wetland plants. That should keep me busy. I’m also excited to lead a wee holiday for the fabulous Greenwings.
Possibly a FISC. For the last few years, I’ve been interested in putting my botanical skills to the test and taking a FISC exam with the BSBI. Next year I might just do this, we’ll see.
Rediscovering insects. Aside from ladybirds, my interest in insects has waned a little in recent years, thanks largely to a core focus on botany. Next year, however, I am keen to do both and have resolved to dust off the moth trap and sweep net and start recording invertebrates once again. So far, contenders for this insect moths, hoverflies and bees.
Write more! Given this blogs slight resurgence this year, next year I want to dedicate much more time to sharing content on Common by Nature. What format that will take, I am unsure, but should time allow, you can expect much more in 2025. I’ll also be focusing attention on my new BlueSky account if anyone would like to join me on there…
With several apps out there to choose from, just where do you turn when trying to identify a troublesome insect?
My previous post focusing on the best plant identification apps has quickly turned into one of my highest preforming blogs ever with some 15,500 views to date. It seems that has technology improves, and mobile apps become a permanent part of the naturalist’s arsenal, there is a growing desire to find the best digital assistant for wildlife recording on the go. Cue a new post!
Photo-based apps are growing in popularity across all wildlife groups and despite some turning their noses up at the idea, they are here to stay and have the possibility to engage and encourage an incredibly diverse audience. From teachers and students to citizen scientists and even, dare I say it, established naturalists, many are turning to apps to identify puzzling finds, confirm their identifications and corroborate identifications made using field guides. Moreover, technology is developing all of the time meaning apps previous dismissed as inaccurate are growing ever more reliable.
Apps associated with plants and birds are fairly commonplace and many people use them, but less discussed is the possibility of using apps to identify insects – perhaps the most diverse and tricky group of all. Despite the challenges of insect identification, there are several apps out there designed to demystify the process. In this post, I thought I would run a little experiment comparing some of the most popular…
First, some ground rules
One image only – some apps allow for multiple images but we’ll not be doing that here
Decent(ish) images – Poor quality images, lacking key features, pose problems for even the best apps (and naturalists!)
Verified species – apps will be tested only on species with a confirmed ID courtesy of an expert verifier
Native species only – I wanted to test this on insects likely to be encountered in the UK.
While some of these are easier than others, I have resisted the urge to include extremely common and familiar species which most apps will surely get right. Instead, the range of insect groups included should hopefully put our candidate apps to the test.
Apps that identify the insect as their first choice will receive 1 point. If the correct insect is identified but shown as an outlying choice, we’ll deduct points for each subsequent tier. For example, Larch Ladybird coming in as the 4th most likely option would early 0.6 points. I may give extra points in some places if the apps manage to impress me…
Oak Bush-cricket
Brown China-mark
Patchwork Leafcutter Bee
Platycheirus rosarum
Riponnensia splendens
Larch Ladybird
Capsus ater
Score (0-6)
ObsIdentify
✔ 1
✔1
✔ 0.9
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
6.9/7
Seek
✖
✔1
✖ 0.2 (It did get the family!)
✖
✖
✖
✖
0.2/7
Picture Insect
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔1
✖
✔ 1
✔ 1
6/7
Google Lens
✔ 1
✔ 1
✖ 0.2 (again, it got the family)
✖ 0.2
✖
✖ 0.2 (points for ‘ladybird’)
✖
2.6/7
ObsIdentify vs Picture Insect
And so we have our winner, or at least winners. Both ObsIdentify and Picture Insect performed extremely well during the first test and truth be told, there isn’t much between them. Let’s try them on a few more insects…
For this, we’ll trial the apps on the lovely Green Long-horn (Adela reaumurella), another true bug, Calocoris roseomaculatus, and the tiny Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura). A reasonably testing bunch!
Green Long-horn (Adela reaumurella)Calocoris roseomaculatusMeadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura)
Green Long-horn
Calocoris roseomaculatus
Meadow Ladybird
Score (0-6)
ObsIdentify
✔1
✔ 0.9
✔ 0.9
2.8/3
Picture Insect
✔1
✖ 0.2 (it brought up a very similar species)
✖ 0.2 (again, a similar species but failed to mention this one)
1.4/3
ObsIdentify (9.7/10)
Hands down the best app for insect identification
ObsIdentify performed extremely well across all insect groups and must be considered the ‘go to’ app for identifying insects. Based on the positive reviews shared elsewhere, it is perhaps unsurprising that it identified the easier Oak Bush-cricket and Brown China-mark correctly, but it surprised by accurately ID’ing the two hoverflies. Hoverfly identification can often be an arduous affair so extra brownie points here.
Of the points 0.3 points deducted in total, on all occasions this was due to a separate but similar species being put forward as its primary identification. However, in all three cases, the true species was listed in second place which at least allows users to quickly compare species and reach a judgment for themselves.
On a more practical note, ObsIdentify is very user-friendly and provides no end of handy information that some users might find interesting. It also works on more than just insects and overall, is a well-rounded and very helpful app. Top marks!
Impressive 100% confirmation of Platycheirus rosarum but do excuse the difference in namesObsIdentfy had no trouble at all with Larch Ladybird
Picture Insect (7.4/10)
Another good choice for insect enthusiasts but jut falling short
Picture Insect is a perfectly sound app and performs better than most. In the first round of testing, it excelled with the more familiar species and resulted in correct identifications when presented with more challenging species, particularly Capsus ater and Platycheirus rosarum. Both of these proved too much for apps further down the list.
A solid choice for second place, the app only fell short at the last hurdle, failing to identify Calocoris roseomaculatus and Meadow Ladybird very nearly nailed by ObsIdentify. Indeed, neither species were shown in the four available suggestions shown by Picture Insect, but it did at least put us in the right ball park.
While a good choice for use on common and familiar species, I did find the app somewhat annoying on account of the frequent pop-ups prompting paid subscription. The interface is also a little more complex that our winning option.
Correct identification of Brown China-markA wrong identification provided by Picture Insect in place of Riponnensia splendens
Google Lens (2.6/7)
This one ought to do better…
Google Lens is perhaps the most widely used app on this list, with a great many people using it for everything from foodstuffs to wildlife. Given the infrastructure behind it, it ought to have outperformed some of the less well-resourced apps but alas, failed at almost every hurdle.
Points were awarded for its success in identifying Oak Bush-cricket and Brown China-mark but beyond these, it succeeded only in correctly identifying several species to family level. If, like me, you like to know specifics, it probably isn’t for you.
Seek (1.1/7)
Not again iNaturalist…
When it comes to purpose-built wildlife identification apps, Seek by iNaturalist is perhaps the most widely known (and used) of all. Indeed, I frequently encounter students using the app at the recommendation of their lecturers and have chanced upon a fair number of naturalists using it the field. They shouldn’t bother.
Oh iNaturalist, what went wrong yet again? If you read my previous post on plant ID apps, you’ll know that Seek came almost last. It performed almost as negatively this time, succeeding only with the Brown China-mark. This is somewhat troubling given its widespread use and ties with what is fast becoming the most widespread biological recording app in the UK. Yikes.
I would avoid Seek save for its use in positive environmental engagement. Like iNaturalist who developed it, it makes wildlife recording fun and would be a great choice for weekend walks with the kids if little else.
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 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…
An update on ongoing survey carried out to map and record the diverse and fascinating Urban Flora of Newcastle.
Since October last year, I’ve been busy recording for what I am loosely calling an Urban Flora of Newcastle – an in-depth account of the wild and naturalised plants growing within the city limits. With some 52 tetrads visited so far, some more than once, I think it is going rather well. Indeed, to date, a total of 598 species have been found growing in a seemingly wild state. A startling number of plants, and a lot to get your head around!
While I am far from done – I’ll need to visit 103 tetrads in multiple seasons – the process of surveying is already yielding some interesting results, and a few difficulties too. An update on some of these can be found below.
Stumbling blocks
What exactly is urban?
What exactly constitutes an urban habitat? Is it is the presence of concrete, tarmac, or perhaps buildings? Is it the proportion of a tetrad or square occupied by man-made habitats vs natural ones? Who knows, but this is a question I have wrestled with quite a bit so far. It is for this reason that I have removed 43 tetrads from the present survey, particularly on the peripheries of the city but also including areas such as Gosforth Nature Reserve where the flora is altogether more natural. Some outliers remain, but only where greenspace is choked by urbanisation.
Trees
Trees pose a fairly unique problem with the origins of many mature specimens being questionable at best. For this reason, I have chosen to only include trees where there is clear evidence of natural spread. Saplings and suckers are far easier to assess. That said, mature trees in relic habitats have been included. Especially within the city’s wooded denes.
Suspicious shrubs
Shrubs pose a similar problem to trees and it is becoming clear that within the city, we have a tendency to plant a whole range of weird and wonderful bushes. For this reason, I taking an even more radical approach by ignoring any which look remotely suspicious. Still, despite this, there has been an awful lot to see as many species readily spread from planting schemes.
Garden weeds
Plants in gardens are always going to be contentious but with plenty of disturbed ground and pavement cracks, gardens are a good habitat for a whole host of species. Few people plant Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirtsuta) for example. Occasionally, garden plants can also be seen spreading into lawns, walls, and nearby gardens. These are fair game.
I wrote a little about urban cotoneasters in Newcastle here. What is quickly becoming clear with this difficult group is that there are plenty more out there to be discovered beside the usual Wall Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horozontalis). After the first record for VC67 a few weeks back, Swedish Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster x suecicus) has turned up at more sites still. What else is out there to be discovered?
Redwood-Sorrel
An odd find in Jesmond Dene recently was an expansive patch of Redwood-Sorrel (Oxalis oregana) on a wooded bank. This species hasn’t been recorded before in North East and likely stems from a historic introduction or perhaps a garden throw-out. It is native, as you might expect, to North America.
Atlantic Ivy
English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a common sight just about everywhere in the city. It wasn’t until recently, however, that I realised that many of these plants were not English Ivy at all. With its wider terminal lobe, green veining, and distinctive smell, Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) is no doubt hideously under-recorded. It is certainly common in several of the tetrads visited so far.
Redwood-sorrel (Oxalis oregana), Jesmond DeneSwedish Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster x suecicus), Ouseburn
Newcastle’s changing flora
Shifting Fleabanes
Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) is a common sight in the city – in gardens, pavements, and ruderal patches. Its cousin, Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) is historically much rarer but surprisingly, is cropping up at more sites than expected often in great numbers.
Narrow-leaved Ragwort
Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens) is another species on the increase. Only a few years back, it was only really present at a few spots along the Tyne but is now appearing by roadsides (and within gardens) elsewhere in the city. Recently, I also encountered what could be a hybrid between this and the commoner Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) but alas, I will need to watch it throughout the summer. I live in hope!
Shrubs taking hold
Many of the shrubs beloved in urban planting schemes have an uncanny knack for escaping into the wild. Wilson’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) is a prime example, but similar trends are being seen albeit rarely in Leatherleaf Viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum), Hybrid Coralberry (Symphoricarpos × chenaultii) and Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus). The latter of which seems to like brownfield land here in Heaton.
Water Bent
Following its lightning spread across Southern parts of the UK, Water Bent (Polypogon viridis) reached Newcastle only recently. This year alone, I have found in within gutters, roadsides, and even gardens in several squares around Heaton and Byker. I suspect it is far more widespread than the maps would have you believe…
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.
A summary of a fantastic year spent watching, recording, and enjoying North East nature. often in great company.
Well, I had thought that 2022 had been a quiet year on the wildlife front but apparently not, and as ever when it comes to writing these festive round-ups, I again have far too much to discuss. Do bear with me.
Before we get going, however, a huge thank you to the friends who have helped make 2022 such an awesome year for wildlife. If you have shared a tip, nugget of wisdom, or location, or have spent an afternoon rummaging around in shrubbery with me, this means you! Nature definitely is better when experienced together.
Orchids Galore
Now, I usually make a point of seeking out orchids each year, but in 2022, they have taken on a special focus. With the launch of NHSN’s Discovering Orchids project, there was plenty of recording to be done across the North East. This meant lots of visits to the far-flung corners of our region in search of some truly beautiful plants. Indeed, I think I encountered more orchids this year than ever before, including several new species.
From Bird’s-nest Orchids at Allen Banks to fantastic floral displays on Lindisfarne, there was an awful lot to see in 2022. Better still, some of these sightings and those of dozens of other botanists have now been published in Orchids of North East England, available now from NHSN. It was certainly a pleasure to contribute to such a fantastic publication.
For this city botanist, urban plans have been a real theme of 2022. Just as they are in most years really – I think I may have a problem.
What has been slightly different in 2022 has been the focus on more detailed recording. Back in October, I decided to start work on what I am loosely calling an “Urban Flora of Newcastle”. So far, this has seen 70+ hours spent in the field, 20 tetrads visited and some 2500 records collected of 530 species (and a few hybrids too). A mind-boggling total given the time of year and the relatively low number of squares visited.
I plan to continue work on the flora for the next few years, hopefully writing it up in due course. The diversity of plants in the city never fails to surprise and truth be told, I am finding the whole thing thoroughly addictive.
I think that by now, just about everyone knows that I love ladybirds. Searching for them is a little like fishing in that you never quite know what you’re going to encounter.
This year has seen too many exciting discoveries and notable observations to count. So much so that ladybirds have been given a round-up all of their own. You can read it here.
Now that I have the pleasure of volunteering with the UK Ladybird Survey, I’ll certainly be sticking with the spotty blighters for years to come.
Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata)
Noteworthy Plants
As a botanist, the vast majority of my free time is spent looking for plants. This year has been no different and with countless hours spent rummaging a variety of wild and urban areas, there have been a couple of good finds. Two that spring to mind are county firsts in Pale St. John’s-wort (Hypericum montanum) and Sorbus latifolia. The latter came as quite a surprise during a casual wander along the Tyne back in Summer.
Elsewhere in the North East, Forked Catch-fly (Silene dichotoma) was an exciting find at Gosforth Nature Reserve, as was Scots Lovage (Ligusticum scoticum) on Lindisfarne. Trips elsewhere have seen a whole manner of exciting discoveries too at places such as Hareshaw Linn, Alnmouth, and Berwick. Really, it has been a good year for botanising. Hopefully, there’ll be lots more to come in 2023.
Sorbus latifoliaPale St. John’s-wort (Hypericum montanum)
Dabbling in Bugs
Do any other naturalists out there find they only have a finite amount of brain space for tackling new taxonomic groups? I certainly do! This year, I wanted to change things up a little and begin recording beyond my usual plants and familiar insects. Bugs seemed like an obvious place to start and I am pleased to say that I have encountered my fair share. Aphids have been fun to tackle this year and getting my eye in, I have seen a fabulous array of shieldbugs too. Not least the lovely blue chap pictured below. Add to these a variety of mirids and this new addition to my local biological recording has been most enjoyable if a tad hard to come to terms with!
Anyone who knows me will know that it came as quite a surprise to win the National Biodiversity Network ‘Newcomer Award’ back in November. Not least because I am unsure of what exactly I have done to deserve it! That said, I am so immensely grateful to NBN for the lovely confidence boost and of course, the nifty profile page here. It really does mean a lot to be recognised for something I have loved since childhood.
This year, I also became an iRecord verifier for the UK Ladybird Survey covering Durham and Northumberland and began helping botanical VCRs in South Northumberland with verification too. Who needs free time, eh? It has certainly been nice to live vicariously through the sightings of others.
A wildflower walk at Silverlink Biodiversity Park
A New Local Botany Group
Oh look, a bunch of happy, smiling botanists!
Pondering the local botanical scene back in October, I came to the conclusion that a new group was needed. One with a focus on both supporting one another and on recording too. Sending out a few feelers, I was thrilled with the turnout with some twenty-eight people coming forward to be involved from all corners of the local area.
Fast forward a few months and several of us have enjoyed a few nice local walks at Walker and Tynemouth. 2023 will surely bring new opportunities and it will be great to get some serious recording done as our small and informal group grows and visits new places.
If anyone would like to join in, do get in touch. More the merrier!
Our new Northumberland Botany Group on a recent trip to Tynemouth
Magic moments
Not everything needs to be about serious biological recording – even if it may seem that way on this blog from time to time. Sometimes it is nice to simply sit back and soak in the joys of the natural world. Thankfully, 2022 provided limitless opportunities to do just that and whether we’re talking seabirds on the Farne Islands or orchids in the depths of County Durham, wonderful experiences have abounded this year.
Oddly, of all the great things seen and heard, it is a butterfly that sticks with me the most. The exquisite Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) shown below landed beside me during a trip to Rothbury back in Spring. A species I have seen only a handful of times, it was superb to spend a good while in its company and I was certainly left with a smile when it departed.
Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
Looking ahead to 2023
While free time seems to grow ever scarcer with each passing year, there are several things I’d like to try (or at least resume) in 2023. In a time-honored tradition on this blog, I’ll be making a few New Year’s resolutions centered on wildlife, recording, and other aspects of natural history. It will be interesting to see how many I can live up to.
A big year of botany: working with fellow BSBI recorders, I hope to start work on a new Rare Plant Register for North Northumberland. Equally, I’ll also be trying to organise as many local outings as possible for botanists, beginners and experts alike to meet and share their knowledge. Watch this space.
Beginner’s botany: the response to my new series of beginner’s botanical cribs has been amazing. A big thank you to everyone who has taken a look so far. In 2023, I hope to create many more of these to share with budding botanists and hope possibly to record some as videos too.
Recording urban flora: true to form, I’ll be spending an increasing amount of time surveying Newcastle’s plant life with the aim of having visited all tetrads twice by December 2023. Hold me to the coals on this one!
Getting back into the swing of things: in 2023, I’ll aim to make more of an effort to share finds, discoveries, and interesting titbits online, something that has slipped in recent years. I’ll also be launching a Facebook page to help with this and dare I say it, a YouTube channel too. Hopefully, by doing so, at least one new person might be inspired to look closer at North East nature.
For me, ladybirds have been a real theme of 2022. Fresh from twelve months of ladybird recording, here’s a quick round-up of this year’s highlights.
Heather Ladybird
This is the one that really made me stop and think, and the ladybird which helped launch a year’s worth of frantic recording. Chatting with local recorder, Chris Barlow, back in early 2022, we noticed that records of Heather Ladybird were few and far between in Northumberland. Rather bizarre really given the wealth of heather-clad sites in our area. Indeed, the last accepted record of Heather Ladybird was one near Rothbury back in the 1980s.
Feeling somewhat inspired, back in March, I set out to Rothbury to explore an area of suitable habitat on the slopes above the town. Checking overwintering sites among more mature, rank Heather plants, it wasn’t long before several ladybirds were discovered. Success!
Future visits to Rothbury have yielded Heather Ladybirds in several squares while others have found it at several other local sites. Definitely a case of under-recorded, as opposed to genuinely rare.
Heaher Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus) near Rothbury, Norhumberland
Water Ladybird
Water Ladybird is a species that thanks to NHSN’s North East Ladybird Spot, started appearing at more and more local sites during 2021. Not because it was colonising these sites, but because more people began looking for it. I certainly found it at a surprising number of locations towards the back end of the year.
Continuing the search in 2022, I’ve encountered this species at several new sites locally, including a rather bizarre record on salt marsh at Holywell Dene. Small ponds, riversides, and ditches, they don’t seem all that picky and with a bit of practice, are quite easy to find among the stems of Bulrush and Common Reed.
The map for Water Ladybird has changed remarkably in Northumberland this year thanks to the hard work of citizen scientists. I’d call that a success story…
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) have been a real flavour of 2022
Cream-streaked Ladybird
Another local success story now, and back in early 2022, I was delighted to find what appeared to be the first Cream-streaked Ladybird for Tyneside and wider South Northumberland. A relatively new UK ladybird, this species is spreading and had already been recorded further North in Scotland. Really, a sighting here was somewhat overdue.
Found on a gravestone is Jesmond Old Cemetery – that place again – it was actually quite tricky to pick this ladybird out from the similarly sized and far more numerous Harlequins in the area. One spot in line one as opposed to two, I must remember that.
Since this encounter, local naturalists have found Cream-streaked Ladybird at several more sites within Newcastle. It is yet to be spotted further afield but must be there somewhere.
Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata) in Jesmond, Newcastle
Hieroglyphic Ladybird
Probably the biggest surprise of 2022 came in the form of my first-ever encounter with a Hieroglyphic Ladybird. Having looked for this species unsuccessfully several times in the uplands, it came as quite a shock to find the melanistic individual below during a guided walk on the coast at Newbiggin. Definitely a “what are the chances of that” sort of moment and one made all the more entertaining by the colour form in question. Surely the black sort must be far scarcer? At least you’d think…
Striped Ladybird
Until last year, Striped Ladybird was perhaps my most sought-after British insect. When I finally encountered it at Havannah Nature Reserve in late 2021, after months of trying and plenty of tree bashing, I was chuffed. Elated even.
Fast forward to the end of 2022 and this species seems to be cropping up everywhere. Not just in larger areas of coniferous woodland but within isolated pines in car parks, cemeteries, and even those growing by the side of the busy A1. Heck, I even found one sitting on a fence post behind my local Sainsbury’s here in Heaton. All of this leads me to suspect that they are a little more widespread than the maps suggest…
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata) on a fence post behind my local Sainsbury’s
Coccidula scutellata
A rather pleasant surprise now and while leading a walk for a group of visitors at NHSN’s Gosforth Nature Reserve this autumn, a brief pitstop to look for Water Ladybird turned up a whopping great surprise in the form of Coccidula scutellata. Recorded only once before in Northumberland and never in VC67, this was one species I thought had to turn up eventually but still, it was a surprise to find it at what is just about the most ‘ladybirded’ site in the North East.
As far as inconspicuous ladybirds go, this one is also quite the beauty…
Coccidula scutellata at Gosforth Nature Reserve, Newcastle
Rhyzobius chrysomeloides
Perhaps the ladybird discovery of the year now and looking at the maps for Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, you would be forgiven for thinking they are found exclusively in more Southerly counties. Indeed, until this year, the most Northerly record of this species came from the Lancaster area. You can imagine my surprise then when several of these lovely little ladybirds fell out of a planted Dwarf Mountain Pine at Silverlink Biodiversity Park back in April. A very nice record indeed but as I shared more on this at the time, I’ll stop there.
Rhyzobius chrysomeloides at Silverlink, North Tyneside
All the lovely people
Whether heading out with my partner, friends or attendees at several events, courses, and trips, ladybird hunting this year has been a wonderfully collective affair. As someone who spends most of their time recording alone (such is the way of the naturalist) it has been lovely to share some of the discoveries above with others and to share knowledge and a few laughs in a host of lovely locations. The below photos are just a few of those taken this year – a big thank you to everyone who came along in 2022.
Ladybird recording with collegues from NHSNMatt poised and waiting to find 11-spot LadybirdA ladybird course in JesmondLadybird recording at NewbigginMore recently, attendees at a ladybird recording session at Havannah Nature Reserve
Exciting things to come
Despite my main interest lying in plants, it seems my love of ladybirds isn’t going away any time soon. I’m not entirely sure what it is about them I like so much but finding, recording, and above all else, enjoying them has become more than a favourite pastime. For this reason, over the next year, you’ll see me offering lots more ladybird-themed events, walks, and courses with NHSN. I hope some of you may consider coming along.
I am delighted (and a little terrified) to now also volunteer my time as a County Recorder for the fabulous UK Ladybird Survey – the national scheme monitoring our ladybirds. If you share sightings via iRecord, you’ll find me there verifying finds from Durham and Northumberland and getting very excited at all of your spotty discoveries.
A short introduction to a personal passion project mapping the diverse and fascinating flora of Newcastle
As many of you will know, I have a bit of fondness for Britain’s urban flora. I’m not sure why precisely, but for me, there’s something fascinating about how our plants adapt to artificial ecosystems and how species from all around the world find themselves living side-by-side in our cities. For a good few years now, I’ve been recording urban plants here in Heaton, Newcastle, and truthfully, it never gets boring.
More recently, I have been spreading out from my usual haunts at Heaton and Walker to see what else is lurking out there in the city. The result? A mind-boggling number of plants and an intriguing mix of the common, everyday, scarce and exotic. From Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus), an exotic shrub not recorded growing wild in the city before, to coastal Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus) growing by a salted roadside, there’s been a lot to see. So much, in fact, that in only a few weeks, I have notched up 437 plant species within a few miles of home. All of which goes without mentioning other delights such as Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) hiding in plain sight in my local cemetery, and new and unusual escapes: Niger (Guizotia abyssinica), Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) and Shrub Ragwort (Brachyglottis x jubar).
Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) growing by a roadside in JesmondNiger (Guizotia abyssinica) I do believeLaurustinus (Viburnum tinus) growing on Brownfield at HeatonAtlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) in a local cemetery
A Very Urban Flora
Of course, while pottering around looking at plants for the past few weeks, I have made an effort to record all of the species seen in each 1km square visited. These records will be shared with BSBI, of course, but thinking more on the matter, I’ve decided to go one step further and put pen to paper to create something a little more tangible. The obvious answer? An ‘Urban Flora’ for Newcastle.
Now, after some research online, it appears this isn’t something carried out frequently in the UK, nor is it entirely new. Sure, there’s the fab ‘The Urban Flora of Belfast‘ published in the 1990s but this isn’t all that relevant here. Although other studies might exist, creating a flora covering Newcastle seems a worthwhile exercise nevertheless. Britain (and my part of it) is only set to grow more urban in the future and amateur studies such as this provide a useful reference point against which to measure future change. More so, they’re also good fun!
Matt exploring some brownfield land at Heaton. We did manage one new plant….
Getting to work
So, now that I have broken the news and ensured that I can’t back out, what am I going to do?
Going forward, I’ll be visiting each 1km square within the Newcastle city boundary multiple times in multiple seasons, hopefully capturing an accurate picture of the plants growing there throughout the year. This process, I hope, will provide a semi-accurate picture of plant abundance and diversity across what is a fairly typical city. With the exception of street trees (which will form an appendix), I’ll not be recording anything planted, merely any plant spreading of its own accord in the wild.
Of course, there may be a few exceptions to the aforementioned rule. For sanity’s sake, sprawling groups such as Rubus, Taraxacum and Rosa will be omitted, except for conspicuous species. Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor) is a good example here. As ever, recorder bias may also play a part in the final result but I hope to counteract this by attempting to learn some of the more difficult groups (gulp, cotoneasters) or at the very least, consulting with some helpful experts.
Garden Pansy (V. x wittrockiana) growing as a pavement plantHimalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) in Jesmond DeneGreaer Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) peristing on a roadsideA roadside Borage (Borago officinalis) near Gosforth
This being an urban flora, it wouldn’t make much sense to survey and include Newcastle’s more scenic areas – we are blessed with a good few here and many of these resemble more rural environments. As you’ll see from the rough map below, areas of farmland to the North and West will be excluded, as will nature reserves managed to appear ‘natural’. Sorry Havannah, Big Waters and Gosforth. Resembling more of a rural pasture, the Town Moor will also be excluded. That said, greener but typically urban habitats such as parks, roadsides, roundabouts, playing fields, and the like are all fair game. Hopefully, this will help keep things decidedly urban in nature.
For simplicities sake, I’ll be using a system of 1km squares to survey the city
Even for a relatively small area such as Newcastle, carrying out a project like this will (and rightfully should) take up quite a bit of time. I have given myself three years to achieve good coverage, but it may take longer. After that, I hope that I may be able to get the final product published somewhere, though, of course, that depends on a multitude of factors including money, supportive organisations, and the end product not being entirely rubbish!
Well, that’s that. My aim over the next few years is to create something sound, accurate and of both local and hopefully wider interest. Let work on the Urban Flora of Newcastle commence…
A brief and evolving list of great places to find and record ladybirds in North East England.
While out and about recording ladybirds over the last few years, I’ve found myself spending an increasing amount of time at specific local sites. Owing to a blend of habitat diversity and accessibility, these sites have come up trumps in terms of the sheer diversity of ladybirds present, including many of specialists seldom seen in the local area.
While this list is far from definitive and doubtless, many more sites are yet to be revealed, I hope this page gives a flavour of what could be encountered while visiting these places. I’ll aim to update this page as with more excellent spots for ladybirds in the North East as they come to light. I will also try to add some away from Newcastle in due course.
Havannah Nature Reserve
With a mix of heathland, wetland and both coniferous and broadleaf woodland crammed into a relatively small area, it is little surprise that Havannah Nature Reserve is so diverse. The real highlight here is the conifer specialists with Striped, 18-Spot and Pine Scymnus easy to come by and Eyed Ladybird and Black Scymnus also cropping up.
In addition to those above, the heathland at Havannah is a reliable spot for Adonis’ Ladybird, while the pools on site hold Water Ladybird and Red Marsh Ladybirds. Add to these a plethora of more familiar species including Kidney-spot, Pine and Larch ladybirds and the total species count for the site comes in at an impressive 19 species. As far as sites for ladybirds in the North East go, this has to be one of the best.
Typical ladybird habitat at HavannahA melanistic Striped Ladybird at Havannah
Gosforth Nature Reserve
NHSN’s Gosforth Nature Reserve is another site sporting a decent mix of woodland, wetland and grassland. While it is far harder work than Havannah, it has nevertheless turned up records of Striped Ladybird, Eyed Ladybird and Pine Scymnus in coniferous areas.
The wetlands hold Spotted Marsh Ladybird, Water Ladybird and Red Marsh ladybirds and the grassland areas have lots of 14-Spot and the occasional Adonis’ Ladybird. Pine Ladybird and Larch Ladybird can also be exceptionally abundant here resulting in a species tally of 17 species so far.
Given the number of pines on site, 18-Spot Ladybird has to be there somewhere…
Water Ladybird a Gosforth Nature Reserve22-Spot Ladybird at Gosforth Nature ReserveSpotted Marsh Ladybird a Gosforth Nature Reserve
Prudhoe Spetchells
Prudhoe’s chalk mounds make for an interesting walk whatever the season, though the chalk itself has little bearing on the ladybirds present. Once again, the diversity here stems from a nice mix of grassland, woodland and pools. The highlight across grassland areas here is 24-Spot Ladybird, a scarce species locally, while 18-Spot Ladybird and Pine Scymnus can be found in the pines alongside a host of more common species. Water Ladybird is also present on the nearby pools. Not too bad at 12 species so far but doubtless more to be discovered…
Pine Ladybirds a the Prudhoe Spetchells24-Spot Ladybird found in nearby grassland
Jesmond Old Cemetery
The first local cemetery to make the list and a great place to visit during the winter months. Here, a fantastic range of ladybirds can be found overwintering on headstones including 10-Spot, Pine and Cream-spot Ladybirds. More interesting perhaps is the presence of a single large pine on site which in 2022 alone yielded sightings of 18-Spot, Adonis, and the locally scarce Cream-streaked Ladybird. A more modest 11 species this time but a great range for an inner city greenspace.
That big old pine tree must also hold Striped and Eyed Ladybird and it will be interesting to see if they pop up in the near future.
Cream-streakeed Ladybird in Jesmond Old CemeteryPine Ladybird at Jesmond Old Cemetery18-Spot Ladybirds overwintering on a headstone
Benton Cemetery
Another cemetery now and like Jesmond, one sporting a fantastic set of isolated conifers. With suitable habitat condensed into a relatively small area, it can be easy to find a host of specialists here and sightings to date include Eyed, Striped, Cream-streaked and 18-Spot Ladybirds, as well as Pine Scymnus. From Larch Ladybird to Orange Ladybird, the common city-dwelling species are also represented here producing a fantastic site list of some 12 species.
Eyed Ladybird at Benton CemeteryA gahering of Orange and Harlequin Ladybirds
Newburn Riverside
The industrial estate, riverside and nearby brownfield land at Newburn lends itself well to ladybird hunting. With a mix of grassland, ponds and evergreen planting, a good day can reveal a surprising number of ladybirds. This is one of only two sites in Newcastle (so far) where Rhyzobius chrysomeloides has been recorded and the grassland here also holds it’s cousin, Rhyzobius litura. Add to these Water Ladybirds around the pools, conifer specialists such as Striped and Eyed Ladybirds and plenty of common species and there’s an awful lot to see. 13 species and counting!
Rhyzobius litura at Newburn RiversideStriped ladybird at Newburn Business ParkA view over the brownfield land at Newburn
From the city car parks and urban cemeteries to chalk mounds at Prudhoe, it has been a fantastic fortnight for ladybird recording.
With little time for trips further afield, walks during the closing days of September have seen me sticking closer to home than usual. That said, it has still been a busy few weeks on the ladybird front. With trips to the glorious Prudhoe Spetchells, local cemeteries and a handful of urban areas, there’s been an awful lot to see.
Starting with 24-Spot Ladybird and once again, this usually scarce ladybird has proven itself exceptionally abundant along the Tyne. Visiting Prudhoe, Matt and I found no fewer than 30 while exploring a small patch of grassland by the sewage works. More interesting still, several were also found high up in a pine tree – an odd location for a primarily terrestrial insect. Elsewhere, 24-Spot Ladybirds have also cropped up of late at Wylam and in the city at Elswick.
Seldom numerous, Pine Ladybird is not a species I encounter frequently here outside of the winter months. With this in mind, it was good to find decent numbers while exploring the Spetchells – the majority being swept from immature Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). Away from Prudhoe, last week, a single Pine Ladybird was also found in the car-park of the Mercedes garage at Scotswood – who says ladybird recorders don’t visit some glamourous locations?
Whereas Pine Ladybird is a species I see infrequently, a couple of other ladybirds are far more reliable. I won’t spend much time on 7-Spot Ladybird and 2-Spot Ladybird – both are somewhat omnipresent here – but both were encountered at Prudhoe too, predominately on pine.
Slightly more exciting now and the short walk between Wylam and Prudhoe provided a nice opportunity to explore Moo Pond, a small but productive wetland en route to the Spetchells. With plenty of Bulrush (Typha latifolia) it is usually reliable for Water Ladybird and sure enough, with only a few minutes of searching, the individual below was found tucked away in a leaf-sheath.
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata), Prudhoe, Northumberland
Something a little different now and on the same visit to Prudhoe, it was nice to encounter 18-Spot Ladybird while scrutinising the pines growing on Spetchell three. A scarce conifer specialist, this is one of the species I come by least often. This record looks to be the first for the site but seems somewhat overdue given the wealth of conifers present.
A few days later, it was nice to also three of these ladybirds at the ever-reliable Jesmond Old Cemetery, while this weekend, two more were found at Havannah Nature Reserve.
Taking a quick detour into the world of inconspicuous ladybirds now and as ever, Pine Scymnus remains relatively easy to find locally. The one pictured below was beaten from Scots Pine atop the Prudhoe Spetchells though others were found recently at Gosforth Nature Reserve and Havannah.
Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis), Prudhoe, Northumberland
One of the easier ladybirds to find locally, 22-Spot Ladybirds have been encountered recently at Prudhoe, as well as at Gosforth. Most interesting was a sighting of six ladybirds feeding on a mildew-ridden Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) at Elswick, while a few more were found secreted away in some ornamental Euonymus. I must remember to check planted shrubs too!
Having driven past it many times, our visit to the Western side of Newcastle provided the perfect opportunity to explore some of the roadside grasslands that fringes the busy main road at Scotswood. Planted by the council with an interesting chalky mix, it has always looked fairly promising. After ten minutes of searching, I’d all but given up hope when the beautiful Adonis’ Ladybird below appeared in the net. A real treat.
Searching for ladybirds along Scotswood Road, NewcastleAdonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata), Scotswood, Newcastle
Now for the undisputed highlight of the last fortnight’s ladybird searching. Cream-streaked Ladybird remains a scarce species in the North East, though one which is evidently spreading northward. I’ve recorded this species at a few sites locally of late but each time the encounter comes as a surprise. It has been great to catch up with this species twice recently: firstly at Jesmond Old Cemetery, a known haunt, and secondly, in an isolated pine at Scotswood. Surely this is one of the best-looking British ladybirds?
Last but not least, something a little closer to home. Continuing a good run of Striped Ladybird encounters and having noticed a few as yet unladybirded pine trees behind my local Sainsbury’s in Heaton, I opted for a quick look a fortnight past. After a little searching, it was exciting to find this handsome individual below at rest on a nearby fence post. A full-fat tick for my little urban patch…
This week, I was delighted to record what appears to be the first Spotted Marsh Ladybird recorded in South Northumberland (VC67).
Searching various local wetlands this year for Red Marsh Ladybird and Water Ladybird, one thing that has persisted at the back of my mind had been the possibility of finding the former’s far scarcer cousin: Coccidula scutellata.
A tiny but striking wetland specialist, this little ladybird is fairly common in the South of England but records grow incredibly scarce up North. It is apparently completely absent from Scotland, with only a few records in Cumbria and only one in the North East – a report from Newton Links, North Northumberland, in 1990.
A small, orange ladybird sporting two distinctive dark spots on the elytra, as far as inconspicuous ladybirds go, this isn’t a hard one to identify. The problem with recording this species seems to be the difficulty associated with finding it. Flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) seems to be a good place to start according to Andrew Jewels and sure enough, this ladybird was swept from the leaves of emergent irises.
