Bees and botany at Newbiggin

A short while ago, a sunny Saturday afternoon provided the perfect opportunity for a June venture to the Northumberland coast. Deciding against sites we visit frequently, it was decided that we would head to Newbiggin for a closer look at the plants and insects that abound along a stretch of coastline we seldom visit.

Departing the bus at church point, we were immediately struck by a mighty profusion of blooming Hoary Cress, with countless foamy flowers strewn across the car park, adorning pavement, verges and once manicured flower beds alike. Here too, it was interesting to find two garden escapes: Silver Ragwort, with its lovely pale foliage, and Pink-sorrel, a particularly vibrant oxalis native to South American.

Stopping briefly by the rocky beach here, it was nice to see the delicate but beautiful flowers of Sea Milkwort while the strandline held what I think might be Frosted Orache. The queer-looking succulent leaves of Sea Sandwort were a nice find nearby, as was a substantial patch of Good King Henry growing amid the cliff-top grassland a little further North.

Walking North along the margin of the golf course, the number of bees on show was quite remarkable. Common bumblebee species, mostly, though we did notice several male Vestal Cuckoo Bees, all looking rather fresh and colourful. Given the number seen during our walk (around 16) it was likely these had just emerged. Nearby here, a rather large red-tailed bee turned out to be Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee – only my second of the year and still quite a scarce bee locally. A male Fork-tailed Flower Bee was also a nice spot here.

Further North still, a large expanse of Sea Thrift provided an opportunity to admire yet more insects. Green-veined White were numerous and a couple more Fork-tailed Flower Bees were seen. More exciting still was what appeared to be a small colony of Chocolate Mining Bees nesting in the exposed soil of the cliff. After a breif wait (and a very undignfied pursuit with a net) their cuckoo, Marsham’s Nomad Bee, was also found.

As you near the hulking power station at Lynemouth, the small cliffs meander down into a sandy bay and here, making the most of the countless blooms of Mouse-ear Hawkweek and other plants growing on the exposed sand, a number of Sandpit Mining Bees were seen, alongside the rather striking wasp shown below. Thanks to a speedy identification by an expert online, this turned out to be Ancistrocerus scoticus or the Maritime Mason Wasp. A fitting choice of location!

Here too, a sharp-tailed bee of some description was also potted as it inspected the nest holes of a potential victim. While it impossible to be sure, it seems likely that this was Dull-vented Sharp-tailed Bee – a new one for me.

Nearing the power station, we decided to detour back up to rough edges of the golf course to take a closer look at the plants here. A good job as we immediately stumbled across a sizable patch of Purple Milk-vetch. A rare plant in Northumberland, and one that suffers from poor management of coastal grasslands, it was interesting to note the greatest densities growing on the golf course itself where mowing had removed much of the taller vegatation. Lets just hope the mowers don’t return before it seeds…

Here too, a number of Northern Marsh Orchids were seen, alongside a glut of Burnet Rose and stacks of Bloody Crane’s-bill – the county flower of Northumberland. Our attention was also grabbed by a particularly large orchid with spotted leaves, looking superfisically similar to marsh orchids growing nearby yet, at the same time, completely different. We chalked this up to a hybird between Northern Marsh Orchid and Common Spotted Orchid.

What else did we encounter? Well, it was interesting to find a solitary patch of Snow-in-summer growing in the dunes, silver foliage contrasting sharply with the surrounding grasses. A rather beefy crane’s-bill growing on a patch of wasteland by the power station looked like a good candidate for French Crane’s-bill and a small, stocky umbellifer confused me no end at first but was later revealed to be Wild Parsnip. An 11-spot Ladybird resting on a fence post proved a nice way to end a productive coastal walk.

11-spot Ladybird, *Coccinella undecimpunctata*

A trip into the wildlife garden

Much as it did for great many people, I suspect, lockdown led to an increasing focus on gardening in our household. The focus for us being to transform our little urban yard into something appealing, for both wildlife and ourselves. I wrote about our mini-rewilding efforts a little last year (here) but realising that I hadn’t mentioned the topic since, wanted to provide a progress check.

For us, the major focus of this spring was to incorporate more wildflowers into our space. Sure, dahlias, marigolds and sedums look nice but they offer limited value for wildlife. Whilst we still have all of the above, and a range of more typical garden plants, the ratios have shifted.

The veg patch was first to go, sown in early 2020 with a native meadow mix, it didn’t do much in its first year. The clover did well but little else. This year, however, it has thrived with Oxeye Daisy, Red Campion, Red Clover and Black Medick vying to see who can grow the tallest. If you rummage in the understory, you can find other species in their too – Bladder Campion, Redshank and White Clover – but by large, the other species sown (including my long-awaited Musk Thistles) appear to have been shaded out. No matter – our 6ft seed grown Cotton Thistle has the spiny element covered!

Whilst growing a range of commonplace wildflowers, this year we also wanted to grow a few more unusual species, if only to prove that we could. Henbane was sown as an experiment in Autumn, and is just about to bloom, while both Small Teasel and Moth Mullein are doing well. Chuck in others such as Great Burnet, Salad Burnet and Common Bistort and it seems we’ve succeeded in our initial trial run!

Planning ahead for next year, it looks like we will be taking the cultivation of wildflowers to a new extreme. Already, four species of Mullein have been sown – Twiggy, Dark, Hoary and Moth for those interested. Where we’ll put these huge plants is a little beyond me, but we’ll manage.

Tucked away in the greenhouse there’s also White Horehound, Sea Campion, Field Pansy, Scot’s-lovage, Motherwort and (more) Henbane. I may need to open an online store, especially with the Mountain Pansy and Spotted Hawkweed seeds yet to arrive.

Our challenge next year will be to grow the native Herb Paris seeds purchased recently but I suspect they may turn out to be a tad picky.

Scot’s-Lovage, Henbane and Cotton Thistle seeds

But what about the wildlife? This isn’t after all a gardening blog. Well, at our last tally, we have now recorded 155 species in and around the garden since last spring.

Bees have certainly been a stand out highlight and it has been great to welcome back Fork-tailed Flower Bee, Patchwork Leafcutter and Bronze Furrow Bee alongside the more regular solitary bees and bumblebees.

In the last few weeks, we have also recorded two new bees here with Willughby’s Leafcutter Bee and Davies’ Colletes both shown below. Add to these 11 species of hoverfly, sawflies, solitary wasps and four species of butterfly, and the airspace here has been fairly busy.

Willughby’s Leafcutter Bee, *Megachile willughbiella*

We didn’t concentrate much on moths in 2020, owing to the installation of a new LED street light overlooking our yard. This year, however, we have persevered and have recorded several new species, albeit in low numbers. The Scalloped Hazel, Lychnis and Figure of Eighty shown below were particular highlights, though the others shown were most welcome. In particular, the Cinnabars, which have occurred in unusually high numbers this year.

It also appears that planting mint and oregano was a good idea and a few weeks back, I was delighted to spot a pair of beautiful Mint Moths, Pyrausta aurata in this case, showing an interest in these. Fingers crossed that they managed to breed – they really are a delight.

lsewhere, there’s bee a lot to see, including egg-laying Green Shieldbugs, sprawling webs of juvenile Garden Spiders and an all too brief Orange Ladybird that sped off quickly when I reached for the camera.
The 14-spot Ladybird adorning our Buddleja was thankfully more obliging.

14-spot Ladybird, *Propylea quatuordecimpunctata*

Walking the Tyne: Wylam to Prudhoe

A sunny Friday off work recently provided the perfect chance to explore yet another stretch of River Tyne between Wylam and Prudhoe.

Starting out from Wylam, and slight detour found me heading first for the small Northumberland Wildlife Trust reserve at Close House Riverside. An intersting little site, widely known for its myriad rare plants but also a pretty good place to catch up with a range of intriguing insects.

Here, it was the bankside woodland that drew addition first, sunnier glades holding a good number of hoverflies including Myathropa florea and Epistrophe eligans. More interesting was a peculiar looking fly with a vibrant orange abdomen, Xylota segnis.

Here too Common Blue Damselflies were numerous and a small area of Common Nettle held lots of lovely Nettle-tap moths, alongside a numer of striking Tachina fera. Bumblebees included Small Garden, Common Carder and White-tailed.

Reaching the reserve itself, the footpath was pitted with an extraordinary numer of small burrows. Mining bees, or so I thought at first, though closer inspection revealed an impressive number of digger waps. The culprit was later revealed to be Crabro peltarius. Another, far larger and more vibrant wasp spotted nearby turned out to be Field Digger Wasp.

I did eventually find some bees too, though not as many as I’d hoped for. A closer look at a portion of the sandy riverbank revealing a number of Ashy Mining Bees, alongside their cuckoo, Lathbury’s Nomad Bee – a new species for me!

Gooden’s Nomad Bee was also encountered and a blood bee of some description was admired as it inspected the burrows of its chosen target.

Departing Close House, I soon set off on the fairly short walk between Wylam and Prudhoe, quickly making it to Hagg Pond and moving on to the nearby riverside meadows. Here, colour abounded with the Germander Speedwell, Meadow Buttercup and Red Campion in full bloom. A closer look at the flora here yielded Wood Crane’s-bill, a number of Northern Marsh Orchid and rather oddly, a stand of Siberian Iris. Not a species I have encountered in the wild before but definitely rather beautiful.

Insects here included more Common Blue and Large Red Damselflies, Comma, Green-veined White and many Early Bumblebees but by this point, it had clouded over and most insects opted to perform a vanishing act.

Wood Crane’s-bill, *Geranium sylvaticum*

Finally reaching the Spetchells, it was nice to see the place awash with colour – a welcome change from our visit a few weeks back. Here the Columbines were in full swing, with blooms ranging from a somewhat natural purple to various shades of pale pink and white. Many of the latter were also double-petaled, highlighting clearly their garden origin.

Here too, Wild Pansy was nice to see and the various orchids that adorn the site were coming into their own. Northern Marsh Orchid was by far the most numerous; though a few Common Spotted Orchid were also found.

Making the most of the abundant blooms, a number of Dingy Skipper were seen here too, including the individual below whose tattered wings suggested it may have recently evaded capture by a bird.

Bee numbers at the Spetchells had dropped considerably since their peak earlier in spring, though Buffish Mining Bees were still the most numerous. On this occasion, most were found feeding on the small blooms of Cotoneaster horizontalis – an invasive species here.

Gooden’s Nomad Bee remained numerous here, and a few Ashy Mining Bee were also encountered. Surprisingly, only a single Dark-edged Bee-fly was noticed.

Buffish Mining Bee, *Andrena nigroaenea*

The jewel-like weevil shown below proved a fitting way to end what turned out to be an interesting and fairly productive walk. Taking the picture, I had assumed it would be fairly straightforward to identify something so vibrant and green. It transpires that is definitely not the case, and the best I can do is one of the Phyllobius group.

North Shields: brownfield bliss

I’ll admit it, I have a strange fascinating with brownfield sites. Not just because some of these places – spoil heaps, forgotten corners and abandoned urban land – often have an interesting back story, but because wildlife often thrives on these forsaken spaces. Indeed, whereas today it is possible to walk for miles in areas typically thought of as wild (our sheep-grazed uplands ring a bell) and see very little, on brownfield, it is often impressive just what you can find crammed into a relatively small space.

With this in mind, and having spotted an intriguing splodge of green while perusing Google Maps, last weekend saw using heading to urban North Shields to investigate the brownfield land surrounding Royal Quays Outlet Centre.

Northern Marsh Orchid, *Dactylorhiza purpurella*

En route to our chosen destination, a short detour through the carpark of a now abdanoned retail unit brought the first sightings of the day. Here, on a small patch of rough grassland seemingly left to its own devices, the tall, purple blooms of Northern Marsh Orchid were spotted from some distance away. Closer inspection revealing dozens of these charasmatic plants, just coming into bloom. Here too, Common Blue butterflies were seen and a single Small Heath (my first of the year) rested breifly atop a patch of Bird’s-foot Trefoil. Best of all here, a single Dingy Skipper was spotted and as ever, proved difficult to pin down at first.

In the North East, and particularly around Newcastle and North Tyneside, the Dingy Skipper is a species strongly associated with brownfield sites where its foodplant, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, often grows in abundance. It remains a rare butterfly locally, as well as local conservation priority species, and it is always worth submitting a record to ERIC North East if you encounter one.

Moving on, we soon arrived at our destination and set about admiring the vegetation adorning the overgrown rubble heaps by the site entrance. Bristly Oxtongue, with its wonderfully spikey foliage, was an interesting find here, as were Salad Burnet and Wild Mignonette. Colonists included Green Alkanet and Red Valarian, were also seen, while a queer-looking plant with attractive, frothy flowers turned out to be Hoary Cress, a new one for me.

Still somewhat lethargic from the night before, a number of interesting bees were quickly spotted. Warming themselves on the leaves of Broad-leaved Dock, Chocolate Mining Bees were seen and nearby, a striking black and yellow nomad bee was revealed (unsurprisingly) to be Marsham’s Nomad Bee, a cuckoo of the former species. A leafcutter bee, likely Patchwork Leafcutter, whizzed past briefly and a few Early Mining Bees were observed. Bumblebees noticed included Common Carder, White-tailed and Early, and our first Orange-tip butterflies of the visit put in an appearance.

Griffith’s Spurge, *Euphorbia griffithii*

Rounding a bend and emerging into an open area close to the existing water treatment plant, we were greeted by an impressive display of wildflowers. Here, great drifts of Ox-eye Daisy and Meadow Buttercup caught the eye first, interspersed with Lesser Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Common Knapweed and other common species. The rich, blue flowers of Columbine stood out like a sore thumb and a conspicuous flame-red plant drew our attention. Clearly a spurge of some kind, its identity remained a mystery until our return home with the ever-helpful botanists of Twitter revealing it to be Griffith’s Spurge, a garden escape.

Here too, many more Northern Marsh Orchids were seen, and a closer look at what seemed to be a newly formed pond revealed Water Horsetail, Common Spike-rush and Pendulous Sedge. Among other plants, Yellow-rattle was obvious on the margins here and insects included Common Blue, Large Red Damselfly and another Dingy Skipper. The first of several seen from this point in.

Further in, we encountered another small pond, forming this time on the concrete foundations of what was likely a former building. Here, Lesser Spearwort was an interesting find among other aquatic species but really, most of our time here was spent marvelling at the wider picture of succession in action, with nature gradually reclaiming many of the remaining human relics on site.

Orange-tailed Mining Bee, *Andrena haemorrhoa*

Soon enough, it came time to leave – this was only meant to be a fleeting visit. Whilst an abundance of life was encountered over what was a relatively short, one and a half-hour visit, I suspect we are only scratching the surface of what could be found here.

The nature of places such as this is often ephemeral, and if the word is to be believed, this particular site could soon be developed. A shame, really, but not unexpected. I suspect that to many, its loss would be preferable to development elsewhere on land thought of as more typically green.

Wildlife on the River Coquet: Rothbury to Thropton

With the sun shining and temperatures topping twenty degrees, last weekend we opted for a visit to somewhere a little different. Arriving at Rothbury just shy of 10.00 am, and setting off on would turn out to be a delightful six-mile walk West along the River Coquet, it was the botanical diversity of the riverside here that struck us first.

The old stone walls that fringe the North bank river by the town’s main bridge were our first stop and held expansive clumps of Yellow Corydalis alongside Trailing Bellflower, Maidenhair Spleenwort, and Wall-rue, while at their base, Common Mallow, Crosswort and Meadow Crane’s-bill were found.

A little upstream and a slightly more exciting find was Greater Celandine – a species I had not encountered before in the North East. Here too, the nettle-like leaves of Black Horehound were seen and a rather delicate, highly toothed nettle made us pause for thought. Could it be Small Nettle? It would seem so thanks to a quick confirmation from the county recorder. Slightly further West, where the river exits the town, we also encountered Red Currant.

Continuing west along the river, the path side vegetation became lusher. A highlight here was the sight of two Green Dock Beetles locked in an embrace atop a stand of Broad-leaved Dock. A small but exquisite metallic green beetle, they certainly brought a smile to our faces.

Telling of a more open, damp setting, the riverbanks here held Dame’s-violet and Honesty, as well as some lovely Water Avens. Ground Elder was plentiful, possibly even invasive, and both Ground Ivy and Greater Stitchwort were admired.

Green Dock Beetle, *Gastrophysa viridula*

Soon we reached a large area of open pasture where the river turns briefly South, and while the pasture itself held little other than Meadow Buttercup and an assortment of grasses, the riverbanks themselves were more diverse. Here, Hemlock Waterdropwort was found and the white variant of Common Stork’s-bill grew on the sandier areas alongside a good number of Forget-me-nots. The species of which I was unable to determine.

Owing to a profusion of Gorse, insects here were far more numerous. Focusing briefly on bees, Garden Bumblebee and Gypsy Cuckoo Bee were seen and a small bee spotted feeding on the aforementioned Gorse was likely Yellow-legged Furrow Bee. 7-spot Ladybirds were also seen, as were a few Orange-tip; though the highlight had to be an impressive Two-banded Longhorn Beetle rescued as it floated upside down in a small pool.

Common Stork’s-bill, *Erodium cicutarium*

Keen to stay on the Northern side of the river, we soon took a detour back to the road, intent on walking the remaining distance to the smaller town of Thropton. The roadside vegetation here was rather lovely with Red Campion and White Campion blooming in abundance, interspersed with the odd plant of Bladder Campion. Common Poppy was also seen, as was a mullein species, while the grassy verges also yielded Common Vetch, Bush Vetch and more Crosswort. Further towards our destination, an old stone wall held a large quantity of White Stonecrop.

While walking the roadside, what I suspect was Buffish Mining Bee was also potted briefly while nectaring on Cow Parsley, and Common Carder, White-tailed Bumblebee and Early Bumblebee were noted, predominately on blooming Hawthorn.

Reaching Thropton, we soon set about poking about the more urban areas, admiring various pavement plants and rummaging about the riverside here. Wood Spurge was a nice find by the roadside and it was interesting to note Purple Rock Cress growing freely in the pavement – clearly having absconded from a nearby garden wall. Red Valarian appeared to be taking hold here too, and Welsh Poppy was numerous. More interesting was a smaller member of the Valarian family: Cornsalad. Likely Common Cornsalad but having read that it is impossible to accurately ID these in bloom, I’ll give up now.

A quick look on the nearby riverbanks yielding a bonny Columbine, doubtless with some garden genes thrown in, as well as both Water Avens and Wood Avens growing side by side. After a little searching, we also found what could be a candidate for Hybrid Avens growing where the two species overlapped.

Close to Thropton, a small burn can be followed North through an area of fairly unexciting pasture. We did just this and while the fields themselves were uneventful, a small wet flush, well-poached by passing bovines, came up trumps. Here Marsh Marigold and Water Mint were conspicuous, and Cuckooflower abundant. An eye-catching white brassica was revealed to be Large Bitter-cress – a new one for me – and it was nice too to encounter a good size swath of Brooklime. The dominant sedge here was tentatively identified by Greater Pond Sedge but really, it could be anything.

Heading back through the town, more Greater Celandine was found, this time invading some delightfully messy flowerbeds. By the local bus stop, Red Mason Bees could be seen visiting a nest site in the dilapidated masonry and a colony of Chocolate Mining Bee was found in the exterior wall of a particularly impressive house. It was exciting to also note the cuckoo of the latter species, Marsham’s Nomad Bee, lurking outside a nest hole.

Having had our fill of Thropton, we soon set off back towards the Coquet, unexpectantly stumbling across an expansive (and beautiful) area of riverside grassland. Here, Bottle Sedge was found in a path side ditch and sandier areas by the river hosted a lovely community of Birds-foot Trefoil, Lesser Trefoil, Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill, Common Vetch and an assortment of clovers. With both White Clover and Red Clover easily picked out, a rather ‘odd’ looking plant soon caught my attention. The pinkish tone of the flowers and lack of white markings on the foliage left me to wonder if it could be Alsike Clover?

With so many flowers in bloom, the insect community here was fantastic. Both Large Red Damselfly and Azure Damselfly were soon found, and a number of exquisite Small Copper flew speedily across the grassland. Present in good numbers but less numerous than the Orange-tips that adorned Cuckooflower blooms across the plentiful damp places. Upwards of eight 7-spot Ladybirds were also found alongside the tiny yet remarkably similar individual pictured below. Having initially written this off as a stunted 7-spot, I now believe it to be 11-Spot Ladybird, an elusive species commonly associated with dune ecosystems. No dunes here, for sure, but the sandy nature of the riverbanks gives some hope.

Finally, on to the undisputed highlight of the trip and the same area of wildflowers also came up with trumps with not one but four Bilberry Bumblebees. Whilst it came as a surprise to note this species low down by the river, we were not all that far from the bilberry-clad hills one would associate with this species.

A striking bumblebee with a delightful, flame-red abdomen, this has to be one of my favourite UK species. A fitting way to end a fantastic summer walk in an area entirely new to us.

Exploring the North East’s solitary bees (part 2)

Prior to the current warm spell, the weather recently had been nothing short of diabolical and as a result, insects were been few and far between. A few urban walks and the odd jaunt further afield were the best I could manage throughout April and early May. That said, since my last update, I have managed to stumble (often accidentally) onto a few interesting bees…

Orange-legged Furrow Bee, *Halictus rubicundus*

A new species for me a few weeks back, the aptly named Orange-legged Furrow Bee pictured above confused me at first. Mainly due to its large size – considerably larger than the small and bewildering furrow bees I have seen before. With well-defined silver ‘bands’ on the abdomen and lovely orange legs, its identity really should have come to me sooner. Having encountered my first (nectaring on a dandelion) at the Prudhoe Spetchells, I have since stumbled across this species at a further three sites, including my adopted urban patch at Heaton. In each case, by looking closely at Dandelion blooms.

Nomad bees are a confusing bunch. Having learnt through countless mistakes to simply ignore any with a hint of red, some are thankfully easier to identify. Gooden’s Nomad Bee, one our largest and most abundant nomad species, is one such bee. A known cuckoo of Buffish Mining Bees, the one pictured above was found lurking amid a colony of the latter at Weetslade Country Park. A slightly chilly morning and thus, a rather lethargic bee, providing a good chance to enjoy it up close. The second yellow band on the abdomen, entire in this case, helps separate it from the similar Marsham’s Nomad Bee which I have not yet encountered.

Something a little more familiar now and, for the last few weeks, one of the most numerous solitary bees observed around Newcastle has been the Orange-tailed Mining Bee. Females, like the one pictured above, really are a joy to behold with their fox-coloured, hairy thorax and conspicuous orange rear. I was lucky enough to stumble across what appeared to be a nesting aggregation of these charming insects at Weetslade.

Something a tad more exciting now and, on a rare trip into the wilds of North Northumberland a few weeks back, I was lucky enough to encounter the pretty bee shown above. Noting its incredibly hairy, orange hind legs, photos were quickly sent to ever-helpful local experts and lo and behold, it turned out to be a Northern Mining Bee. As its name suggests, this species is a Northern specialist and is often encountered in areas rich in willow. Plenty of which was seen on our trip to Linhope Spout.

On a somewhat surprising note, the above encounter has since been confirmed as the first record of this species for North Northumberland (VC68). It really does pay to look at the smaller things in life now and again…

Back in our urban yard now and, right on cue, the first Bronze Furrow Bee of the year paid us a visit last week. First encountered in the garden in 2019, these metallic little bees have occurred in force each summer since – showing some preference for the scabious planted to appeal to local pollinators. This is another species that appears to be under-recorded across the North East. Little surprise, really – they’re rather small.

Right on cue, the first Blue Mason Bees have also appeared in the garden, with both male and female bees showing a clear interest in the weedy Ivy-leaved Toadflax that has colonised our wall. Not a species I see very often locally so always a treat whenever they stop by.

Elsewhere on the home patch, numbers of Red Mason Bees have increased tenfold over recent weeks. With both sexes visiting the garden on a daily basis, and one intrepid female even perching atop our bee hotel, we had hoped this might be the year they finally choose to breed here. No such luck, but at least the outgoing blooms of Pulmonaria are holding their attention.

By the local allotments, the omnipresent Chocolate Mining Bees are still out in force. An interesting observation this year was an apparent shift in the plant species used for basking during the early morning. In 2020, they were invariably found on the large, glossy leaves of Cherry Laurel. This year, they are showing a strong preference for ornamental lilac. I don’t suppose it matters too much…

Exploring the North East’s solitary bees (part 1)

The last few weeks have seen countless bee species emerging across the North East. The annual appearance of these colourful invertebrates providing the ideal opportunity to reacquaint myself with the common and abundant species found close to home but also, as restrictions ease, to set out in search of a few new and exciting species. Spurred on by the Natural History Society of Northumbria’s North East Bee Hunt, I am pleased to have caught up with my fair share of these winged treasures of late. A sample of which can be seen below.

One of the most numerous solitary bees spotted over recent weeks, Tawny Mining Bees are everywhere at the minute. The lovely females shown above were spotted in Iris Brickfield, my local park, where a small colony can be found amid the close-cropped grass on the margins of the playing field. Always a delight, it is far easier to photograph them on dull days – they are just too quick when the sun is shining.

Another abundant bee, Buffish Mining Bees have emerged en masse over the last week or two. A visit to the famed colony at the Prudhoe Spetchells rewarded Matt and I with the sight of what must have been a few thousand bees engaged in what appeared to be a breeding frenzy. The sheer volume of bees made for quite the sight even if I found it difficult not to feel for the females engulfed by frenzied swarms of males.

While it is possible to visit the Spetchells safe in the knowledge that you will see Buffish Mining Bees, I had not expected to encounter a fresh female in our yard a few weeks back. The latest in what is turning out to be a long line of bee species to visit our patch since we started planting intentionally for them last year.

Superficially similar looking to the above species but sporting a white/blonde pollen brush as opposed to a buffish one, I seldom find Chocolate Mining Bees to be numerous. Indeed, over the last few weeks, I have noticed ones and twos at various sites locally, but alas, no great aggregations. Last year, I was lucky enough to discover a small colony of these chunky bees in my local park and sure enough, this year they emerged on cue. Once again favouring a particular stand of Cherry Laurel – the shrubs broad, glossy leaves apparently provide the ideal spot to bask and warm up.

A nice resource highlighting the difference between Chocolate and Buffish Mining Bees can be found here, courtesy of Charlotte Rankin.

Sandpit Mining Bee, *Andrena barbilabris*

A slightly more unexpected find, this time on the sandy banks of the Tyne near Close House Riverside, was a colony of Sandpit Mining Bees. Small and looking somewhat ‘silver’ in the field, a good number of these delicate little bees were observed around burrows positioned where a landslip has removed a good chunk of the bankside vegetation. Further bees still were observed foraging on Dandelion nearby.

Each year we eagerly await the emergence of Red Mason Bees in our little corner of urban Newcastle. Sure enough, right on cue, the first mason bees began emerging here roughly a fortnight back. A few pioneering males followed, in turn, by the larger females. Despite a wealth of potential nest sites in our yard, these bees appear to show no interest. The male pictured above (right) was however quite taken by the scabious we’ve planted to attract our local pollinators.

Hairy-footed Flower Bee, *Anthophora plumipes*

Now, this is an exciting one. Previously only known from the Alnwick area, the Hairy-footed Flower Bee now appears to be rapidly colonising much of Northumberland. Or perhaps they were there all along and are only now being noticed? No matter.

A few weeks passed, I was delighted with the opportunity to visit a known site for this species at Warkworth and sure enough, within minutes, was enjoying the sight of three of these energetic bees feeding on Flowering Currant. Fast forward a short while I have now also encountered these species in multiple squares around Felton and possibly also at Ulgham. They really are a joy to behold and I look forward to a day when they can be encountered closer to home in Newcastle.

While visiting Felton in search of the aforementioned flower bees, we also bumped in striking Early Nomad Bee shown above. A new species for me! A nest parasite of Clarke’s Mining Bee (Andrena clarkella) it was intriguing to watch the fearsome-looking cuckoo bee marauding about what I suspect was a colony of the former.

Bees really are a tricky group and, over the last month, I’ve made many mistakes while trying to identify the various species encountered on my ventures across the North East. Still, they are a fascinating group and I am very much enjoying the opportunity to get to grips with some of the more abundant species to be encountered in my area. As I (hopefully) encounter more over the weeks ahead, I’ll update this blog with any findings.

Wildlife recording on the street – looking back at 2020

When lockdown dawned in 2020 and naturalists across the country were forced to redirect their wildlife-watching close to home, I set myself a challenge: to find and record as many species as possible on and around my Newcastle street. Birds, bees and butterflies; mammals and molluscs, everything and anything counted. An easy task, or so I thought – there couldn’t possibly be much to be found within a small area of parkland, rail verge, and urban conurbation.

Fast forward to the start of 2021, and with a few final pleas for help identifying the last few remaining invertebrates, it seems I concluded the year with 272 species recorded on the streets of Heaton. Not a bad total for someone almost entirely new to biological recording and with little experience with anything lacking feathers.

A few highlights and musings follow…

Botany

Throughout 2020, 137 plant species were recorded during walks in Heaton. Unsurprisingly, the highest total of any group. Many of these were to be expected – Groundsel, Danish Scurvygrass, and Sun Spurge – ‘weeds’ often associated with urban areas. That said, there were several surprises and highlights. The presence of Northern Marsh Orchid and Sneezewort in the local park, deep-red Scarlet Pimpernel and sprawling Bittersweet tucked into the hidden corners of the street, and the odd bloom of Cuckooflower and Goat’s-beard.

Befitting my location, many of the plants recorded here in 2020 were somewhat tropical in origin. Heaton, it seems, is home to a wealth of globe-trotting flora. There was, of course, plenty of Buddleia, Trailing Bellflower, Yellow Corydalis and Opium Poppy to be seen; though there were a few surprises. Stands of Greater Quaking-grass and Black Nightshade were notable, Procumbent Yellow-sorrel was an interesting find and Causican Crosswort was most unexpected. I suspect there will be a few more escapees and garden renegades to uncover in 2021.

Prior to 2020 and the onset of the Natural History Society of Northumbria‘s North East Bee Hunt, I confess, I hadn’t spared much of a thought for bees and certainly couldn’t identify them. With this in mind, I was delighted to record 17 species of bee close to home. Some of these were to be expected – Tree Bumblebee, Common Carder and the omnipresent Buff-tails – but others were slightly more interesting. In the local park, colonies of Chocolate, Tawny and Buffish Mining Bees were unearthed (not literally). In the garden, Bronze Furrow Bee and Blue Mason Bee became regular visitors and a bit of sympathetic planting lured in Patchwork Leafcutter and Fork-tailed Flower Bees.

When it comes to wasps, I still haven’t a clue, though some friendly advice from the good folk of Twitter identified a moribund wasp as Median Wasp – a new species for me altogether.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee, *Bombus terrestri*s

Flies (mostly hoverflies)

Like bees, flies were new to me in 2020 (and even more confusing). With the help of the superb Wild Guides hoverfly publication, I was, however, able to make a start identifying the various species present on and around my street. In total, 21 species were observed. Among these, Pied Hoverfly and Narcissus Bulb Fly were particularly abundant. The garden also came up trumps again in this regard luring in Scaeva selenitica, Sphaerophoria scripta and Melangyna labiatarum.

Other flies were few and far between or rather, overly taxing, but Dark-edge Bee-Fly, Holly Leafminer and the tiny Trypeta zoe were all interesting spots.

Doubtless, there will be many more to uncover in 2021, should I develop the patience…

Lepidoptera

It was a poor year for moths here owing to street lights that overhang our yard, though the moth trap did yield one notable highlight: Obscure Wainscot, a regionally scarce species and a specialist of marshland and fens. Neither of which are present in the immediate vicinity. A brace of more familiar species including Peppered Moth, Grey Pug, Barred Yellow and Bee Moth at least ensured an entirely unrespectable list of 23 species recorded on the street. Another stand-out highlight was a Mother Shipton netted as it crossed the garden in Spring.

Whilst it was a bad year for moths, it was certainly a good year for butterflies with 9 species seen. Orange-tip in Spring was a welcome addition as was a new colony of Holly Blue that appears to have sprung up on the outskirts of the nearby allotments. Small Skipper and Ringlet adorned the local park throughout summer and our ever-trusty garden Buddleia succeeded in luring in Red Admiral, Peacock and Speckled Wood.

Let us hope for a Painted Lady in 2021, a species conspicuous in its absence last year.

Other smaller life

Records of other insects were few and far between and there is clearly still much to do in this regard. Among the beetles, Rosemary Beetle and Cream-spot Ladybird were highlights, and we did manage four species of Shieldbug. One of which, the Blue Shieldbug, was quite exciting.

We got off to a good start with molluscs too with Great Ramshorn and Great Pond Snail scooped from a local pond and the garden attracting Green Cellar Slug, Iberian Three-band Slug and some impressive Leopard Slugs.

The surprising lockdown hobby of counting woodlice also yield five species, one of which – Porcellio spinicornis – was entirely new to me.

As for spiders? Two notable records were had. The first, Hypositticus pubescens, constituting the first record for North East England for around 90 years. The second, Pseudeuophrys lanigera, is a similarly rare (or under-recorded) jumping spider.

Birdlife

Birds were never going to be the most numerous group so close to the city, but I did manage a respectable 42 species on walks close to home. Setting aside the tits and finches, it was nice to catch up with Siskin and Meadow Pipit as they migrated south over the house and the daily commutes of the local Ring-necked Parakeets added a splash of colour on dull days. A lone male Reed Bunting perched atop the tiny stand of Phragmites in Iris Brickfield Park was most welcome, as were a party of Redwing in late winter. Other highlights included Jay, Blackcap, Stock Dove and Oystercatcher.

What next?

Whereas like many I suspect, I thought lockdown and the resulting banishment from my favourite haunts would lead to endless boredom, I was pleasantly surprised to find the process of observing and recording wildlife close to home both cathartic and educational. I’ve learnt a great deal and, dare I say it, seem to be developing a wider appreciation for natural history in all its forms – as opposed to the birds, colourful orchids and iconic mammals that interested me previously.

I think I’ll continue with the process (or at least the attempt) of documenting my local, urban wildlife in 2021, albeit with a few changes. In the interest of diversity, I’ll be spreading out from the street to cover a circular 1-mile of Newcastle. What I’ll gain from this remains to be seen, but the extra shred of parkland, a small portion of the nearby Ouseburn, a cemetery and a few more streets to comb will undoubtedly help. I’ll also make a much more concerted effort to add everything I find (or at least the species I can competently identify) to iRecord.

Already, at the start of 2021, some twenty new species have been found in the local area. Fungi, bryophytes and molluscs mainly, which coupled with a renewed focus on invertebrates in Spring and Summer should provide challenge enough for this year.

Let’s set a target of 500 species by 2022 within the urban mile…

Where to watch wildlife in the North East: Silverlink Biodiversity Park

In a new series of articles, we’ll be taking a look at the best places to watch wildlife in North East England.

By no means comprehensive but hopefully informative, these posts are intended to provide inspiration on where to visit in the North East to observe and enjoy nature, as well as detailing some of the wildlife you can expect to enjoy at these sites.

Based on the reports and sightings of North East naturalists and personal experience, I hope these posts might provide inspiration when choosing the destination of your next wild walk in the region.

Silverlink Biodiversity Park

A hidden gem in the heart of urban Tyneside, Silverlink Biodiversity Park is a fantastic spot at which to enjoy nature in the North East. Created in 1996 on the site of a former rubbish tip, the site was declared a local nature reserve in 2006.

Boasting a diverse array of habitats condensed into a small area of only 18 hectares, Silverlink supports woodland, hedgerow, wetland and grassland habitats. The latter of which being particularly worthy of a visit during the summer months due to an excess of invertebrates and vibrant plant life.

Invertebrates

One of the defining features of this urban oasis is its invertebrate community. The grassland areas here are particularly diverse and, in summer, hold a notable population of Dingy Skipper butterflies. Other butterflies to be seen here include good numbers of Common Blue, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Large Skipper; while Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and the three more abundant ‘whites’ are all represented.

On warmer days in June and July, day-flying moths can be very abundant including a thriving colony of Six-spot and Narrow-bordered Five Spot Burnets – the larval casings of which can often be spotted perched atop grass stems throughout the meadow area. Other species seen include Latticed Heath, Mother Shipton and Silver Y.

Silverlink Biodiversity Park is notable locally for Odonata and dragonflies and damselflies on-site include Common Darter, Southern Hawker, Broad-bodied Chaser, Large Red, Common Blue and Azure Damselfly. A Lesser Emperor, marking only the second-ever county record, was found at the site in 2019.

The lesser recorded insect groups at Silverlink Biodiversity are equally worthy of attention. Of these, hoverflies are conspicuous and recent trips have revealed species such as Cheilosia illustrata, Scaeva pyrastri and plenty of the eye-catching and abundant Heliophilus pendulus.

Plant life

Botany at Silverlink Biodiversity Park is a real pleasure. For many, it is the sites Bee Orchids that hold the greatest appeal and in good years, many of these beautiful flowers can be seen throughout the sites grassland areas. In damp spots, Northern Marsh Orchid can also be found; while Common Spotted Orchid may appear anywhere across the site.

The grasslands of Silverlink are particularly interesting during high summer when species such as Viper’s Bugloss, Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Kidney Vetch and Common Knapweed are in full bloom. There is also a nice area of Quaking Grass, Zigzag Clover and pockets of the quirky-looking Bladder Campion.

Damper, more verdant areas of the site hold small areas of Ragged Robin, Bittersweet, Marsh Thistle and Water Mint, with species such as Water Figwort popping up occasionally and an expansive area of prehistoric-looking Butterbur also present.

Given its urban location, it is also not unusual to find adventive, non-native species at Silverlink and this year alone, I have encountered Oriental Poppy, Globe Thistle and two unusual forms of ornamental Crane’s-bill.

Birdlife

Silverlink is not particularly notable for birdlife but the site still does hold a good range of species. Typical woodland species such as Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Jay can be seen; while Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel can be observed on site. Lucky visitors may also spot Long-eared Owl.

The small pools present on-site hold breeding Coot, Moorhen and Mallard and occasionally host Tufted Duck, Grey Heron and Gadwall. Only once have I heard Water Rail on-site; though with some relatively large sections of riparian vegetation, it is likely they can be seen year-round.

These small ponds demonstrated their potential to pull in interesting birdlife in 2017 when a stunning drake Ferruginous Duck was found on site. More on that here.

Ferruginous Duck (*Aythya nyroca*) at Silverlink Biodiversity Park

Mammals

A nice array of mammals can be seen at Silverlink, including Roe Deer, Hedgehog and Red Fox. The small pockets of woodland hold Grey Squirrel; while small mammals seen here include Common Shrew, Wood Mouse and Bank Vole. Rabbits are less plentiful than they once were but remain, and visitors may encounter Weasel and Stoat across the site.

Exploring the Fascinating Flora of Lindisfarne

I have visited the Holy Island of Lindisfarne many times to admire the sites birdlife, chase rarities and even seek out insects, but never to appreciate its diverse and interesting flora.

Lindisfarne is well known as an excellent site for those interested in botany, it’s unspoilt beaches, sprawling dune slacks, fields and expansive areas of salt marsh reminiscent of a time before man altered Britain’s coastal habitats beyond recognition. Home to many intriguing and, in some cases, scarce species, the botanical community here is diverse enough to keep visitors enthralled for hours. As it did us on overdue visit this week.

Brace yourselves, this could be a long one…

Arriving on Lindisfarne and heading first for the quiet reaches of The Snook, we set off in search of the islands most sought after plant species: the Lindisfarne Helleborine. First discovered on Holy Island in 1958, this understated but beautiful orchid is endemic here and in July, blooms in small numbers across the Western tip of the island.

During a half-hour search of the Snook, we were able to locate just a single orchid. Stumbling across the delicate, green and white flower atop a small mound where it grew conspicuously amongst the Marram. Perhaps a little muted, at least compared to the island’s larger, showier orchids, but a pleasure to behold nevertheless.

Moving on to investigate the nearby dune slacks, it seemed we had timed our visit perfectly to coincide with the emergence of another, arguably more appealing orchid: the Marsh Helleborine. Blooming in their hundreds right across the Western tip of the island, these orchids made for quite the sight – purplish flowers contrasting with the suppressed tones of many other Helleborines, and boasting an exceedingly frilly ‘lip’. These locally abundant flowers are by all accounts a real beauty.

Now well and truly hostage to the ‘orchid fever’, a search for the islands other orchid species revealed good numbers of vibrant Pyramidal Orchid, now reaching their peak; while other species observed included Common Spotted Orchid, Northern Marsh Orchid and Common Twayblade – the latter three now appearing somewhat haggard and spent. No matter.

Orchids are special but by no means are the be-all and end-all of the trip to Lindisfarne, and during our stay, many other interesting species were to be found. None more so than a single specimen of Scots Lovage found nestled in a sheltered area of the dunes. An Arctic plant, Northumberland marks the most Southerly limit of its UK range and records from Lindisfarne have been few and far between since 1985.

Here too, the succulent stalks of Sea Sandwort protruded from the bare sand, reminiscent of something you would find in the houseplant section of your local garden centre.

Back in the dune slacks and we were delighted to encounter the deep-pink flowers of Seaside Centaury; whilst a low-growing purple flower turned out to be Purple Milk-vetch, another first for this amateur botanist. I confess, I almost mistook it for one of the countless Self-heal flowers showing en masse here…

Common Valarian and Tansy were observed here too and the wetter areas were flush with the delicate yellow flowers of Lesser Spearwort and the curious, circular leaves of Marsh Pennywort.

At ground-level, Creeping Willow was conspicuous and a few large areas of blooming Hop Trefoil provided interest.

Departing the Western reaches of Lindisfarne, we headed East to the village. Passing through, it was difficult not to appreciate the plant diversity present in the high garden walls – old stone painted a wonderful mix of greens by the fronds of countless ferns. Here, we found a good range of common species, including Wall-rue, Maidenhair Spleenwort and Polypody; while it was nice to see both Biting and White Stonecrop in bloom. The island’s abundant Wallflowers had gone over, now displaying a glut of pea-like seed pods.

Departing the thronging village streets, a long walk around the Eastern side of the island ensued, taking in the iconic castle en route. In the vicinity of the castle, we stumbled across a nice clump of blooming Harebell alongside Thrift and a pretty example of what I think could be Dwarf Mallow – far daintier than its hulking cousin found growing here too. The castle walls were draped in an impressive display of Red Valarian and both Sea and Buck’s-horn Plantain were noted.

Attempting to curtail this particular botanical tale, towards the North Shore of the island highlights included large expanses of Wild Thyme and Common Cottongrass, as well as what I think could have been Slender Thistle (I really must practice my thistles). Grassier areas proved productive too with an impressive display of Meadow Vetchling interspersed with the pink blooms of Red Bartsia and, in select places, the familiar flowers of Field Scabious. Finally, the buried remnants of an old wall held Carline Thistle – a species I have seen further afield but never before in my native Northumberland.

Of course, no trip to Lindisfarne would be complete absent an encounter with the omnipresent Pirri-Pirri-bur which blights the island. Originating from Australia, this tenacious invader was observed right across the site; though only twice did I fall foul of its hooked burs. Controlling this species presents many problems and it seems unlikely that it will be going anywhere anytime soon, despite the best efforts of those who manage the reserve.

Of course, where there are wildflowers, there will also be pollinators and it would be rude not to cast the spotlight on a few of the insects observed throughout the day. In particular, this superb Dark-green Fritillary delighted as it nectared from the blooms of Creeping Thistle. Other butterflies observed include many Small Heath, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Common Blue, alongside smaller numbers of Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Large White.

Wonderful Wildflowers at Bishop Middleham Quarry

A Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Durham Wildlife Trust nature reserve encompassing a disused magnesian limestone quarry, I have read about Bishop Middleham Quarry for years. People, it seems, visit the site from far and wide to experience the fantastic flora on offer here. As well as for an abundance of colourful insects.

It is the bedrock here that gives the site such appeal. The quarry itself ceased work in 1934 and was left to restore naturally, providing a rare opportunity for magnesian limestone plant species to colonise and stay put. The quarry holds a number of quite rare species, restricted by the scarcity of limestone habitats in the wider countryside, but rarity aside provides an opportunity to marvel at a vibrant community of plants, insects and other wildlife. It really is a fantastic site.

Arriving at the site with orchids on the brain, it wasn’t long before we encountered our first. Scattered across the upper-tier of the quarry grassland, Common Spotted Orchids bloomed in their dozens – tall spikes of alternating shades of pink, purple and white looking lovely amid swaying stems of Quaking Grass and the blooms of Restharrow, Common Rock Rose and Bird’s-foot Trefoil.

Here, we stumbled across a beautiful, pure white specimen – the alba variant of this common species?

Scattered among the paler blooms of the spotted orchids, the deep-purple flowers of Northern Marsh Orchid were easy to make out. Less numerous, by far, but nice to see. Perhaps more exciting, however, was a single flower of Pyramidal Orchid found only metres into the reserve. A new species for me, a joy to behold and the first of many seen throughout our visit.

Still only metres from the reserve entrance, we soon encountered the day’s target species: Dark-red Helleborine. Bishop Middleham Quarry is known as the best place in the UK to observe this limestone-loving orchid and, sure enough, we encountered hundreds during our stay. Perhaps we were a little early as many had yet to open; though some pioneering plants were in full bloom. Thankfully!

Prying ourselves away from the helleborines, it was not long before we stumbled across two new orchids. On the quarry floor, the egg-shaped leaves and fading flower spikes of Common Twayblade were immediately apparent – not exactly striking by orchid standards but nice to see. Here too, a few Fragrant Orchids were found, another first for me and definitely deserving of a sniff to test their validity. The verdict? They did smell rather nice!

The least abundant orchids on-site were Bee Orchids but, having been pointed in the direction of a particular slope by a kind passer-by, we soon found three spikes in full flower. A plant that warrants little exposition and never fails to earn a smile. Here too, more Pyramidal Orchids were found.

As someone with very much limited knowledge of plants, Bishop Middleham Quarry also provided an opportunity to get to grips with a number of less-specialist species I seldom encounter around my usual haunts. It was nice to be able to compare Small and Field Scabious found growing side-by-side in a more verdant area of the site; while a tall yellow flower could well have been Agrimony. Perforate St. John’s-wort was numerous but we failed to find (or at least, identify) the scarcer Pale St. John’s-wort which is said to grow here. A fine reason for another visit, I think.

Whilst trying (and failing) to locate Moonwort, I was pleased to stumble across a single flowering Harebell; while the strange, pea-like stalks of what I think was Yellow-wort were found on an old spoil heap. Other species observed included Wild Thyme, Greater Knapweed, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Red Valarian and Wild Strawberry.

Whilst many of our walks focus on plant life these days (I’m not sure what has happened to me, in truth) we did find the time to admire some of the insect life present on site. Butterflies were incredibly numerous with plenty of Ringlet and Meadow Brown seen, alongside smaller numbers of Small Skipper, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Small Heath and Small Tortoiseshell. Moths on the wing included Six-spot Burnet, Latticed Heath and Shaded Broad-bar.

A brief scan of the plentiful Hogweed tops on site revealed a few common hoverflies including Heliphilus pendulus, Volucella pellucens and Marmalade Hoverfly. Here too a grasshopper was apprehended (with great difficulty) and tentatively identified as Common Green Grasshopper owing to the in incurved, cream-coloured line on its shoulder.

None of the sites famous Northern Brown Argus were seen on this occasion but, with countless other items of interest observed, a fantastic day was had.

Bishop Middleham Quarry is an exceptional, altogether beautiful site. A fine testament to what can happen when sites exploited by humans are returned to nature. I will definitely be visiting the site again in the future, even if it does involve more frequent trips (dare I say it) south of the Tyne!

The Pound Wood ‘Fritillary Site’ – a place for butterflies and a great deal more, by Ross Gardner

The Essex Wildlife Trust’s Pound Wood, like so many ancient woods, is a special place and for different reasons. It is special for being somewhere for the people of this busy and built-up part of Essex to establish, or indeed re-establish those close and valuable connections with the natural world, something so important, not only for the well-being of ourselves but crucially for raising the awareness of the need to look after the wild places that we are fortunate enough to still have near us, as well as those further afield. It is special for being an important link in a Living Landscape, alongside the other woods and green spaces in the neighbourhood; for reminding us that nature conservation today has to extend beyond the boundaries of established nature reserves to meet the fresh challenges that our wildlife face. And it is special because it is an ancient wood, which over the centuries of continuous existence has accumulated a diverse assemblage of wild plants and animals; no other habitat in our country has a greater diversity of species.

Special places will invariably have special things living within them. Here, it will often be the heath fritillary (Melitaea athalia) that first comes to mind, one of Britain’s rarest butterflies which has been present in Pound Wood since its reintroduction in 1998. They were released into the part of the reserve where power-lines cross its north-western corner. Since this stretch of the wood has always needed regular cutting to prevent the fouling of the cables, it presented itself as the ideal reintroduction site for these butterflies of open woodland. The more frequent cutting benefits not only the electricity company, but also provides the open conditions necessary for the butterflies and their foodplant (common cow-wheat – Melampyrum pratense) to thrive. It is a part of the wood now colloquially referred to as the ‘Fritillary Site’ and while most of it lies off the beaten track, some of the reserve’s paths either cross or run close by it offering visitors every chance of seeing these so very scarce butterflies.

What has been created though, is far more than a prime habitat for a single species. What can, in fact, be found, running the length of the pylon corridor, is the most species-rich part of the whole reserve. A vibrant and hugely important component of the wider wildlife value of the wood, even before we consider its rare butterflies. The list of species associated with it is long and varied, many of which have not been recorded elsewhere in the reserve. It is a list that includes a number of uncommon insects. Some of those tiny micro-moths that fizz sprite-like about the low plants and leafy path-sides are in reality as colourfully and beautifully marked as the butterflies that more readily draw our attention. One such is Dasycera olivella, a creamy yellow and iridescent purple marked little beauty found only rather sparingly among the broadleaved woods of southern England. They are known to be fond of recently coppiced areas and, once you have your eye in, are a common early summer sight beneath the power-lines, where almost all of the Pound Wood observations have been made.

It is within this part of the reserve, and unlike those areas incorporated into the usual 21-year coppicing cycle that will inevitably and necessarily shade over as the stools regenerate, that grassier plant communities are able to persist. Such habitat suits two nationally scarce bush-crickets, long-winged conehead (Conocephalus discolor) and Roesel’s bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii). The sole records in the reserve for such species as green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi), horned treehopper (Centrotus cornutus) and tortoise shieldbug (Eurygaster testudinaria) have all come from the Fritillary Site. Perhaps the broom that thrives here will come to support a future population of the aforementioned, locally scarce butterfly

But it is not just the rare things that can make an area special, it is the community of plants and animals as a whole. Spring and summer sees more than the creamy, tubular flowers of the cow-wheat adding colour among the heady-scented sweet vernal grass, but other coppicing plants, like slender St John’s-wort (Hypericum pulchrum) and wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides). Where ditches run across the clearings marsh bedstraw (Galium palustre) proliferates and lesser spearwort (Ranunculus flammula) thrives, while a marshy area grows thick with willowherb and rush. Stands of spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare) tower over most, but far from being a nuisance they provide abundant nectar for a host of hoverflies and bumblebees. Milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia), hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit), field woodrush (Luzula campestris) and pale sedge (Carex pallescens) all find their only Pound Wood locations here.

This is somewhere that the creatures of the woods and its edge habitats can live cheek by jowl with those of the grasslands. The flourishing colony of small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) might well brush wings with the occasional white admiral (Limenitis camilla) the latter is a magnificent black and white butterfly, declining nationally, but apparently spreading in Essex – they reappeared in the wood in 2018), while brown argus (Aricia agestis) were noted in the reserve for the first time in 2019, around the same time that a silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis phaphia) was very possibly the first one seen here for many decades.

The list really could go on. The likes of the groundhoppers and grasshoppers, mirid bugs and beetles, spiders and solitary wasps haven’t even been given a mention. There is the impressive and lengthily titled golden-bloomed grey longhorn beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens), for instance, an uncommon species whose larvae, unlike many of its timber feeding relatives, develop in the hollow stems of umbellifers and thistles. And of course, where there is prey there are predators. The reserve’s small bird and dragonfly populations can and do find rich pickings here.

Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle © Ross Gardner

Eye-catching Invertebrates at Gosforth Nature Reserve

Owing to a diverse mosaic of habitats, including plentiful dead wood, Gosforth Nature Reserve is a fantastic place at which to indulge a fascination for the North East’s smaller wildlife.

This Rhinocerous Beetle (Sinodendron cylindricum) was, without doubt, the star of the show last week. A first for me, this glossy, cylindrical beetle (a male) definitely lived up to its name – sporting a distinct, rhinoceros-like projection on its head. A species known to rely on the presence of dead and decaying wood, it was not usual to encounter this beetle here, but nevertheless, it was a pleasure to finally see one up close.

Recent visits have yielded no less than three eye-catching Longhorn Beetles – each known only by an obscure, hard to pronounce scientific name. The vivid, orange and black individual I believe to be the Four-banded Longhorn Beetle (Leptura quadrifasciata); while the second species observed feeding on Hogweed blooms may be the Speckled Longhorn (Pachytodes cerambyciformis). The tiny longhorn, also observed on hogweed tops, may be Grammoptera ruficornis.

This year, I have been making a concerted effort to learn more about Britain’s hoverflies, with limited success – they are a tricky bunch! Anyways, five minutes by the entrance to Gosforth Nature Reserve provided an opportunity to scrutinise a dozen are so species. It was nice to be able to compare and contrast two of the eye-catching Helophilus species, the common and abundant Footballer (Helophilus pendulous) and Helophilus hybridus. Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens) and Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) were both conspicuous, as were the eerily red-eyed Dark-winged Chrysogaster (Chrysogaster solstitialis).

Almost as exciting as the encounter with the aforementioned beetle was a chance meeting with two ‘busy’ moths in the interior of the reserve. Immediately recognisable from moth guides and excitable tweets alike, these turned out to be Red-necked Footman (Atolmis rubricollis). This would appear to be a scarce species in the North East, with records this far North often attributed to migration from the continent. To see the pair mating gives hope that a colony of these pretty moths might just appear here in the near future…

On the ponds at the nature reserve, it was lovely to watch both Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies on the wing; while the warm weather had brought out a fantastic variety of butterflies including Large Skipper, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and my first Ringlet of the year.

In terms of bees, the usual array of bumblebees were all present – including a handsome male Vestal Cuckoo Bee (Bombus vestalis). More interesting was a fresh-looking Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) by the reserve entrance. It was also fantastic to catch up with not one but two Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata) – these little woodland specialists really are quite splendid!

Chasing Urban Orchids

Few wildflowers capture the imagination quite like our orchids. They’re beautiful, of course, but also sufficiently scarce to provide a little jolt of excitement whenever you happen across one. They are also the only group of plants – to the best of my knowledge – that manages to unite all natural history enthusiasts, whether they be birders, lepidopterists, mammal-watchers or anyone else, under a single banner of botanical appreciation.

I stumbled across my first urban orchid of the year a fortnight past in my local park – a towering and luscious Northern Marsh Orchid rising skywards from the rough grass that adorns the peripheries of my local pond. Inspired, for the past fortnight, I have set about checking the various local sites to which I make annual pilgrimages in search of these vibrant little flowers.

First up, a trip in search of what is usually the most abundant species around me during mid-June: the Common Spotted Orchid. Well, this year, they appear far from common, with only a handful observed at a regular site and none at all at another. Perhaps they have been delayed somewhat by the unseasonably dry spring we have endured? Regardless of the reasons behind their reduced numbers, those we did see looked wonderful, their pointy, lilac flowerheads adding a welcome splash of colour among the alternating greens of the Juncus.

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

If Common Spotted Orchids appear scarce this year, Northern Marsh Orchid appears to be doing rather well. Following the initial sighting in the local park, I have encountered these much sturdier-looking orchids at three sites this week, and in good numbers. Many appear stunted and small compared with the towering spikes familiar from previous years but all maintain their lurid, purple appeal.

Northern Marsh Orchids may seem uniformly ‘purple’ from a distance but, looking closer, the repeated pattern of deep purple ribbons sat atop a violet backdrop makes for quite the beautiful sight.

Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

I have written before about my fondest for Bee Orchids, perhaps one of our most iconic and sought after native wildflowers. Keen to seek out this year’s fix, this week I set off to a favourite local haunt where, in 2019, upwards of sixty stalks of this much-celebrated bloom were observed. A familiar trip which, unusually, ended in disappointment.

Three visits to Silverlink Biodiversity Park over recent days failed to yield a single orchid across what is usually a fairly productive area of flower-rich grassland. Despite the recent rains, the ground here remained baked dry and I couldn’t find a single leaf, never mind a flower. Here, even the abundant Birds’-foot Trefoil seem suppressed and stunted due to the reason drought and, in the closing minutes of our third trip, we eventually gave up hope.

It was only when my partner decided to look once again at the margins of one of the nearby ponds did our luck change. Here, among the marsh orchids more characteristic of such damp places, two bee orchids stood proud, determined to buck the wider trend on site.

Bee Orchids need little exposition: they’re sublime, intricate and a little intoxicating, the very reason so many seek them out each year. Savouring the sight of the two pioneering blooms, I was simply happy to have enjoyed them for another season.

Hopefully, next year, Bee Orchids will once again rise en masse across this one small meadow. We’ll see…

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

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Botany

Bees (and related beasties)

Flies (mostly hoverflies)

Lepidoptera

Other smaller life

Birdlife

What next?

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Silverlink Biodiversity Park

Invertebrates

Plant life

Birdlife

Mammals

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