Get started identifying the wild and naturalised snowdrops you’re most likely to spot in a brand-new crib sheet suitable for beginners.
Thank you all so much for continuing to read and download recent entries in this series of beginner’s plant cribs. It means a lot.
With a few more abundant groups out of the way, now seemed like a good time to move away from familiar urban plants and tackle something a little more challenging: Snowdrops.
Now, I know what you might be thinking – snowdrops all look the same. Small, white, and blooming usually (but not always) in late winter, I tend to agree. Or did, that is. Since I started looking at my local snowdrops here in Newcastle, it has become quite clear that they are far more diverse than meets the eye. Inspired by a few local finds, I wanted to explore the species you’re most likely to see wild, naturalised, and yes, planted, here in the North East. True to form, I have included some other species and varieties too but only because they’re bound to turn up eventually.
Identifying Snowdrops
Well-naturalised in woodlands, hedgerows, large gardens, and other shady areas, snowdrops bring joy to many in late winter. Looking past the obvious similarities, they can be an interesting bunch to explore, and even with a tentative glance, it is possible to find several species with relative ease. Especially if humans have been involved in spreading them. In this crib, we’ll look at:
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.
Get started identifying small-flowered fleabanes a brand-new crib sheet suitable for beginners.
So far, this fledgling series of botanical cribs has focused on plants commonly encountered in urban areas. In Dead-nettles and Ragworts, we have some of our most conspicuous native plants, but what about some of our lesser-known species? Having discovered several species of fleabane close to home in Newcastle this year, I thought it was high time they enjoyed a moment in the sun.
Now, when you think of fleabanes, you might picture the lovely round blooms of Common Fleabane or the daisy-like flowers of Mexican Fleabane. You’d be right to, of course, but what many may not know is that there is a whole other contingent of these plants out there to be discovered. I am of course talking about the small-flowered fleabanes – a group of largely non-naive species which readily adapt to urban habitats.
Identifying Fleabanes
With their diminutive flowers and a tendency to grow in a whole host of grotty places, small-flowered fleabanes are not the most glamourous bunch. That said, they are interesting. Largely because several of them are currently in the process of spreading like wildfire in the UK. In this crib, we’ll look at:
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.
Get started identifying dead-nettles with a brand-new crib suitable for beginner botanists.
Well, our first beginner’s crib to urban ragworts seemed to go down well. Thank you for the kind comments all! Spurred on by your feedback, this week I’ve created another looking a second accessible plant family, and one just as common in our towns and cities.
I have also almost finished a festive entry on Snowdrops and hope to have a crib to small-flowered fleabanes ready soon too. Until then, let’s get started…
Identifying dead-nettles
Colourful and conspicuous, dead-nettles are some of our most familiar wildflowers. Well, at least the 1-2 species commonly spotted in flowerbeds and overgrown gardens, that is. Some dead-nettles, particularly the small red ones, can look surprisingly alike and I wanted our next crib to take a closer look at these lovely little weeds.
Please note, as ever, this focuses on the species likely to be encountered in North East England, as opposed to rarer ones. It includes:
Get started identifying ragworts and groundsels with a brand-new crib sheet suitable for beginners.
Find keys boring? You’re not alone. While those of us who spend our days obsessively searching for plants quite like them, for most people, they don’t cut the mustard. Indeed, they can be particularly offputting to beginners.
It is for this reason that I wanted to start a new series on this blog – Common’s Cribs, a full series of which will eventually appear here. Hopefully colourful and straightforward, these simple guides include only the species people are likely to encounter during their daily lives, hopefully making the process of identifying a plant easier.
Identifying Ragworts
Yellow, conspicuous, and with an unnecessarily negative reputation, ragworts (and their cousins, the groundsels) are an obvious bunch in our towns and cities. Growing in pavement cracks, as well as weedy areas, they can all look fairly yellow and similar at first but look closer and the differences become clearer.
This weekend provided a nice opportunity for our new local botany group to visit Walker Riverside. Here’s what we encountered.
Botany (and wildlife recording in general) can often be a solitary affair. For many of us, I suspect, myself included, that suits us just fine. At least most of the time. Sometimes, however, it is nice to do things as a group. Not least only for the company but also for the support and increased brainpower that comes with combining noggins!
It is for the reasons listed above that a few friends and I wanted to get the ball rolling on a new informal group for botanists North of the Tyne. Both to make things a little more social and support one another and to ensure that we’re working with local experts to capture important plant records. I am pleased to say that this weekend, this came to fruition with our merry band meeting for the first time at Walker Riverside in Newcastle.
As you’ll see from the photos below, we had a jolly good day and learned a lot. A big thank you to those who came along! Now, what about the plants?
A lesson in Speedwell IDScrutinising some Black SpleenwortOh no, a St. John’s WortObligatory group shotSt. Peter’s MarinaPhotographing Clustered Bellflower
Walker is a very diverse site I have written about several times. What never fails to surprise here is the tendency for it to throw up new and unusual discoveries, several of which were made during our visit. Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) was a particularly interesting one and nice to compare with some nearby Common Ivy (Hedera helix) and Persian Ivy (Hedera colchica). Megs Rogers, VCR for South Northumberland, also came up trumps with a candidate for Small Gorse (Ulex minor) and last month’s county first Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata) was also admired. The latter ID may well change now someone more knowledgeable than I has taken a look…
As a group, we also noted several other interesting plants between St. Peter’s Basin and Walker Riverside Park. Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) was still in bloom, as was Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) and Green Field-speedwell (Veronica agrestis). Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) was a nice find on the cycleway, and rare locally, and it was nice to note Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acer) still clinging on. A few other finds are mentioned alongside some excellent photography in Ho-Yin Wong’s tweet below.
Revisited Walker today with the new botany recording group led by @CommonByNature
Some finds include: Rubus tricolor/Chinese Bramble; Catoneaster salicifolius/Willow-leaved Cotoneaster; Erigeron sumatrensis/Gurnsey Fleabane; and some E. acer/Blue Fleabane still flowering. pic.twitter.com/t1XCNMpWWd
With the arrival of winter, now seemed like a good time to look back on a year’s worth of ladybirds and look forward to a new course in 2023.
A New Short Talk
Golly. For someone who shies away from talks of any kind (and don’t even get me started on crowds), Zoom has been a bit of a godsend this year. Rounding off a year’s worth of ladybird recording, this week I recorded the first installment of a two-part series for NHSN looking at my 2022 ladybird year list.
Now, with plenty of fascinating (and quite exciting) species observed this year, I thought it would be nice to recap these in the order they were discovered. Doing so, hopefully, providing a feel for what can be encountered in the North East and importantly, when. Hopefully, the end result isn’t too cringe-worthy but I’ll let you be the judge of that.
I’ll be repeating the ladybird year list in 2023, of course, and look forward to sharing many more finds on this blog.
A New ‘Course’ too!
If you thought an online talk was out of my comfort zone, try a four-week course! Well, I say course in the loosest sense as the upcoming series of events I have planned for NHSN is more of a crash field course than anything. Still, I’m quite excited about this – the plan is to lead four trips to various corners of the North East looking for ladybirds. Lots of them actually, the aim being to see as many of our resident species as possible in a small timeframe. A mini year list, if you will!
This series of walks will see us explore different survey techniques, from sweep-netting and tree tapping to spot of heather-bashing too, and should be good fun. There is a charge but it isn’t a huge one and if you like ladybirds, it might be for you.
Perhaps I’ll see a few of you there but if not, and a course on ladybirds isn’t for you, there’ll be many events on the NHSN website.
This week, I was both surprised and delighted to receive the NBN Newcomer Award for Wildlife Recording.
Now, it isn’t often I post about myself on this blog but on this occasion, you’ll have to forgive me. Following yesterday’s announcement, I can now say that I was thrilled (and more than a little surprised) this week to receive the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Newcomer Award for Wildlife Recording. A slightly daunting prospect given some of the incredible past winners but one I am sincerely grateful for.
Wildlife recording for me isn’t just about box-ticking, lists and spreadsheets, though I enjoy those too! Instead, it is a valuable way to give back to nature by creating valuable data that can (and is) used to protect it. Equally, it is about encouraging and supporting others to do the same and getting more people out and about encountering wildlife.
On a more personal and perhaps a little self-centred level (I think that’s allowed here), recording also provides a focus to my weekend walks and an excuse to spend every spare minute rummaging around in a host of great places. What’s not to like? Whether we’re talking plants, ladybirds or something else, occasionally, you also make the odd interesting discovery too which does help keep you motivated but doesn’t matter all too much in the grand scheme of things.
While I can think of far more deserving citizen scientists out there, I am truly grateful to NBN for the award, and to those who supported and encouraged me over the years. Not least, colleagues at NHSN and BSBI and the plethora of local naturalists I have the pleasure to meet with regularly.
I would also like to thank anyone who has stuck with this blog since its creation in 2011 – it has changed a fair bit, but the feedback received here has also been constantly encouraging!
Having never tried my hand at aphid identification, this Summer proved quite a steep learning curve!
No, I haven’t gone mad. Spending a lot of time looking at both plants and ladybirds, it is inevitable that you’re going to encounter your fair share of aphids too. This year, while rummaging in pine trees, shrubbery and weedy verges, I have certainly seen a good number. Of course, this has meant trying to identify a few of the little green blighters for myself (okay, relatively few are actually green!).
Now, to say I am that I am a beginner with regard to aphids would be a colossal understatement. I haven’t a clue really but am fairly confident about those shown below. Mostly because they appear to be some of the more obvious aphids out there. How many do you recognise?
Pink Tansy Aphid (Metopeurum fuscoviride) on Tansy
A really nice one to start with and I believe these delightful little pink and grey aphids are Pink Tansy Aphids (Metopeurum fuscoviride). Found (of course) on Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), they have peachy bodies and blackened rear ends. Having found these first at Walker Riverside, I have since recorded them a few times locally. Not that anyone verifies aphids on iRecord – perhaps I am getting a tad niche!
Ragwort Aphid (Aphis jacobaeae) on Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)
A slightly daunting one given that there seem to be only three records of this species on NBN. That said, I think these blackish-looking aphids are Ragwort Aphids (Aphis jacobaeae) on account of their dark green colour and pruinose appearance. They were also found on Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) which helped narrow it down.
Rose Aphid (Macrosiphum rosae) on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.)
Slightly less of a punt with this one. I think the aphids shown above with their dark kneecaps and feet are Rose Aphid (Macrosiphum rosae). As you can see from the picture, the colour of these critters ranged from lime green to rosy pink. These were recorded on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.),
Mugwort Aphid (Macrosiphoniella artemisiae) on an ornamental Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Quite an attractive little aphid with a powdered, grey-green body and striking black legs, I think these are Mugwort Aphids (Macrosiphoniella artemisiae). They were found on Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) by a busy roadside close to Gosforth Nature Reserve. As is often the case, having noticed them once, I have now spotted them in several locations – despite there being no verified local records. As far as aphid identification goes, these are fairly nice.
Yarrow Aphid (Macrosiphoniella millefolii) on Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
I do like a species which is (almost) identifiable by foodplant. Strolling through Gosforth Nature Reserve this summer, I was pleased to spot the above aphids crowded on Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). A little googling and it looks like they are the aptly named Yarrow Aphid (Macrosiphoniella millefolii). Slightly less ‘powdery’ than the former species, these have brownish as opposed to black legs.
Black Cherry Aphid (Myzus cerasi)Myzus cerasi damage to Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
Spotted not by the aphids themselves, but by the damage caused to my local Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) trees, there is little doubt these are Black Cherry Aphid (Myzus cerasi). They are known to cause the crinkled, deformed leaves shown in the picture above. A shiny, brown to plum-coloured aphid, they are tended by ants which offer protection as they remain concealed with the leaf.
Large Pine Aphid (Cinara pinea) swept from Scots Pine
I like this one. Apparently a favourite food of our conifer specialist ladybirds, this impressive, gold-looking creature is the Large Pine Aphid (Cinara pinea). A great brute of an insect, at least by aphid standards, it was found on Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). This species appears brown/gold while young before turning grey later on. They’re also dotted in fine black spots just about visible in the above picture.
Dyer’s Broom Aphid (Aphis genistae) on Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum)
If I am not horribly wrong, I am quite excited about this one. Indeed, walking along Scotswood Road a few months past, I was surprised to find a planted Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) completely covered in frosted-looking aphids. A black aphid covered in a waxy meal, there are currently only three records of Dyer’s Broom Aphid (Aphis genistae) on NBN.
Sycamore Aphid (Drepanosiphum platanoidis) on Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Probably the most recognisable aphid, this (I think) is the one known for covering unfortunately parked cars in excrement at the height of summer. Turning over Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) leaves at Prudhoe in the summer, I was pleased to find lots of what I think are Sycamore Aphids (Drepanosiphum platanoidis). The dark cross-bars associated with this species aren’t yet showing in the individual above but I think it was pretty young.
Large Knapweed Aphid (Uroleucon jaceae) on Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)
Probably the one I’m least sure of now but with femora part pale, part dark and given the host plant, I am fairly sure these are Large Knapweed Aphids (Uroleucon jaceae). Not a species recorded frequently at all, it is a reddish/maroon colour with black tubercles and contrasting legs. Interestingly given a surplus of local Knapweed, I have only noted these once.
A quick round up of this week’s outings in Newcastle with visits to multiple urban sites across the city.
City Centre
A trip into the very heart of Newcastle last weekend proved far more exciting than anticipated with over 140 species recorded. Starting out at St. Andrew’s Church and a highlight here was Wood Sedge (Carex sylvatica) – not a species commonly encountered in the city – while Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) was a good local record. The nearby historic city walls held Black Horehound (Ballota nigra) and a potter along the roadsides fringing Westgate Road an interesting mix of Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Hedge Bedstraw (Galium mollugo) and Weld (Reseda luteola).
Stopping at a very active development site close to St. James’ Park, I was delighted to stumble across a thriving brownfield mix of Ribbed (Melilotus officinalis) and White Melilot (Melilotus albus), Viper’s-bugloss (Echium vulgare) and Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) typical of disturbed ground.
A quick poke about the pond margins at Leazes Park proved interesting with a new plant for me in Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), an introduction from North America, plenty of Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus) and what is likely Fool’s-watercress (Helosciadium nodiflorum). Nearby on Claremont Road, some recent disturbance had allowed Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) and Red Goosefoot (Oxybasis rubra) to flourish.
A late afternoon wander up the road from home on Friday revealed not one but two new locations for Water Bent (Polypogon viridis), a new arrival here and a ‘Heaton tick’ in Guernsey Fleabane.
At Henderson Hall, it was nice to stumble across a mature Hop (Humulus lupulus) clambering through the path side shrubs – a nice addition to the ongoing urban flora. Here too, Black Horehound was numerous and interesting escapes were noted in Silver Ragwort (Jacobaea maritima), Pirri-Pirri-Bur (Acaena novae-zelandiae) and Italian Toadflax (Cymbalaria pallida).
Walking home via Coach Lane, a quick gander at what remains of the roadside pond here produced Water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) and the nearby grassland held plenty of Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia). By the roadside, some detective work suggested that a strange Mallow self-seeding in places could be the ornamental hybrid, Malva x clementii.
An unidentified Stonecrop in Heaton cemeterySilver Ragwort (Jacobaea maritima)Water Bent (Polypogon viridis)Tentative Malva x clementiiCanadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis)
Newburn Industrial Estate
A rare trip out with company this weekend as Saturday saw a slightly damp trip to Newburn alongside keen local botanist, Ho-Yin Wong. Exploring the vast expanse of brownfield here, it was difficult not to feel somewhat glum knowing it is due to be built on in the near future but nevertheless, much remained to be seen. Starting out in the industrial estate, not one but two patches of Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris) were noted alongside Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) and Hop. The latter is usually a hard species to come by in Newcastle!
Opting first to explore the enormous area of damp grassland here, interesting sightings included Hoary Ragwort, False Fox-sedge (Carex otrubae) and Glaucous Sedge (Carex flacca). Italian Rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum) was a new species for the Urban Flora and it was nice to note Large Bitter-cress (Cardamine amara) by one of the pools. Nearby, the shelterbelt surprised us with planted Juniper (Juniperus communis) and some more natural False-brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum).
Pottering back along the riverside, it came as a surprise to spot not one but two species of naturalised bellflower: Nettle-leaved (Campanula trachelium) and Peach-leaved (Campanula persicifolia). The Dune Helleborines (Epipactis dunensis) were still visible here too while further up, a poke about the industrial estate ponds yielded Lesser Bulrush (Typha angustifolia).
Entry number #5 in our Plant of the Week series follows the discovery of a local rarity, Blue Fleabane, at three sites in Newcastle this week.
Blue Fleabane, Erigeron acris
Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris) is a small but beautiful member of the Daisy family, Asteraceae. An annual or biennial species, it flowers from July until September and is widely associated with coastal habitats where it favours well-drained dune habitats. A lover of calcareous conditions, it can also be encountered in dry grassland, on verges and occasionally, as an urban weed.
Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris) growing in a disused planter in Heaton, Newcastle
Befitting a love of well-draining, often quite desolate conditions, I have encountered this species at three sites locally of late. At the first of these, multiple plants were found growing in long-abandoned planters in my local industrial estate, notably in close proximity to Fern-grass (Catapodium rigidum) and other colonisers typical of such habitats. My second encounter came at Walker Riverside where several plants were found growing in pavement cracks by the Tyne. Finally, two more clumps of fleabane were spotted at Newburn Industrial Estate this morning.
Blue Fleabane is a scarce species in the North East, more numerous in County Durham (VC66) than in more Northerly vice-counties. Here, it is found frequently along the coast but also inland where it inhabits quarries and other dry habitats. In South Northumberland (VC67), it can be seen at several sites near Newcastle with an outlying population at Druridge Bay. It is rarer still in North Northumberland (VC68) where it can be seen at select coastal sites, including Lindisfarne.
What does it look like?
Blue Fleabane is similar in appearance to other small-flowered fleabanes in sporting small, inconspicuous flowers borne in panicles. The individual flowers appear flat-topped with ray florets only slightly longer than the disk florets. These lilac outer rays emerge from a yellow centre and from a distance, making the flower appear somewhat blue in colour. It is this feature which gives it the name, Blue Fleabane.
The general impression of this plant is one of a very short (less than 60cm) and densely hairy plant. The square stems are hairy, as are the phyllaries located behind the flowerhead – a useful feature in separating it from other plants in this family. Similarly, the clasping stem leaves are also hairy on both sides. The margins of these leaves are often untoothed or only slightly toothed, further separating this plant from other fleabanes.
Blue Fleabane is said to relieve tooth-ache and arthritic pains, though the truth of this remains to be determined…
Similar species
Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) is a common non-native plant across much of the UK, including in the North East. This species tends to be far larger (but not always) and usually sports much more numerous flowers than Blue Fleabane. These are usually smaller too and lack attractive blue colouration.
Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris) growing as a pavement plant at Walker
A short round-up of a glorious Saturday morning spent botanising one of my favourite local sites.
It is no secret that I am a big fan of the messy, post-industrial yet incredibly diverse riverside park at Walker. Visiting for a few years now, I’ve already amassed a fairly respectable plant list for the site yet somehow, each visit continues to turn up something new. Things were no different on a visit this weekend with local botanist, Ho-Yin Wong.
Heading first for the marina at St. Peter’s Basin and it wasn’t long before colossal fleabane caught my eye growing in no-mans-land by the side of the road. Up here, Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) tends to be the common species, so much so that I often walk past them without checking. That’ll teach me, this one turned out to be Gurnsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) identified by its hairy phyllaries.
Reaching the basin itself, it was pleasing to see that the various areas of pavement and wasteground here had not been ‘tidied’ as so many places around here often are. Lots more Guernsey Fleabane was found, alongside two more invaders: Russian Vine (Fallopia baldschuanica) and Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens).
Rummaging around further, Canadian Fleabane (with glabrous phillaries) was eventually observed, alongside Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) with its conspicuous black bracts. As for the highlight among the native species, it was nice to catch Small-flowered Crane’s-bill (Geranium pusillum) still in bloom.
Russian-vine (Fallopia baldschuanica)More Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis)Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens) seems to be spreading in Newcastle
Making our way down to the track that runs along the North bank of the Tyne, the usual riverside flora remained conspicuous. Here, Black Horehound (Balotta nigra) remained in flower and several self-sown Italian Alder (Alnus cordata) were seen. Much more interesting, however, were two new additions to the ‘Walker list’ in Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and better still, White-stemmed Bramble (Rubus cockburnianus). The latter a Chinese endemic long known from the riverside here yet annoyingly, one which I have struggled to find, until now.
Moving on to the site of the old tar works and a real hotchpotch of interesting plants appeared in quick succession. Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) remained in bloom, as did Wild Thyme (Thymus drucei), though sadly, the same could not be said for the Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) which grows here too. The Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) dumped on site last summer also appear to be thriving, much to my surprise, and it was interesting to note Grey Alder (Alnus incana). Slightly further on we also encountered Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia).
Back down by the riverside and it was exciting to record both Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) and Flattened Meadow Grass (Poa compressa) – both scarce species locally. As a matter of fact, it was thanks to the aforementioned grass that we chanced upon what would turn out to be the highlight of the day – a great clump of Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris). More on that one in an upcoming post.
Soon it was head off, though not before a quick excursion along the wooded cycleway further up the bank. Here, Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor) was a bit of a curiosity as was what I think is Box-leaved Honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata). Having watched it with frustration for two years now, I was also happy to make some headway with the ‘unusual’ spurge that grows here. Looking closer, it appears this might be Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), identification made easier by the presence of fruit on this occasion.
Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor)Box-leaved Honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata)A tentative Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata)
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…
