This week, I was delighted to record what appears to be the first Spotted Marsh Ladybird recorded in South Northumberland (VC67).
Searching various local wetlands this year for Red Marsh Ladybird and Water Ladybird, one thing that has persisted at the back of my mind had been the possibility of finding the former’s far scarcer cousin: Coccidula scutellata.
A tiny but striking wetland specialist, this little ladybird is fairly common in the South of England but records grow incredibly scarce up North. It is apparently completely absent from Scotland, with only a few records in Cumbria and only one in the North East – a report from Newton Links, North Northumberland, in 1990.
A small, orange ladybird sporting two distinctive dark spots on the elytra, as far as inconspicuous ladybirds go, this isn’t a hard one to identify. The problem with recording this species seems to be the difficulty associated with finding it. Flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) seems to be a good place to start according to Andrew Jewels and sure enough, this ladybird was swept from the leaves of emergent irises.
If like me, you’re someone who often finds yourself perusing the internet about wild plants, you’ll know that there are some fantastic resources out there to be discovered. Whether you’re frantically Googling a potentially exciting find, planning a trip or attempting to live vicariously through others, there are many helpful botany blogs and resources out there to be explored.
While the list below is not comprehensive, I wanted to share some of the botany blogs and resources I’ve been enjoying lately. Some I visit almost daily, others I’ve just discovered but either way, all are worth a look.
I’ll do my best to keep this page live and update it as I discover new resources. Until then, I hope you find something to interest you.
A Leicestershire-based charity concerned with the recording of the county’s wildlife, NatureSpot is an incredible online resource. Not only does it profile many of the county’s plant species (and other taxa too, for that matter) but it offers a great deal of helpful information on everything from habitat and identification to confusing lookalikes.
Given that many of the plants that occur in Leicestershire and Rutland can be found elsewhere too, this is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about a specific species.
WildflowerFinder is a fantastic resource for botanists looking to identify a pesky plant. Here, plants are searchable by factors such as colour, month, habitat and species accounts tend to be extremely detailed. Take this one on Sea Spleenwort, for example.
What I find most helpful about this site is the author’s tendency to showcase multiple photos covering all aspects of a particular plant. Stems, leaves and flowers, all are routinely covered, making it easy to compare your finds.
For those who don’t own the book, BSBI’s online crib sheets are a godsend. Made available by Dr Tim Rich, they tackle some of the plant families most likely to confuse botanists in the field. Sure, they can be fairly academic (so much in botany often is) but the keys, identification aids and general tips contained within are extremely useful. Take a look at this one on Bugles, as an example.
Given that this is BSBI we’re talking about, you won’t be surprised to learn that they also have a pretty fantastic YouTube channel covering just about anything you could wish for on British botany. Plant identification, beginner-friendly talks, informative workshops and updates on exciting projects across the country, whatever your poison, they’ve got you covered.
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
Botany blogs
Botany Karen
I can’t believe it took me so long to discover this blog. A website by botanist, Karen Andrews, Botany Karen is a fantastic collection of all things botanical in the British Isles. With no end of beautiful photography, this site is useful for plant identification but more importantly is a treasure trove of information about the plants themselves. Take this post on Frog Orchids, for example. Overall, this blog is both beautiful and detailed. I can’t recommend it enough.
Botany in Scotland
I really like this one, especially the author’s long-running ‘Plant of the Week’ series. Coupling incredibly detailed accounts with lovely photography, these posts provide a complete overview of a particular plant. Narrow-leaved Ragwort, for example. If like me, you’re into biological recording, this is the website for you.
A local one now, at least if you live in the North East. A long-standing nature diary, Heather’s blog brings together observations on the natural world focusing predominately on plants but covering other taxa too. With lovely photography, lots of facts, and a focus on flora in the North East. It is a great regular read for botanists in our region.
Bug Women – Adventures in London
Bug Woman’s blog is another gem. Coupling the excitement of everyday observations with well-researched deep dives into single species, it is one of the few blogs I read each week. The author’s Wednesday Weed series is a particular highlight and whether we’re talking folklore, taxonomy or intra-species relationships, never fails to reveal new information about the plant in question. Take the humble Gooseberry, for example.
Botanising in Huntingdonshire, Yorkshire and Beyond
A fantastically informative blog focused on botanical recording in two vice counties: West Yorkshire and Huntingdonshire. Collating and sharing interesting discoveries from these areas, the author provides a fascinating account of what can be encountered in the British countryside. While the plants featured may be restricted to two small areas, the information contained within and photographic aids are universally helpful. Take this post on a new cultivar of arum, for example. I didn’t even know this existed…
It may seem odd to feature a Twitter account while discussing botany blogs but really, this one is a corker. Mick Crawley is an incredible botanist regularly sharing his finds on Twitter where he often shares helpful identification threads too. What is perhaps the best about Mick’s feed is his tendency to focus on difficult groups not often tackled elsewhere. Verbascum? Check. Daffodils? Yep. Non-native street trees? Sure!
Entry number #3 in our Plant of the Week series follows an exciting and unexpected find in Newcastle last week.
Unlike our last entry, this week’s plant is not one native to the UK. Nor is it one I suspect many people will have heard of – I certainly hadn’t. As you’ll see, Forked Catchfly is not a species one would typically expect to find growing in a patch of messy grassland within Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Forked Catchfly, Silene dichotoma
Forked Catchfly (Silene dichotoma) is a rather lovely member of the pink family native to parts of Eastern Europe. It occurs from Italy in the West eastward as far as Russia. It can also be widely encountered outside of its natural range in Western Europe, Africa and parts of America where it’s seeds often arrive alongside exports of grain and clover seed.
Forked Catchfly, spotted at Gosforth Nature Reserve in Northumberland
The natural habitat of Forked Catchfly is said to be disturbed grasslands and open forests. It also readily exploits man-made habitats including roadsides, wasteland and agricultural margins where soil disturbance is common. At Gosforth Nature Reserve, where I encountered it last week, it was found growing on a patch of formerly disturbed dry grassland. Had the seeds been in the soil already or had they escaped from nearby farmland? Who knows…
This sighting represents the first recorded of Forked Catchfly for Northumberland. Elsewhere, it has been recorded widely but infrequently across the UK, with the greatest concentration of records in the South of England. This species would appear to have been much more common pre 1930s, possibly suggesting a decline with increased biosecurity.
Like some other catchfly species, the flowers of Silene dichotoma open fully at dusk or on overcast days
What does it look like?
Forked Catchfly is a rather ragged-looking, unkempt plant. In fact, it is this messy appearance which strikes you first, helping seperate it from its native cousins. An erect and very hairy plant, it has many flowers sporting deeply lobed white petals. These can sometimes take on a curled form, as shown in the picture below.
The flowers of this species are encased within an inflated calyx of sepals marked with ten distinctive black veins.
The leaves of this species are lanceolate and up to 8cm long. These decrease in size as you move up the stem towards the flowers and like the rest of the plant, are rather hairy.
Silene dichotoma appears to be a rather messy, unkempt plantThe leaves of Forked Catchfly at Gosforth Nature Reserve, Northumberland
A short guide to some of the black ladybirds you could encounter while ladybird spotting across the UK.
Britain is home to some 26 species of conspicuous ladybird. Far from your storybook red ladybird, many of these species are black in colour. Whether we’re talking about black ladybirds with red spots or melanistic (black) forms of familiar species, the similarities between these can be confusing. Below, you’ll find a little more information on some of Britain’s black ladybirds…
Identifying black ladybirds
Harlequin Ladybird, Harmonia axyridis
Probably the commonest of the UK’s black ladybirds, the Harlequin Ladybird is incredibly variable. Both the Conspicua and Spectabilis forms of this large invader are black in colour, albeit with differing patterns of red spots.
In general, Harlequin Ladybirds are large and domed in shape. While size is a good indicator, the best way to separate this from other species is by the markings on the pronotum (the area behind the head). Harlequins usually sport two conspicuous white patches on either side. Melanistic 10-Spot and Hieroglyphic ladybirds also have these, albeit to a lesser extent.
If your ladybird is exceptionally obliging, you’ll also notice that the legs of this species are brown.
Pine Ladybird, Exochomus quadripustulatus
The Pine Ladybird is a small species sporting four red spots, two of which are distinctively comma-shaped. Positioned towards the front of each wing case, these are the best way to separate this species from other black ladybirds.
In contrast to the Harlequin which shows a variable amount of white on the pronotum, that of the Pine Ladybird is entirely black.
Another good feature to look for is the pie-like rim around the outside of the wing cases. This feature is shared only by species within the same family and helps narrow down your choices.
Kidney-Spot Ladybird, Chilocorus renipustulatus
The Kidney-spot Ladybird looks a lot like the Pine Ladybird to which it is closely related. It shares the same domed shape, pie-like rim around the wing cases and black pronotum.
Kidney-spot Ladybirds are best identified by their large, red and parallel spots. One on each wing case. The only other ladybird boasting a similar pattern is the Harlequin; though these have white on the pronotum and brown legs.
This species is a bit more particular in its habitat choice and prefers deciduous woodland. It is often spotted on the trunks of willow or Ash in spring.
10-Spot Ladybird, Adalia decempunctata
The 10-spot Ladybird is perhaps the most variable ladybird in Britain. With dozens of colour forms, they can look like any other British ladybird, at least at first glance.
The chequered decempustulata form of the 10-spot Ladybird is black with a grid-like pattern of red or orange markings. Unlike many other black ladybirds, its legs are orange in colour and the pronotum features an extensive area of white. A melanistic form, lacking these features, also exists.
10-spot Ladybird is a generalist species and can be encountered in a diverse range of habitats. They are one of the ladybirds most often spotted in urban areas.
2-Spot Ladybird, Adalia bipunctata
Just to confuse things further, like the 10-spot Ladybird, the familiar 2-spot Ladybird also comes in various dark forms. Most often, these will have either four or six red spots sat atop black wing cases.
The four-spot form of this species has elongated, sometimes rectangular, red spots at the front of the wing cases. The six-spot form has four red spots, as opposed to two, towards the rear of the wing cases.
Fun fact: black forms of 2-spot Ladybird are thought to be more common in Northern areas where the darker base colour helps them absorb more heat from the sun.
One of Britain’s scarcer or at least harder to come by black ladybirds. The Heather Ladybird is a specialist species favouring Heather plants, most often in an upland setting. It can also be found in lowland and coastal heaths and can turn up in gardens where it may occur on cypress trees.
Closely resembling the Kidney-spot and Pine Ladybirds in shape and jizz, what sets this species apart is the distinctive line of red markings on the elytra. This can be fused or divided and may look like a solid line or a line of spots.
Hieroglyphic Ladybird, Coccinella hieroglyphica
The typical form of the Hieroglyphic ladybird is unmistakable and wouldn’t usually fit into a like blog post like this. Unfortunately, however, a melanistic form of this species also exists!
Black Hieroglyphic Ladybirds lack any visible markings on the elytra but do possess a pair of small white marks on the pronotum. They also have black legs and sometimes, two small ‘wedge-shaped’ white markings where the pronotum meets the wing cases.
This is a scarcely recorded species most associated with the uplands, though they do turn up elsewhere from time to time. Black forms are uncommon but cannot be ruled out.
With visits to some of my favourite haunts and lots to see elsewhere, July has been a great month for ladybird recording.
I haven’t been as active in my ladybird hunting this month – peak wildflower season leaving little time for insects. That said, I’ve still managed a few trips out in search of these fascinating little insects. Mostly to familiar sites which continue to turn up new and exciting species, though also a few new locations too.
With adult ladybirds present again after an early-summer hiatus, I have managed a respectable eighteen species in July. Among these, some nice scarcities and a number of new site records. Some highlights of July’s ladybird recording can be found below.
Rising Sun Country Park
Early in the month, a Friday off saw me walking to Rising Sun Country Park in search of conifer ladybirds. Before even getting started with the trees, several familiar species were noted on the walk in. 7-spot Ladybird was ubiquitous and 22-spot Ladybird was observed on a stand of mildew-addled Hogweed. More interesting perhaps was an Orange Ladybird found atop a bin in the Asda car park. Not a bad start…
Searching the trees at the base of the park’s pit heap, it wasn’t long until the first of the days specialist ladybirds put in an appearance. The lovely 18-Spot Ladybird below was one of two adults found on Scots Pine.
18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata)
In a different area of the park, it was nice to catch up with not one but three Eyed Ladybirds. Britain’s largest ladybird, I seem to have good luck finding this species on the lower branches of Scots Pine, though, for something so large, they can be quite cryptic. A sweep net helps!
Eyed ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
Newburn
Two visits to Newburn last week for entirely different reasons, one an Natural History Society bioblitz and the other, a riverside walk with the other half. Despite their differences, both came up trumps with a fantastic haul of ladybirds.
On Saturday, some searching and sweeping around Urban Green Newcastle’s Tyne Riverside Country Park yielded the usual trio of 7-Spot, 14-Spot and Harlequin ladybirds. Better still, Larch Ladybird was found in the memorial garden and later, a 24-Spot Ladybird was swept from some riverside Mugwort. So much for only being found on campion and grasses, eh?
Returning to Newburn on Sunday, Matt in toe, we decided to spend some time beating some of the riverside conifers having spotted the larvae of Eyed Ladybird earlier in the summer. No such luck but we did encounter the rather handsome Striped Ladybird shown below.
Having only encountered my first Striped Ladybird in early 2022, I am now stumbling across this species pretty much anywhere with good-sized Scots Pines, but more on that later…
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Adonis’ Ladybird is a scarce species of dry grassland habitats. Known to favour brownfield sites, I wasn’t too surprised to find the striking individual below at Newburn. Perched atop a stand of Wild Parsnip, it was nice to compare this to the larger 7-Spot Ladybirds nearby. Both species had clearly been drawn here by the glut of aphids and could be seen feeding on Willow-Parsnip Aphids (Cavariella theobaldi).
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
Highlights aside, there were lots of other ladybirds to see at Newburn. Searching pines, it was nice to see Pine Scymnus again after quite some time. Likewise, the tiny Epaulet Ladybird appears to be increasing again at what is only the second known site for this species locally.
Finally, the melanistic 2-spot Ladybird below seemed worthy of a photo too…
Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis)Epaulet Ladybird (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides)2-spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)
Cramlington Industrial Estate
While I’ve been visiting regular sites in search of ladybirds, I have also been trying to fill some gaps too. Having noticed several accessible pines by the A1068 at Cramlington, on Friday I decided to take a look.
Almost immediately upon arriving at Cramlington Industrial Estate, the Striped Ladybird below was found on the tip of a pine branch. A new square for what might just be my favourite British ladybird.
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Searching the trees that line the road by the big factory here, I was surprised to find five 18-Spot Ladybirds too. Usually the scarcest of the conifer ladybirds, at least in my experience, they seem to be more abundant than previously thought. Or perhaps I am just getting my eye in…
18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata)
The isolated Scots Pine pictured below grows on the central verge South of Cramlington Industrial Estate. Having driven past it many times, I have always thought it looked ‘good for ladybirds’. I was right! Dodging traffic, a search of the tree in question yielded more Striped and 18-Spot Ladybirds, as well as four Pine Scymnus.
An isolated pine rich in ladybirds – a lesson for ladybird recording in the futureStriped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Conifer specialists aside, Cramlington held a good variety of other ladybirds too. Predictably, 22-Spot Ladybird was found by searching Hogweed and Pine Ladybird was discovered by shaking a non-native conifer of some description. A single Meadow ladybird was also found in the somewhat barren grasslands at Northumberlandia.
As I visit more local sites in search of ladybirds and add more sightings to iRecord, I am becoming increasingly interested in this fascinating group of insects.
Keen to take this further, I have created a dedicated space on this blog where I’ll share everything ladybird related in the future. Take a look below.
Nature is better when shared with others and last week, it was great to welcome several local naturalists to the patch.
Another weekend, another trip to Silverlink, albeit with company on this occasion. Joined by Fiona Greenwold from ERIC North East, I helped lead a small group of Natural History Society members on a 2-hour walk around the site looking at plants and insects. A mini bioblitz, if you will.
On the plant front, little had changed since the week before. Except, perhaps, for a noticable increase in the amount of Small Scabious and Wild Carrot in bloom. The latter of which, alongside the copious flowers of Wild Parsnip, were attracting a fantastic variety of insects. Everlasting Pea is a species familar from the site but the white form below, spotted by a group member, was also a highlight. This no doubt grows here as an escape from cultivation.
Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria)Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
Having recorded around 170 plant species at Silverlink, it is not often these days that a visit yeields a new species, never mind two! With more eyes on the lookout, however, today we found two exciting additions to the site’s flora. The first we think is Chalk Knapweed, despite appearing somewhat more robust than it should be. It certainly had the deeply-lobed leaves but alas, it could be an intermediate form. The second plant was Hoary Ragwort, a scarce species in the North East.
Chalk Knapweed (Centaurea debeauxii)
With a wealth of umbellifers in the bloom across the site, pollinating insects were present in abundance. Among these, hoverflies were particularly promitent and it was a nice to note a range of common species including Myathropa florea and Episyrphus balteatus. Slightly more interesting was the striking little hoverfly shown below: Riponnensia splendens. The parrallel lines on the thorax help identify this species.
Riponnensia splendens
Finally on the hoverfly front, we also noted large numbers of Chrysogaster solstitialis. With their vivid red eyes and black colouration, these hoverflies always stand out – particularly when perched atop the white flowers of Wild Carrot. Not a hoverfly and not identified with certainty, but I think the sawfly below could be Tenthredo distinguenda.
Slightly larger and more conspicuous than the aformentioned insects, while exploring one of the ponds on site, we were delighted to catch sight of this vibrant Southern Hawker. Perching for some time on a nearby rock, it surely proved a highlight of the day for many.
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea)
No trip to Silverlink in summer would be complete absent a look downward among the grasses and wildflowers. After last week’s fruitful search for bugs, this week there had been a noticable increase in another species, Calocoris roseomaculatus. This species has distinctive rosy patches on its forewings.
Calocoris roseomaculatus
Finally, while seaching Silverlink’s grassland, it was nice too to stumble across my first Green Leafhopper. Fairly distinctive, at least as far as leafhoppers go, the turqoise colour of this little insect really stood out.
For our first plant profile, we’ll cover an unobtrusive yet beautiful little fern found in only a select few corners of North East England: Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort.
This is an extremely rare plant that thanks to an unexpected trip to Hareshaw Linn in Northumberland, I recently had the chance to see for the first time.
Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort
Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis
Many of us are familiar with with Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes), the delicate, trailing fern adorning garden walls and other structures throughout our towns and cities. What you may not know, however, is that the UK is home to several subspecies of this lovely little fern, one of which is the Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis).
This unassuming fern grows on calcareous rocks such as limestone in shaded, humid settings. Often under rock overhangs, on steep valley sides or beside waterfalls, such as at Hareshaw Linn. Unlike it’s more familiar cousins, it is seldom found on mortared walls and is unlikely to crop up in towns.
A genuinely rare subspecies in the UK, Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort is found at only a scattering of sites. A notable concentration can be found in south Wales, with a further cluster of records near Chester. Elsewhere, it is found sporadically in small populations at isolated sites.
This fern is widespread in Southern Europe, particularly in Spain, France and Italy, so may well be under-recorded in the UK.
The specific epithet trichomanes refers to a Greek word for fern
Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort, spotted at Hareshaw Linn in Northumberland
Identification
Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort is a small, tufted plant that often appears to grow flat against the surface of rock. Its narrow, green fronds are usually 5-30mm long and contain at their centre a dark, glossy mid-rib – a useful feature for seperating this group from Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride). The pinnae or leaflets usually number in at 20-30 pairs and are arranged oppositely along the frond. All of this, however, appeals to other Maidenhair Spleenworts too, so what sets this subspecies apart?
The main difference between Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort and other subspecies is the margin of pinnae. As its name suggests, those of this fern are distinctly lobed, almost scalloped. In contrast, those of other subspecies may be asymmetrical or rectangular but only slightly toothed. It may only be an anecdotal observation, but I think the lobes give the leaflets of this fern an arrow-like shape…
Given it’s similarities to other Maidenhair Spleenworts, it is little wonder this fern is poorly recorded. Sure, it may be rare, but it must be present unnoticed at further sites. Will you find it?
Distribution
In the North East, Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort is restricted to just a few locations: one in South Northumberland (VC67) and three in County Durham (VC66).
In Northumberland, the most notable colony is found at Hareshaw Linn SSSI, where the species thrives on the humid rock faces surrounding the site’s waterfall. In County Durham, it has been recorded at two sites near Barnard Castle and on crags along the River Tees near Bowlees.
An account of a fantastic day spent exploring fern identification at the glorious Hareshaw Linn.
Ferns have always scared me a little if I am honest. Sure, I can identify the easier ones but by large, I often ignore them on my travels in favour of less intimidating flowers. That said, I have been keen to improve my fern identification skills for a while now and on Friday set out with a friend to one of the most fern-rich sites in Northern England.
Hareshaw Linn is SSSI designated for its rare ferns and bryophytes. A scenic river gorge sporting ancient woodland and a rather beautiful waterfall, it is a site I had always wanted to visit but had not yet had the chance. Until now. Expectations already high, I am pleased to say I was not disappointed with fourteen fern species observed during our stay, including several new for me.
Starting out
Having given only an obligatory glance to the Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) during our walk in, it wasn’t long until the first of the day’s more interesting ferns was discovered. The pictures below show Lady-fern (Athyrium filix-femina) found growing beside the path through the gorge. A lovely, feathery species with distinctive crescent-shaped sori, the best way to identify them is, of course, to turn them over.
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
Next up, a new species for me and further into the gorge, it was great to finally stumble across Lemon-scented Fern (Oreopteris limbosperma). Quite a nice one to identify, the best way to tell it apart from the pack is that the pinnae decrease in size as they go down the stem. It also gives off a pleasant citrus smell when crushed.
Hardly worthy of a mention but two more abundant ferns were added here too: Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) and Broad Buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata).
Feeling brave, further into the walk, we decided to take a quick look at some of the other Dryopteris on site. I think the fern pictured below is a Golden-scaly Male Fern (Dryopteris affinis) having ruled out the Narrow-scaly Male Fern (Dryopteris cambrensis) based on the length of the lowest pair of pinnules. It also didn’t seem to fit Borrer’s Scaly Male Fern (Dryopteris borreri) either but I’d be happy to be corrected!
Golden-scaled Male Fern (Dryopteris affinis)Golden-scaled Male Fern (Dryopteris affinis)
Moving on, new ferns soon started to come thick and fast. First came the first of many Hard Shield Ferns (Polystichum aculeatum) spotted during the trip and secondly, lots of Hard Fern (Blechnum spicant). Feeling empowered by the earlier male fern, we also chose to take a closer look at the Polypodys growing alongside the river. With pointed tips and fronds which gradually taper towards the top and bottom, I think these were Intermediate Polypody (Polypodium interjectum).
Drawing closer to the waterfall, a quick detour from the track revealed another new species for the day: Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris). With fronds split roughly into three triangles, this is another nice one to identify and another new species for me.
Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris)Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris)
Reaching the waterfall, it was difficult not to be taken aback by the visible storm damage. The plunge pool beneath the waterfall was littered with the corpses of felled trees, likely brought down during Storm Arwen. I wouldn’t have liked to be here that night…
The plunge pool beneath Hareshaw’s waterfall
Back to the ferns, and Hareshaw Linn is the only North East site for the rare Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis). A nationally scarce subspecies of Maidenhair Spleenwort, the difference between them comes from the lobed, crinkley-looking pinnae. We saw many plants during our stay, all concentrated around the waterfall where they grow within cracks in the bedrock.
Here too, the steep cliffs of the gorge and fallen rocks beneath them held a number of other ferns. Some, like Hart’s-tongue (Asplenium scolopendrium) were somewhat common, though others much less so. Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride) is a rare species locally and took some finding among the much more numerous Maidenhair Spleenwort.
Slightly more conspicuous, Brittle Bladder-fern (Cystopteris fragilis) could be seen in abundance too. The latter species concluded the day’s tally at a very respectable 14 fern species.
While ferns were the purpose of the day’s trip, plenty of other wildlife was seen at Hareshaw Linn. The plantlife was particularly interesting with sightings of several species I see infrequently in the North East. Among these, Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum), Wood Melick (Melica uniflora) and Marsh Hawk’s-beard (Crepis paludosa). Of course, several Giant Bellflowers (Campanula latifolia) were also a highlight.
The combination of beaming sun and rain showers did not prove overly encouraging to insects. However, we did see a few goodies including new hoverflies for me in Epistrophe grossulariae and Leucozona laternaria. Returning to the car park, the bee below was also spotted foraging on a Solidago sp. Thanks to Chris, this was revealed to be Grey-banded Mining Bee (Andrena denticulata), an incredibly rare species in our region.
With summer in full swing, there has been lots to enjoy on the local patch.
Pottering around at Silverlink last weekend, there was a great deal to see. Now, at the height of Summer, the site’s grassland areas are looking particularly good and it was great to sit back and enjoy the variety of wildflowers on show.
Among the plants in bloom, Betony, Viper’s-bugloss and Yellow-wort were the most conspicuous. Zigzag Clover was flowering too and, while far less numerous than back in June, a few Bee Orchids clung on.
More interesting perhaps were some new discoveries for the site: Small Scabious, a plant I see very infrequently around here, and Pale St. John’s wort, a regional rarity. Despite being much more common locally, I’m not sure I have spotted Musk-mallow at Silverlink before either…
With so much in bloom, the bees were out in force. Among the commoner species, it was nice to see a female Patchwork Leafcutter Bee visiting the flowers of Viper’s-bugloss.
Patchwork Leafctter Bee (Megachile centuncularis)
Wild Mignonette is an abundant plant at Silverlink and where it grows, you can bet that the striking Large Yellow-faced Bee won’t be far behind. A mignonette specialist, eleven or so were spotted around a particularly bountiful clump.
Other bees on the wing included Davies’ Collettes and Fork-tailed Flower Bee. While I didn’t stop to photograph them, butterflies too were out in abundance with Common Blue, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet the most numerous.
Large Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus signatus)
Owing to its series of small, shallow ponds, Silverlink tends to be a good place for Odonata. The only problem is that I can’t for the life of me identify most of the blighters…
On the wing at the weekend were Emperor and Southern Hawker dragonflies, the largest of the bunch, while smaller Four-spot Chasers were seen patrolling the pond margins. Smaller still, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies were numerous; though it was the striking Emerald Damselfly below which caught my attention.
Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa)
Turning my attention down into the undergrowth, a small amount of sweep netting in search of ladybirds turned up the striking Blue Shieldbug shown below. Not a species I often encounter, these iridescent insects are always a pleasure to behold.
Blue Shieldbug (Zicrona caerulea)
Slightly less showy was the superb variety of true bugs discovered while searching a nice area of rank grass and knapweed. Of course, many of these were hard to identify and I inevitably gave up. The three below, thankfully, were a little easier.
Entry numer #1 in our new Plant of the Week series
It is not every day you encounter an endemic species, nevermind one found exclusively at a single site. That said, that’s exactly what happened this week. To celebrate a fantastic trip to Lindisfarne, the first plant in our new Plant of the Week series is of course, the Lindisfarne Helleborine.
Lindisfarne Helleborine, Epipactis sancta
The Lindisfarne Helleborine is found exclusively on Holy Island, a small island lying just off the coast of Northumberland. Found on the western part of the island, it grows in dune slacks and on dunes themselves alongside Creeping Willow and other plants typical of this habitat.
Originally known as Epipactis dunensis, a species found elsewhere in the UK, the Lindisfarne Helleborine has been on quite the taxonomic journey. Early on it was reclassified as a variety of Narrow-lipped Helleborine, and later as Epipactis pietzi var. sancta. In 2002, researchers settled on a new name, Epipactis sancta, and classified the species as a British endemic.
This plant’s status as a full-fledged species seems to have been short-lived, with new research again demoting it to a subspecies. Either way, it is still a very interesting plant and a joy to behold when spotted.
Part of this plants name, sancta, means ‘sacred’ in reference to it growing on Holy Island.
Epipactis sancta, photographed on a visit to Lindisfarne in July 2022
What does it look like?
Lindisfarne Helleborine is a subdued beauty. Reaching a maximum of 30cm tall, almost all parts of the plant are green. Typically orchid-like, its flowers are green too excluding the lip which is white on the outside on chocolate-brown on the interior. It is easy to overlook where it grows in the company of myriad other green plants.
Given it’s similarities to Epipactis dunensis, identifying this orchid is challenging. Indeed, if all three plants were seen together, I doubt most botanists would be able to tell the difference. Thankfully, this is the only of the group growing on Lindisfarne. As a result, if you spot a green helleborine on the island, it is safe to say you’ve found one!
A close up of the green-white flowers of Epipactis sancta
An account of a fabulous day spent exploring the orchids and other wildlife of Lindisfarne – the jewel in the crown of wild Northumberland.
Lindisfarne is one of those magical places that each time you visit, never fails to take your breath away. Diverse, beautiful and altogether unique, it must surely rank among Britain’s ‘must see‘ sites for nature. Particularly when it comes to botany.
At the weekend, I was able to visit Lindisfarne for the first time this year thanks to a generous lift from a friend. A visit timed perfectly to coincide with the island’s most iconic spectacle: blooming orchids.
It is not only the diversity of orchids on Lindisfarne that takes your breath away but the number of them. Indeed, during our stay, we observed many thousands of orchids strewen across the island. Some of these, and some other highlights, are shared below.
Orchids on the Snook
Starting out at the Snook towards the Western end of the island and what struck me first was the abundance of Common Spotted Orchids. Big ones, small ones, pink ones, even pure white ones; the diversity was striking. The whiter ones almost convinced me they were Heath Spotted Orchid but alas, not this time. The alba variant of common spotted will have to do.
There were good numbers of Northern Marsh Orchids here too, though most had gone over. Where spotted and marsh orchids coexist, hybrids are never far behind and it wasn’t long until we discovered our first: Dactylorhiza x venusta. The hybrid of the former two species, this was significantly larger than all nearby orchids – as shown in the picture below. Hybrid vigour?
Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) and their hybrid, Dactylorhiza x venusta
Much to my delight, among the more abundant spotted and marsh orchids on the Snook, several Early Marsh Orchids were also spotted. Indeed, with their pale pink flowers and lower lip folded lower lip, they certainly stood out from the pack.
Early Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza incarnata)
Local specialities
It would be impossible to visit Lindisfarne and not marvel at the sight of countless blooming Marsh Helleborines. Probably the most numerous orchid on the island, hundreds were seen on the Snook and then again at further stops thereafter. Growing in profusion across dune slacks and damp areas, when visiting Lindisfarne, it is quite easy to forget that this is actually a rare plant in our region. Indeed, they are found at only a handful of sites in the North East.
Marsh Helleborines (Epipactis palustris)
When talking about orchids on Lindisfarne, it is possible not to mention the endemic Lindisfarne Helleborine. First discovered on the island in 1958, this was once thought to be the same as Dune Helleborine, before being split. The debate now rages on as to its true identity and some suggest it should be lumped once more.
Regardless of the taxonomic discussions, Lindisfarne Helleborine is a scarce and rather lovely plant. Hard to find, encounters are definitely to be savoured. We stumbled across eleven plants during our stay, some of which were thankfully still in flower.
Lindisfarne Helleborine (Epipactis sancta)
A few more orchids
Pyramidal Orchid is not a species I see often. Living where I do in South Northumberland, the species remains an uncommon sight. The same, however, cannot be said for Lindisfarne and away from the Snook, this species is especially plentiful. Walking west towards Chare Ends and then to the North Shore of the island, these beautiful little orchids were especially numerous and proved a hit with the local Narrow-bordered Five-Spot Burnet moths.
Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis)
A slightly more muted orchid, Common Twayblade also grows in abundance on Lindisfarne. Present in good numbers towards the Eastern side of the island, we saw perhaps 100 during our stay, including some fairly impressive stalks.
Similarly coloured but much more elusive, Frog Orchid is one of the rarer orchids on Lindisfarne. Tiny, inconspicuous and hard to find, it took us longer than it should to find our first and only flower of the day. A rare orchid in the North East, this isn’t something I see often at all and as such, made for quite the highlight.
Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata) and Frog Orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis)
Other Plants
Of course, there is far more to Lindisfarne than just orchids. With far too much to mention in a single blog post, I have aimed to keep this bit short by including only a few highlights from the trip.
At the Snook, it was fantastic to stumble across some impressive drifts of Seaside Centaury, another rare plant boasting a stronghold on the island. With its lurid pink flowers, it certainly made for an impressive sight. Slightly less ‘in your face’ were the leaves of Round-leaved Wintergreen, a new species for me and a national scarcity.
Exploring some of the dune slacks around the Snook, Autumn Gentian was another nice addition to the day’s tally. The plant in question only just coming into bloom. Damper areas here held an intriguing mix of Bog Pimpernel, Variegated Horsetail, Lesser Spearwort and other nice plants.
Slightly more conspicuous, the sward at the Snook also held an abundance of Lesser Clubmoss – not something I have knowingly seen before elsewhere.
Lesser Clubmoss (Selaginella selaginoides)
Moving off elsewhere on the island, a jaunt to the drier North shore and the small quarry present there produced several nice sightings. Blue Fleabane was noted here and the quarry itself held Brookweed around what was left of the small pond here. The non-native Piri Piri, sadly present across the Island these days, was particularly prolific here too. A shame, and quite problematic for visiting botanists!
Scots Lovage is a rare plant locally and one at the southern edge of its national distribution in Northumberland. At least when it comes to the east coast of Britain. We were pleased to see a rather healthy stand of this low-growing umbellifer in the dunes whilst walking back to the car.
While for me, insects were not the main purpose of the trip, it was nice to observe a few noteworthy species on our travels. Bees were a particular highlight with three new species spotted during the day, at least if our tentative IDs are correct.
Best among the bees were the two elusive coastal leafcutters shown below. Dull-vented Sharp-tailed Bee was also noted and on the bumblebee front, it was exciting to spot Heath Bumblebee.
Looking downward, Dune Chafers made for an intriguing sight as they tunnelled in the sand. In the air, Dark Green Fritillaries were a highlight among a cast of butterflies which also included Common Blue, Small Skipper and Red Admiral.
A quick account of a fruitful few days spend admiring orchids in Newcastle.
As the NHSN’s Discovering Orchids project continues, I’ve been making an effort to check in on my local orchids. Visiting a number of post-industrial sites around Newcastle this week, it is safe to say that the plants did not disappoint. From your ‘everyday’ spotted orchids to a selection of scarcer species, there has been an awful lot to see.
Silverlink
Starting out at Silverlink Park, a site I talk about often, and Bee Orchids are having a good year. Indeed, during a quick visit, Matt and I recorded over sixty in bloom across the site. Big ones, small ones, some growing in grassland, others in flowerbeds, it is great to see this species doing so well here.
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
Straying from Silverlink for a minute, and Bee Orchids seem to be having a fantastic year locally on the whole. Not only are they performing well at traditional sites but are popping up in a host of new places too. I mentioned those at Scotswood a few weeks back, but I have also encountered them recently at Walker, Wallsend and Cobalt. At the latter, a number could even be seen invading the landscaped gardens of various office blocks!
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
Back to Silverlink and it was great to see Common Spotted Orchid becoming more numerous too. As expected, these have now taken over from Northern Marsh Orchid as the most numerous species blooming on site. A few marsh orchids could still be seen, of course, though these were invariably those growing in shady locations. The vast majority of those visible only a week back had long since browned and died.
Somewhat more exciting here was the discovery of a single Pyramidal Orchid. Growing within the site’s rich calcareous grassland, this looks to be the first record for the site. Indeed, having visited for many years, I can safely say I have never seen one here until now.
Moving on, a kind tip-off from a local naturalist resulted in a bit of a surprise this week, a few Facebook messages leading to an encounter with an altogether more special orchid. The delicate plant seen below is Heath Fragrant Orchid, an entirely new species for me.
Smaller and with fewer flowers than its larger cousins, this orchid really is a beauty. Better still, it smells amazing! A scent I would describe as sweet and citrusy that others have hailed as ‘spicy’.
Heath Fragrant Orchid is a scarce species in the North East and one usually found in the uplands. To see one in urban Tyneside certainly is a treat.
Heath Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia borealis)
Newburn
To some abandoned brownfield land at Newburn now and more Common Spotted Orchids. So many in fact that we lost count at 250! An abundant and familiar species across most of the UK, it is not often I see them in such numbers. The sight of so many flowers swaying in the breeze a welcome reminder of what more grasslands in our nation should look like.
Here too, a few Northern Marsh Orchid were hanging on, though looking a little worse for wear, and we identified several Common Spotted Orchid x Northern Marsh Orchid hybrids. Seeking out the biggest visible plant before looking closer seems to be a good technique for this – Dactylorhiza x venusta tends to be a whopper.
Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)
Down by the river, we soon discovered the first of the day’s targets: Dune Helleborine. A rare plant nationally, those on the Tyne are said to be the locally endemic Epipactis dunensis subsp. tynensis. Or Tyne Helleborine, to use simple terminology. Either way, for some, the jury remains out as to whether they truly are a subspecies or not. Personally, I quite like them, but perhaps I’m just patriotic?
It was surprising to find over sixty Dune Helleborine in just thirty minutes of casual searching at Newburn. So many, in fact, that they outnumbered their larger and usually more abundant cousin, the Broad-leaved Helleborine. These were present in good numbers, perhaps forty or so, but still seemed scarcer than in previous years. Most of the plants we noticed had yet to flower, but a few had just dared open.
A mongtage of Dune Helleborines (Epipactis dunensis subsp. tynensis)
Well, that concludes this orchid-focused ramble. The diversity of these mesmerising plants around Newcastle never fails to amaze me and I’ll be looking for more in the future!
To help identify a few of the trickier species out there, recently, I’ve been experimenting by rearing ladybird larvae at home.
Identifying ladybirds can be tricky at the best of times. Sure, there are the obvious ones, Water Ladybird for example, but also a fleet of more difficult species. I’m looking at you, inconspicuous ladybirds…
Identifying ladybirds gets much trickier during summer when many species (but not all) are between generations. In practice, this means that adults are scarce and instead, ladybird recorders must look at larvae. Gulp!
I’m dreadful at identifying ladybird larvae, I admit it. I recently purchased a fantastic FSC guide to UK’s ladybird species but still seem to be struggling. Keen not to lose those all-important records, however, I have come up with somewhat of a plan. This summer, I’m going to rear a few of the tricker larvae and see what they turn into!
Ladybird larvae
Keeping things manageable, over the last week or so I have gathered around a dozen larvae from several places. These were located initially on a mix of conifers and within grassland, hopefully suggesting a good range of species.
A selection of those currently in my care can be seen below…
Found on Teasel within grasslandLikely Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, found on Pinus mugoA large larvae found on Scots PinePresumably 2-Spot Ladybird but we’ll seeLikely the same as one and similarly found within grassland
Rearing ladybird larvae
Now, I confess, I have little experience caring for ladybird larvae. Thanks to a little educated guesswork, however, things do seem to be going well. Fed on a range of aphid species, from Rose Aphid to Black Cherry Aphid, all larvae appear to be growing. An interesting observation when it comes to some of the pine specialists. A hearty diet has already led to one larva (shown below) pupating. It shouldn’t be long until we learn this one’s identity…
Gathering aphids can, surprisingly, be quite hard work and collecting the numbers needed can be time-consuming. While our garden is lacking in the little sap-suckers this year, nearby cherry trees, thankfully, are not.
I’m working on the assumption that this could be 11-Spot Ladybird
Besides food, the only other I needed to consider was how to house the ladybirds. They don’t need too much space, but shouldn’t be placed together for fear of eating one another. To avoid taking up too much space, I’ve opted for old fast food containers.
After selecting a suitable abode, rearing ladybird larvae is simply a case of adding some damp tissue to increase humidity. You could also add a few sticks or bits of plant matter for effect.
I feel like a child again as a result of this little experiment. Not only is it fun, ladybird larvae being amazing to watch, but it should provide some interesting records too. With grid references noted, once the larvae reach adulthood, all ladybirds will be photographed and submitted to iRecord. I’ll then return the critters to areas of suitable habitat.
A quick account of an afternoon spent exploring brownfield and recording wildlife at North Shields.
Poking through the rubble heaps and disused car parks of brownfield sites has become a personal hobby of late. Not only are these sites phenomenal for wildlife, but many offer a rare look at what would happen if nature was permitted to reclaim our towns and cities. One of my favourite areas of local brownfield can be found at North Shields, and inspired by a visit last year, I thought I’d take another look this weekend…
Ladybirds
One of the main reasons for my visit was, unsurprisingly, ladybirds and surveying the site I was pleased to encounter a good variety of species. Some, like the 22-Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) were to be expected while others were a tad more exciting. Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata) is a scarce species in our region and one commonly associated with dry, rocky sites such as this. It was also interesting to note the inconspicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius litura, and nicer still to spot eight Water Ladybirds (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) around a small pool forming on the tarmac of an old car park.
The interesting ladybird larvae shown below may turn out to be 11-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella undecimpunctata), a pretty elusive species up here.
Forgetting ladybirds for a while, a quick look at the other insects out and about proved worthwhile. Butterflies didn’t disappoint with eight species on the wing, the best of which being Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and some fresh-looking Common Blues. Several day-flying moths were seen too including Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Cinnabar and Narrow-bordered Five-Spot Burnet.
Elsewhere a few other interesting beasties recorded here included Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn, quite the impressive beetle, the soldier beetle, Cantharis rufa, and the bug, Leptopterna ferrugata. Not a bad haul!
The other great thing about brownfield sites such as is often the plantlife. Rubbly, disturbed places such as this often sportian interesting mix of elusive native species, adventives and aliens. North Shields is no exception and clearly having timed my arrival perfectly, the common plant species were putting on an fantastic display – large patches of Black Knapweed, Oxeye Daisy and Mouse-ear Hawkweed interspersed with Wild Mignonette, Weld, Common Toadflax and a whole manner of lovely things.
Perhaps the most interesting observation of the day came from the sheer abundance of Melilot observed during my visit. Indeed, everywhere I looked this attractvive yellow plant could be seen in abundance. Opting to look closer at this, three species were revealed. By far the most common of these was Ribbed Melilot; though a smaller patch of the far rarer Tall Melilot was also discovered. Next, a small area nestled between spoil heaps revealed a nice patch of White Melilot – not a plant I see very often.
With far too many plants seen to cover in a single post, I think it would be best to focus instead on a few highlights and for me, an abundance of delicate Fairy Flax was nice to see, as was a large area of White Stonecrop adorning the tarmac of a former road. Yellow-wort is another scarce species that thrives on brownfield sites and it was good to see plenty of it throughout my visit. Narrow-leaved Ragwort, an invader from South Africa, provided a touch of the exotic.
Orchids were few and far between but I stumble across a few fading spikes of Northern Marsh Orchid while just outside the site, some rather lovely Bee Orchids were not to be scoffed at.
