Last weekend, I had the pleasure of leading my first guided walk for Wild Intrigue, a fantastic ecotourism enterprise seeking to bring people in the North East closer to nature. Focused on urban plants (my favourite subject) the walk saw a small group of us head down to the Ouseburn Valley in Newcastle to see what we could find.
Much of Ouseburn consists of what some may describe as fairly typical urban habitats: walls, pavement, verges and neglected flower beds. Befitting this, the usual species were there in abundance, among these, Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) with its black exterior bracts, Henbit Dead-nettle (Lamium amplexicaule) and of course, plenty of Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) draped over walls.
More interesting was what appeared to be an abundance of Eastern Rocket (Sisymbrium orientale), while the odd plant of Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) was also found.
Walking inland along the Ouseburn, it was the formerly cultivated yet recently neglected beds that held the most intrigue. In one particular patch, we found four poppy species growing together, including the Long-headed Poppy (Papaver dubium) which I don’t see all too often. Viper’s-bugloss (Echium vulgare) and Kidney-vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) were found here too – plants not so frequent in the city!
On the opposite side of the Ouseburn, some long-abandoned grow beds held plenty of Fiddleneck (Amsinckia micrantha) and small amounts of Small Nettle (Urtic urens) and Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). Again, quite interesting given the location.
Spending a little time admiring the waterside plants of Ouseburn, together we found Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and a figwort species, alongside the much more exciting addition of Gypseywort (Lycopus europaeus). Less welcome was Himlyanan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) which alongside the similarly thuggish Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor) spotted during the trip highlighted clearly the issue of invasive non-native species.
Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor)
Towards Ouseburn Farm we paused to test out some handy plant identification apps and admire a few of the trees on site. Aspen (Populus tremula), White Poplar (Populus alba) and their hybrid Grey Poplar (Populus × canescens) in particular. In the area around the farm, we also stumbled across Hedgerow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pyrenaicum) and an interesting escapee in Lemon-balm (Melissa officinalis).
Planted in some cases but gradually escaping, I had also not appreciated that it was possible to admire all three of the UK’s common ivy species around Ouseburn. English Ivy (Hedera helix), of course, is the most abundant but Persian Ivy (Hedera colchica) and Algerian Ivy (Hedera canariensis) can also be seen in places. Together, these made for quite a nice comparison!
Many thanks to Cain and Heather at Wild Intrigue for inviting me to get involved in this new series of walks. I look forward to the next one!
Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera) are like hen’s teeth in the North East. Sure, they’re fairly reliable at a few more calcareous sites in the near area (Silverlink, in particular) but by large, pop up sporadically in odd places. In any given year, I tend to only encounter a few away from my usual haunts – 2021’s surprise colony was found on the site of a former bus depot at Bedlington, for example.
Waiting for a bus outside of the B&Q superstore in Scotswood, Newcastle, it came as quite a surprise last week to find a couple of Bee Orchids growing in the wasteground around the bus stop. One vibrant spike quickly turning into dozens as we scanned the short-cropped verge here, kept tidy by the store’s owners. All in all, around forty plants could be seen in full flower making for quite the sight.
I suspect these orchids had been lucky. The grass had clearly been mowed recently, but likely before the flower spikes had started to emerge. The flowers were also positioned such that they would be seen by relatively few passersby – the store is visited predominately by those in cars meaning the likelihood of ‘accidental’ picking is much reduced.
We’ll certainly be checking on these again in future years…
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera)Even Matt was slightly taken with the number of orchids on show…
Inspired by the Natural History Society of Northumbria’s North East Ladybird Spot and the #LadybirdYearList challenge launched on Twitter by Andrew Jewels, this year I’ve been dedicating quite a bit of time to finding and recording the North East’s ladybirds.
A group I had previously ignored bar the odd encounter with some of the more common species, the entire process of seeking out these colourful little beetles has proven thoroughly addictive and so far, I’ve managed c250 records of 26 species across the region in habitats that range from city cemeteries to agricultural fields and upland moors.
The sheer diversity of ladybirds out there to be discovered is nothing short of mindblowing and with the North East seemingly poorly recorded, there seems to be a great deal still to be discovered. With that in mind, here’s a short run-down of the species encountered in 2022 with a little information on where they were found.
1# Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)
First recorded: 21 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones, beating conifers, visually on broadleaf trees, Buddleia, bramble etc.
Probably the most conspicuous ladybird in Newcastle, it was inevitable that Harlequin Ladybird would be the first encountered. Sure enough, on my first visit of the year to Jesmond Old Cemetery, many hundreds of these variable invaders were found overwintering on headstones. Here, colour forms on display included succinea, spectabilis and conspicua, with some ladybirds even having no spots at all.
Since January, I’ve recorded these large ladybirds at just about every site I’ve visited within the city limits but so far, have failed to find any at all while walking in the wider countryside, or in towns further North where they seem altogether scarcer.
Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)
2# 2-Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)
First recorded: 21 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones; visually on grasses, Buddleia, Euonymus, Oxford Ragwort etc.
Less numerous than the Harlequins but still present in good numbers, the same visit to Jesmond Old Cemetery also yielded a number of 2-Spot Ladybirds. Again, tucked up on a multitude of gravestones across the site.
Since this initial sighting, I have found this species in a multitude of cemeteries across Tyneside and more recently, have begun to notice them out and about on vegetation. Interestingly, non-native Buddleja davidii seems to be a popular hangout for this species locally, though I’ve also spotted a couple on Euonymus and Scots Pine. So far, I haven’t found a single 2-Spot outside of the city!
2-Spot Ladybird remains fairly common in the North East, despite wide-ranging declines nationally. Perhaps this will change as the Harlequin further consolidates its range here?
2-Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)
3# Orange ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata)
First recorded: 21 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones; beating Scots Pine, English Oak and Ivy.
Another from 21 January now and ever obvious owing to their bright colour, Jesmond Old Cemetery also held a few Orange Ladybird. While plentiful, these were nowhere near as numerous as at other cemeteries visited through January and February with many hundreds at Preston Cemetery, in North Shields, in particular.
An increasingly common species in the city, these have been one of the most numerous ladybirds encountered this year to date and I’ve had good luck finding them by beating Sycamore, Ivy and Scots Pine, both in urban areas and out in a more rural setting.
Orange ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata)
4# Pine Ladybird (Exochomus quadripustulatus)
First recorded: 21 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones; beating Scots Pine, Norway Spruce and Gorse; visually on Ash trunks.
The final species found on my initial visit to Jesmond Old Cemetery was the Pine Ladybird. One of the most numerous ladybirds to be found at inner-city cemeteries, these too have a handy habit of overwintering on gravestones. By early March, more were seen at a variety of sites as they congregated on the trunks of Ash and Scots Pine to begin breeding.
Elsewhere in the city, I’ve had good luck finding this species by beating Scots Pine at Havannah, Gosforth Nature Reserve and Prudhoe and by checking planted Norway Spruce at Stocksfield. A few individuals were found on Gorse at those sites too.
Again, this is another species that seems to fizzle out the further away from Newcastle I get. An odd observation given their status as a supposedly common and abundant ladybird!
Pine Ladybird (Exochomus quadripustulatus)
#5 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
First recorded: 22 January, Havannah Nature Reserve
Found by: beating Gorse and conifers in winter; just about everywhere come spring.
Seldom seen on gravestones, my first 7-Spot Ladybird of the year was found by beating Gorse at Havannah Nature Reserve. This initial individual was quickly followed by many more as Gorse and Scots Pine were checked at other local sites.
At the time of writing this (in late May) 7-Spot Ladybirds are appearing just about everywhere befitting their status as one of Britain’s most common ladybirds. They require little introduction and apparently, are far from picky.
Found by: searching gravestones; beating broadleaf and coniferous trees; visually on Gooseberry, willow etc.
Rarely numerous but apparently rather widespread, Cream-Spot Ladybird is a funny species. Some days, it can take quite a bit of searching to find one and on others, they’re virtually falling from trees.
My first Cream-Spot Ladybird of the year was found again at Jesmond Old Cemetery with further sightings throughout Winter at a good number of cemeteries across Newcastle and the surrounding area. Since then, further individuals have been encountered by beating Ivy, Scots Pine and planted Dwarf Mountain Pine. Others were found by visual searches of Goat Willow and Gooseberry.
In early May, one was even discovered on a Newcastle University minibus during an outing to Allen Banks!
Cream-Spot Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata)
#7 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
First recorded: 22 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones; beating broadleaf and coniferous trees; sweep netting grassland; visually on Euonymus.
Concluding what I would describe as the ‘routine bunch’ of ladybirds easily found in the city, 10-Spot Ladybird came next with good numbers discovered in Jesmond Cemetery. The striking decempustulata form shown below was observed here too.
Interestingly, moving into Spring and early-Summer, this species has become one of the most frequently encountered species on walks across the region, found everywhere from mature woodland and coastal dunes to conifer plantations and urban gardens.
10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
#9 Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)
First recorded: 23 January, Gosforth Nature Reserve
Found by: searching the leaf sheaths of Bulrush and Common Reed; within Gorse close to water; sweep netting marginal vegetation.
Having observed my first in 2021, searching for Water Ladybirds has become somewhat of an addiction. Finding the year’s first at Gosforth Nature Reserve on 23 January, I’ve since observed this species at a number of new sites in and around Newcastle, including Woolsington Pond, Newburn and Silverlink Biodiversity Park.
On most occasions, this species has been found by searching the leaf sheaths of Bulrush and Common Reed, or by sweep-netting waterside vegetation. More unusually, a single Water Ladybird was also found while beating Gorse – a rather odd choice of wintering site for a riparian species.
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)
#9 Red Marsh Ladybird (Coccidula rufa)
First recorded: 24 January, Iris Brickfield Park
Found by: beating Scots Pine; searching the leaf sheaths of Bulrush and by sweep netting marginal grasses.
The first of the inconspicuous ladybirds spotted this year and, according to the books, one of the easiest to find. Usually by sweep netting waterside plants such as sedges and rushes. Found a fair distance from the nearest pond, the individual shown below was actually discovered by beating Scots Pine in search of some of the larger conspicuous species and as such, caused a small amount of confusion.
Fast forward to April and May, and further individuals were found in much more traditional settings around ponds at Havannah Nature Reserve and Woolsington. Further sites have been searched too, of course, but to little success. Contrary to the literature, I find Coccidula rufa surprisingly hard to find!
First recorded: 27 January, Rising Sun Country Park
Found by: beating pine and by searching the trunks of Ash on sunnier days.
Kidney-spot Ladybirds seem to have been easier to find this year; though whether this is due to abundance or simply knowing where to look, I am unsure. Finding my first on Lodgepole Pine, others have since been discovered by searching the trunks of semi-mature Ash trees on warmer days, both at Gosforth Nature Reserve and further North at Rothbury.
Kidney-spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus)
#11 Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
First recorded: 6 February, Havannah Nature Reserve
Found by: beating the lower branches of mature Scots Pines, also within Gorse close to Scots Pine.
The first of this year’s exciting ladybirds, I first observed this exquisite conifer specialist by searching Scots Pines at Havannah Nature Reserve. Proving particularly good for this species, I’ve since found them here on a total of six visits, including a surprise encounter with the unusual melanistic form shown below.
Struggling to find this species away from Havannah, my only other encounter to date came from Gosforth Nature Reserve in the aftermath of our late winter storms where a single ladybird was found low-down on Gorse. Albeit in close proximity to a stand of pines from which it may well have been blown.
Found by: overwintering within Stinking Iris and Gorse, and by sweep netting grasses, Hogweed and other plants.
I do love these! A fairly abundant species of verges and other rank areas, my first 22-Spot Ladybirds of the year were found sheltering within a stand of Stinking Iris in my local park.
Fast forward to spring and more still have been encountered by sweep netting Hogweed at a multitude of sites around Newcastle. A few individuals were also found by searching Gorse and other shrubs such as Euonymus and Dogwood.
First recorded: 19 February, Havannah Nature Reserve
Found by: sweep netting grasses; on heather and gorse in open settings; by beating Scots Pine.
A scarce ladybird associated with grassland on dry, calcareous soils, Adonis’ Ladybird can be a tricky species to find locally. My first encounter of the year came with two individuals found within Gorse at Havannah Nature Reserve. Later, another individual was found overwintering on ornamental Black Pine at Jesmond Cemetery – a somewhat surprising location given this species’ preference for brownfield, heath and coastal settings.
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
14# 18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata)
First recorded: 16 February, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: overwintering on gravestones near to pinus species and by beating of immature Scots Pine.
A rare or at least under-recorded ladybird in the North East, I hadn’t seen this striking conifer specialist at all until this year. During an event at Jesmond Cemetery, it was therefore incredibly exciting to discover a wintering aggregation of this species on a gravestone beneath the same Black Pine that also held the Adonis’ Ladybird shown above.
Despite searching a surplus of conifers during visits to a whole manner of sites this year, so far I have only succeeded in finding this species at one additional site. This being Havannah Nature Reserve where a single individual was encountered, somewhat unsurprisingly, by beating Scots Pine.
Found by: overwintering on gravestones close to Black Pine; by beating Scots Pine and ornamental species.
Virtually unknown in the North East prior to 2022, it came as quite a surprise to find my first Cream-streaked Ladybird at Jesmond Cemetery on 26 February. Again, by beating the same Black Pine that also held 18-Spot and Adonis’ Ladybird. This is quickly becoming my favourite tree…
A new arrival to the UK, this species is currently expanding its range northward and does not yet seem established up here to the same extent as in Southern England. That said, encounters with this species at Walker and Benton later in Spring suggest that it may be more abundant than previously thought.
Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata)
16# Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
First recorded: 5 March, Benton Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones in close proximity to ornamental Black Pine.
The UK’s largest ladybird, this species appears to be rather hit and miss, even while searching seemingly perfect, pine-rich sites. So far this year, I have only succeeded in finding Eyed Ladybirds at a single site – Benton Cemetery – where multiple individuals were seen at rest on gravestones in close proximity to Black Pine.
Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
17# Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata)
First recorded: 5 March, Gosforth Nature Reserve
Found by: beating Scots Pine, Norway Spruce, Sitka Spruce and European Larch. Also overwintering within Gorse.
A ladybird which took a frustratingly long time to find, now that I know where and how to look, I’ve found Larch Ladybird to be fairly abundant at a good number of local sites. Finding my first on Sitka Spruce, I’ve also had good luck finding these muted but beautiful insects by beating Scots Pine, European Larch and Norway Spruce.
Larger conifer plantations seem to be the best place to search for this ladybird though isolated conifers within broadleaf woodland have also proven productive with this species also encountered on lone trees at Allen Banks, Stocksfield and Riding Mill.
Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata)
18# Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis)
First recorded: 13 March, Benton Cemetery
Found by: beating Scots Pine, both within woodland and where isolated trees grow in other settings.
Owing to a scarcity of local records, I had assumed that this inconspicuous ladybird would be difficult to find in my local area. So much so, that I actually twitched one found by another local recorder in Benton Cemetery on 13 March. Oh, how wrong I was…
Fast forward to early summer and I have since encountered this species at a total of nine sites, invariably by searching young Scots Pines. Isolated trees seem to yield good results when searching for this species, as seen at Rothbury, yet the best place to check appears to be the sunnier edges of shelterbelts, plantations and other areas rich in Scots Pine. I am yet to find Scymnus suturalis on any of the non-native or ornamental conifers.
Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis)
19# Black Scymnus (Scymnus nigrinus)
First recorded: 20 March, Havannah Nature Reserve
Found by: scrutinising bark crevices on an immature Scots Pine.
Another unashamed ladybird twitch now and upon hearing that local recorder, Chris Barlow, had discovered a population of this elusive inconspicuous ladybird on an isolated Scots Pine at Havannah Nature Reserve, it would have been rude not to take a look.
Spending quite a bit of time beating conifers, I have looked for my own Scymnus nigrinus since to no avail. Perhaps unsurprising given how few records of this species there are both in the North East and across the wider UK.
Black Scymnus (Scymnus nigrinus)
20# Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus)
First recorded: 25 March, Rothbury
Found by: beating particularly old and gnarly Heather plants; visually searching Scots Pine growing near Heather.
Perhaps the ladybird highlight of the year so far! Looking at the NBN Atlas back in March, there appeared to be no confirmed records of Heather Ladybird at all in the North East excluding an unconfirmed 1980’s sighting near Rothbury. Strange, given our surplus of moorland!
Setting off for the hills above Rothbury, I was therefore delighted to find multiple Heather Ladybirds by searching old Heather plants, as stated in the resources. Visual searching yielded no results at all (they’re surprisingly hard to see) but shaking plants over a sweep net seems to work well.
On a further visit to a nearby square, I was pleased to find this species again. Only this time, halfway up the trunk of a Scots Pine.
Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus)
21# Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura)
First recorded: 26 March, Bedlington
Found by: searching tussock of Cock’s-foot and other grasses in winter; sweep netting grasses and Common Knapweed later in the year.
The only inconspicuous ladybird I’d found on more than one occasion before 2022, my first Meadow Ladybirds were discovered by sweep netting tussocks within rough grassland at Bedlington.
While they can take a bit of finding, I am inclined to agree with the online resources that state this species to be one of our commonest ladybirds. Indeed, when I have taken the time to look, they have been found at most of my frequently visited grassland sites, from Newburn to Newbiggin.
Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura)
22# 11-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella undecimpunctata)
First recorded: 8 April, Alnmouth
Found by: beating Gorse growing on the coast
These ladybirds seem to be rather elusive. To date, the only individual found this year was discovered by beating a stand of Gorse close to the shore at Alnmouth in VC68. Despite a surplus of Gorse elsewhere on the Northumberland coast, further searches have so far yielded nothing at all.
In 2021, I had some luck finding this species by sweep netting coastal grassland, as well as what might have been a fluke encounter while searching heathland at Thropton. Hopefully, I’ll stumble across a few more before year’s end…
Found by: searching tussock in winter; sweep netting grasses and herbaceous vegetation with grassland and arable margins.
Another species which appears quite scarce ‘up here’ the 24-Spot Ladybird is a grassland species through and through. Finding my first back in April by searching a seemingly unassuming tussock of Cock’s-foot, I’ve since had good luck searching for this species at a number of local sites. Not least, along the margins of arable fields where some 25+ individuals were found on a single walk close to Stocksfield.
Found by: beating ornamental conifers including Dwarf Mountain Pine and Black Pine.
Perhaps the most surprising and exciting find of the year so far was the discovery of a population of inconspicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, at Silverlink Industrial Estate in North Tyneside.
A predominately Southern species found as far North as Lancaster, this initial record represents a fair old leap Northward for this tiny yet beautiful ladybird and this encounter certainly wasn’t anticipated. With further visits to the site yielding further records in new squares, and a new population springing up at Newburn, it seems these little insects could actually be rather widespread locally. I wonder where else they could be hiding?
Found by: sweep netting herbaceous vegetation including bramble, nettle, dock and Common Knapweed.
Usually, one of the commonest ladybirds in the local area owing to a broad love of grassland, verges, fields and scrubby places, I actually struggled somewhat to find 14-Spot Ladybird at the start of the season. Regularly sweeping areas of suitable habitat, it wasn’t until 13 May that I finally stumbled across one at Silverlink Biodiversity Park.
One of the last ladybird species to appear each year, things have thankfully changed over the past few weeks with these striking yellow ladybirds since found at a good number of local sites.
A real surprise on a recent trip to Newbiggin, the sight of a small, black ladybird perched atop a stand of coastal grasses initially had me thinking of an odd 10-Spot Ladybird. Finding it a tad unusual, I eventually took a closer look and nabbed a few photos – the suspect ladybird soon revealed to be the melanistic form of the Hieroglyphic Ladybird!
A heathland species associated with mature Heather plants, looking at NBN, it would seem that this ladybird does crop up away from the uplands from time to time. With a couple of unconfirmed records in the Northumbrian hills, this would appear to be the first confirmed record for South Northumberland (VC67).
Hankering for a trip into the uplands, last Saturday, Matt and I set off for Alnwick Moor in North Northumberland. Walking West from Alnwick first through woodland, and then to the boggy, birch strewn outskirts of the moor itself, the trip made for a welcome change to the norm and there was certainly a great deal to see.
Walking west along the outskirts of Hulne Park, a quick search of a mature oak overhanging the park’s boundary wall resulted in our first exciting encounter of the day: a handsome Common Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha). Having only spotted this large and impressive insect on one other occasion, quite some time was spent admiring the critter before it was placed back on it’s tree. Matt was certainly quite taken with it…
Common Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha)
Passing through a few open areas on route to the moor, an incredible display of English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) stopped us in our tracks – an entire hillside here, awash with blue flowers, looking particularly beautiful in the midday sun.
Here too, we observed Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum), plenty of Bugle (Ajuga reptans), and a rather lovely white form of Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia). Common plants, each and all, but still nice to see.
English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
Reaching the outskirts of the moor, beneath the canopy of Downy Birch (Betula pubescens), the striking flowers of Chickweed Wintergreen (Lysimachia europaea) immediately became apparent with a good number of plants strewn throughout the area. A real beauty, it is difficult not to smile while admiring this radiant member of the Primrose family.
Scattered about the area, the round leaves of Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) were seen too alongside Marsh Thistle (Cirsium palustre) and a range of other plants characteristic of such boggy places.
Chickweed Wintergreen (Lysimachia europaea)
Where spacious woodland gave way to heathland at the edge of the moor and conditions became dryer, it was lovely to stumble across a substantial area of Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense).
Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense)Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum)
Opting to remain on the moor’s edge instead of moving off into the heather-clad hills, it wasn’t long until we stumbled across a rather nice bog rich with bryophytes and an array of interesting plants. Spending most of our time here, it was nice to encounter the lingering flowers of Marsh Violet (Viola palustris) and the alien-looking blooms of Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata). The dried vestiges of Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) were also spotted and a number of orchid rosettes were likely those of Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata).
Spending some time here admiring the greener, less conspicuous plants, sedges seen included Glaucous Sedge (Carex flacca), Bottle Sedge (Carex rostrata) and Black Sedge (Carex nigra). In wetter areas, Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) and Marsh Valarian (Valeriana dioica) were found, and a closer look at a pondweed suggested an ID of Bog Pondweed (Potamogeton polygonifolius).
While admiring the aforementioned bog plants, the bee below also caught our eye. Slightly thrown by the upland habitat, I struggled with this at first though it was later confirmed as Chocolate Mining Bee (Andrena scotica). Other bees observed throughout our visit included Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) and Gypsy Cuckoo Bee (Bombus bohemicus), alongside the usual mix of bombus species.
Chocolate Mining Bee (Andrena scotica)
While we had hoped to uncover some potentially interesting ladybird species at Alnwick (cough, Heather ladybird), the best we could manage was a rather lovely melanistic form of 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata) found on oak.
With my Natural History Society of Northumbria hat on, yesterday I had the pleasure of leading a small group of students from Newcastle University to one of my favourite local haunts: the glorious National Trust reserve at Allen Banks. The wooded areas here making for a superb location at which to enjoy a range of seldom seem woodland wildflowers and of course, to try our hand at a spot of orchid hunting too.
Starting out from the public car park and heading South on the West side of the river, things started out well with a range of interesting ferns spotted along the way. Among these, Broad Buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata), Hard Fern (Blechnum spicant), Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) and both Soft Shield-fern (Polystichum setiferum) and its cousin, the Hard Shield-fern (Polystichum aculeatum). If you had told me a year back that I’d be getting exciting over ferns, I’m not sure I would have believed you…
In flower here was Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum) and Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium), while a little further in, we were treated to remains of Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) and an Alchemilla later [tentatively] ID’d as Intermediate Lady’s-mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora).
Making plenty of pitstops along the way to our chosen destination, it was interesting to stumble across a mature variegated Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) which made for an impressive sight with its marbled, yellow leaves. Whether this was a naturally occurring mutation or something planted by the Victorians, I am not sure…
Also nearby were a number of white form English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), as well as Bitter-vetch (Lathyrus linifolius), Wood Sedge (Carex sylvatica) and plenty of woodland indicator species. Bugle (Ajuga reptans) and blooming Woodruff (Galium odoratum) certainly made for a pleasing sight.
Further into the wood, after quite a bit of searching, we stumbled across the first of the day’s intended targets – a glorious clump of Bird’s-nest Orchids (Neottia nidus-avis). Growing under Hazel, as opposed to Beech on this occasion, these were not quite in flower yet but still gave plenty of cause for celebration. Nearby a separate, individual flower spike was found soon after.
Bird’s-nest Orchids (Neottia nidus-avis)
Next came a pause and lunch break at a small area of calaminarian grassland strewn with countless Mountain Pansies (Viola lutea). The fantastic array of colour forms on show here certainly made for an enjoyable break with the countless blooms ranging from deep purple to lilac and of course, yellow.
Mountain Pansy (Viola lutea)
Reaching Planky Mill, it didn’t take us long to find our first Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula) of the day. While less numerous than on my last visit in 2020, we still managed to count seven flower spikes during our short stay. A few non-blooming rosettes were observed nearby also.
More run of the mill wildflowers were abundant here too with Wood Speedwell (Veronica montana), Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) and Sanicle (Sanicula europaea) spotted, among others. A brief foray into a square known for Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia) yielded no results but alas, it hasn’t been seen here in a good few decades…
Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula)
As ever, it wasn’t long before time got the better of us and we were forced to head back. It always amazes me how little ground you cover when looking for plants…
Dashing back, a few interesting species were noted along the upper reaches of the gorge, not least Wood Crane’s-bill (Geranium sylvaticum) and Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus) – the latter a great find by a member of the group. In addition to these, we were pleased to find yet more Bird’s-nest Orchids in a new square. This particular group looking particularly striking against the dull, grey woodland floor.
All in all, a great day in great company. Our orchid sightings will be added to NHSN’s ongoing Discovering Orchids project seeking to map the distribution of these fascinating plants across the North East. If you’re out and about locally, please do consider sharing a sighting.
With so many plant apps out there to choose from, just where do you turn when trying to identify a troublesome plant?
Update: since the time of writing this, I have published a second, more comprehensive review available here.
Many botanists turn their noses up at the idea of using a plant app. Indeed, this approach requires minimal skill, no field guide and really, not a single jot of traditional botanical knowledge. It is in essence, as I have heard some put it, cheating. If indeed it is possible to cheat while doing something as harmless as naming a plant…
In our age of wildlife decline and increasing disconnection with the natural world, any engagement with wildlife should be nurtured and encouraged. Especially when, as is the case here, such engagement can help generate all-important wildlife records that help further our knowledge of wildlife. As times change, a fleet of new mobile apps are now giving anyone, not just tried and tested naturalists, the ability to accurately identify wildlife.
Of these new apps, a comparatively large number focus on plants. I suspect because plants are stationary, less likely to run away and thus, easier to photograph. With so many apps out there to choose from, however, just where do you turn when trying to identify a troublesome plant? And more importantly, will your chosen app give you an accurate result or point you in the wrong direction entirely?
To answer the questions above, I thought I’d conduct a little experiment by testing some of the most popular apps for myself.
First, some ground rules
One image only – some apps allow for multiple images but we wouldn’t want to give an unfair advantage now, would we.
Foliage only – the vast majority of the plants we see each day are not in flower. Let’s put these apps to the test…
UK natives, with one exception – I wanted to test this on plants likely to be encountered by British botanists. Odd things do escape, however, so we’ll include one bonus!
Meet the subjects
Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis)
Water Avens (Geum rivale)
Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
Hoary Mullein (Verbascum pulverulentum)
White Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Majorca Nettle (Urtica bianorii)
I just so happened to have some suitable test subjects growing in the yard…
Comparing Plant Apps
Apps that identify the plant as their first choice will receive 1 point. If the correct plant is identified but shown as an outlying choice, we’ll deduct points for each subsequent tier. For example, White Horehound coming in 4th would early 0.6 points. I may give extra points in some places if the apps manage to impress me…
Ivy-leaved Toadflax
Water Avens
Deadly Nightshade
Hoary Mullein
White Horehound
Bonus Majorca Nettle
Score (0-6)
PlantNet
✔ 1
✔ 0.7
✔ 0.9
✔ 0.7
✔ 1
✖
4.3/6
PlantSnap
✖
✖
✖
✖
✔0.7
✖ (Broke the app!)
0.7/6
Picture This
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 1
✔ 0.9
✔ 1
✖
4.9/6
LeafSnap
✔ 1
✔ 0.7
✔ 0.9
✔ 0.9
✔ 1
✔ 0.5 (Similar species)
5/6
Seek
✔ 1
✖
✖
✖
✖ 0.1 (Family level)
✖
1.1/6
LeafSnap (5/6)
One of the best plant apps out there…
Truthfully, I hadn’t heard of LeafSnap until researching for this fun Friday exercise. That said, it fared well across the board proving accurate on some of the more distinctive plants and narrowing down the more difficult Hoary Mullein and Water Avens based on foliage alone. It didn’t identify these straight away, but both could be found lower down beneath its number one picks of Scarlet Avens (Geum coccineum) and Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus).
LeafSnap would have come second had it not been for its valiant attempt at identifying Majorca Nettle which, despite not being 100% right, at least brought me to the similar Urtica atrovirens. I suspect it would fair well against those pesky garden escapes so many of us encounter on a daily basis…
On a more practical note, LeafSnap is easy to use and provides some handy information that some users might find interesting. Top marks!
Picture This (4.9/6)
The best at British plant species...
Picture This would have won hands down if I had not included the dodgy nettle. This ended up being ‘accurately’ identified as Ming aralia (Polyscias fruticosa) which it certainly isn’t.
This nifty little app did, however, identify four out of the five native species accurately and for the pesky mullein, was only one species out leaving scope for the user to compare photos and draw the right conclusion.
For those interested in the background information, Picture This gives a wealth of it covering everything from characteristics and symbolism to pests, diseases and garden use. Altogether, it is rather comprehensive!
PlantNet (4.7/6)
I do like this one...
I’ll hold my hands up now and say that I have used PlantNet plenty of times before, both to identify plants purchased for the garden and out in the wilds. It usually holds up fairly well and was only pipped to the post this time owing to a small struggle with the Water Avens and Hoary Mullein. It also didn’t guess the nettle, but perhaps I’m being mean?
One thing I really like about PlantNet is its ability to search based on regional flora. For example, someone holidaying in Spain might select ‘Flora of the Western Mediterranean’ to help them narrow their search. It is also one of the best for comparing multiple botanical characteristics and is usually accurate when flowers, foliage and habit are included.
PlantNet is by far the most scientific of the apps featured in this list and features no end of comparison photos, facts and useful information. In reality, it is more of a digital field guide than some of the others on this list.
Seek (1.1/6)
Really should do better...
Oh iNaturalist, what went wrong? While Seek managed okay with the Ivy-leaved Toadflax it did less well elsewhere, managing to assign White Horehound to the correct family but failing completely with the other species. Okay, so it did flag that the subjects were dicots but I think most of us knew that already?
While I would never personally use Seek, one positive I would mention is its use in positive engagement. Like iNaturalist who developed it, it makes wildlife recording fun giving badges and keeping count of how many species you have encountered. I imagine it would be great to use with children or as part of Bioblitz-type events.
PlantSnap (0.7/6)
Avoid, unless perhaps you’re visiting a garden centre...
I’m not in the habitat of being catty when it comes to things like this but my word, I’m not sure which plants PlantSnap was developed to identify but it certainly wasn’t any you can expect to encounter here. It was wrong on almost every account besides White Horehound which it identified first as a duo of mint species before drawing the right conclusion.
I would also add that the app crashed three times while using it, took a long time to process anything and eventually gave up completely while trying (very hard, I’m sure) to name the nettle. I certainly won’t be recommending it but alas, it might work better on flowers!
As I mentioned previously, biological recording is a bit of a minefield and there are plenty of organisations, groups, societies and schemes out there vying for your valuable wildlife records.
Generally, biological recording is an interconnected affair and records submitted through a chosen platform usually (but not always) find their way to where they’re needed. Still, trying to unravel the spider’s web that is environmental data-sharing in the UK is rather complex and I will not try to explain it here. I doubt that I could!
Where you send your records is ultimately down to you but some things you may wish to consider are:
Where will my records have the greatest impact?
Will they be added to national and local datasets?
Do they go where I want them to?
How easy/time efficient is it to send in sightings?
Will I get feedback on my records?
iRecord
iRecord is a fantastic platform for sharing records of species you have already identified. Recorders can add sightings of taxa quickly and easily, set up ‘Activities’ associated with particular species groups or places and readily explore what other naturalists have been spotting in their local area.
The single best thing about iRecord (in my humble opinion) is its interconnectedness. Sightings added to iRecord are shared with recording schemes, county recorders and expert verifiers, enabling sightings to be ‘confirmed’ before finding their way into wider datasets. The platform is also firmly linked with the NBN Atlas, enabling records to be shared wider with anyone who needs them and downloaded by Local Environmental Record Centres. Feedback on iRecord is not always instantaneous, but the wait is worthwhile knowing your sightings are going to the right place.
Truthfully, iRecord takes a little time to get your head around but is well worth it.
Opinion: iRecord is the platform to use if you seek comfort in the knowledge that someone, somewhere will use your wildlife records for something positive.
iNaturalist
A global wildlife recording platform, iNaturalist is incredibly easy to use. Whether you choose to use the website or app, you need only upload an image and hit send. Somewhat different to iRecord, recorders don’t even need to know what they’ve spotted and unidentified records are quickly confirmed by other users.
The community feel of iNaturalist is a great bonus of the platform and the very reason it is often used for bioblitzes such as the City Nature Challenge. You’ll need multiple confirmations from other users for your wildlife records to be marked as ‘Research Grade’ before they can be picked up by recording schemes – something which is likely to remove the majority of errors. A potential drawback here is that while there are many knowledgeable people using iNaturalist, anyone can ‘verify’ a record. You do not receive the same access to experts as provided by iRecord.
Recently, records from iNaturalist began to be automatically imported into iRecord, meaning they can be verified just like any other; though some schemes opt to ignore these and issues such as the use of nicknames and incorrect location names can throw a spanner in the works.
iNaturalist has, however, come a long way in a relatively short space of time!
Opinion: use iNaturalist if you’re seeking help with identification, are just starting out in biological recording or enjoy a more interactive experience.
Additional options for your wildlife records
Local Environmental Records Centres (LERCs)
Local Environmental Records Centres are not-for-profit organisations that collect, collate and distribute environmental data for a set geographic area. A good example is my local Environmental Records Information Centre here in the North East.
As well as collating data from various groups, clubs and schemes, LERCs often have their own portals to allow record sharing by local naturalists, often using the same software as iRecord. Sightings shared with LERCs will eventually make their way down the same channels as those shared to iRecord and may also be shared with NBN if centre staff and volunteers can spare the time.
It is worth mentioning that LERCs also have the ability to collect records shared to iRecord and iNaturalist. This may take a little time and ultimately, depends on the resources of the centre in question.
Opinion: submitting to your local LERC is a good way to ensure your records are used where they’re needed locally. However, under ideal circumstances, active LERCs should receive records shared with other platforms anyway.
Targeted Recording Apps
If you are only interested in recording a select few species groups, you might consider some of the targeted surveys out there. Two good examples that spring to mind are iRecord Butterflies and iRecord Ladybirds, both of which do a great job capturing important data on these groups through a series of handy apps. There are others out there too!
Vice-County Recorders (VCRs)
Vice-County Recorders are local naturalists appointed to gather, verify and curate wildlife sightings, and coordinate surveys. From plants to moths and mammals, for most of the well-studied species groups, the chances are there is a vice-county recorder in your area. Most welcome sightings via email, and others may request records to be collated in spreadsheets.
Many VCRs are plugged into some of the same platforms mentioned previously and actively verify and collect records from iRecord, in particular. That said, there remain some out there who are ‘selective’ about the platforms they choose to support, both reasonably and unreasonably in some cases. If you plan on doing serious recording locally, it is probably best to check the preference of your VCR to avoid your sightings floating about in permanent limbo.
Opinion: sending sightings direct to a VCR is a viable alternative for anyone wishing to avoid online recording portals but please do check their preference before filling their inbox.
Recording Schemes
From shieldbugs and snails to bees, beetles and fungi, thanks to a long history of wildlife recording in the UK, there are recording schemes out there for just about everything. NBN have a great search function to help you find the scheme that’s right for you.
Like the aforementioned VCRs, many of these schemes are wired into iRecord and even iNaturalist, while others choose to run their own recording portals or capture data in other ways. The UK Hoverfly Scheme‘s Facebook group is a good example of this.
For the purposes of this blog, I’m also lumping bird clubs and natural history societies that collect records in this category too. Many of these may share your sightings more widely but it helps to be cautious here as some may not distribute them any further than their own archive.
And there we have it! Ultimately, where you send your wildlife records boils down to what you hope to achieve. If you’re keen to support conservation, research and the production of resources, choose a route that leads to NBN. Here, your data can be downloaded and accessed at will by those who need it. More specifically, if you want expert feedback, opt for iRecord, or if you prefer the social site of wildlife recording, consider iNaturalist. The list goes on…
While the entire process of wildlife recording can be confusing, the most important thing is that you’re making the effort to document your finds in the first place. You can tackle the rest later.
Wildlife recording is quickly becoming a main passion of mine. The process of searching out interesting species, making notes, creating records and contributing in some small way to our understanding of nature proving to be a fulfilling way of making use of time outside.
Before digging into the subject in a little more detail on this blog, I wanted to cover the basics first and take a closer look and just what makes up a wildlife record…
The importance of wildlife recording
The importance of wildlife recording, or biological recording, to use the proper lingo, cannot be understated. Citizen science and the records generated by naturalists across the UK help inform conservation action by monitoring the abundance and distribution of wildlife, revealing expansions and of course, bringing to light declines too. They help paint a picture of how wildlife is faring on a national level but, closer to home, highlight local trends too, helping conservationists, organisations and researchers to target effort where it is needed most.
What is a wildlife record?
Whether we’re talking plants, insects, birds or a different group entirely, all wildlife records have a few main components:
What
The name of the plant or animal you’ve spotted and identified. If you’re unsure what you’ve seen, an identification to family level may suffice – the great thing these days is that there are plenty of people out there ready to help identify your finds.
Photograph
A picture speaks a thousand words and photographs help verifiers and county recorders confirm the species you’ve seen. Images are not always needed but for tricky species, they’re a big help.
Where
The place at which you spotted your plant or animal. An accurate grid reference is the most important factor here and generally, it is best to be as specific as possible. For many species, a six-figure grid reference is a good starting point.
The date on which you made your wildlife observation.
Who
Your name, in full. Or least written in a way that you would like to be displayed when your record is used elsewhere. Usernames and nicknames can sometimes be an issue for those looking to use your records so it is best to stick to writing your name in full.
What else could you record?
Depending on how thorough you wish to be, there are many other things you could note when creating your wildlife record. Additional informal is a great way to maximise the value of your sighting. Some things you might wish to include are:
How many
How many of your plant or animal did you see? Was it a single individual, or twenty? Information such as this is very important when it comes to assessing local and national populations.
Stage
Only applicable with some taxa but useful to note. If you spotted an insect, was it an adult or was it in its larval stage? If a plant, was it flowering, in seed or vegetative?
Habitat
Knowing more about the site at which you spotted your plant or animal is really useful. You may which to stay broad, for example by stating ‘woodland’ or may specify further, coniferous or wet woodland for example.
Additional observations
Anything else you observed while recording your plant or animal. If, for example, you’re recording a pollinator, what kind of plant was it feeding on? If a fungus, was it growing on a particular kind of tree?
What to do with your wildlife records?
Knowing what to do with your wildlife records is a different kettle of fish entirely. Biological recording in general is a bit of a minefield and plenty of websites, apps and organisations welcome the submission of your valuable records. Generally, there are a handful of really good options for wildlife recorders in the UK, but we’ll cover those further in another blog…
Well, here we have it, the first in a new series of ‘What’s Growing‘ posts taking a look at some of the unusual, colourful or otherwise interesting plants we’ve somehow managed to cram into our already jam-packed Newcastle yarden. There’ll be nothing too heavy here, merely a moment of appreciation for a particular plant that has caught our attention this week!
Blue Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum)
Also known as Caucasian Comfrey, this plant isn’t all that different to our native Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and other species commonly encountered in the countryside except, of course, for the fact it is blue. Really blue. Sky blue!
A native of Eastern and North-Eastern Europe now naturalised in scattered locations across the UK, I suspect this plant would be horribly invasive if planted in an open setting. Not too dissimilar to most comfrey species, in fact.
With striking blooms appearing in mid-Spring, we love this plant not only for its vivid colour but for the fact that like most Symphytum, it is very popular with the local pollinators. Bumblebees, in particular, seem to favour it and last year, we even noticed evidence of nectar robbing on some of the flowers. Fork-tailed Flower Bees (Anthophora Furcata) also seem to like it, providing the last few blooms overlap with their rather later emergence.
While somewhat invasive, there is little risk of our plants making a break for it. Container grown, they share a pot merrily with Matt’s prized Clematis Montana and Brook Thistle (Cirsium rivulare). Both of which like rather damp conditions and seem not to mind being crowded together too much.
Continuing this year’s quest to find and record ladybirds across the North East, back at the end of March I popped up to Rothbury in search of the elusive Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus). This is a species which should, theoretically, be incredibly numerous up here given the abundance of Heather but despite this, there is only one previous local record – an unconfirmed sighting near Rothbury in 1984.
Fast forward somewhat and after an hour of shaking old clumps of Heather – this species apparently has a penchant for woody plants – I was delighted to find not one but two ladybirds sitting in the bottom of my net. Success!
Superficially similar to its close cousin, the far more abundant Kidney-spot Ladybird, this species boasts a series of horizontal splodges as opposed to the distinct circular spots of the latter. Like its relative, it is specialised to feed on scale insects in contrast to the aphids consumed by familiar ladybirds such as the 7-Spot.
Popping back to Rothbury in early April to explore some outlying squares, I encountered Heather Ladybird again, this time head-height in the branches of a young Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). This individual made for much better viewing and the pictures are certainly better absent the usual sweep net detritus.
This cryptic little ladybird simply must be more widespread in Northumberland. Known now from Rothbury, Dipton Woods and more unusually, the coast at Howick, there have got to be more sites out there to be discovered. I’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on Heather during future walks in the uplands…
Recently, I was delighted to discover a population of the inconspicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, in Tyneside.
Looking for ladybirds in the early part of this year has been great fun and already, it feels like I’m making some headway in tracking down a few of the ‘scarcer’ and more inconspicuous species to be found locally. Beating conifers for Cream-streaked Ladybird, sweeping grasses for Rhyzobius litura and perusing tussocks for 24-Spot Ladybird; it has all been fairly straightforward when following the notes contained within Helen Roy and Peter Brown’s fab book.
That said, there is clearly something to be said for looking in seemingly unusually places too – a row of ornamental Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) adorning a roadside in Silverlink Industrial Estate seemingly not the most obvious place to hunt for ladybirds. Opting to check the trees anyway, I was delighted last week to encounter not one but several Epaulet Ladybird (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides), a species I have read much about but hadn’t given much thought to given that it isn’t meant to occur in the North East.
A predominately Southern species found as far North as Lancaster, this little ladybird is particularly fond of evergreen trees and shrubs. I confess it does look very similar to the common Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura) but thankfully, a few of the individuals seen were very strongly marked and showed the distinct ‘shoulder-pads’ associated with this species. It has since been confirmed by inconspicuous ladybird recorder, Andrew Jewels.
There’s quite a distance between Lancaster and Tyneside so this sighting looks to mark quite an exciting range expansion for this tiny but rather interesting ladybird. Further visits to the site by other local naturalists have since revealed them in new squares and it seems they could be fairly widespread across Silverlink. Looking at the maps, who’d have thought?
A quick summary of a productive month spent exploring the scarcer ladybirds of Newcastle.
While out and about in search of ladybirds this last few weeks, I have been lucky enough to stumble across a number of scarce and unusual species in addition to the plentiful 7-Spots and Orange Ladybirds so many of us know and love. Several of which have been completely new for this incredibly amateur ladybird spotter. Here, I thought I’d share a few highlights from what has been a glorious few weeks spent finding and recording these colourful insects.
Starting, you guessed it, in local cemeteries and perhaps the highlight of the past few weeks, and it was exciting to find singles of Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata) in both Jesmond Old Cemetery and Benton Cemetery. A fairly large, robust ladybird similar in appearance to the non-native Harlequin, a quick search of NBN would suggest this conifer specialist is yet to be recorded in South Northumberland (VC67), until now.
The first of these was beaten from Black Pine (Pinus nigra), while the second was found on a gravestone. There are surely many more of these large and impressive ladybirds out there to be discovered.
While searching for ladybirds as part of the North East Ladybird Spot, one species I had desperately wanted to find was the 18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata). Another conifer specialist sporting a distinctive mix of cream spots atop maroon wing cases, this is likely another under-recorded ladybird owing to its tendency to hide out within the dense foliage of conifers.
Visiting Jesmond Old Cemetery a fortnight back, it was therefore quite exciting to find not one but five of these insects nestled on a gravestone beneath the only pine in the cemetery. The same one, in fact, that also held the Cream-streaked above. These isolated trees really can come up trumps when it comes to specialist ladybirds!
One species I seem to be encountering with increasing frequency in the North East is the Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata). A ladybird associated with sandy, open soils, this is a very small species that superficially resembles the common 7-Spot. Small size aside, it can be told apart by its more elongated body shape and the concentration of black spots towards the rear of the wing cases.
The first of the ladybirds shown below was beaten from Black Pine in Jesmond Old Cemetery, while the duo in the pot were found within Gorse at Havannah Nature Reserve.
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
After encountering Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata) for the first time a few weeks back, it has been fantastic catch up with further individuals over recent weeks. During a trip to Havannah Nature Reserve with members of the natural history society, three of these beautiful insects were seen, while a visit to Gosforth Nature Reserve produced a surprise when the potted individual below was beaten from Gorse. Albeit near to its favoured Scots Pine.
Striped Ladybird featured in a recent video I produced for the North East Ladybird Spot. Please do take a look below, if you can look past my nervous, flailing hands…
Despite (apparently) being reasonable common, Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata) is a species I have struggled to catch up with this winter. To date, checking the trunks and branches of larch has drawn a blank, as have gravestones in conifer rich cemeteries. You can imagine my delight then when the ladybird shown below was beaten from the tip of a wind-blown Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) as Gosforth Nature Reserve.
Despite appearing somewhat drab, this small, brown ladybird with its distinctive black central line is actually rather pretty when viewed up close.
Back to Benton Cemetery now and while searching the ranks of Harlequin and Orange Ladybirds, it was a delight to encounter my first Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata) of the year. Britain’s largest species, this ladybird sports distinctive white rings around its many black spots. A feature which, as its name suggests, gives the appearance of having eyes atop its wing cases. A conifer specialist, I can count on one hand the number of times I have encountered this species to date.
Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
Finally, we come to a North East ladybird that I am beginning to think is not all too scarce at all, rather tricky to see and highly under-recorded. Hiding out in the stems of Bulrush (Typha latifolia) and other marginal plants in winter, the Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) seems to be cropping up at more and more local sites as naturalists begin purposefully looking for it.
The individuals spotted below were seen at Gosforth Nature Reserve, but others were also encountered at Havannah Nature Reserve and Rising Sun Country Park.
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)
And there we have it, a quick tour of some ladybird highlights from the last few weeks. I will be continuing the Ladybird Yearlist throughout 2022 which thanks to the additions of Larch and Eyed Ladybirds now stands at a reasonable 17 species. Truthfully, I am not sure how many more are out there to be discovered but I at least stand a chance of encountering 11-Spot and 24-Spot Ladybird before year’s end, while 14-Spot is all but guaranteed if I find the time to poke about some grassland.
Setting my sights a little higher, I will also be visiting suitable sites in search of the slightly more elusive 5-Spot Ladybird; while the predominately Southern 16-Spot Ladybird cannot be out of the question while walking in grassland come summer…
Continuing this year’s Ladybird Year List and capturing records for the North East Ladybird Spot, the last few weekends have been spent admiring winter ladybirds conifers. Scots Pine, Larch, exotic Lodgepole and Black Pines, even the odd spruce.
Havannah Nature Reserve near Dinnington first and few visits to explore the site’s conifers turned up a good number of Pine Ladybirds (Exochomus qadripustulatus), with eight spotted on our first visit and six on our second. While the majority were found, rather fittingly, on pine, we also found a few overwintering on Gorse for the first time.
It was nice too to encounter the guttatopunctata form of 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata) hiding out in a branch tip.
Pine Ladybird (Exochomus qadripustulatus)Pine Ladybird (Exochomus qadripustulatus)10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
Confessing an ulterior motive for our trip to Havannah, a spot of tree-tapping focused on more mature conifers produced not one but two Striped Ladybirds (Myzia oblongoguttata), an entirely new species for me!
Somewhat of a goldilocks ladybird, this species has a close association with Scots Pine but is seldom found on younger trees. Supposedly, these striking little insects overwinter at ground level so what they were doing on exposed branches in February, I don’t know.
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Fast forward a week and on our second visit to Havannah, we managed to find a total of three Striped Ladybirds, with one in particular (shown in the video below) clearly energised by the sunny conditions.
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Whilst at Havannah, it would have been rude not to survey some of the Gorse on-site for ladybirds too and, after fifteen minutes, we were rewarded with the beauty below, an Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata).
I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen this fairly elusive species, finding them previously only at Newcastle Great Park and Silverlink. With a distinctive pattern of white and black on the pronotum and spots concentrated towards the rear of the wing cases, they are rather lovely.
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
A few more highlights from the last couple of weeks and a quick visit to Iris Brickfield Park in Heaton turned up another new species for me in the form of this Red Marsh Ladybird (Coccidula rufa). One of the tiny, inconspicuous ladybirds, this species has a close association with wetland habitats where is commonly encountered on reeds, rushes and similar plants. You can imagine my surprise then to knock this one out of a pine tree while searching for its larger cousins!
Also in Iris Brickfield Park, a few stands of Stinking Iris provided a nice opportunity to look for some overwintering grassland ladybirds. Shaking the plants over a net, I was pleased to find four 22-Spot Ladybirds (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata), a species I have only ever encountered in summer, usually on the mildewy leaves of Hogweed or Knapweed. I do love these vibrant little ladybirds.
22-spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)
Slightly further back in time now and a flying visit to Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside turned up my first Kidney-Spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus) of the year sheltering in the upper branches of a wind-blown pine. Again, not a species I encounter very often at all!
Kidney-spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus)
Finally, at all of the sites listed above, by far the most numerous ladybird species was (as ever) the 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata). Little needs said about this one…
7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
Finds over the past few weeks have taken the ladybird year list to a total of thirteen species. Not bad for late February in North East England! Whilst there are certainly a few more ‘easy’ species to be found as we move into spring – 14-Spot, 24-Spot and the inconspicuous Rhyzobius litura – I am very much hoping to catch up with a few more elusive species too. Larch Ladybird should be found, with a little luck, as should Eyed and 11-Spot Ladybirds, at the very least…
With the Natural History Society of Northumbria’s fantastic North East Ladybird Spot launching this week, most of this weekend has been spent searching for these colourful insects at various sites across Tyneside. A January pastime I would never have considered a few short years ago that now, knowing where to look, is becoming somewhat of an obsession.
Orange Ladybirds (Halyzia sedecimguttata)
Orange Ladybirds (Halyzia sedecimguttata) have proven incredibly numerous this winter and, while visiting Preston Cemetery in Tynemouth, I was surprised to stumble quite literally hundreds of these insects dotted across the site’s many aged gravestones. The majority being found in wooded areas where headstones are located in the shade of broadleaf trees.
While I can count on one hand the number of times I have spotted this species in Summer, Winter really does seem like the prime time to look for these striking critters before they return to the treetops come Spring.
While Orange Ladybirds were numerous this weekend, Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis) were even more so, with huge numbers found in the city at Jesmond, Wallsend and Heaton. Few were to be seen at Tynemouth, oddly enough, but a handful were observed secreted amid the ranks of the plentiful Orange Ladybirds in what can only be described as a complete reversal of my observations in Newcastle. Here, these large invaders outnumber everything else ten to one.
Never present in great numbers and always somewhat of a pain to find, it was pleasantly surprising to find Cream-Spot Ladybirds (Calvia quatuordecimguttata) at a few local sites this weekend. Singles were found at Tynemouth and Wallsend, though the greatest numbers by far were seen in Jesmond Old Cemetery. A trusty site for a great range of ladybirds!
I do find it slightly odd how the numbers of each species of ladybird vary between sites with no obvious difference in habitat…
Cream-spot Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata)
2-Spot Ladybirds (Adalia bipunctata) seem to vary in number daily, though where they are vanishing to in the depths of winter I am not too sure. Whereas last week ten or so could be found in Jesmond Old Cemetery, this week, only a single ladybird could be seen. Similarly, none were located at all at any of the other sites visited. This species is suffering a notable decline in the UK thanks in a large part to the arrival of the Harlequin and it seems that here too, they are growing scarcer.
Ever reliable, Jesmond also yielded a number of lovely Pine Ladybirds (Exochomus quadripustulatus), mostly sound asleep on gravestones. Small, black and fairly inconspicuous, I suspect I walked past a great many of these before spotting the one pictured below.
Another species that has proven to be anything but reliable this winter is the 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata), with only a single individual spotted during this weekend’s meanderings, once again in Jesmond.
A dreadful photo of a 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
Believe it or not, it took until the end of March 2021 to encounter my first 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) of the year. Thankfully, this year, a glance at some immature Sitka Spruce and tatty Gorse at Gosforth Nature Reserve helped spare me the embarrassment this time around, with six found tucked up at the end of branches.
Finally, we come to the undisputed highlight of the weekend and a chance encounter with a Water Ladybird (Anistosticta novemdecimpunctata) at the same site, this one found nestled within the decaying stem of a Bulrush. A real favourite of mine, I expected to wait until at least May before happening across this species which remains scarce, or at least under-recorded, in my corner of the country.
Water Ladybird (Anistosticta novemdecimpunctata)
Inspired by those sharing their finds under #LadybirdYearList on Twitter, this year I’ll be attempting to see as many of these fabulous insects as possible across the North East. While we are not exactly spoiled for choice up here, lacking many of the inconspicuous ladybirds found in the South and a good few of the larger species too, I suspect 12-15 might be possible with a little effort.
Last year provided my first encounter with Eyed, Kidney-Spot and 24-Spot Ladybirds and this year, hopefully, I may catch up with Striped, Larch or Hieroglyphic – species I am yet to see anywhere in the UK.
