Mark Hows - 2018 Wildlife Blog

Me
Welcome to my wildlife blog - I will chronicle my exploits looking for wildlife in the UK and post links to trip reports from further afield. I have plenty of target species this year from Whitebeams to Ladybirds and plenty of things in between and tracking these down will keep me busy. I will be doing plenty of mammal watching and there will be some twitching in the mix as well which should keep me out of trouble - hopefully! and all this will be fuelled by lots of Chips and Ice Cream.
 

December

Monday 31st - Two Stars

Field Earthstar

I have been busy with family commitments over the Christmas period, but managed to pop and see two earthstar species, the arched earthstar in Suffolk and the much rarer field earthstar in London.


Saturday 22nd - A star is Born

Collared Earthstar

Brian Laney kindly gave me a couple of sites for earthsar fungi in Northants, I had been planning to go for a few weeks but weather and work got in the way, but finally today I made it. The first site a large woodland held lots of Sessile earthstars and a couple of rayed earthstars. Next site was urban but 6 collared earthstars were present in a secluded spot. A churchyard produced a single unknown earthstar. Last site another woodland had a large group of sessile earthstars, this site also had some other nice fungi such as yellow brain, yellow stagshorn and wrinkled club, not a bad haul.

Chips - Rock and Roe, Wellingborough - pork stuffing balls, pea fritter and battered Chips 7.5/10

Friday 21st - Wizz to the Washes

Whooper Swan

I finished work for Christmas a little early, just long enough to pop up to the Washes for an hour or so. A quick look at the Ouse Washes where plenty of wildfowl are present. Nothing of note but a good spectacle. Next I drove past Welney and Pymoor encountering several large of herds of Whooper swans but no Bewick's.


Wednesday 19th - Dodgy Chinese

Chinese Water Deer

I have been busy working at weekends so have not done much recently, but this afternoon with some nice weather I got out of work for the afternoon. I headed to Woodwalton Fen mainly for Chinese water deer. Half way round the reserve I was caught short but made it to the visitor centre in time. Back on the reserve feeling much better and quickly located some Chinese water deer. A couple of water voles a flock of redpoll, two peregrines and some bullfinches of note during my wander. There was no one else on the reserve on what was a lovely evening, very pleasant.


 

November

Friday 30th - Wonderful Warsaw

Red Squirrel

I had a long weekend in Warsaw with friends, it was a social trip but a few incidental sightings of note. There were several flocks of redpolls around the city but without binoculars it was difficult to work out which species they were. A rough legged buzzard near the airport was the best sighting although a few red squirrels in one of the parks are always a joy to see.


Wednesday 21st - Owl's That

Short Eared Owl

I spent the afternoon at Burwell Fen, I had a nice walk round the whole reserve plenty of roe deer showing nicely for photos, surely this has to be the best place in East Anglia to photograph them. It was quiet bird wise a family of whooper swans the highlight well apart from the owls. The 30 or so photographers were assembled in two groups, they were here for the short eared owls and they put on a great show, at least 4 owls present till dusk.


Sunday 18th - Super Seals

Grey Seal

With the forecast mist being correct I had an extra hour in bed but still made it to Donna Nook before the crowds. The light was good and plenty of grey seals present with pups and I was lucky to witness a birth right by the path, amazing to see. I spent a couple of hours watching the seals before the crowds started to arrive and it was time to head off. I did some touristy things before heading home, stopping in at Ferry meadows to see the red necked grebe it was unfortunately in the middle of the lake. With light fading and it not moving and closer I called it a day.

Chips , Sea Lane Fisheries, Cleethorpes - Sausage, Chips, Mushy peas 8/10

Saturday 10th - Pied Piper

Waders

I arrived at Meols just before 8am lured by the confiding pied wheatear, but it had gone, I hung round for an hours and a half before heading to West Kirby boating lake for the Greater scaup and a red breasted merganser was also present. The scaup showed well until the chip shop opened and I watched a nice wader roost on the rising tide with some nice aerial displays. Still no sign of the wheatear so I did some touristy stuff before heading home. Can't win them all.


Monday 5th - Pepper

Pepperpot Earthstar

I had chance to pop in to a site that pepperpot earthstar grown and was lucky after a bit of searching to find 3 fresh ones.


Sunday 4th - Frustrating Fungi

Flask Earthstar

I spent several hours looking for anenome fungus without success, but I did have more luck at another site finding a couple of flask earthstars.


 

October

My latest article in The Mammal Society's Magazine - Mammal News Autumn 2018

Mammal News Autumn 2018 - Black Death

13th to 28th - Mammal Week

House Mouse

Its the end of Mammal Week, I have been tweeting mammal related info all week, see the tweet bar down the bottom right side of the blog. But here is my favourite mammal photo of the year to mark the end of Mammal Week - Orca's on Shetland during the summer.

Sunday 28th - Fantastic Fungus

White Cage Fungus

After a nice lie in I popped out to try to fing a rather unusual fungus. I had some good directions but it was still tricky to find as they were just emerging from their eggs. But I found two white cage fungi one out fully and the other just emerging, amazing things to see.

Saturday 27th - Soggy Stonechat

Stonechat

I made a quick stop for some earthstar fungi Geastrum britannicum before heading to see the Stejneger's Stonechat. The weather was poor and I only got one close sighting the others were distant and tricky to photograph in the strong wind and rain so early afternoon I called it a day and gave into my man flu and headed home. On the outskirts of the village two young fallow deer were feeding in a newly sown field.

Chips - Plattens, Wells - Sausage, cheese and onion balls and chips 5/10

Friday 28th - Catching for Countryfile

Common ShrewAnita Rani and Me

I was invited by the Countryside Restoration Trust to do some small mammal trapping as part of their hosting of Countryfile. Their focus was hedgerows and the hedge laying championships which were going on on site. But the hedgerow small mammal diversity fitted in with their story so I set 42 traps the previous evening to see what we could catch. Conditions overnight were excellent and catch rate was 50%, mostly wood mice but a few other captures as well. I have done some small mammal filming before but of course one wood mouse would not behave and we had a leaping mouse causing great amusemant. With plenty of captures the mistake could be rectified with another mouse.We spent just over an hour filming and I guess it will be a couple of mins in the programme. Not sure when it airs but hoepfully I come across OK, we shall see.

Tuesday 23rd - Garage Going On's

House Mouse

With activity in my garage recently some longworth traps were deployed and this morning a house mouse was resident in one of them. He was relocated but not before a few photos.

Friday 19th - Meow!

Grey Carbird

After a busy week working away in Sweden I arrived at Stansted at 8pm drove home repacked, and the wife and I headed down to Cornwall. We arrived as the sun was starting to rise and give enough light to see by. Not long after we were watching the Grey Catbird showing a little distantly. Over the next couple of hours it showed quite well at times but the light was not quite bright enough for good photos but I got a couple I was happy with. We could not stay for too long as we were on our way to the Lake District and had to make a move. With chip shops not yet open we had a celebratory Cornish pasty from Philps. Don't worry managed some chips on arrival in Keswick.

Chips - The Lakes, Keswick - Fish and chips 7/10

Sunday 14th - A Little Beauty!

Beautiful Marbled

An update on recent stuff, I have been doing some moth trapping at home and got a nice selection a couple of moths, a couple of Merveille du Jour moths were the clear highlight others included red lined quaker, shuttle shaped dart, centre barred sallow I was in Norfolk for other things, stopped off for a walk and found a few fungi but nothing of interest, but got the message that a Beautiful Marbled was at Holme, so I popped over for a quick look at this rare moth.

Saturday 6th - Wet Wildflowers

Pygmy Shrew

I thought I would have one last try for a new ladybird this year so headed for Hamstreet woods in Kent, despite a good effort nothing but 7 spot ladybirds. After a spot of lunch I headed further north to see a few plants dwarf mallow, Leafy Goosefoot, annual mercury, common gromwell and upright hedge parsley.. Torrential rain cut short my efforts and I called it a day.

Friday 5th - Loads of Ladybirds

Harlequin Ladybird

I finished work a little early and headed to the Brecks for one last evening ladybird hunt. It was pretty much the common grassland species loads of 16 spot, some 24 spot, with a few 7 spot and Rhyzobius litura. But the highlight was a mass dispersion of harlequin ladybirds, there were thousands leaving the trees, the sky was full of them and they taste bad! So I will stick to chips in the future. A woodlark was also of note.


Thursday 4th - Mothing

Oleandr Hawkmoth

Moth trapping over the last week a few nice moths not a vast numbers apart from lunar underwing but a nice selection. Beaded chestnut, rustic shoulder knot, sallow, centre barred sallow, common marbled carpet, angle shades, green brindled crescent, black rustic, silver Y, small dusty wave, deep brown dart. A couple of harlequin ladybirds as well in the traps.


 

September

Saturday 29th - Better Beluga

BelugaBeluga

I could not resist a second visit to see the Beluga, it was quite busy with loads of peoplke I know also present. The whale was not very accomodating and spent most of the day a little distant but on occasion did come a bit closer on occasion. Late afternoon it gave a good show near the barges. Not much else seen , a few sea aster bees on the sea aster but not much else seen during the day, but good to chat to people and catch up and the weather was great as well.

Chips - Northfleet Fishbar, Northfleet - Battered burger and chips 8/10

Friday 28th - Searching for Saffron

Meadow Saffron

I had wanted to see meadow saffron for a while, and although a widespread plant in the south west it is scarce round here. I did manage to find a location Martin's Meadow, a Suffolk Wildlife trust site. However the site was being grazed by sheep and they had trampled most of the plants, I am not an expert on meadow management but they could have waited until the saffron has finished flowering before grazing surely considering they promote one of the reserve's highlights is this plant. However a small area was fenced off where some nice specimens were present but only a few.


Thursday 27th - Castor Catching

Pygmy Shrew

A small group from the Cambs Bat group met at Castor Hanglands to do some bat trapping. A group of moth trappers was also present. The conditions were good and we caught a few bats of three species, Brown long eared bat, common and soprano pipistrelles. The moth trappers has a few nice moths pink barred sallow, sallow, green brindled crescent, figure 8.


Chips - Chippy Sues, Whittlesey - Spam Fritter, Pea Fritter, Chips - 8.5/10

Wednesday 26th - Small Mammaling

Pygmy Shrew

I had a dozen or so colleagues attend the small mammal trapping and fortunatly I had plent to show them. The traps were brimming with small mammals, 1 field vole, 1 pygmy shrew, 2 common shrews, 5 bank voles and 12 wood mice.


Tuesday 25th - BBBBBBeluga!!!

Water VoleCommon Shrew

Well what a mammal day, I had set 50 longworth traps out at work last night in preparation of a work event on Wednesday, I checked the traps this morning and had 10 captures, 7 wood mice, 3 bank voles and a field vole. At lunchtime the news broke of a Beluga on the Thames - WOW. I was in the car and arrived at Coalhouse fort just before 2pm where I saw the Beluga distantly on the other side of the river. I headed along the river quite a way and had several distant views, but eventually the whale came to the Essex side and I had some great views along with the growing crowds. Unfortunately I had to head back to work to check the traps but had a nice common shrew. Back at work, the traps checked and rebaited 4 bank voles and singles of common and pygmy shrews caught and released. What a day apart from a puncture on the way home.


Saturday 22nd - Water Vole Walk

Water Vole

With only brief views of water voles at Fowlmere I took a walk in Chery Hinton first thing and easily located a couple of water voles, none posing but they did show reasonable well but the light was poor.


Romania - Aug 2018

Tuesday 18th - Local Stuff

Little Owl

Some local stuff over the last week or so, several nice moths, frosted orange, black rustic, September thorn, oak hooktip, chestnut, lunar underwing, sallow and the work little owl was showing nicely on a couple of occasions, local red kites are becoming very regular and close to home so only a matter of time before it gets on the garden list.


Monday 17th - Oh My

Oleandr Hawkmoth

A very quick visit to Dungeness Bird Obs to see the cracking Oleander hawkmoth, and what a beauty it was, a Clancy's rustic was a nice bonus. Unfortunatly I had little time and had to leave. I must add that everyone at the Obs was very welcoming, many thanks to them and the person who trapped it.


Sunday 16th - Chiltern Chatterer's

Edible Dormouse

I was in the Chilterns for a family event, on the way home I popped into Yoseden Bank for Chiltern gentians, I located plenty as the sun was setting. With night falling it was time to head to Wendover woods for some Edible dormice. They were very tricky to locate in the very breezy conditions despite their squeaking. After an hour of brief sightings I had a very inquisitive one which was very interested in me and sat for 10 mins allowing for some great views and a few nice photos as well.


Saturday 15th - South Gare Skua

Pomarine Skua Seals

I had a free day and with little about I was tempted by the cracking photos of the South Gare Pomarine skua, so an early start and by 7.30 I was at South Gare as were loads of irresponsible dog walkers allowing their dogs to chase the roosting waders and terns on the beach. The skua also on the beach did show well and as a few birdwatchers turned up it was easy to move the dog walkers away from the birds. The skua showed very well down to about 5m and we even had a little sun. I move on spotting a roseate tern distantly but it flew well before I was in photo range. Greatham creek was next stop, the massive works here look like they are coming to an end. A good number of both common and grey seals were present. I popped into Saltholme pools RSPB, however the main hide was closed but I had a wander anyway. Nothing apart from a whinchat of note although plenty of red admiral butterflies. The rest of the day was spent doing other things including 2 ice creams in the rather nice autumnal sunny weather.


Chips - Golden G's, Middlesborough - Chicken Parmo, Chips - 8/10

Tuesday 11th - A few things at Fowlmere

Light Emerald

My wife was up early for a flight so I got up early as well and headed to Fowlmere RSPB for an hour before work. A nice migrant hawker greeted me, but it was quiet on the reserve but I did get a few brief sightings of water voles but none stayed for photos. Several cetti's warblers were being very vocal and a nice kingfisher the highlights.


Sunday 9th - Bat Attack

Bechstein's Bat

I spent the day doing touristy things but met up with the Wiltshire bat group for some swarming surveys early evening, it started slowly just a trickle of bats and then by 10.30 it had dried up completely and we had not had a bat for an hour. Then suddenly the floodgates opened and bats were everywhere. Totals were approx. 350 bats from our area and similar number from the other area. Mostly Natterer's with lesser numbers of Daubenton's and a few Bechstein's, whiskered, Brant's, barbastelle, brown long eared, lesser and greater horseshoes. I made it home for 7am a quick shower and then off to work after a busy night.


Chips - Station Plaice, Trowbridge - Battered Burger, pea fritter, Chips - 8/10

Saturday 8th - Essex Botanical Extravaganza

Saltmarsh Goosefoot

I joined a group at Coalhouse Fort looking for some saltmarsh specialist plants. The main target was saltmarsh goosefoot which was found quite quickly just in case the forecast rain arrived but it held off and we explored the saltmarsh encountering a nice selection of saltmarsh plants and a few insects. The star was the sea aster bee on the plentiful sea asters, very nice to see this very range restricted bee. Other nice plats were fiddle dock, prickly cabbage complete with Small Ranunculus caterpillar, sea barley, black spleenwort and slender hare's ear was very nice to see. After lunch we headed to Tilbury Fort for Dittander was flowering nicely, but the bastard cabbage was mostly burnt to a crisp. A couple of Adonis ladybirds, narrow leaved birds foot trefoil and hairy buttercup were nice finds as the visit came to an end and I headed for home stopping for thorn apple and sickle leaved hare's ear on the way.


Wednesday 5th - Lucky Ladybirding

Scymnus nigrinus

I popped out after work to the Brecks for a couple of hours I visited two sites the first mixed heathland with small pines the second a grassland. Both had ladybirds the first more productive than the second with a scymnus nigrinus the highlight, but several adonis and Rhyzobius litura of note.


Sunday 2nd - A bit of Breckland Birding

I got 40 mins sleep before picking up Jan from Cambridge. Jan from the USA contacted me via birding pal to take her out for some local birding. With everywhere being quite we opted for Lakenheath RSPB for a few hours, a few common birds but it was quiet, a wood sandpiper was a bonus. More birdier was Lackford Lakes plenty of common birds showing well but the highlight was a showy kingfisher from the visitors centre before calling it a day.


Saturday 1st - Batty Bath

Lesser Horseshoe Bat

I started at Shoreham for some wall lizards where several were showing well in the early morning warmth I found some starry clover which was well over on the beach along with some flowering Oxford ragwort and hawkweed oxtongue. The rest of the day was touristy until meeting up with the Wiltshire bat group for some swarming trapping near Bath. Conditions were perfect and the bats started coming steadily through the night. 9 species in total Lesser and Greater Horseshoe, Natterer's, Daubentons, Bechstein's, Barbastelle, Brown long eared, Whiskered and Brants and around 150 bats from our part of the wood. We finished about 4am and I headed for Cambridge.

Chips - Station Plaice, Bradford on Avon - Battered Sausage, pickled egg, Chips - 8/10


 

August

Friday 31st - Coastal Coccinellidae

Coccidula rufaFalse Ladybird

I spent a day with Andrew Jewels looking for ladybirds (mostly) we started at Broadwater Warren RSPB here we found very few ladybirds so moved on to the south coast. At Pevensey levels we had a better haul of ladybirds with Coccidula rufa, Coccidula scutellata, 7, 16, 22, 24 spot, Rhyzobius litura, harlequin. The next site near Bexhill was quite productive we added 14 spot and scymnus frontalis to the list. We popped to Castle Hill near Brighton but light and heat was fading and we saw little, a site for another day. Andrew e-mailed me after we were home he had photographed a water ladybird without realising which I had not seen, so we actually had 11 species for the day. Also a false ladybird and a green tortoise beetle were nice finds.

Wednesday 29th - Cambridge Carrot's

Moon Carrot

Within the City limits of Cambridge is a wealth of wildlife and I visited Lime Kiln Nature reserve to see a couple of scarce plants. Moon carrot was just starting to flower and there were plenty of plants present. Autumn gentian is much more localised and was also just starting to flower I easily found a dozen plants without trying.

Saturday 25th - Glorious Grouse

Red grouse

A drive across the North York Moors I encountered quite a few Red Grouse always a treat to see.

Friday 24th - Moths this week

Peacock

A couple of evenings moth trapping with some nice moths and still good numbers, highlights angle shades, peacock, centre barred sallow, Marbled Green, orange swift, Brick.

Also I did some ladybird hunting in my garden the highlights were rhyzobius lophanthae and kidney spot ladybird.

Wednesday 22nd - Breckland Ladybird Bounty

Scymnus haemorroidalis and nephus redtenbacheri

I had a few hours after work in the Brecks, focussing on grassland species but I did try a few pines here and there. Two sites one very little apart from 16, 7 spot and pine ladybird. But the second was excellent and had loads of ladybirds mostly 16 spot and scymnus haemorroidalis but a scymnus frontalis and a nephus redtenbacheri were good finds.


Sunday 19th - Spotted

Spotted Flycatcher

A chance sighting while running an errand, I could not stop but on the way back the family of spotted flycatchers was still present at the edge of our village. They showed really well using the car as a hide.


Saturday 18th - Cricketing in Kent

Tree CricketWatling Street Thistle

A day out in Kent, starting on the beach at the less than salubrious Leysdown on sea for the rather scarce Ray's knotgrass which was in flower nicely, I stopped just down the road for common purslane as well. Next stop back on the mainland was for Watling street thistle a nice large patch in flower attended by lots of bumblebees. The afternoon was spent on some touristy bits including two ice creams before reaching the coast for Autumn ladies tresses just starting to come into flower. I stopped in at Dungeness RSPB where a nice flock of black terns was present in rather blustery conditions. Then chips before heading to Dungeness where I was after tree crickets but the rather blustery conditions did not make it easy. At dusk they started calling but they are quite small and were very tricky to find, I found a sickle bearing cricket and eventually after 90 mins of searching I found one and it was time for home. Many thanks to all who supplied the gen for today.

Chips - Varne Chip Shop - Battered Saveloy, Chips - 8/10

Wednesday 15th - Thetford Forest Foray

Eyed Ladybird

I had a few hours after work in Thetford forest looking for ladybirds, only one cryptic species rhyzobius litura along with 7, 14, 16, 22, 24, pine, harlequin and eyed ladybirds. Little else of note.



 

July

Saturday 28th - Bugs and Bits

Flowering RushRed Hemp Nettle

I headed down to Kent for the day, the rain had stopped but almost gale force winds made things a little tricky. First stop which was fortunately a little sheltered was along the Rpyal Military canal here were some nice examples of flowering rush and plenty of very nervous marsh frogs. There was some dragonfly action here with small red eyed damselfly, willow emerald and ruddy darter. Close by was some nice marsh mallow and then some tiny forked spleenwort. I headed to Rye Harbour for an ice cream and a walk to find least lettuce, but it was burnt to a crisp due to the very dry weather. The off to Dungeness stinking hawksbeard was just about over but red hemp nettle was flowering nicely and a hummingbird hawkmoth was seen as well. With gale force winds it was time for chips and home. Many thanks to those who helped me with gen.

Chips - Varne Chip Shop - Battered Saveloy, Chips and pickled egg - 8/10

Thursday 26th - Harvesting the Mice

Harvest Mouse

I was working at home as we were having some building work done. All around there was harvesting happening so I had put out almost 40 traps out in the hedges at the edge of these fields overnight, previously I have had good success doing this, today however nothing, until late afternoon on the final check where I had one wood mouse which quickly escaped my grasp. However my cat had been doing the same and was more successful it brought me a live harvest mouse mid afternoon. I kept it for a couple of hours and it seemed fine so took it for a photo shoot in one of the fields before letting it go in one of the hedgerows.


Shetland - July 2018

Sunday 21st - Ladybirds and Bikes

Platynaspis luteorubra
Hyperaspis pseudopustulata
Southern Emerald Damselfly
Chalkhill Blue

I had a day out with Andrew Jewels mainly looking for ladybirds our main location was to be Canvey Wick, a Buglife reserve on Canvey Island, but first we stopped just the other side of West Canvey Marshes to see Southern migrant hawkers. Several were about along with some fresh looking Ruddy darters. Holly and common blue butterflies along with large whites, meadow brown and gatekeepers were all very active in what was already very warm conditions. At the reserve the last of the dog walkers was leaving so we have the reserve to ourselves (for a while at least – more later). Along the sea wall we found 7, 16, 24 and Adonis ladybirds, sea lavender was flowering and a whimbrel was on the other side of the estuary. Further in on the dry grassland we had a real treat Platynaspis luteorubra only the second I have seen and the first of several 2 and 22 spot ladybirds. We headed into the heart of the reserve and on some rather poor looking land the highlight of the day a Hyperaspis pseudopustulata our first and looking similar to flea beetles could have been easily overlooked. This ladybird is very scarce and there are few records or photos of it. The site had several bees, the best we could find was brown banded carder and a bee wolf looking for victims. Whist watching this some yobs on trail motorbikes broke down the fence and drove in to the reserve, I phoned the police but we left quickly to avoid confrontation (The police arrived on site 2 hours later). We had our lunch at West Canvey marshes and then headed to Rainham to see what bees we could find and have an ice cream. The highlight was the Wool carder bees. I dropped Andrew home and headed home myself stopping off for southern damselflies and chalkhill blues on the way. A good day celebrated with a stop at a local fried potato establishment.

Chips - Fish n Chickn Saveloy, onion rings, pickled egg and chips 8/10

Friday 19th - Bugs and Bits

Broad Leaved Helleborine

Some moths from this week - Early Thorn, Brown Scallop, Leopard Moth, Green Arches, Lackey, old lady A nice little Owl and Mistle Thrush at work before I headed to the Brecks for a spot of ladybird hunting after work. I quickly had 14, 16, 24 and 7 spot ladybirds and Rhyzobius litura from the grassland and the pine trees produced harlequin, pine, striped, and Scymnus suturali. I stopped into Weeting briefly for Broad leaved helleborines before heading for home.


Monday 16th - Homeward Bound Bits

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

It was a poor morning weather wise, I worked my way home first stop was in Edinburgh for Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, an introduced ladybird used to eat mealybugs in greenhouses and I found one fairly quickly. I popped into Dunbar for the Kittiwake colony where there were plenty of chicks. After some chips I headed south stopping on Lindesfarne where the helleborines both Lindesfarne and Marsh were looking a little past it but a couple of half decent flowers and that finiahed my pretty sucessful trip.

Chips - Central Cafe, Dunbar, Burger and Chips 8.5/10

Sunday 15th - Pine Martens

Pine Marten Bottle Nosed Dolphin Rannoch Rush

I was at Channonry point for 6am and was the only one there apart from two bottle nosed dolphins feeding close inshore but not doing anything dramatic. It was almost 8am when the next person arrived and so did a few more dolphins feeding distantly. They did reach shore just as the crowd gathered and they started to display and we all had some nice views as the rain started. The forecast was poor all day so my dragonfly hunting was cancelled. Instead I headed to Rannoch Moor to find the scarce Rannoch Rush in the pouring rain. Then I headed to Oban for chips. I headed off to meet someone who has pine martens in their garden. We settled in for a watch in the rain, a bank vole showed a few times but as the time went by there was no sign of any martens. A wood mouse was too quick for the camera but a hedgehog and a toad were a bit slower. My host left me to it and just after he left a head popped up, a cracking pine marten. It was nervous at first and then it settled down to feed and allowed me to get a few photos. The hedgehog returned briefly and as the rain turned torrential I called it a night.

Chips - Oban Fish and Chips, Oban, Macaroni and Chips 8/10

Saturday 14th - Cairngorm Catchup

Alpine Speedwell Creeping Ladies Tresses Dotted Carpet

The fog at Sumburgh did not delay the 7.30 flight and by 9am I was back in the car and heading back to Cairngorm. Another attempt for Alpine speedwell at a different location. It was hot but the walk was not too long until I got to the vertical section, the climb was hard and my heart sank when I encountered several alpine speedwell plants already in seed. I sat down, had a drink and decided what to do I carried on a bit and finally found a groups of 3 plants nicely in flower, just in time as the rest of the route up looked very challenging. I got back to the flat area safely and then I slipped my foot went into a gap in the rocks and I tumbled down hitting the rocks as I fell. I lay in pain and as I looked up a group of ptarmigan were watching me, clearly thinking that I was not suited to this rocky habitat. I reached for the phone to get a record shot, but could not get to the camera. Once I gathered myself and realised that it was just cuts (although the rock looked like a small sacrifice had been performed there) and bruises and a twisted knee and torn trousers. I hobbled the hour or so back to the car and headed to Aviemore for drink and something to eat. Now it may seem hard to believe that I have been to Scotland an awful lot and visited a whole load of chip shops but have never had a deep fried mars bar so today I tried one, and I won't be bothering with another. I tried a couple of sites locally for dragonflies but not much doing as the weather conditions were changing, I popped into Loch Garten a few siskins on the feeders but no voles so I headed for chips, found a few moths by some lights and called it a night.

Chips - Grantown on Spey, The Royal Fish Bar, King rib and Chips 7.5/10

Friday 6th - Cairnwell Crisis

Red SquirrelMountain Hare

I was at loch of the Lowes a bit after dawn the ospreys were active as were a couple of red squirrels but not much else, so I headed off a roe deer along the way. I ended up at Glenshee and headed up the mountain after a hearty breakfast. A few mountain hares were a bit elusive but I got a couple of record shots but my main target was Alpine speedwell which I found in seed last year and I hoped that this my 4th attempt would finally be successful. But despite having last years GPS reference to help I could not find any plants in the area or in a wider search. The area was very dry and this may have affected this small population. I took a wander round but could not find any ptarmigan and gave up and headed to Speyside for dragonflies. A good selection of dragonflies including black darter. I found a Northern emerald but could not get a photo (still). Time for a quick visit to see Twinflowers before popping into Loch Garten but nothing much was doing. I got some chips before heading up the Cairngorm for a short walk. I headed to Aberdeen for the night.

Chips - Aviemore, Happy Haggis, Haggis and Chips 7.5/10

Thursday 5th - Durham Delights

Northern Brown Argus

I finished work early and by mid afternoon I was at Bishop Middleham quarry, here the dark red helleborines were in full flower and I managed to find a couple of Northern brown Argus butterflies in the rather blustery conditions. I headed north stopping at Alnwick for chips. I eventually arrived at Loch of the Lowes and had a brief view of a beaver and a couple of fallow deer before it got dark.

Chips - Carlo's, Alnwick, Haggis and Chips 8/10


 

June

Tuesday 26th - Breckland Bits

Maidens Pink

I popped into the Brecks for a couple of hours, a few nice plants but everyting quite dry, highlights small cudweed, Maiden's pink, breckland thyme, wall bedstraw, yellow loostrife.

Sunday 24th - Stacked

Thrift ClearwingThrift Clearwing

We headed to South Stack for the day, nice choughs everywhere and we found a family just fledging from its cave nest. I was after the South stack fleawort, a RSPB official showed us one over a cliff but gave us directions to an area with more and we went to take a look. We found plenty mostly gone over but several in very nice condition. With the fleawort safely in the bag it was time for ice cream. Next target was Thrift clearwing one came in almost immediately but I could not get a photo in the windy conditions. I tried a few other spots and got another one briefly. I tried a different strategy, I lured in another and caught it. I took it to a shaded and breeze free area and put it on some thrift, eventually it settled and allowed some photos before it flew off and it was time to head home.

Saturday 23rd - Oggling the Orme

Silver Studded Blue

I tried for Spotted rock rose but could not find any so ended up on the Great Orme, it took a while to find some goats but had a nice flock with plenty of youngsters. There were graylings everywhere and I found a few plants bloody cranesbill and wild cotoneaster of note. It was time for ice cream.

Friday 22nd - Llangollen Lovelies

Llangollen Whitebeam

A weekend away with friends saw me heading to North Wales, an ideal opportunity to catch up with my last whitebeam species. The Llangollen Whitebeam is found (apart from 2 trees) entirely on the cliffs above Llangollen, approx. 150 trees are found here and I headed off on a rather hot afternoon to find at least one. The walk up had bilberry bumblebees, grayling I spotted a whitebeam on the highest cliff but it was a another species eventually after a good deal of searching I found one and then I could see others nearby, this clearly was a hotspot. I took some photos then put the camera away in the camera bag and put it down to take a selfie with my phone. The camera bag rolled away over a cliff edge! I finished the photos and then went to retrieve the camera bag. Everything was intact and in good working order apart from some small glass bug pots which had smashed phew!

Chips - Tir A Mor, Llanrwst Burger and chips 8/10

Thursday 21st - Roadside Return

Deptford Pink

I made a return visit to the Deptford Pinks which had just started to flower but I was happy to see them finally out. Then a quick chip stop before a short drive to see another roadside reserve. Here was a nice fox in a field but I was here for crested cow wheat flowering very nicely along with sulphur clover.

Tuesday 19th - Fulbourn Fen's Finest

Bee Orchid

I popped into Fulbourn Fen for a quick walk round to see the orchids a good selection of common spotted a few southern marsh and plenty of early marsh mostly going over. Common twayblades everywhere and I did find a few bee orchids.

Sunday 17th - New Forest Firkle

Greater Broomrape

I headed to the New Forest just for a couple of hours to see a few wildflowers some nice wild galdoli, Greater broomrape, lesser butterfly orchid, allseed and yellow centaury which unfortunately did not open its flower in the overcast condition.

Friday / Saturday 15-16th - Devon Dipping

Red Fox Alder Moth Wall Lizard

I headed to Devon battling the terrible traffic, I arrived later then hoped and spent a couple of hours looking for the beavers without success, only kingfishers and dippers of note. I returned first thing but again no beavers but several sightings of otters much more weary than my local ones and tricky to photograph in the early gloom. After a sausage buttie I headed to the Norman Lockyear Observatory at Sidmouth, where there was a moth trapping event, the weather was quite poor misty and cool but they had trapped 116 species. A selection were on display on arrival including Brussels lace, Sandy carpet, waved carpet, orange footman, cloaked carpet and Alder Moth to name a few nice ones. We had one moth trap to check and it was brimming with moths 4 spot footman and beautiful snout the highlights. I headed to Portland to look for plants as the weather was poor, misty and light drizzle and there were no birds of note anywhere. I found a few nice plants Portland spurge of note before heading to Chesil beach for an ice cream. Finally the sun came out so I popped to Cheynne Wears where I found some wall lizards. I had some chips then headed to a badger watch that I had organised last minute. A fox was present on arrival but the other participants lacked any field craft and it soon disappeared. The fox did reappear later with a well grown cub, and a brief view of a badger. At it got dark the badgers did appear a bit more frequently as did the foxes.

Chips - Krispies, Exmouth - Battered Chips, Cheese balls, Pea fritter 9/10
Chips - Chesil Chippie, Chesil - Cod, Chips, Pea fritter 6.5/10

Thursday 14th - Roadside Refuge

Sulphur Clover

I made an evening visit to a local grass verge nature reserve to see sulphur clover which was flowering nicely. Then I popped into another small protected area to check on the progress of the Deptford pinks they were not quite in flower so I will have to make a return visit.


Tuesday 12th - Forest Foray

Nightjar Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary Golden Ringed Dragonfly

A big day out arriving in the Cheddar gorge at dawn and having the place to myself, it was a cracking sunrise and I waited until the sun was up before ascending the north cliffs in search of Cheddar pinks. There were plenty in flower on the edge of the cliffs and looking down growing on the ledges as well. This is the only place where Cheddar whitebeam grows and having visited before knew were some individuals were to take a look at. Back down in the gorge I found some feral goats before ascending the south side in search of general plants but nothing of note before heading off. I arrived in the Forest of Dean and met up with Ben and we headed off for an epic day. Our first target was wood white but the sunny conditions earlier had disappeared behind cloud and we came up blank. We took a walk looking for some wild boar but despite lots of sign we did not see any but we did have a nice view of a Goshawk. Next stop was for dippers and we had a nice view of one on a small stream. Ice cream time at a small cafe as the sun put in an appearance, so we tried small pearl bordered fritillaries and we saw half a dozen including one very co-operative one. The improved conditions saw us return to the wood white site just one showing but it was very photogenic. A nice golden ringed dragonfly was one of half a dozen species at this site. We tried more dippers but only found beautiful demoiselles so tried for some wild boar. We drew a blank with wild boar but as we drove to another site to try a small sounder crossed the road in front of us. We knew where they went in so followed a path to try to head them off but just missed bumping into them as they had already crossed the path, but we got some brief views as they climbed the small hill next to us. It was time for refreshment at Speech House Hotel where chips and beer were selected for sustenance. We then met up with a nightjar researcher to help search for a nest, we could not find the nest but saw and heard several nightjars. Some interesting behaviour was observed, fallow deer sniffing a nightjar on the track, she moved and the deer followed and sniffed her again. We headed back to the car spotting a couple of glow worms on the way. I headed for home spotting two fox cubs on the side of the road and later on a hedgehog on the edge of the forest, I made it home exhausted after a great day.

Chips - Speech House Hotel, Forest of Dean - Just and Chips 7/10

Sunday 10th - Therfield Toadflax

Bastard Toadflax

I met three other people at Therfield heath to look for wildflowers for a few hours, they were all much more knowledgable than I am in regards to plants so I learnt quite a bit during the day. We found a nice selection of flowers, the white helleborines had pretty much all gone over only a couple in reasonable condition and a hybrid broad leaved x clustered dock was of interest. There were two plants of note to find and we easily located them bastard toadflax and field fleabane. A very late pasque flower was in perfect condition and we saw several butterflies including a dark green fritillary. It was a warm day so an ice cream was in order before heading home.

Chips - Catch, Ashford - Battered Sausage, pickled egg, mushy peas and Chips 7/10

Saturday 9th - Sandwich Specials

Bedstraw Broomrape

I headed to East Kent for Broomrapes, starting Near Sandwich Bay where I located some Common broomrapes before fnding my target of ox tongue broomrape which is quite rare, it was not quite out so a return visit will be required. Next stop was Sandwich bay itself where more common broomrape and the rather special Bedstraw broomrape. I popped into East Blean woods for Heath Fritillary I only found one in rather poor butterfly weather but it did show very well. I stopped for chips then popped into Wye for a very special and scarce moth, the day flying black veined moth one showed very nicely and as I was on a curfew I headed home.


Thursday 7th - Moths and stuff

Stoat

I have run the moth trap a few times recently bur been a bit busy to do daily updates so a quick run down of some of the more interesting species although nothing rare. Poplar, Privet and elephant hawkmoths, shears, pale tussock, figure of eighty. What was nice to see at work was the stoat with a rabbit, I only had my phone but got a snippet of video.


Wednesday 6th - Oh My ochroleuca

Early marsh orchid var ochroleuca

I popped up to the Brecks to a fenland reserve to see a rare orchid at its only known site. Early marsh orchid var ochroleuca plenty of early marsh orchids as you would expect. A lovely little reserve to spend an hour.


Sunday 3rd - Misty Moltoni

Moltoni's Warbler

I had to be at home until 11am, but with news the Moltoni's subalpine warbler was still present I headed to North Norfolk. The walk along the beach seems to get longer every time I do it, or does it just feel longer as I age? Anyway I arrived at the site just as the sea mist rolled in. The warbler was elusive only showing very briefly, but eventually it did show for short periods but not very well and was always distant. The walk back was slow as I kept stopping to photograph plants yellow horned poppy, sea milkwort, silverweed, sea spurrey of note, but no birds were photographed due to the thick sea mist. I made it back to the car and headed home.

Saturday 2nd - Orchids Galore

Tongue Orchid Sand catchfly

I joined up with a small group of orchid enthusiasts in Essex to visit a site to see the tongue orchids which were in very good condition and very nice to see, very well organised and many thanks to those who arranged the access. I then headed into Kent for more orchids, first stop for late spider orchid, and pyramidal orchids just emerging. Next stop was an orchid greater butterfly orchids, fly orchids and a few lady orchids just going over. But here the target was the Fly Orchid var Ochroleuca a lovely green variation. I bumped into a few people from Dungeness Obs and I was already heading there and they gave me a few pointers for some nice plants to check out. I headed down there first stop for sand catchfly and crown vetch. Then I took a long wander round the long pits and the obs plenty of plants Sea Holly and Nottingham catchfly and finishing off with some yellow vetch. Time was getting on so it was chips and home.

Chips - Varne Chip Shop, Lydd - Battered Saveloy, Onion rings and Chips 8/10


 

May

Monday 28th - Homeward Bound

Sticky Catchfly

I headed to Edinburgh with some excellent directions I quickly located sticky catchfly in thick fog. I headed for home stopping at Barnack Hills and Holes where I bumped into David Gray and we took a look at the man orchids which were flowering nicely and in good numbers along with a few pasque flowers which were in good condition, although most were over. Which brought to an end a rather frustrating weekend.


Sunday 27th - Blowout

Eider

I was up at 4am visibility was much better and headed to John O'Groats once again, but no sign of the walrus. I worked my way down to Wick for some lunch, John Dixon rang me from John O' Groats and I told him I was heading south and he took over the search. I checked all the beaches down to Dornoch before heading further south. I had several options of what to try for and decided to head to Fort William area for Chequered skipper, however a crash on the A82 closed the road and that was scuppered as the diversion was 5 hours, so I found my way cross country to Aviemore and did some plant hunting on Cairngorm before calling it a day.

Chips - Smiffy's, Aviemore - Haggis, Onion rings, Pickled egg and Chips 8/10

Saturday 26th - Walrus Woes

Fulmar

I had almost reached the borders when news that the walrus had swam off got to me, but I carried on anyway. I arrived early morning and checked the beaches from Golspie upto Wick. Visibility was poor with sea mist all day but despite searching all the way up to John O' Groats no sign. I popped to Duncansby head to see the bird colony and encountered a few other birds along the way but nothing of note. I worked my way to Thurso (skipping Dunnet head as visibility there was terrible) where the visibility was better, but I needed a break from beach watching so drove down to Forsinard Flows RSPB reserve, I hoped for waders but nothing apart from a lapwing but I did see a nice pair of hen harriers. I stopped for food and then continued to work my way back along the coast. I was well south of Wick when I saw a report of the Walrus at John O' Groats and headed back up there arriving at just after 10pm. I wandered the path without any sign until almost 11 before heading for sleep.

Chips - Castletown Chip Shop, Caithness - Haggis and Chips 7.5/10

Tuesday 22nd - Chiltern Orchids

Burn Tip Orchid

I had to visit family in Reading, but had to make a quick stop in Wiltshire and as I was passing Parsonage Down I decided to pop in on spec. Was I too early for Burnt tip orchids, they were out elsewhere but here I only managed to find one, the spectacular is a bit away yet. But it was not wasted a nice fox running through the reserve and small blue and marsh fritillary are always nice to see. After my family visit I was close to Hartslock so popped in to see the Monkey and hybrid orchids, which were flowering nicely as were a couple of white helleborines, I took the scenic route back along the Thames but could not find any club tailed dragonflies. I had enough light to stop briefly at Homefield wood for the Military orchids, which will need another few days to be perfect but plenty flowering nicely. Greater butterfly orchid was not quite out and the fading light indicated that it was time to head home, via the chip shop of course.

Chips - The Penguin Fish Bar, Marlow - Battered Burger, Onion rings and Chips 7/10

Monday 21st - Soham Stuff

Frog Orchid

Thanks to a tip off I headed to a local area near Soham after work to see some frog orchids and although tricky to find I found a few in nice condition. Also on site were some freshly flowering early marsh orchids and some going over green winged orchids.

Saturday 19th - Delightful Dorset

Pearl Bordered Fritillary

An early start, via to Dartford to pick up James Hunter for a day out in Dorset (mostly) he had a toadflax brocade for me to see. We arrived at Arne well before 6am, when I assumed the car park would open. However it is aimed at the springwatch crowd an only opens at something like 10am in time for the cafe opening! Anyway we dumped the car and headed off quickly finding the sika, which was the main target, we had two small herds and a few individuals dotted around. Our next stop was Ballard down and we timed it perfectly as the Adonis blues were in pristine condition. Small heath, dingy skipper and common blue. were all about in good numbers as well as a few moths. Durlston Country park was our next stop and the target was Early gentian and James quickly spotted one along with some early spider orchids that were well passed their best. They had run a moth trap but as everyone else recently the catch was quite small but a couple of nice species Light Brocade, Light Feathered Rustic. We moved onwards stopping for some sand lizards, and had a few dragonflies, downy emerald the pick as well as a grass snake and green hairstreak. We made it to Powderham common where we had some nice grizzled skippers, broad bodied and 4 spot chasers, common and azure damselflies and common lizard. Then popped in on the Woodcock x fly orchid hybrids, fly orchids were also present on site. We worked our way east to Bentley wood where the pearl bordered fritillaries were out and we saw quite a few but they were very active and only got a few sitting for photos. Last stop was Chappetts Copse for an orchid spectacular, thousands of sword leaved helleborines all in excellent condition along with a few fly and birds nest orchids as well. James located one white helleborine and one hybrid and that brought a good day to an end. A red fox after dropping James back and a near miss with a deer sp on the M11.

Chips - The Sole Plaice, Darenth, Lakenheath- Saveloy and Chips 8/10

Tuesday 15th - Lovely Lakenheath

Cuckoo

I was in Lakenheath for work in the afternoon so Lakenheath RSPB was the ideal place to visit on a lovely spring evening. Hobbies were hawking for dragonflies, and there clearly had been a large emergence as there were dragonflies (mostly four spot chasers and hairy dragonflies) and damselflies (mostly variable and large red eyed) everywhere. A flyby bittern and at least 3 booming during my walk. Warblers were low in numbers and not very showy either, but a pair of cuckoos were very vocal and the female was quite showy.

Chips - Lakenheath fish & chips, Lakenheath- Battered Sausage, pickled egg and Chips 8/10

Sri Lanka - April 2018

Saturday 9th - Barmy Bird Race

Lakenheath

The annual bird race came up once again, so Stephen Patemore, Mike Harris and myself fired up the Kia Piccanto and headed off at Midnight. Word on the street was previous teams had achieved 142 species so we had a target to aim for. Nocturnal birding was good with corncrake, long eared owl, spotted crake, nightjar and woodcock and we had a good selection of mammals, badger, fox and hedgehog all seen. We were around the Brecks for dawn and picked up most of the usual species but could not locate any grasshopper warblers or lesser spotted woodpeckers. We did pop into Lakenheath at first light and a singing Great reed warbler had Stephen running, we got a brief look at it as it disappeared into the reeds. We did spend a few mins looking but it did not reappear, but being a bird race we had to keep moving. We picked up tricky species like widgeon, crane before heading to the coast for waders, geese and a few seabirds. Titchwell produced a good selection of birds in what was now very showery weather. Some birds that had been available earlier in the day on the coast had disappeared we passed the 142 mark but the number of possible species was dwindling and we almost settled on 148 but a last stop in the rain added a little owl and just after 8pm we had to call it a day as the torrential rain made it almost impossible to bird. We were a little disappointed with 149 as there were a few birds that got away, but 150 did come as when checking the list we had missed counting a guillemot, and 10 mammal species as well a good day. Being a bird race there are no cameras or stops for chips but I did squeeze in an ice cream to keep moral up. The full list can be seen on the sidebar.

Wednesday 9th - More Moths

Iron Prominent

I ran the moth trap again and had a nice if small selection. Iron Prominent, pale prominent, twin spot carpet, grey dagger.

Tuesday 8th - Small Tufted Sedge

Small Tufted Sedge

I made a detour after work to Braughing in Hertfordshire to see Small Tufted sedge at its only UK site, after a short walk I found a dozen or so clumps of this rare plant. The site also held good numbers of thyme leaved speedwell and a large clump of wood speedwell.

Sunday 6th - Going Cuckoo

Cuckoo

I had to visit Wiltshite in the afternoon so went via Thursley Common the main target was to see Colin the famous cuckoo. As I walked to the area Colin frequents there was plenty of bird life around, tree pipit, whitethroat and a nice Dartford warbler. I bumped into another birder who had a nice male redstart. A dozen mainly photographers were assembled at Colin's main haunt, it was not long before a male redstart popped in to help himself to Colin's mealworms and he returned a couple of times. It was hot but fortunately I was sat in the shade for the 3 hours it took Colin to arrive and he showed very well for several minutes, when he left so did I. I had a look for dragonflies but despite the perfect weather only a brief hairy dragonfly and a couple of large red damselflies although there was a nice hobby also looking for them. On the way back from Wiltshire I popped in at Bentley Wood, unfortunately no Pearl Bordered Fritillaries out but speckled wood, peacock, brimstone, large white and green veined whites were about.

Chips - Poulner fish & chips, Ringwood - Battered Sausage, pea fritter and Chips 7.5/10

Saturday 5th - Back to Basics

Powered Quaker

Not much this week but ran the moth trap and had a few moths Brimstone, powered quaker, common quaker, and Semioscopis steinkellneriana . I pottered round the garden which was full of bees including some Gooden's cuckoo bees which I had not seen before. holly blue and Orange tip also in the garden.


 

April

Saturday 28th - Bracing Bats

Leisler's Bat

I woke to torrential rain so was aprehensive about todays bat box checks in North Cambs, but it had eased to light drizzle off and on on arrival, but the weather had reduced the crew to 3. One of the first boxes held 17 noctules and scattered round the rest of the boxes were 28 soprano pipistrelles but the best bats were 2 leisler's bats always great to see and one of my favourites. I popped into Bedfordshire to see some early Purple orchids in a nearby wood before finishing for the day.

Chips - Chippy, Sandy - Saveloy and Chips 7.5/10

Dubai - April 2018

My latest article in The Mammal Society's Magazine - Mammal News Spring 2018

Mammal News Spring 2018 - Finding the Fossorial

Sunday 4th - Thawing Thayers

Fallow Deer

A full English set me up for the day as I headed from Reading down into Hampshire, first stop in the New Forest where ponies and fallow deer were foraging in the snow. All three colour forms of fallow deer were present, a creamy white one, several dark ones and a couple of spotted versions very nice to see all together. I headed to Burley where I located the distant Great grey shrike, I tried to get close but the place was in full melt and it was a swamp so I gave up and headed to Blashford lakes the final destination of the day. Here a small group were waiting for the Thayers gull, in the meantime we saw ring billed gull, several med gulls and a yellow legged gull. Eventually the Thayers was located at the far end of the gull roost and it was time to head home.

Chips - Poulner fish & chips, Ringwood - Battered Sausage, pea fritter and Chips 7.5/10

 

March

Saturday 30th - Soggy Squirrels

Black Squirrel

With poor weather the last two days I have been doing other stuff but a few incidental sightings of common field speedwell and sweet violet keeping my plant photo project ticking over. I popped in to see the melansitic grey squirrels at Letchworth as I was passing but little else.


Wednesday 28th - Follow the Star

Yellow Star of Bethlehem

I popped to Waylands Wood after work and dodged the showers to find some flowering yellow star of Bethlehem. I found about 20 or so flowering nicely with plenty more to come. I took a wander and found a few other plants flowering, primrose, early dog violet and barren strawberry and I made it back to the car before the heavens opened.


Sunday 25th - Musselborough a must

Buzzard

I was up at dawn, rechecking the bays again without any sign so about lunchtime I headed south. I made one stop at Musselborough where the White winged Scoter was showing distantly with a couple of velvet and common scoter but no sign of the surf scoter. I made it back home 1600 miles later but no walrus, still he who dares Rodney!

Chips - Cafe Central, Dunbar - Haggis and Chips 8/10

Saturday 24th - Where's Wally!

Red Deer

I chanced my arm and headed to Caithness to search for the Walrus, spotted there off and on over the last week. The uneventful drive took me into Sutherland where I stopped for 3 nice red deer stags shortly after dawn. I hit the coast and checked out every bay and beach on the OS map from Bettyhill to Amadale when news from Friday was it had been seen at Freswick. So there was my next destination but no sign so I searched south to Wick and then back north to Armadale. I searched along the coast to Wick for Chips stopping at Freswick once more and bumped into some locals looking for the walrus without any luck. A few nice common seals during the day and a few nice birds such as hooded crows, whooper swan and genuine rock doves

Chips - Henrietta's, Wick - Haggis and Chips 8/10

Sunday 18th - Forest Flit

Wild Boar

I popped into the Forest of Dean on the way home. Plenty of snow on the ground and loads of tracks shut. I met up with Ben and we headed for a wander to find some wild boar. No sign of wild boar but a brief flyover Goshawk was nice. We took a drive round and found a small herd of fallow deer and a small sounder of boar. Time was against us and we headed off after our brief visit.


Saturday 17th - Gusty Gower

Yellow Whitlow Grass

I was staying on the Gower peninsular and spent a few hours in the afternoon doing a bit of wildlife watching. First stop Pennard Castle home to a scarce plant yellow whitlow grass which was flowering nicely, maidenhair spleenwort, navelwort and danish scurvey grass also present, all difficult to photograph in very strong winds. I braved these at Worms Head where a wander brought me a short eared owl but little else of note.


Wednesday 14th - Mad Mothing

Common Quaker

I found the only warm evening of the last few weeks to put the moth trap out only 3 moths but nice to get something. Common Quaker, With a few toads and common newts out as well spring looked to be on the way.


Israel - February 2018

Saturday 10th - Trap Happy

Pygmy Shrew

I had set 35 traps at a rather rainy Fowlmere RSPB reserve the night before. A wildlife explorer group assisted me in opening them in much drier conditions. We had 8 captures not too bad considering the time of year. wood mice of course the most common 5 of those and 2 field voles are always nice to see, but the pick was a lone pygmy shrew allowing me to show all three types of small mammals. Not a bad morning.


Sunday 4th - Thawing Thayers

Fallow Deer

A full English set me up for the day as I headed from Reading down into Hampshire, first stop in the New Forest where ponies and fallow deer were foraging in the snow. All three colour forms of fallow deer were present, a creamy white one, several dark ones and a couple of spotted versions very nice to see all together. I headed to Burley where I located the distant Great grey shrike, I tried to get close but the place was in full melt and it was a swamp so I gave up and headed to Blashford lakes the final destination of the day. Here a small group were waiting for the Thayers gull, in the meantime we saw ring billed gull, several med gulls and a yellow legged gull. Eventually the Thayers was located at the far end of the gull roost and it was time to head home.

Chips - Poulner fish & chips, Ringwood - Battered Sausage, pea fritter and Chips 7.5/10

 

February

Wednesday 28th - Work Wonders

Bird Feeders

My new feeding station at work has been in place for a couple of months and has been very busy. My colleagues are even taking an interest keeping the feeders stocked when I am away. This has a nice selection of birds visiting marsh tits, jay, moorhen, red legged partridge and a trail camera has added a few mammals brown rat, wood mouse, rabbit, muntjac, fox. But today a stoat came visiting probably after rabbits or mice but very nice to see.


Monday 12th - Barney Burwell

Barn Owl

My last visit to Burwell was cut short by the pouring rain, so I spent a few hours this afternoon making up for the lost time. Plenty of roe deer but with no short eared owls there are hardly any people present and I spent some time with the Barn Owls 5 in total on the fen, they were often mobbed by kestrels. It was a lovely evening to watch them quartering over the fen as the sun set.


Saturday 10th - Brr well

Roe Deer

I spent a few hours wandering round Burwell fen, with no Short eared owls this winter it was much quieter than usual for a Saturday morning. Plenty of roe deer everywhere was the theme of the day with over 340 seen in several small herds. Birdwise it was a bit quiet somwhooper swans and a couple of sightings of a kingfisher the highlights. I made it back to the car before the rain set in and was eating chips as the downpour started before heading for home.

Chips - Rumbles, Exning - Battered Sausage and Chips 8/10

Saturday 3rd - Back to Birding

American Horned Lark

Despite the rain and my hangover I headed out to Staines to see the American Horned Lark which was showing considerable better than my last visit despite the poor weather. I showed well for a while then became flighty. I caught up with the black necked grebe and the scaup but no water pipit. I added the first flowers to my 2018 wildflower photography project befire heading to the car to dry out. After a cup of tea I headed to Walthamstow where the little bunting was elusive and only showed briefly a kingfisher was showing nicely as I headed for home.

Chips - Fish n Chick n, Harlow - Battered Sausage and Chips 8/10

 

January

Saturday 27th - Boaring

Wild Boar

The weather forecast I had seen was clearly different from reality and I arrived at Arlingham in torrential rain, I found the area the Richards pipit favoured and even found a pipit but it vanished into thin air without calling and I headed back to the car to dry out. I headed into the Forest of Dean first stop was an unsuccessful look for the great grey shrike who was probably sheltering from the wind and rain somewhere dry. I tried my luck with wild boar and a group rather tame boar of four showed really well. Another go for the shrike was again fruitless but a couple of fallow deer were showing distantly on the tree line. A quick look at Cannop pond for mandarin and raven but little else and as time drew on I headed for home.

Chips - Blakeney Chip in - Burger, chips, mush peas pickled egg 5/10

Tueaday 16th - Breckland Beauty

Otter

I have been very busy with work and other commitments so have not had the chance to do much recently. But I joined Ben, Connie and Kevin in the Brecks for the morning in search of otters. It was a chilly but bright morning but the sun was in the wrong place for most of the time making it tricky to get decent photos. But we did see two otters the first only briefly but the second allowed us to follow it for over and hour and a half before it gave us the slip. I had to work and had an evening commitment but I had a nice muntjac, Fox and Barn owl on way home.

Saturday 13th - Nasty Nikon, Wonderful WEX

I had to send my D500 back to Nikon, one of the strap lugs was very badly worn, excessivly so, the other had no wear so clearly something is wrong on a 10 month old camera. My old D300 and D7000 both which have had more use and have less wear on the lugs in fact they are almost unworn. So I assumed a warrenty repair - oh no Nikon claim wear and tear which I disputed but they would not budge and want 100 pounds to repair what a con. WEX who I bought the camera from supported my argument but with stiff opposition from Nikon could not do much to sway them, they however kindly offered to split the cost of the repair with me.

WEX 1 - Nikon 0 and I have just ordered a nice new expensive lens from WEX and it was not a Nikon.


Saturday 6th - Whisby Wonder

Black Headed Blue Tit

I had to go up north for a birthday party and with little about I headed into Lincolnshire to Whisby Nature Reserve just south of Lincoln. A arrived just before 9 in what was horid conditions. I settled into the shelter which offered som protection and waited for my target. The feeders were busy with a few common species blue, great and coal tits, robin, chaffinch, blackbird, jackdaw a couple of grey squirrels but it was the brown rats or big mice that some passers by noted that kept me entertained in the biting cold. Eventually the black headed blue tit that I had come to see arrived and showed nicely for a while and I had to leave. The black headed blue tit is a recessive genetic mutation that occurs occasionally in the area.

Monday 1st - Home

Happy New Year, I had a lazy day at home with just garden birds to watch I have one project this year to photograph 365 UK plant species in flower, you can see how I get on with the list on the sidebar.
 

2017 Review

Mammals

Beaver

Another good mammal year with some amazing encounters yet again fantastic Wild Boars and brilliant beavers, a mole crossing a road in Cumbria was a lucky find and local leisler's bats were worth mentioning. Probably the best encounter was a rather acrobatic stoat in Gloustershire that really put on a show. A total of 50 species in total (47 photographed) which makes the 10th year in a row exceeding 50 species, I won't try for 50 this year as I think I have demonstrated that 50 species in a year is now easily acheivable, but I will keep a list.

Birds

Cedar Waxwing

Another average bird year with 238 species seen some highlights were parrot crossbills, Coue's Arctic redpoll, ptarmigan, pine bunting, American Horned lark, white rumped sandpiper, bee eater, scops owl, Caspian Tern, Great Reed warbler, red breasted flycatcher, bluethroat and dotterel to name a few. New species were a bit thin on the ground and I only caught up with Cedar Waxwing and Elegant tern

Other Wildlife and Trips

Thistle Broomrape Mole Cricket

Following up on my other areas of interest I had a great year with some nice new Ladybirds the highlight was Platynaspis luteorubra, other highights were a Bedstraw hawkmoth, Lesser Emperor, currant clearwing, tansy beetle, mole cricket and finally catching up with Queen of Spain fritillary and Silver Washed Fritillary var valesina. Only one Whitebeam now eludes me after finding three this year the best the very rare Motley's Whitebeam. Several broomrapes and a whole selection of nice plants and a few rares such as Woodstock x Fly orchid hybrids, purple toothwort, alpine saw wort Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear, Bean broomrape, Thistle broomrape and bedstraw broomrape. Trip wise it was a bit quite and we had to cancel our main holiday due to unforseen circumstances a week in Ireland and Scotland for local specialities such as Dense flowered orchid and few days in Fuerteventura for the Fuerteventura stonechat and Algerian hedgehog and some nice houbara bustards.

Catch up with the 2017 blog

 
 

Upcoming Trips

  • Sicily - April 2019
  • South Africa - November 2019
  • My Flickr Photos

     
     

    2018 Targets

  • Llangollen Whitebeam
  • Alpine Speedwell
  • Corsican Speedwell
  • Thrift Clearwing
  • Ladybird Spider
  • Orange Tailed Clearwing
  • Yarrow Broomrape
  • Bedstraw Broomrape
  • Ox Tongue Broomrape
  • Greater Broomrape
  • Thyme Broomrape
  • Cheddar Pink
  • Deptford Pink
  • Hyperaspis pseudopustulata
  • Scymnus schmidti
  • Scymnus nigrinus
  • Sand Catchfly
  • Early Gentian
  • Field Gentian
  • Orca
  • 2018 UK Mammal List (No Target This Year)

    Green when photographed

  • 1 - Grey Squirrel
  • 2 - Brown Hare
  • 3 - Brown Rat
  • 4 - Muntjac
  • 5 - Otter
  • 6 - Red Fox
  • 7 - Roe Deer
  • 8 - Fallow Deer
  • 9 - Wild Boar
  • 10 - Lesser Horseshoe Bat
  • 11 - Greater Horseshoe Bat
  • 12 - Stoat
  • 13 - Wood Mouse
  • 14 - Field Vole
  • 15 - Pygmy Shrew
  • 16 - Red Deer
  • 17 - Common Seal
  • 18 - Rabbit
  • 19 - Noctule
  • 20 - Soprano Pipistrelle
  • 21 - Leisler's Bat
  • 22 - Sika
  • 23 - Hedgehog
  • 24 - Badger
  • 25 - Feral Goat
  • 26 - Beaver
  • 27 - Red Squirrel
  • 28 - Mountain Hare
  • 29 - Harbour Porpoise
  • 30 - Orca
  • 31 - Bottlenose Dolphin
  • 32 - Pine Marten
  • 33 - Bearded Seal
  • 34 - Bank Vole
  • 35 - Harvest Mouse
  • 36 - Brown Long Eared Bat
  • 37 - Bechstein's Bat
  • 38 - Whiskered Bat
  • 39 - Brant's Bat
  • 40 - Natterer's Bat
  • 41 - Barbastelle Bat
  • 42 - Daubenton's Bat
  • 43 - Grey Seal
  • 44 - Water Vole
  • 45 - Edible Dormouse
  • 46 - Beluga
  • 47 - Common Shrew
  • 48 - Common Pipistrelle
  • 49 - House Mouse
  • 50 - Chinese Water Deer
  • 365 Plant Species Photo Project


    365 Plant Gallery

  • 1 - Red Dead Nettle
  • 2 - White Dead Nettle
  • 3 - Daisy
  • 4 - Snowdrop
  • 5 - Fox and Cubs
  • 6 - Smooth Hawk's Beard
  • 7 - Dandelion
  • 8 - Chickweed
  • 9 - Lesser Celandine
  • 10 - Greater Periwinkle
  • 11 - Shepherd's Purse
  • 12 - Maindenhair Spleenwort
  • 13 - Danish Scurvy Grass
  • 14 - Navelwort
  • 15 - Yellow Whitlow Grass
  • 16 - Gorse
  • 17 - White Butterbur
  • 18 - Yellow Star of Bethlehem
  • 19 - Barren Strawberry
  • 20 - Early Dog Violet
  • 21 - Primrose
  • 22 - Common Field Speedwell
  • 23 - Sweet Violet
  • 24 - Ground Ivy
  • 25 - Bluebell
  • 26 - Cow Parsley
  • 27 - Cowslip
  • 28 - Early Purple Orchid
  • 29 - Green Alkanet
  • 30 - Thyme Leaved Speedwell
  • 31 - Germander Speedwell
  • 32 - Wood Spurge
  • 33 - Heath Dog Violet
  • 34 - Red Campion
  • 35 - Wood Speedwell
  • 36 - House Chestnut
  • 37 - Alexanders
  • 38 - Small Tufted Sedge
  • 39 - Common Mouse Ear
  • 40 - Rose Campion
  • 41 - Creeping Buttercup
  • 42 - Common Forget Me Knot
  • 43 - Field Horsetail
  • 44 - Greater Stitchwort
  • 45 - Corsican Speedwell
  • 46 - Swedish Whitebeam
  • 47 - Common Cottongrass
  • 48 - Field Pansy
  • 49 - Spring Beauty
  • 50 - Common Comfrey
  • 51 - Common Sallow
  • 52 - Sweet Woodruff
  • 53 - Sword Leaved Helleborine
  • 54 - Bugle
  • 55 - Meadow Buttercup
  • 56 - Lousewort
  • 57 - Yelow Archangel
  • 58 - Scarlet Pimpernel
  • 59 - Early Gentian
  • 60 - Crosswort
  • 61 - Woolly Thistle
  • 62 - Birds Foot Trefoil
  • 63 - Chalk Milkwort
  • 64 - Field Madder
  • 65 - Broom
  • 66 - Wall Speedwell
  • 67 - Spanish Catchfly
  • 68 - Wild Strawberry
  • 69 - Quaking Grass
  • 70 - Adders Tongue
  • 71 - Early Marsh Orchid
  • 72 - Frog Orchid
  • 73 - Cuckoo Flower
  • 74 - Red Clover
  • 75 - Green Winged Orchid
  • 76 - Hawthorne
  • 77 - Ox Eye Daisy
  • 78 - Elder
  • 79 - Ribwort Plantain
  • 80 - Black Medic
  • 81 - Glaucous Sedge
  • 82 - Common Sow thistle
  • 83 - Common Rock Rose
  • 84 - Burnt Tip Orchid
  • 85 - Sticky Catchfly
  • 86 - White Helleborine
  • 87 - Military Orchid
  • 88 - Common Twayblade
  • 89 - Fly Orchid
  • 90 - Three-Cornered Garlic
  • 91 - Dames Violet
  • 92 - Welsh poppy
  • 93 - Hedge Bedstraw
  • 94 - White Campion
  • 95 - Common Scurvygrass
  • 96 - Red Valerian
  • 97 - Foxglove
  • 98 - Winter Cress
  • 99 - Man Orchid
  • 100 - Pasque Flower
  • 101 - Purple Milk vetch
  • 102 - White Bryony
  • 103 - Dwarf Cornel
  • 104 - Wooly Willow
  • 105 - Downy Willow
  • 106 - Net Leaved Willow
  • 107 - Creeping Willow
  • 108 - Alpine Lady's Mantle
  • 109 - Mountain Avens
  • 110 - Butterwort
  • 111 - Eared Willow
  • 112 - Lady's Mantle
  • 113 - Sheeps Sorrel
  • 114 - Water Avens
  • 115 - Roseroot
  • 116 - Opposite Leaved Golden Saxifrage
  • 117 - Water Crowfoot
  • 118 - Water Cress
  • 119 - Harebell
  • 120 - Marsh Marigold
  • 121 - Starry Saxifrage
  • 122 - Mossy Saxifrage
  • 123 - Thrift
  • 124 - Bramble
  • 125 - Common Mallow
  • 126 - Common Dog Rose
  • 127 - Late Spider Orchid
  • 128 - Sea Campion
  • 129 - Yellow Horned Poppy
  • 130 - Sea Milkwort
  • 131 - Silverweed
  • 132 - Sea Sandwort
  • 133 - Vipers Bugloss
  • 134 - Common Vetch
  • 135 - Horseshoe Vetch
  • 136 - Stinging Nettle
  • 137 - Cleavers
  • 138 - Woody Nightshade
  • 139 - Tongue Orchid
  • 140 - Sea Rocket
  • 141 - Hedgerow Cranesbill
  • 142 - Sticky Groundsel
  • 143 - Grey Hair Grass
  • 144 - Sea Spurge
  • 145 - Salad Burnet
  • 146 - Wood Sage
  • 147 - Nottingham Catchfly
  • 148 - Wild Minonette
  • 149 - Yellow Flag Iris
  • 150 - Lesser Spearwort
  • 151 - Yellow Vetch
  • 152 - Biting Stonecrop
  • 153 - English Stonecrop
  • 154 - Subterranean Clover
  • 155 - Bur Medick
  • 156 - Wild Clary
  • 157 - Crown Vetch
  • 158 - Hawksbeard
  • 159 - Harestail Grass
  • 160 - Small Flowered Cranesbill
  • 161 - Many Seeded Goosefoot
  • 162 - Weld
  • 163 - Slender Thistle
  • 164 - Thyme Leaved Sandwort
  • 165 - Sea Kale
  • 166 - Sand Catchfly
  • 167 - Crested Hair Grass
  • 168 - Lady Orchid
  • 169 - Milkwort
  • 170 - Oxford Ragwort
  • 171 - Common Houndstongue
  • 172 - Tree Lupin
  • 173 - Caper Spurge
  • 174 - Ragged Robin
  • 175 - Rosebay Willowherb
  • 176 - Chalk Fragrant Orchid
  • 177 - Smooth Meadow grass
  • 178 - Dove's Foot Cranesbill
  • 179 - Greater Knapweed
  • 180 - Small Cat's Ear
  • 181 - Wall Barley
  • 182 - Sanicle
  • 183 - Garlic Mustard
  • Halfway
  • 184 - Wild Privet
  • 185 - Wood Sedge
  • 186 - Wood Avens
  • 187 - Nipplewort
  • 188 - Clustered Dock
  • 189 - Wood Meadow Grass
  • 190 - Perrenial Rye Grass
  • 191 - Wood Millet
  • 192 - Field Fleabane
  • 193 - Bee Orchid
  • 194 - Clustered Bellflower
  • 195 - Bastard Toadflax
  • 196 - Prickly Sow thistle
  • 197 - Candytuft
  • 198 - Routh Hawksbit
  • 199 - Hedge Mustard
  • 200 - Cock's Foot
  • 201 - Field Bindweed
  • 202 - Hop Trefoil
  • 203 - Yellow Vetchling
  • 204 - Welted Thistle
  • 205 - Bladder Campion
  • 206 - Dropwort
  • 207 - Russet Sedge
  • 208 - Pale Persicaria
  • 209 - Red Fescue
  • 210 - Yorkshire Fog
  • 211 - Yarrow
  • 212 - Common Storksbill
  • 213 - Everlasing Pea
  • 214 - Lizard Orchid
  • 215 - Wild Carrot
  • 216 - Sea Holly
  • 217 - Sharp Rush
  • 218 - Fennel
  • 219 - Sea Beet
  • 220 - Pyrimidal Orchid
  • 221 - Common Cow Wheat
  • 222 - Common Broomrape
  • 223 - Bedstraw Broomrape
  • 224 - Toadflax
  • 225 - White Melilot
  • 226 - Barren Brome
  • 227 - Pignut
  • 228 - Hogweed
  • 229 - Annual Rocket
  • 230 - Slender St John's Wort
  • 231 - Agrimony
  • 232 - Heath Speedwell
  • 233 - Cheddar Pink
  • 234 - Cheddar Whitebeam
  • 235 - Rusty Backed Fern
  • 236 - Wall Rue
  • 237 - Hard Shield Fern
  • 238 - Grey Sedge
  • 239 - Hartstongue Fern
  • 240 - Tutsan
  • 241 - Selfheal
  • 242 - Fat Hen
  • 243 - Honeysuckle
  • 244 - Hemlock Water Dropwort
  • 245 - Tall Melilot
  • 246 - Ox Tongue Broomrape
  • 247 - White Clover
  • 248 - Lady's Bedstraw
  • 249 - Wild Cabbage
  • 250 - Reed Sweet Grass
  • 251 - Asparagus
  • 252 - Common Poppy
  • 253 - Hedge Woundwort
  • 254 - Sanfoin
  • 255 - Carline Thistle
  • 256 - Marsh Lousewort
  • 257 - Fen Sedge
  • 258 - Mexican Fleabane
  • 259 - Sulphur Clover
  • 260 - Hoary Cress
  • 261 - Black Horehound
  • 262 - Musk Thistle
  • 263 - Greater Broomrape
  • 264 - Wild Gladoli
  • 265 - Lesser Butterfly Orchid
  • 266 - Bog Pimpernel
  • 267 - Bog Asphodel
  • 268 - Oblong Leaved Sundew
  • 269 - Bulbous Rush
  • 270 - Allseed
  • 271 - Common Yellow Sedge
  • 272 - Heath Spotted Orchid
  • 273 - Perforate St. John's-Wort
  • 274 - Yellow Centaury
  • 275 - Hairy Tare
  • 276 - Chamomile
  • 277 - Water Horsetail
  • 278 - Buckshorn Plantain
  • 279 - Bristly Oxtongue
  • 280 - Tree Mallow
  • 281 - Golden Samphire
  • 282 - Sea Bindweed
  • 283 - Spear Thistle
  • 284 - Portland Spurge
  • 285 - Restharrow
  • 286 - Greater Bindweed
  • 287 - Sea Plantain
  • 288 - Rosemary
  • 289 - Hay Scented Buckler Fern
  • 290 - Silver Ragwort
  • 291 - Pink Oxalis
  • 292 - Sea Purslane
  • 293 - Sea Fern Grass
  • 294 - Sticky Mouse Ear
  • 295 - Haresfoot Trefoil
  • 296 - Leek
  • 297 - Petty Spurge
  • 298 - Creeping Cinqefoil
  • 299 - Common Ragwort
  • 300 - Sea Raddish
  • 301 - Southern Marsh Orchid
  • 302 - Brooklime
  • 303 - Deptford Pink
  • 304 - Crested Cow Wheat
  • 305 - Common Centaury
  • 306 - Common Gromwell
  • 307 - Jointed Rush
  • 308 - Meadowsweet
  • 309 - Bastard Cabbage
  • 310 - Llangollen Whitebeam
  • 311 - Pineapple Weed
  • 312 - South Stack Fleawort
  • 313 - Blue Fleabane
  • 314 - Bloody Cranesbill
  • 315 - Alskie Clover
  • 316 - Common Polypody
  • 317 - Bracken
  • 318 - Great Orme Cotoneaster
  • 319 - Rough Clover
  • 320 - Sheeps Bit
  • 321 - Cornflower
  • 322 - Meadow Cranesbill
  • 323 - Breckland Thyme
  • 324 - Maidens Pink
  • 325 - Purple Loostrife
  • 326 - Yellow Loostrife
  • 327 - Yellow Water Lilly
  • 328 - Common Hounds-tongue
  • 329 - Rock Sea Spurry
  • 330 - Northern Marsh Orchid
  • 331 - Alpine Bedstraw
  • 332 - Fir Clubmoss
  • 333 - Mountain Pansy
  • 334 - Marsh Cinqefoil
  • 335 - Hogweed
  • 336 - Twinflower
  • 337 - Alpine Speedwell
  • 338 - Great Willowherb
  • 339 - Rannoch Rush
  • 340 - Golden Rod
  • 341 - Stag's-Horn Clubmoss
  • 342 - Kelp
  • 343 - Bladder Wrack
  • 344 - Creeping Ladies Tresses
  • 345 - Piri Bur
  • 346 - Marsh Helleborine
  • 347 - Lindesfarne Helleborine
  • 348 - Brookweed
  • 349 - Oblong-leaved sundew
  • 350 - Fairy Foxglove
  • 351 - Broad Leaved Helleborine
  • 352 - Zig Zag Clover
  • 353 - Dwarf Cudweed
  • 354 - Dark Red Helleborine
  • 355 - Alpine Bistort
  • 356 - Mountain Sorrel
  • 357 - Monkey Flower
  • 358 - Meadow Vetchling
  • 359 - New Zealand Willowherb
  • 360 - Field Scabious
  • 361 - Autumn Hawkbit
  • 362 - Mountain Everlasting
  • 363 - Tormentil
  • 364 - Moss Campion
  • 365 - Oysterplant
  • Target Reached
  • New Target 500
  • 366 - Bog Orchid
  • 367 - Orache
  • 368 - Common Whitebeam
  • 369 - Marsh Willowherb
  • 370 - Autumn Hawkweed
  • 371 - Blinks
  • 372 - Smooth Hawksbeard
  • 373 - Sea Mayweed
  • 374 - Northern Rockcress
  • 375 - Copper Monkeyflowerlinks
  • 376 - Shetland Monkeyflower
  • 377 - Marsh Ragwort
  • 378 - Common Cat's Ear
  • 379 - Sea Lavender
  • 380 - Scentless Mayweed
  • 381 - Large Evening Primrose
  • 382 - Teasel
  • 383 - Corn Mint
  • 384 - Flowering Rush
  • 385 - Water Mint
  • 386 - Bulrush
  • 387 - Perrenial Wall Rocket
  • 388 - Frogbit
  • 389 - Marsh Samphire
  • 390 - Parsley Water Dropwort
  • 391 - Marsh Mallow
  • 392 - Red Hemp Nettle
  • 393 - Fork Spleenwort
  • 394 - Stinking Hawksbeard
  • 395 - Ray's Knotgrass
  • 396 - Watling Street Thistle
  • 397 - Hawthorn
  • 398 - Beech
  • 399 - Autumn Ladies Tresses
  • 400 - Field Penny Cress
  • 401 - Dark Mullien
  • 402 - Oak
  • 403 - Scots Pine
  • 404 - Rowan
  • 405 - Lesser Evening Primrose
  • 406 - Moon Carrot
  • 407 - Knotgrass
  • 408 - Amphibious Bistort
  • 409 - Blackthorn
  • 410 - White Poplar
  • 411 - Unbranched Bur Reed
  • 412 - Goat Willow
  • 413 - Red bartsia
  • 414 - Small Scabious
  • 415 - Trifid Bur-marigold
  • 416 - Mugwort
  • 417 - Traveller's joy
  • 418 - Autumn Gentian
  • 419 - Greater Plantain
  • 420 - Starry Clover
  • 421 - Ling
  • 422 - Common Arrowhead
  • 423 - Common Reed
  • 424 - Black Bryony
  • 425 - Hawkweed Oxtongue
  • 426 - Water pepper
  • 427 - Wayfaring Tree
  • 428 - Himalayan Balsam
  • 429 - Loddon Pondweed
  • 430 - Spindle
  • 431 - Water Plantain
  • 432 - Water Forget Me Not
  • 433 - Gypsywort
  • 434 - Elm
  • 435 - Grey club-rush
  • 436 - Sea Club Rush
  • 437 - Sea Aster
  • 438 - Sea Couch Grass
  • 439 - Fennel Pondweed
  • 440 - Annual sea blite
  • 441 - Sea Rush
  • 442 - Lesser Sea Spurrey
  • 443 - Saltmarsh Goosefoot
  • 444 - Divided Sedge
  • 445 - Slender Hare's Ear
  • 446 - Common Cord-grass
  • 447 - Sea Arrowgrass
  • 448 - Twiggy Glasswort
  • 449 - Prickly Lettuce
  • 450 - Guernesy Fleabane
  • 451 - Spreading Meadow-grass
  • 452 - Sea Barley
  • 453 - Flattened meadow-grass
  • 454 - Black Spleenwort
  • 455 - Fiddle Dock
  • 456 - Hoary Mustard
  • 457 - Dittander
  • 458 - Greek Dock
  • 459 - Squirrel-tailed Fescue
  • 460 - Narrow Leaved Birds Foot Trefoil
  • 461 - Hairy Buttercup
  • 462 - Bastard Service Tree
  • 463 - Chicory
  • 464 - Thorn Apple
  • 465 - Vervain
  • 466 - Hoary Ragwort
  • 467 - Greater Burdock
  • 468 - Lords and Ladies
  • 469 - Sickle-leaf hare's ear
  • 470 - Lime
  • 471 - Salsify
  • 472 - Hoary Plantain
  • 473 - Prickly Poppy
  • 474 - Guelder Rose
  • 475 - Broad leaved pondweed
  • 476 - Mare's Tail
  • 477 - Yew
  • 478 - Silver Birch
  • 479 - Chiltern Gentian
  • 480 - Wild Cherry
  • 481 - Sycamore
  • 482 - Ash
  • 483 - Marram Grass
  • 484 - Alder
  • 485 - Ivy Leaved Toadflax
  • 486 - Groundsel
  • 487 - Ivy
  • 488 - Blue Water Speedwell
  • 489 - Hen-Bit
  • 490 - Canadian Fleabane
  • 491 - Meadow Saffron
  • 492 - Annual Mercury
  • 493 - Leafy Goosefoot
  • 494 - Dwarf Mallow
  • 495 - Holly
  • 496 - Black Nightshade
  • 497 - White Willow
  • 498 - Wood Small-Reed
  • 499 - Norwegian Maple
  • 500 - Treacle Mustard
  • Target Reached
  • 501 - Common Fumitory
  • 502 - Hard Fern
  • 503 - Sea Buckthorn
  • 504 - Box

  • 2018 Bird Race

    No Particular Order

  • 1 - Chaffinch
  • 2 - Greenfinch
  • 3 - Goldfinch
  • 4 - Siskin
  • 5 - Linnet
  • 6 - Bullfinch
  • 7 - Yellowhammer
  • 8 - Reed Bunting
  • 9 - Corn Bunting
  • 10 - Red Breasted Merganser
  • 11 - Long Eared Owl
  • 12 - Great Reed Warbler
  • 13 - Raven
  • 14 - Razorbill
  • 15 - Scaup
  • 16 - Little Grebe
  • 17 - Great Crested Grebe
  • 18 - Fulmar
  • 19 - Cormorant
  • 20 - Bittern
  • 21 - Little Egret
  • 22 - Grey Heron
  • 23 - Spoonbill
  • 24 - Mute Swan
  • 25 - Whooper Swan
  • 26 - Pink Footed Goose
  • 27 - Greylag Goose
  • 28 - Canada Goose
  • 29 - Barnacle Goose
  • 30 - Brent Goose
  • 31 - Egyptian Goose
  • 32 - Shelduck
  • 33 - Mandarin Duck
  • 34 - Wigeon
  • 35 - Gadwall
  • 36 - Mallard
  • 37 - Garganey
  • 38 - Shoveler
  • 39 - Red Crested Pochard
  • 40 - Common Pochard
  • 41 - Tufted Duck
  • 42 - Common Scoter
  • 43 - Red kite
  • 44 - Marsh Harrier
  • 45 - Sparrowhawk
  • 46 - Buzzard
  • 47 - Kestrel
  • 48 - Hobby
  • 49 - Peregrine
  • 50 - Red Legged Partridge
  • 51 - Grey Partridge
  • 52 - Golden Pheasant
  • 53 - Pheasant
  • 54 - Water Rail
  • 55 - Corncrake
  • 56 - Spotted Crake
  • 57 - Moorhen
  • 58 - Coot
  • 59 - Common Crane
  • 60 - Oystercatcher
  • 61 - Avocet
  • 62 - Stone Curlew
  • 63 - Little Ringer Plover
  • 64 - Ringed Plover
  • 65 - Grey Plover
  • 66 - Lapwing
  • 67 - Sanderling
  • 68 - Knot
  • 69 - Dunlin
  • 70 - Ruff
  • 71 - Snipe
  • 72 - Woodcock
  • 73 - Bar Tailed Godwit
  • 74 - Black Tailed Godwit
  • 75 - Whimbrel
  • 76 - Curlew
  • 77 - Redshank
  • 78 - Greenshank
  • 79 - Common Sandpiper
  • 80 - Turnstone
  • 81 - Little Gull
  • 82 - Mediterranean Gull
  • 83 - Black headed Gull
  • 84 - Common Gull
  • 85 - Lesser Black Backed Gull
  • 86 - Herring Gull
  • 87 - Great Black Backed Gull
  • 88 - Sandwich Tern
  • 89 - Common Tern
  • 90 - Little Tern
  • 91 - Feral Pigeon
  • 92 - Stock Dove
  • 93 - Woodpigeon
  • 94 - Collared Dove
  • 95 - Turtle Dove
  • 96 - Cuckoo
  • 97 - Barn Owl
  • 98 - Little Owl
  • 99 - Tawny Owl
  • 100 - Nightjar
  • 101 - Swift
  • 102 - Kingfisher
  • 103 - Green Woodpecker
  • 104 - Great Spotted Woodpecker
  • 105 - Woodlark
  • 106 - Skylark
  • 107 - Sand Martin
  • 108 - Swallow
  • 109 - House Martin
  • 110 - Meadow Pipit
  • 111 - Tree Pipit
  • 112 - Yellow Wagtail
  • 113 - Grey Wagtail
  • 114 - Pied Wagtail
  • 115 - Wren
  • 116 - Dunnock
  • 117 - Robin
  • 118 - Nightingale
  • 119 - Redstart
  • 120 - Stonechat
  • 121 - Wheatear
  • 122 - Blackbird
  • 123 - Song Thrush
  • 124 - Mistle Thrush
  • 125 - Cetti's Warbler
  • 126 - Sedge Warbler
  • 127 - Reed Warbler
  • 128 - Whitethroat
  • 129 - Garden Warbler
  • 130 - Blackcap
  • 131 - Chiffchaff
  • 132 - Willow Warbler
  • 133 - Goldcrest
  • 134 - Firecrest
  • 135 - Bearded Tit
  • 136 - Long Tailed Tit
  • 137 - Marsh Tit
  • 138 - Coal Tit
  • 139 - Blue Tit
  • 140 - Great tit
  • 141 - Treecreeper
  • 142 - Nuthatch
  • 143 - Jay
  • 144 - Magpie
  • 145 - Jackdaw
  • 146 - Rook
  • 147 - Carrion Crow
  • 148 - Starling
  • 149 - House Sparrow
  • 150 - Tree Sparrow

  • The Chip Count

    Chips 35
    Chip Butty
    Fish Cake
    Fish 2
    Battered / Sausage 9
    Battered / Burger 4
    Saveloy 5
    Pickled Egg 5
    Cheese and Onion Fritter 2
    Mushy Peas / Fritter 10
    Spam Fritter 1
    Haggis 6
    Burger 2
    Parmo 1
    Macaroni Pie 1
    King Rib 1
    Onion Rings 4
    Ice Cream 11

    2017 Total
    Chips 62
    Fatbirder's Top 1000 Birding Websites