2015 was a big year of pushing forward my British
pan-species recording. Over the year I noted 1,670 species, a new record
for me and given that there were many common species I didn’t jot down, but
certainly saw, the true total will have been over 1,700.
I continued to focus on finding new species across as wide
range of taxonomic groups as possible and overall exceeded expectations by finding 508 British lifers.
Along with the armchair tick of Northern Harrier (but after removing three more
“evidence-only” leaf-mining moths), this had me ending the year on 3,885
species.
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| Typical view of my desk through the year |
I didn’t actually travel all that much to find all of these.
A four-day trip to Dorset and back in June with other pan-species listers did
net me 87 new species (mostly plants thanks to John!) But other than this,
virtually all other new species were in East Anglia; in fact, 33% of the new
species were found in and around Shotesham and 12% were around Thetford. 59 of
the ticks were in my garden. Whilst I didn’t particularly focus on trying to
increase the garden list as such, I did keep a note of what I recorded at home,
with the all-time garden list ending the year on 1,152 species, whilst the
all-time TM2499 1-km square list crept up to 1,759 species.
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| Pan-species recording at Portland in June |
Most of my new species during the year were common ones. I
prefer to feel I'm finding the common things, and building a bit of a foundation
of knowledge of what to expect, rather than chasing rarities. Inevitably though, I did
find a few rare (or at least seldom-recorded) species, including a few new
beetles for Norfolk.
Non-arthropod
invertebrates
Worms (5 species, 3 ticks, list total = 9): 2 new leeches
and 1 new earthworm.
Molluscs (29 species, 17 ticks, list total = 48): made up of
4 new slugs, 10 terrestrial snails, 2 water snails and a freshwater limpet.
Non-insect arthropods
Arachnids (38 species, 13 ticks, list total = 69): highlights
were my first two pseudoscorpions, plus the awesome slug mite.
Centipedes and millipedes (20 species, 10 ticks, list total now
22): all common species.
Crustaceans (14 species, 3 ticks, list total = 19): the new
ones were all woodlice, two being coastal specialists.
Springtails (1 species, 1 ticks, list total = 3): Pogonognathellus longicornis was the
only new one (common and relatively large). I really need to make some progress
with these, there are huge numbers of them under my nose!
Insects
Jumping bristletails (1 species, 1 ticks, list total = 1): Petrobius maritimus on stone walls on
Portland.
Beetles (200 species, 100 ticks, list total = 293): the
group providing me with the largest number of new species. Highlights were Cychrus caraboides, Poecilus cupreus, the zany looking larvae of Ctesias serra (Cobweb Beetle), Ceutorhynchus
pervicax (found at Wheatfen, new species for Norfolk), the “rice weevil” Sitophilus oryzae (found in a bag of
budget pasta from Tesco’s), the very rare Omophlus
betulae on Chesil Beach, Calambus
bipustulatus (Shotesham Park, the first Norfolk record since the 1800s) and
the striking chafer Oxythyrea funesta
at a garden centre in Norwich (probably an unintentional import, new to
Norfolk).
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| Ctesias serra, Regent's Park |
Earwigs (1 species, 0 ticks, list total = 3): only the
common Forficula auricularia.
Cockroaches (1 species, 1 tick, list total = 2): several
Lesser Cockroaches Ectobius panzeri
were seen on shingle at Ferrybridge.
Flies (169 species, 93 ticks, list total = 275): I spent
quite a lot of time working on flies in 2015, with lots of new species as a
result. However, I’ve still barely scratched the surface with almost all
families. Loads more to learn; I’m quite keen to develop crane-flies further in
particular (17 ticks this year). Highlights included several particularly
striking species such as Coremacera
marginata (Portland), Phasia
hemiptera (Kelling Heath) and Ctenophora
pectinicornis (Woodbastwick Fen). It was good to find 8 new hoverflies
(total now 89) and 3 new soldierflies (total now 19) but sadly I didn’t find
any new horseflies.
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| Choerades marginatus, Poringland Woods |
Mayflies (1 species, 1 tick, list total = 4): I added the very
common Baetis rhodani, with larvae and
adults both found in Shotesham.
Bugs (95 species, 50 ticks, list total = 140): another good
year, with new species from a wide range of families. Some of my highlights were
the splendid Metatropis rufescens on
Enchanter’s Nightshade in Shotesham, Ranatra
linearis (Water Stick-insect) and Microvelia
reticulata at Three Ponds Wood (Shotesham), Reduvius personatus (nymph) in the Nunnery and the striking Corizus hyoscyami in Shotesham Little
Wood.
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| Metatropis rufescens, Shotesham |
Hymenoptera (84 species, 38 ticks, list total = 151): a nice
selection of new species but, as ever, only scratching the surface of this huge
group. I found 30 species of bees (10 new), of which the long-awaited arrival
of Colletes hederae (Ivy Bee) in
Thetford was particularly pleasing. Some nice smaller wasps included Methocha articulata in Thetford Forest and
the small but striking chalcid Brachymeria
minuta on Barnhamcross Common. I did make a tiny bit of progress (with
help) with identifying 5 ichneumon wasps, notably Itoplectis melanocephala at Wheatfen. Amongst the sawflies, the
distinctive Xiphydria prolongata was
found by Shotesham Pond was perhaps the highlight.
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| Crossocerus quadrimaculatus, Barnhamcross Common |
Moths and butterflies (407 species, 17 ticks, list total = 1075):
no new butterflies this year, and I even forgot to record Essex Skipper and Small
and Green-veined Whites! My only new macro-moth for the year was Small Grass
Emerald on Middlebeare Heath. I trapped in the garden on at least a weekly
basis throughout most of the year, which didn’t produce many spectacular finds.
In particular, whilst there was a lot of migrant activity on the coast,
virtually none made its way to me. However, more notable garden moths included Broad-barred
White, Small Scallop and Marbled White Spot all new for the garden, whilst away
from home, it was also good to see Small Eggar (larval web at High Ash Farm),
Scarlet and Cream-spot Tigers, Pearly Underwing, Ni Moth and Small Mottled
Willow on Portland, and quite a good run of Hummingbird Hawk-moths in the
summer. Unusually missed species included Cinnabar (probably saw but didn’t
write down), Lychnis, Small Phoenix, Privet Hawk-moth, Drinker and Garden
Carpet (this for the second subsequent year, a worrying crash). Still no
clearwings! I also found a good range of new micros: Nemophora fasciella, Neosphaleroptera nubilana & Gypsonoma oppressana in the garden; Incurvaria pectinea, Grapholita
compositella, Coleophora glaucicolella, Stigmella alnetella, Stigmella
roborella, Stigmella tiliae & Bacotia
sepium elsewhere around Shotesham; Argyresthia
glaucinella in Poringland Woods; Ostrinia
nubilalis at Tasburgh; Ectoedemia
heringella in Thetford; Pachythelia
villosella on Middlebeare Heath; and Scrobipalpa
suaedella & Epischnia bankesiella
at Portland. The most significant was Bacotia
sepium from Shotesham Park, an occupied case that was kept until a female
emerged, which appeared to be new to Norfolk until a 2014 Brecks record
subsequently came to light.
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| Nemophora fasciella, Shotesham |
Scorpionflies (1 species, 0 ticks, list total = 2): must go
and find a Snow Flea!
Lacewings (6 species, 3 ticks, list total = 10): I don’t
feel I’m really getting to grips with these, but the spongefly Sisyra nigra was nice to find from Whitlingham.
Still not ticked any sponges either!
Dragonflies (19 species, 0 ticks, list total = 36): no new
species this year, and somewhat lazy recording of this group. Notable species
were Scarce Chaser (Wheatfen and Cambourne, my first since 2004) and further
records of Willow Emerald Damselfly (Wheatfen and, notably, the Nunnery Lakes).
Oddly, I didn’t record Norfolk Hawker this year. My easiest target in East
Anglia remains Red-veined Darter, must get off my backside and go find one.
Grasshoppers and crickets (12 species, 0 ticks, list total =
21): no new species, and I was a little lazy in recording Orthoptera this year
(in particular, Meadow Grasshopper and Oak Bush-cricket were almost certainly
noted but never written down). Notable was only my third record of Grey
Bush-cricket, which was common on Portland in June (although sadly we failed to
find Scaly Cricket). Most of my remaining targets are southern and/or rare,
with Cepero’s Groundhopper and Wood Cricket the most widespread of these.
However, given its recent spread, my most likely addition is probably Southern
Oak Bush-cricket.
Stoneflies (2 species, 2 ticks, list total = 2): I finally
managed to name a couple of these to species level: Nemoura cinerea from Holt Lowes and Leuctra geniculata from Barnhamcross Common.
Barkflies (6 species, 3 ticks, list total = 6): new species
were Caecilius fuscopterus
(Poringland Woods), Ectopsocus briggsi
(Shotesham) and Stenopsocus immaculatus
(Thetford).
Snakeflies (2 species, 2 ticks, list total = 2): I was very
pleased to find my first snakeflies this year, very striking insects. The first
was Phaeostigma notata which I found
inside the house, followed by two records of Xanthostigma xanthostigma around Shotesham.
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| Phaeostigma notata, Shotesham |
Fleas (1 species, 0 ticks, list total = 3): one of my
colleagues had an infestation of Ctenocephalides
felis at home, and managed to bring some to the Nunnery!
Stylops (1 species, 0 ticks, list total = 1): the species
presumed to be Stylops melittae was
again recorded in Shotesham, this time from a male Andrena bicolor. I haven’t found any useful literature on these
yet.
Cadddsflies (12 species, 9 ticks, list total = 20): I put
some more effort into caddisflies this year, although they remain rather
difficult to get to grips with. I’ve still not tackled the larvae, focusing on
adults. These are easy to find at the garden moth-trap, with this yielding new
species Beraea pullata, Crunoecia
irrorata, Lepidostoma hirtum, Limnephilus auricula and Plectrocnemia conspersa. Also in Shotesham, I netted Chaetopteryx villosa by day, whilst
elsewhere, the striking Trichostegia
minor was at Woodbastwick Fen, Agapetus
fuscipes from Natural Surroundings
at Glandford and Anabolia nervosa was
at Two Mile Bottom. Plenty more species to detect in this group.
Silverfish (1 species, 0 ticks, list total = 1): recorded
around the house throughout the year. The only other species in this order is
Firebrat Thermobia domestica; it
doesn’t seem to be particularly common now in the UK?
Vertebrates
Ray-finned Fish (5 species, 2 ticks, list total = 8): the
two new species were Minnow and Chub, both recorded previously but not
conclusively so until now. Additionally, Brown Trout, Three-spined Stickleback
and Eel were also recorded. Many other common species remain conspicuously
absent from my fish list.
Amphibians (4 species, 0 ticks, list total = 6): no new
species, just Frog, Toad, Smooth Newt and Great Crested Newt noted. Key targets
remain Palmate Newt (common but not so in Norfolk) and the re-established Pool
Frogs in the Brecks.
Reptiles (6 species, 2 ticks, list total = 6): very exciting
to record Smooth Snake in Dorset, as well as the introduced population of Wall
Lizards at Portland. However, I failed to find Sand Lizard so that remains a
target for the coming year.
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| Two-tailed Wall Lizard, Portland |
Birds (153 species, 4 ticks, list total = 426): following
the pattern of the last few years, the effort being put into recording other
taxa has meant far less time available for recording birds. However, four new
species was my best tally since 2009, these being the splendid Citril Finch at
Burnham Overy Dunes, the long-overdue Bee-eater (a flock of 10 twitched near
Minsmere), the Hudsonian Whimbrel at Pagham Harbour and finally a Siberian
Stonechat at Caister-on-sea. In addition, a late armchair tick came from the
split of Northern Harrier (from Thornham in 2011). There were very few other
birds of great note, although a couple of nice finds were a flyover Osprey from
my office window and a chance Ring Ouzel on farmland near Mulbarton. However, I
failed to record a great many common species, including Spotted Flycatcher,
Wheatear, Grey Partridge, Turtle Dove (a depressing sign of the times),
Mediterranean Gull, many seabirds and many waders (including Golden Plover
which I didn’t write down but suspect I saw somewhere). My key target species
according to BUBO Listing remain Great Reed Warbler, White-billed Diver,
Semipalmated Sandpiper and Radde’s Warbler.
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| Citril Finch, Burnham Overy Dunes |
Mammals (17 species, 0 ticks, list total = 41): the only
really notable mammal record of the year was a dead (thus not counted) Polecat
along the A11 at Roudham in March, presumed pure and part of a developing
pattern (I saw another dead one brought in to work from Lackford also, whilst
others have been reported around East Anglia). Seeing a live one could remain
quite a challenge.
Plants
Mosses (13 species, 7 ticks, list total = 29): still a
challenging group, but a little more progress. All of the new ones were common
species.
Liverworts (6 species, 3 ticks, list total = 7): at the end
of the year I found Metzgeria furcata and
Radula complanata in the grounds of
the Nunnery, then Metzgeria violacea on
Otley Chevin.
Ferns (4 species, 0 ticks, list total = 19): no great
progress with ferns again, and I remain unconfident about even many of the
commoner species; much more effort required.
Horsetails (3 species, 1 tick, list total = 5): Water
Horsetail was an overdue addition to the list, whilst Wood Horsetail was a
pleasing find at Holt Lowes (only Norfolk site?)
Flowering plants (257 species, 69 ticks, list total = 900):
lots of new species, many of which were around Portland thanks to John Martin. In
fact, 51 of my 69 ticks were made in the four day trip to Portland and back. Nice
to see I made it to 900 species by the end of the year, but many more easy ones
still to find I think, so roll on 1000. I didn’t make an effort to write down
all common species this year so many will have gone unrecorded (e.g. no records
of Red Dead-nettle, Marsh Marigold, Cuckoo Flower, Hemp-agrimony, Bluebell,
Selfheal or Cowslip, to name but a few). Highlights (not necessarily the rarest)
amongst the new ones were Maiden Pink, Rock Stonecrop, Cranberry, Yellow
Bartsia (top find by Nick Moran at the Nunnery Flood), Breckland Speedwell,
Spiked Speedwell, Oxlip, Rosy Garlic, Burnt Orchid and Lesser Butterfly Orchid.
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| Spiked Speedwell, Weeting |
Conifers (1 species, 0 ticks, list total = 4): only some
naturalised Yew noted.
Fungi
Lichens (24 species, 22 ticks, list total = 27): all of the
new species (including 10 Cladonia spp.)
were noted on a single specialised outing for these in the Brecks, huge thanks
to Peter Lambley. I need to do a lot more with these!
Non-lichen fungi (46 species, 29 ticks, list total = 153):
as usual, lots of help with fungi, notably from James Emerson and Tony Leech.
Highlights were Green Elfcup and Ear-pick Fungus at Brandon Country Park, Dog
Stinkhorn, Sessile Earthstar and Parrot
Waxcap at Earlham Cemetery, Common Bird’s-nest Fungus at Thetford Warren and Collared
Earthstar at Weeting.
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| Green Elfcap, Brandon Country Park |
Other stuff
Protozoa (2 species, 2 ticks, list total = 3): two new
species of slime-moulds were noted: Reticularia
lycoperdon at East Ruston and Lepidoderma
tigrinum at Thetford Warren Lodge.
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| Lepidoderma tigrinum, Thetford Warren |
Outside the UK
Apart from a few work trips to Greece and Belgium (highlight
the naturalised Siberian Ground Squirrel in a wood near Brussels!) and a short
trip to Amsterdam at the end of the year, our main holiday was a couple of
weeks covering a substantial chunk of south-east Europe. Wildlife wasn’t really
the main focus of the trip, but highlights were Freyer’s Purple Emperor,
Weaver’s Fritillary, Eastern Dappled White, Southern White Admiral, Common
Glider, Orbed Red Underwing Skipper, Crepuscular Burnet, Stag Beetle, the awesome
longhorn beetle Rosalia alpina,
White-tailed Skimmer, Red-veined Darter, the bug Graphosoma semipunctatum and a brief but gripping view of a Wild
Cat. No new birds unless the south-eastern Little Owl gets split as the “Cucumiau”!
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| Rosalia alpina, Bulgaria |
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| Southern White Admiral, Slovenia |
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| Freyer's Purple Emperor, Bulgaria |
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| "Cucumiau", Bulgaria |
