December 2016 - daily log

December (13 new species)

Thu 1^st

Fri 2^nd

Sat 3^rd

Sun 4^th

Mon 5^th

Tue 6^th

Wed 7^th

Thu 8^th

Fri 9^th

Sat 10^th

Sun 11^th

Mon 12^th

Tue 13^th

Wed 14^th

Thu 15^th

Fri 16^th

Sat 17^th                                 I spent a little time hunting around Holt Lowes first thing where sieving mosses yielded Lathrobium terminatum and Ochthephilum fracticorne (rove beetles) plus the bluebottle-lookalike muscid fly Eudasyphora cyanicolor. I was also pleased to spot Nail Fungus Poronia punctata on pony dung, still a rare species in Norfolk. Later I had a short time available to do a bit more tussocking and sieving on Buxton Heath which produced Agonum gracile and Xantholinus gallicus (beetles) plus what appears to be the first Norfolk record of the millipede Chordeuma proximum.

Sun 18^th

Mon 19^th

Tue 20^th

Wed 21^st

Thu 22^nd

Fri 23^rd

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Sun 25^th

Mon 26^th                              Turning over some logs in Shotesham produced two new rove-beetles - Bolitobius cingulatus and Sepedophilus marshami.

Tue 27^th                                Back up in Yorkshire, I found a couple of Platynus assimilis (carabid beetle) under logs at Adel Dam.

Wed 28^th                              Another family walk, this time on Otley Chevin, yielded Lithobius crassipes (centipede) and Pellia epiphylla (liverwort).

Thu 29^th                                I found the blowfly Pollenia pediculata  on the wall of my parents’ house in Bramhope.

Fri 30^th                  

Sat 31^st  

November 2016 - daily log

November (29 new species)

Tue 1^st

Wed 2^nd

Thu 3^rd

Fri 4^th

Sat 5^th                    A successful twitch to Minsmere with Mike Dawson and James Emerson for the surprising Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota. Whilst we were there we also found Erioptera pilipes (cranefly), Bibio lepidus (fly), Metellina mengei (spider), Crinipellis scabella (fungus) and Clavulinopsis fusiformis (Golden Spindles – fungus).

Sun 6^th                  I attended a field meeting of the Norfolk Bryological Group at Ashwellthorpe Wood and hence added a fair few mosses to my list: Rhynchostegium confertum, Homalia trichomanoides, Ulota bruchii, Dicranoweisia cirrata, Eurhynchium pumilum, Fissidens exilis and Fissidens incurvus. We also noted the liverwort Porella platyphylla. James Emerson was present and kindly helped me with a few new fungi too - Postia subcaesia, Macrotyphula fistulosa, Mycena pura, Pluteus aurantiorugosus and Pleurotus dryinus, as well as the lichen Graphis scripta. Finally, I brought home a gall of Diastrophus rubi on bramble; a few weeks later a mass of small wasps emerged which I identified as Torymus rubi.

Mon 7^th

Tue 8^th

Wed 9^th

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Fri 11^th

Sat 12^th

Sun 13^th

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Mon 21^st

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Fri 25^th

Sat 26^th                 After a few weeks with no new finds, I had a root around on Shotesham Common, sieving and tussocking. This was remarkably successful, producing Acompus rufipes, Nabis ferus (bugs), Paederus riparius, Galerucella tenella, Altica palustris, Cassida flaveola and Anacaena globulus (beetles). Further tussocking in the front garden also yielded the rove beetle Habrocerus capillaricornis.

Sun 27^th

Mon 28^th

Tue 29^th

Wed 30^th

October 2016 - daily log

October (24 new species)

Sat 1^st

Sun 2^nd                  At Tyrell’s Wood I found occupied leaf-mines of the moths Phyllonorycter tenerella and Stigmella ulmivora in elm leaves (both seen previously but never confirmed occupied).

Mon 3^rd                 The scathophagid fly Conisternum decipiens found by the Nun’s Bridges.

Tue 4^th                  Cranefly Erioptera lutea found at home in Shotesham

Wed 5^th

Thu 6^th

Fri 7^th                     From the garden moth-trap, I added Rhipidia maculata, Tipula staegeri, Cheilotrichia cinerascens (craneflies) and Limnephilus flavicornis (caddisfly).

Sat 8^th                    I finally unblocked a long-standing missing species, getting brief but great views of Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi at Holkham. I also found the cranefly Neolimnomyia adjuncta there.

Sun 9^th                  A walk around Wheatfen produced the millipede Craspedosoma rawlinsii, quite a local species it would seem.

Mon 10^th

Tue 11^th

Wed 12^th

Thu 13^th

Fri 14^th

Sat 15^th                 After a couple of nerve-wracking days worrying that it would go, Mike Dawson and I set off in the dark for Yorkshire. Luckily we weren’t to dip, and we saw the UK’s second Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella before breakfast – bird of the year!

Sun 16^th

Mon 17^th

Tue 18^th

Wed 19^th              The blowfly Pollenia angustigena found inside the Nunnery.

Thu 20^th                               

Fri 21^st  

Sat 22^nd

Sun 23^rd                Somewhat overdue, I finally added the blowfly Calliphora vomitoria from Shotesham.

Mon 24^th              We had a long walk around the Aldeburgh and Thorpeness but the only “new” species was Fallopia baldschuanica (Russian Vine); I’d never noted this outside a garden before.

Tue 25^th                On a visit to Framlingham Castle, we walked around the mere here where I swept

Bembidion assimile, Aphthona nonstriata (beetles) and Trigonometopus frontalis (fly).

Wed 26^th              We had a family walk around Minsmere and Dunwich. I beat Tuponia brevirostris (bug) from tamarisks along the beach, then swept Kleidocerys ericae (bug), Anotylus inustus and Stethorus punctillum (beetles) from Dunwich Heath.

Thu 27^th                               

Fri 28^th

Sat 29^th                

Sun 30^th                A family walk at Burnham Overy Dunes produced Psylliodes marcida (flea beetle) and Melanoleuca cinereifolia (Dune Cavalier), as well as a nice Isabelline Wheatear.

Mon 31^st

September 2016 - daily log

September (45 new species)

Thu 1^st                   Lunchtime on Barhamcross produced the weevil Orchestes signifer as well as a self-identified bramble, Rubus laciniatus. A new dung beetle - Aphodius rufus – in the garden moth trap that night.

Fri 2^nd

Sat 3^rd

Sun 4^th

Mon 5^th

Tue 6^th                  Another excellent night in the garden moth-trap. It started when Tom brought down my first Ledra aurita (Eared Leafhopper) that had flown into his bedroom, clearly attracted in by the moth-trap. I then also added the coastal carabid Dicheirotrichus obsoletus (known to wander on occasion), Trox scaber (beetle), Athalia cordata (sawfly), Euphylidorea lineola (cranefly) and Polycentropus flavomaculatus (caddisfly).

Wed 7^th

Thu 8^th

Fri 9^th                     Both Agraylea multipunctata (caddis) and Cunctochrysa albolineata (lacewing) found at the garden moth-trap.

Sat 10^th

Sun 11^th                A walk around Marston Marshes produced Megachile willughbiella (bee) and Populicerus nitidissimus (bug).

Mon 12^th              Lunchtime walk near the Nunnery yielded Lasioglossum leucozonium (bee), Eupteryx urticae (bug), Macrocera stigmoides (cranefly) and Metellina segmentata (spider).

Tue 13^th

Wed 14^th              Found the cranefly Ilisia maculata in the garden moth-trap.

Thu 15^th

Fri 16^th

Sat 17^th

Sun 18^th                Barbecue at Cranwich Pits followed by a walk produced Stroggylocephalus agrestis (bug), Procloeon bifidum (mayfly), Limnephilus decipiens (caddis), Rabdophaga salicis (midge gall on sallow), Hygrotus inaequalis and Rhantus frontalis (water beetles).

Mon 19^th              Lunchtime walk at Thetford Warren Lodge produced Cinara pinea (Pine Aphid), Longitarsus membranaceus (flea beetle), Orthotylus ericetorum (bug), Philotarsus picicornis (psocid) and Tachypeza nubila (fly).

Tue 20^th                The tachinid fly Mintho rufiventris flew into my office at work, whilst beating the pine trees in the car park produced the small ladybird Scymnus interruptus. The latter (and also perhaps the former) were the first records for the Brecks.

Wed 21^st

Thu 22^nd               A very productive lunchtime walk at the Nunnery Lakes netted me seven new species; Eupteryx melissae, Orius niger (bugs), Trypetoptera punctulata (striking sciomyzid fly), Saprinus planiusculus, Thanatophilus rugosus (scavenging beetles both under a dead Woodpigeon), Neuroterus anthracinus (wasp gall on oak) and Tischeria dodonaea (leaf-mining moth on oak).

Fri 23^rd                  The locally scarce wasp Ectemnius ruficornis was found at the Nunnery.

Sat 24^th

Sun 25^th                I found Ero cambridgei (spider) in the garden, Tipula signata (cranefly) and Lygus pratensis (bug) around Shotesham and then ‘twitched’ Nymphoides peltata (Fringed Water-lily) at UEA Broad.

Mon 26^th

Tue 27^th

Wed 28^th              A walk at the Nunnery lakes produced Philotarsus parviceps (psocid) and later, Amara similata (carabid beetle) was caught in garden moth-trap.

Thu 29^th

Fri 30^th

August 2016 - daily log

August (41 new species)

Mon 1^st

Tue 2^nd

Wed 3^rd                Popped down to Minsmere to see the Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio and took the opportunity whilst there to add a few other species too: Aspidapion soror (rare weevil on Marsh Mallow), Dasypoda hirtipes (Pantaloon Bee), Megalocoleus tanaceti (bug) and Notoxus monoceros (beetle).

Thu 4^th                  Lunch-time wander on Barnhamcross Common produced the rather localised Alydus calcaratus (bug) as well as Cheilosia pagana (hoverfly). I also found the sawfly Nematus tibialis inside the Nunnery.

Fri 5^th                     Moth-trapping in the garden produced Goera pilosa (caddis) and Heterocerus fenestratus (beetle)

Sat 6^th

Sun 7^th

Mon 8^th

Tue 9^th

Wed 10^th

Thu 11^th

Fri 12^th

Sat 13^th                 Pleased to find Conops quadrifasciatus (conopid fly) in the front garden on Marjoram.

Sun 14^th

Mon 15^th

Tue 16^th                Mark Telfer beat a juniper bush in James Lowen’s garden in Costessey and out popped Rhyzobius lophanthae (ladybird).

Wed 17^th              Another new conopid fly, this time Conops flavipes on goldenrod at the Nunnery Lakes.

Thu 18^th                Found Arge nigripes (sawfly) on a carrot head at The Nunnery.

Fri 19^th

Sat 20^th

Sun 21^st                  I noticed a sawfly on the side of a marquee at the Rutland birdfair which turned out to be Pachynematus clitellatus.

Mon 22^nd

Tue 23^rd                Three new bugs on a lunchtime walk at Barnhamcross Common: Campylomma verbasci, Europiella artemisiae and Javesella pellucida. An excellent night in the garden moth-trap, especially for beetles – I added Bradycellus harpalinus and Ophonus ardosiacus (carabids), Gyrinus caspius, Myzia oblongoguttata (Striped Ladybird) and Psylliodes chrysocephala (flea beetle), along with the lacewing Nineta flava.

Wed 24^th              Lunchtime walk along the river at the Nunnery produced four new species: Metylophorus nebulosus (psocid), Tuberolachnus salignus (Giant Willow Aphid), Anobium inexspectatum (beetle) and Cordilura albipes (fly).

Thu 25^th

Fri 26^th

Sat 27th                Following a tip from Mark Telfer, Duncan and I went to Wheatfen and found the highly localised leaf beetle Galeruca laticollis, as well as Scrophularia umbrosa (Green Figwort).

Sun 28^th                Successful trip to Groton Wood to see Epipactis purpurata (Violet Helleborine), where I also picked up Malacocoris chlorizans and Phytocoris longipennis (bugs), as well as realising I’d never added Tilia cordata (Small-leaved Lime) to my list! Later in Harwich Docks, sweeping produced small beetles Sphaeroderma testaceum and Scymnus frontalis                .

Mon 29^th              Sought and successfully found the bug Dicyphus epilobii on Great Willowherb by Shotesham Pond.

Tue 30^th                Lunchtime walk along the river by the Nunnery prodcued Idiocerus stigmaticalis (bug), Rhinoncus inconspectus (weevil), Phratora vitellinae (leaf beetle) and Stenopsocus stigmaticus (psocid).

Wed 31^st

July 2016 - daily log

July (47 new species)

Fri 1^st                     Found Beraea maurus (caddis) in the front porch at home

Sat 2^nd                   Another university open day to take Tom to, this time Durham. Took advantage of this to stop off at Bishop Middleham Quarry on the way back to see Epipactis atrorubens (Dark Red Helleborine) although sadly the flowers weren’t quite open yet.

Sun 3^rd                 

Mon 4^th                               

Tue 5^th                 

Wed 6^th                                Found the hoverfly Eumerus ornatus on Shotesham Common

Thu 7^th                 

Fri 8^th                     At a family scout camp at Hautbois, Mike Dawson and I did some nosing around after dark and found Laemostenus terricola (carabid beetle) on a stump. We also set a moth-trap in a garden at Neatishead from which I added the cranefly Phylidorea fulvonervosa.

Sat 9^th                    The tiny wasp Psenulus pallipes flew into the house.

Sun 10^th                Ran the garden moth-trap and added Batia lambdella (micro-moth), Macrotylus solitarius and Allygidius commutatus (bugs).

Mon 11^th              Took the day off as John Martin was up in Norfolk and staying.  Quick whiz up Market Lane to show him some Sulphur Clover and was kindly shown Chenopodium ficifolium (Fig-leaved Goosefoot) in return.  Then off to Strumpshaw Fen where we embarrassingly failed to see any Swallowtails, but did see Ammi majus (Bullwort), Anasimyia contracta (hoverfly), Scirtes hemisphaericus (beetle), Potamogeton acutifolius (Sharp-leaved Pondweed) and Salix purpurea (Purple Willow). We then picked up Alex Prendergast and headed up to the north coast. At Beeston Bump, we found John his target of Purple Broomrape and I was pleased to add Malvapion malvae (weevil), Lepidium latifolium (Dittander) and Rubus pruinosus (a bramble, thanks to Alex). I also found a mystery plant which baffled everyone (including a Wild Flower Society meeting that happened to be there too!) which we later identified as Triteleia laxa – a garden escape sometimes known as Ithuriel’s Spear. Nearby in Sheringham we added Calendula officinalis (Pot Marigold) and Rubus intensior (another bramble). More brambles then at Pretty Corner - Rubus hylocharis and Rubus sprengelii. Driving back through Norwich we noted Consolida ajacis (Larkspur) naturalised along a roadside. Alex then took us to see his hybrid comfrey Symphytum x norvicense in Tasburgh, where we also found Potentilla recta (Sulphur Cinquefoil) growing naturalised.

Tue 12^th               

Wed 13^th             

Thu 14^th               

Fri 15^th                   Hydropsyche instabilis (caddis) in the garden moth-trap

Sat 16^th                 Attended a bee identification workshop with Steve Falk in Mundford, where on a short walk we noted Chelostoma campanularum, Colletes daviesanus and the very rare Lasioglossum sexnotatum (bees).

Sun 17^th                The second day of the bee course was field-based. At Cranwich Camp I added the bees Andrena hattorfiana, Hoplitis spinulosa and Megachile versicolor, along with the solitary wasps Cerceris ruficornis and Oxybelus uniglumis. We then moved on to nearby Cranwich Heath after lunch where sweeping produced lots of new species: Acetropis gimmerthalii (bug), Oxystoma pomonae, Taeniapion urticarium (weevils), Bruchela rufipes, Galeruca tanaceti (beetles), Cistogaster globosa (tachnid fly), Dithryca guttularis (picture-winged fly), Iassus lanio (bug) and Nomada rufipes (bee).

Mon 18^th              At the Nunnery I found Hylaeus communis (bee) and Pachynematus vagus (sawfly).

Tue 19^th                The cranefly Tipula lateralis found in the garden moth-trap.

Wed 20^th              Another moth-trapped new cranefly, this time Nephrotoma cornicina.

Thu 21^st               

Fri 22^nd 

Sat 23^rd

[Sun 24^th              Flew to Iceland! Drove from Keflavik around to Myvatn.]

[Mon 25^th            Gyrfalcons at Myvatn. Whale-watching from Husavik, Dettifoss, etc.]

[Tue 26^th              Myvatn around to Djupivogur]

[Wed 27^th            Djupivogur along the south coast via Jokulsarlon to Svinafell.]

[Thu 28^th              Skaftafell along to Hella]

[Fri 29^th                 Gullfoss, Geysir and Pingvellir]

[Sat 30^th                Reykjavik and Keflavik area]

[Sun 31^st               Flew back to UK]

June 2016 - daily log

June (83 new species)

Wed 1^st                

Thu 2^nd                 

Fri 3^rd                    

Sat 4^th                    Cephus spinipes (sawfly) at home

Sun 5^th                  Liophloeus tessulatus (weevil) at home

Mon 6^th                               

Tue 7^th                  Aedes caspius (mosquito) swept in the alder wood at The Nunnery

Wed 8^th                               

Thu 9^th                 

Fri 10^th                   Herniaria glabra (Smooth Rupturewort) finally ticked off on a verge in Thetford.

Sat 11^th                 My first new bird of the year, Acrocephalus arundinaceus (Great Reed Warbler) was twitched at Little Paxton gravel pits. Later that day, a good selection of new species at Barnack Hills & Holes with Ryan Clark: Aceras anthropophorum (Man Orchid), Cerastium pumilum (Dwarf Mouse-ear), Cryptocephalus fulvus (leaf beetle), Euheptaulacus villosus (dung beetle), Lasius alienus (ant), Urophora jaceana (picture-winged fly) and Microbotryum violaceum (campion smut).

Sun 12^th                A short bramble lesson from Alex Prendergast at Burrfeld Park in Tasburgh provided Rubus armeniacus, Rubus ulmifolius and Rubus vestitus, along with welcome find of Volucella inflata (hoverfly). Walked from there to Ashwellthorpe Wood where Byturus ochraceus (beetle) was the only addition.

Mon 13^th              After work trip to Winks Meadow to finally sort out Dactylorhiza viridis (Frog Orchid) after failing to find it here last year.

Tue 14^th               

Wed 15^th             

Thu 16^th                Crossocerus pusillus (solitary wasp) flew into the house

Fri 17^th                   Drove up to Holkham after work for pan-species listers’ get-together weekend. At dusk, walk down Lady Anne’s Drive produced Opomyza germinationis (fly), Aphodius sticticus (dung beetle in horse dung), Clubiona corticalis, Harpactea hombergi and Tetragnatha obtusa (spiders).

Sat 18^th                 Tried and failed for Hornet Clearwing first thing, but after breakfast, driven up to Meals House to start our walk, where we quickly added Scrophularia vernalis (Yellow Figwort), Anchusa officinalis (Alkanet) and Narycia monilifera (psychid moth). We then cut through the pines, finding Malthinus flaveolus (soldier-beetle), Othius punctulatus (rove beetle) and Monotropa hypopitys (Yellow Bird’s-nest) on the way before coming out to the dunes. Under some driftwood on the beach we found Armadillidium album, Broscus cephalotes and Calathus mollis (ground beetles), as well as a Natterjack Toad.

Sweeping the dunes was productive, as we found two of our key targets, the marram-inhabiting Dactylochelifer latreillei (pseudoscorpion) and the highly localised Clanoptilus barnevillei (beetle), alongside Neophilaenus campestris (froghopper), Sinodendron cylindricum (Rhinoceros Beetle), Lasius psammophilus (ant), Xerolycosa miniata (spider) and Urophora stylata (picture-winged fly). We then made our way west alongside the dune/plantation edge, where a highlight was the impressive Ontholestes murinus (rove beetle) under a dead Mallard, as well as Cydia conicolana (tortrix moth), Hemerobius stigma (lacewing) and Thereva bipunctata (stiletto fly). At the far end of the pines we found a spindle infested with larval webs of Yponomeuta cagnagella (micro moth). We then headed back east on the landward side of the pines and further added Microcara testacea and Ochina ptinoides (beetles), Rhagoletis alternata (picture-winged fly) and Symplecta stictica (cranefly).

Back at Hill Farm (where we camping), Nicola Bacciu found us the fantastic Polyxenus lagurus (Bristly Millipede) on the lichen-covered wall of a barn. After dark, some of us then headed right back out to the west end of the pines to join in with a separate Norfolk Moth Survey meeting. This was actually disappointing with very few moth species in evidence. However, new species encountered at light were Caryocolum marmoreum (gelechid moth), Rhamphomyia barbata (empid fly), Tipula fascipennis (cranefly) and Ophion crassicornis (ichneumon wasp).

Sun 19^th                Another failed attempt at dawn for Hornet Clearwings! After breakfast we were generously driven by Andy Bloomfield out to Burnham Overy Dunes, which saved us a fair hike! We had an extremely productive morning out here. We first spent time on the saltmarsh, which netted me a hatful of new species: Pseudaplemonus limonii (striking colourful weevil), Uromyces limonii (rust on sea lavender), Myosotella myosotis  (Mouse-eared Snail), Orchestia gammarellus (amphipod underneath strandline litter), Dicheirotrichus gustavii (carabid beetle), Enoplognatha mordax, Episinus angulatus (spiders), Cassida vittata (Bordered Tortoise Beetle), Tasgius ater (rove beetle), Dolichosoma lineare (beetle), Anoplius infuscatus and Pompilus cinereus (spider-hunting wasps).

We then moved onto the dunes in the vain hope (Bill Urwin’s hope really) of finding Dune Tiger Beetle. We didn’t, but in the flowery flat areas between the dunes we came across Agrotis ripae (Sand Dart), Hoplia philanthus (Welsh Chafer), Gastrophysa polygoni (leaf beetle), Meligethes carinulatus (pollen beetle), Sitticus saltator (jumping spider) and Orthocerus clavicornis (a beetle with crazy antennae!) In this area it was great to meet up with Andy Brown and Steve Lane, and I then ended up walking back to Holkham Pines with them, benefitting particularly from Steve’s eagle eyes and encyclopaedic beetle knowledge. New species along this stretch were Lathyrus heterophyllus (Norfolk Everlasting Pea, naturalised on the dunes), Onthophagus similis (dung beetle under dog dirt), Tachysphex nitidus (solitary wasp), Aphodius foetidus (dung beetles under dead rabbit), Atomaria lohsei (beetle) and Nitidula bipunctata (beetle under dead Mallard). A great weekend in the company of some great naturalists.

Mon 20^th             

Tue 21^st                               

Wed 22^nd            

Thu 23^rd               

Fri 24^th                   I found the hippoboscid fly Crataerina hirundinis on the front wall of our house, clearly out of the House Martin nest above.

Sat 25^th                 Took Tom to a university open day in York so as payment we popped in to see Chrysolina graminis (Tansy Beetle) by the river.

Sun 26^th               

Mon 27^th              Found the small fly Scenopinus fenestralis in my office at The Nunnery.

Tue 28^th               

Wed 29^th              Whilst doing my BBS square at Kenninghall I found Bembidion femoratum (ground beetle) just walking around on soil in arable field.

Thu 30^th                Dawn Balmer called me in to see a fly on her desk at work, which proved to be Ornithomya avicularia, my second hippoboscid fly in a week! 

May 2016 - daily log

May (54 new species)

Sun 1^st                   Macrodema micropterum (ground-bug) found on Kelling Heath.

Mon 2^nd               

Tue 3^rd 

Wed 4^th                   Perapion curtirostre (weevil) swept near pond at The Nunnery.

Thu 5^th                 

Fri 6^th                    

Sat 7^th                    Odontomyia argentata (soldierfly, the ‘Silver Colonel’) found on Shotesham Common during a targeted search, alongside Hypnoidus riparius (click beetle) and Stenus cicindeloides (rove beetle), plus Aglaostigma aucupariae (sawfly) along verge in front of the house. Additionally, Limnephilus sparsus (caddisfly) and Ophion minutus (ichneumon wasp) both caught in garden moth-trap.

Sun 8^th                  Berytinus minor (stilt bug) on Shotesham Common and Soronia grisea (beetle) landed on my arm at Shotesham Pub.

Mon 9^th                Empis femorata (empid fly) at The Nunnery, swarming under maples by car park.

Tue 10^th               

Wed 11^th             

Thu 12^th               

Fri 13^th                  

Sat 14^th                 After NFBR conference in Lancaster, had an excursion up to the Forest of Bowland where a number of us walked in the Cross of Greet area. Nice selection of species, given help from range of people, with 21 new to me as follows: Megabunus diadema (stunning harvestman), Pardosa pullata (spider), Andrena lapponica (bee), Bombus monticola (Bilberry Bumblebee), Aphodius ater, Aphodius depressus (dung beetles in sheep dung), Staphylinus erythropterus (cracking big rove beetle), Baetis vernus (mayfly), Brachyptera risi, Leuctra inermis, Nemoura cambrica, Nemurella pictetii (stoneflies), Delphacodes venosus (planthopper), Streptanus marginatus (leafhopper), Empis borealis (empid fly), Prolita sexpunctella (micro-moth), Carex nigra (Common Sedge), Carex pilulifera (Pill Sedge), Ranunculus omiophyllus (Round-leaved Crowfoot), Viola palustris (Marsh Violet) and Sphagnum fallax (my first named Sphagnum moss).

Sun 15^th                Spent a few hours contributing to a bioblitz at Wheatfen, with a number of species new to me: Bibio leucopterus (fly), Tipula pabulina (cranefly), Molanna angustata (caddisfly), Lesteva sicula (rove beetle), Bithynia leachii and Radix auricularia (freshwater snails), Potamogeton friesii (Flat-stalked Pondweed) and Puccinia phragmitis (rust on Broad-leaved Dock).

Mon 16^th             

Tue 17^th               

Wed 18^th             

Thu 19^th                Gastrophysa viridula (leaf beetle) on Flordon Common

Fri 20^th                   Phyllobius pyri (weevil) found on oak in Tasburgh.

Sat 21^st                 

Sun 22^nd               Local walk around the Shotesham area produced Bruchus rufimanus (seed beetle), Curculio venosus (weevil), Orthops basalis (mirid bug), Carcinops pumilio (histerid beetle) and Nephrotoma quadrifaria (cranefly).

Mon 23^rd             

Tue 24^th               

Wed 25^th             

Thu 26^th                Cylindrotoma distinctissima (cranefly) found on Flordon Common

Fri 27^th                   Sericostoma personatum (caddisfly) on Barnhamcross Common then later, surprise find of Criorhina berberina in the garden at home.

Sat 28^th                 Nymphs of the psyllid Psylla buxi on box shrubs by the pub in Brooke.

Sun 29^th                A few hours at Woodbastwick Fen produced Anthonomus rubi (weevil), Cordilura impudica (scathophagid fly) and Phylidorea ferruginea (cranefly).

Mon 30^th             

Tue 31^st               

April 2016 - daily log

April (3 new species)

[Fri 1^st                  Israel: Crowned Sandgrouse at Ezuz. Drive south through deserts to Eilat.]

[Sat 2^nd                Israel: Eilat area including snorkelling over coral reef.]

[Sun 3^rd                Israel: Eilat, Black Bush-robin seen at Yotvata Hai-bar]

[Mon 4^th               Israel: Eilat, drive north, Nubian Nightjar at dusk at Ne'ot Hakkikar]

[Tue 5^th                 Israel: Continue north to Dead Sea, Striated Bunting at Wadi Ze’elim]

[Wed 6^th               Israel: Masada in the morning, drive north later]

[Thu 7^th                Israel: Crimson-winged Finch seen on Mount Hermon]

[Fri 8^th                  Israel: mostly NW coast, later to Jerusalem]

[Sat 9^th                  Israel: Monk Parakeet in Jerusalem]

[Sun 10^th              Israel: Jerusalem to Tel Aviv and return]

Mon 11^th

Tue 12^th

Wed 13^th

Thu 14^th                Quick look round Hatfield Forest with Mark Lawlor produced Dictyla convergens (lacebug), Euscelis incisus (leafhopper) and Lasioglossum malachurum (bee). Then flew to Poland.

[Fri 15^th                 Poland: European Bison, White-backed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Pygmy Owl at Bialowieza]

[Sat 16^th                Poland: Bialowieza and Siemianowka]

[Sun 17^th              Poland: Bialowieza to Biebzra Marshes. Moose]

[Mon 18^th            Poland: Biebzra Marshes]

[Tue 19^th              Poland: Biebzra Marshes back to Warsaw]

Wed 20^th

Thu 21^st

Fri 22^nd

Sat 23^rd

Sun 24^th

Mon 25^th

Tue 26^th

Wed 27^th

Thu 28^th

Fri 29^th

Sat 30^th