A new challenge

My challenge for 2018 is, I'm going to ease off on checking Waldridge and try and see more elsewhere but still local. Also Waldridge Fell has really sickened me with the amount of dogs now allowed to roam and do their mess everywhere. I was continually treading in it or being bothered by them and on occassion attacked. I do bump into a number of nice, considerate dog-walkers but they have now become the minority.  So I'm generally going to look for stuff elsewhere next year.

I need to improve on my overall pan-list (British list of all species - plants, insects, fungi, everything!) which is sorely lacking things with marina, maritima etc in the vernacular   After some thought I'm going to try for 2,000 species but all within VC66 (County Durham) and all within 100m  of the high water mark and not venturing more than 100m inland at the Tyne/Wear/Tees estuaries. It could get a bit frustrating not being able to count many of seabirds or cetaceans that are too far out but I've seen most of them I could expect to see so it will not be a big problem. I have no idea whatsoever if it's its possible to get 2,000 or if in fact it will be dead easy but certainly different from what I'm used to.

The more I think about it, the harder I think it is going to be but it's nothing ventured....


I finished the challenge of this year which was to see 1000 species in the same 1km square - Waldridge in my case. Below is a breakdown of my final totals

End of July Report

I've been busy with the DWT Botany group, helping with surveys etc as well as checking my square . Last week I did the write up of the final compartments at Blackhall Rocks on the Durham coast, so as I wrote it, I've  copied it verbatim here.

Five intrepid members of the DWT Botany group met in the car park at Blackhall Rocks to survey the final six wet flushes on the slopes of this wonderful site. The weather forecast was showers, some heavy, but we bravely carried on, and as it happens on this coast it decided to have its own weather system, a bit breezy but dry throughout. There were two members of the group on their first outing with us so we all introduced ourselves, ran through the Health & Safety checks and off we set. The cliff slopes where we were surveying at the southern end are quite steep and care had to be taken. Often the easiest way was to slide down on your bottom!

The first of the six areas to be checked was just south of the car park. Initially it did not look very good with considerable encroachment from Great Horsetail, Bramble and Creeping Thistle throughout and a large, spreading patch of Ground-elder at the top. However, when we got to work we discovered it held a good population of Saw-wort. This plant initially looks like a spineless thistle but has saw-toothed leaves from where it gets its name. Though nearly all had finished flowering there were many Common Twayblade on these slopes too and Tom found on a little outcrop, the only Small Scabious of the day.

The second area was wet on the lower slopes as shown by the patch of Common Reed and Great Willow-herb but rather dry nearer the top allowing the grasses to be quite rank. Much of this was False Oat-grass but a number of other species were present both here and at the other spots, allowing us to test our grass and sedge identification skills throughout the day. Our first Fragrant Orchids, again many having finished flowering, were found, some still giving off a strong sweet orangey perfume. Notable here was the amount of Agrimony, which was scattered throughout the survey area. The yellow spikes smell of apricots and it is a member of the rose family, unlike Hemp Agrimony, also present here but not being a thug like in the northern part of the reserve. 

Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony)

Gymnadenia conopsea (Chalk Fragrant-orchid)

 

The third area was very dry and dominated with False Brome (we all had our eye in now for this species with its hairy yellow-green leaves and drooping inflorences) and Field Horsetail. The latter was scattered throughout but not creating thickets like its relative Great Horsetail to the north. More, and the last, the Saw-wort plants were seen and the only Kidney Vetch of the day.

We had completed half by 12:30 so it was time for our lunch which we ate on the slopes out of the wind, before we carried on with number four or Flush Compartment #38 on our map. Here more Common Reed but half way up the slope this time. At the top the water seeps out and trickles to the depression where the stand of reed is but the nature of the geology here means bits of the slope are always slipping down leaving bare wet areas. This creates ideal habitat for Common Butterwort with 20 plants here, together with Flea Sedge and some Wild Thyme on the dry area just above. There were also some tiny Common Centuary plants here that were scrutinised in case they were something rarer but unfortunately were not. 

Leontodon hispidus (Rough Hawkbit)

We were here to examine slippages and the next was near the steps to the beach known locally as Green Stairs. When we arrived there was a slippage and it had carried away some of the stairs and the steps were closed off for safety. This is a new slippage and should go on the map. We however using the 10-figure grid reference were to survey the one slightly to the south and the lack of steps wasn't going to stop us, none of the others had steps anyway.  There were 50 more Butterwort here and the largest patch of Common Rock-rose of the day. With there being steps to the beach,  the adjacent path had been well used and it was interesting to note the number of ruderals (plant species that are first to colonize disturbed ground) that were here compared to the other areas.

With our final survey area in sight we moved on to number 6 of the day (or 40 on the map). This was a rather small area in the middle of the slope but there was evidence of recent slippage. A large population of 80+ Common Butterwort were seen together with the only population of Common Milkwort in these southern sections and a large area dominated by Zigzag Clover. This latter species was looking particularly showy with its reddish-purple flowers and easily identified from its Red Clover cousin by its 'zig-zag' stems, and thin, narrow leaves.

Trifolium medium (Zigzag Clover)

We were all rather pleased when we had finished as the climbing up and down the slopes is very tiring on the old legs. 110 species were recorded with the populations of Common Butterwort probably being the highlight. No Bird's-eye Primrose could be found again despite some very suitable spots and lots of diligent searching but there were many other interesting sightings instead. Hard work but enjoyed by all.

Of course I'm still progressing with the square, now up to 870 though still relying heavily on the moth trap and moths in general. Amongst these since last time were two new for the garden (and the square) Hypsopygia glaucinalis, a  distinctive micro moth and Clay Triple-Lines.

Clay Triple-Lines.

Hypsopygia glaucinalis

 
 In addition to these a few more plants were found, most of them beginning with 'E', two Willowherbs, 1, Hoary Willowherb,  in Wanister Bog together with Common Spike-rush and a few Marsh Horsetail well away from the big patch of Water Horsetail, and the other Willowherb, American, an increasing species, found as a pavement weed. The latter I've had in the garden before but not this year. The other plant is another increasing alien, Cut or Fern leaved Bramble (Rubus laciniatus)

Rubus laciniatus (Cut-leaved Bramble)

Throw in a fungus fly and thats my lot for July.

The new ones
854. Autographa bractea (Gold Spangle)
855. Mythimna impura (Smoky Wainscot)
856. Macaria liturata (Tawny-barred Angle)
857. Cyclophora linearia (Clay Triple-lines)
858. Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug)
859. Mesoligia furuncula (Cloaked Minor)
860. Rubus laciniatus(Cut-leaved Bramble)
861. Sciara hemerobioides (a fungus Fly)
862. Mesapamea didyma (Lesser Common Rustic)
863. Hypsopygia glaucinalis (a micro-moth)
864. Argyresthia goedartella (a -micro-moth)
865. Spilonota ocellana (Bud Moth) 
866. Litoligia literosa (Rosy Minor)
867. Hoplodrina blanda (Rustic)
868. Noctua interjecta (Least Yellow Underwing)
869. Cosmia trapezina (Dun-bar)
870. Cydia fagiglandana (a micro-moth)
871. Epilobium ciliatum (American Willowherb)
872. Epilobium parviflorum (Hoary Willowherb)
873. Equisetum palustre (Marsh Horsetail)
874. Eleocharis palustris (Common Spike-rush)

A new flower, bird and moth and the butterfly set complete

I'm carrying on with the list for the Waldridge square but I haven't been in it much soI  have been relying mainly on the contents of the moth trap.

Away from the square I had a nice walk along the Durham coast to Hawthorn Quarry last week. A look around the grassland just north of the quarry revealed 132 species including 6 sp.of Orchid the best being Coeloglossum viride (Frog Orchid) and 11 species of butterfly. Some nice patches of Genista tinctoria (Dyer's Greenweed) and Betonica officinalis (Betony) plus a few Silaum silaus (Pepper-saxifrage) and Hypericum montanum (Pale St John's-wort) made a very enjoyable afternoon.
 

The moth trap has continued to produce a few new moths for the year on nearly every occasion I have put it out. As well as some pretty species such as Swallow-tailed Moth and some of my garden specialities like Slender Brindle I caught my first ever Pinion-streaked Snout.

Swallow-taild Moth

Coxcomb Prominent

Slender Brindle

Pinion-streaked Snout

A few dusk walks gets me some strange looks with my net and headlight but it too has given me a few including a Badger on Waldridge Lane at last.

On Monday whilst checking the trap I saw a Ruff flying over. This was a first for the patch but fortunately I always have my binoculars at hand when doing the trap so got very good views as it flew SW over the garden. Spurred on by this and what others are doing in the 1000 species in a 1km square challenge,  on Monday I had a good look around the fell and got some additional species including a patch of Marsh Ragwort - another new species for the fell. An Elder has started to grow in a hollow bit of the still living Black Poplar. It's the first time I've seen an epiphyte Elder though a Hawthorn is doing the same in an old Crack Willow nearby.

Senecio aquaticus (Marsh Ragwort)    

Sambucus nigra as an epiphyte on Poplar nigra

Lots of young birds about and I saw fledged Common Whitethroat, Swallow, Dunnock, Linnet and Goldfinch as I wandered. It looks like its been a decent breeding season despite the weather. There were 21 young Swallows on the wires with adult birds still going to some nests and at least 1 pair was sitting on it's presumed second clutch.

Common Whitethroat

Linnet

Young Swallows

It took a long time to get the two Hairstreak butterflies I was missing. Managed some semi-descent Purple Hairstreak views at the usual oaks after a fair wait. The White-letter Hairstreaks have never been that co-opertative at the only site on the fell (well within the square). Partly, because unlike I think all the others I've seen in Durham, they don't come down to feed on thistles. That's because there aren't any, so when they do come down to feed, usually early afternoon, they feed on a clump of Tansy. Like a few other species of plants Tansy is having a late year so is not in flower yet so I had to make do with a few glimpses at the top of the Elms nearby.

Phyllonorycter harrisella

Leucozona glaucia

Sericomyia silentis

So the list has moved on to 853, with the new species listed below. The full list on the right of the page I've got way behind in updating, but I will at some point

The new ones since last time

814. Crocallis elinguaria (Scalloped Oak)
815. Camptogramma bilineata (Yellow Shell)
816. Catoptria falsella (a micro moth)
817. Hoplodrina octogenaria (Uncertain)
818. Ourapteryx sambucaria (Swallow-tailed Moth)
819. Eudonia lacustrata (a micro moth)
820. Noctua janthe (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing)   
821. Autographa jota (Plain Golden Y)   
822. Xestia baja (Dotted Clay)   
823. Ptilodon capucina (Coxcomb Prominent)   
824. Mompha propinquella  (a micromoth)   
825. Apamea scolopacina (Slender Brindle)   
826. Lycophotia porphyrea (True Lover's Knot)   
827. Ochropacha duplaris (Common Lutestring)   
828. Schrankia costaestrigalis (Pinion-streaked Snout)   
829. Philomachus pugnax (Ruff)
830. Favonius quercus (Purple Hairstreak)
831. Satyrium w-album (White-letter Hairstreak)
832. Blastobasis adustella (a moth)   
833. Senecio aquaticus (Marsh Ragwort)   
834. Stachys palustris (Marsh Woundwort)   
835. Lotus pedunculatus (Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil)   
836. Viola arvensis (Field Pansy)   
837. Betonica officinalis (Betony)   
838. Lestes sponsa (Emerald Damselfly)
839. Aeshna cyanea (Southern Hawker)
840. Udea lutealis (a moth)   
841. Eurithia anthophila (Tachinid Fly)   
842. Omocestus viridulus (Common Green Grasshopper)   
843. Carduus crispus (Welted Thistle)   
844. Meles meles (Badger)
845. Leucozona glaucia (a hoverfly)   
846. Sphaerophoria scripta (a hoverfly)   
847. Rosa caesia subsp. vosagiaca  (a Dog-rose) 
848. Mompha raschkiella (a moth)   
849. Aceria pseudoplatani (a gall-mite)   
850. Phyllonorycter harrisella  (a moth)
851. Lagria hirta  (a Beetle)
852. Rhagonycha fulva (a Soldier Beetle)
853. Leiobunum rotundum (a Harvestman)

Good old moths

Still cursing the weather. All the good days and I'm out of the square doing things, and of course whenever I'm back at home it raining. As I always knew (and planned) I am heavily reliant on vascular plants and moths to get to the 1000 species. In fact with a bit of concentrated effort I think I could get 700 species on these two groups alone. I have the advantage of doing the 1000 species in a 1km square before, and in this square, so its easier for me than others, but I would be stuffed if I had to do it elsewhere.

Despite the rain, the moths in particular have been quite decent, pushing me over the 800 mark. A Painted Lady, got me to 20 butterflies with just two hairstreaks to go. Has anyone seen any adults  north of south Durham yet? Should really have had both by now.

As I said the moths have been good to me including a few rarities such as Scarce Silver-Lines, Suspected, Large Twin-spot Carpet and Dichrorampha montanana, all in the same trap on Friday.

Bena bicolorana (Scarce Silver-lines)

Parastichtis suspecta (Suspected)

The list

777. Megachile centuncularis  (Patchwork Leaf-cutter Bee)
778. Sedum acre (Biting Stonecrop)
779. Lozotaenia forsterana
780. Idaea seriata (Small Dusty Wave)
781. Oligia versicolor (Rufous Minor)
782. Linaria vulgaris (Common Toaflax)
783. Gillmeria pallidactyla (Yarrow Plume)
784. Geometra papilionaria (Large Emerald)
785. Acrobasis advenella (a micro moth)
786. Mesapamea secalis (Common Rustic)
787. Apamea lithoxylaea (Light Arches)
788. Nola cucullatella (Short-cloaked Moth)
789. Yponomeuta evonymella (Bird-cherry Ermine)
790. Dichrorampha montanana  (a micro moth)
791. Anania hortulata (Small Magpie)
792. Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata (Large Twin-spot Carpet)
793. Cnephasia stephensiana (Grey Tortrix)
794. Cnephasia asseclana (Flax Tortrix)
795. Eilema depressa (Buff Footman)
796. Bena bicolorana (Scarce Silver-lines)
797. Pleuroptya ruralis (Mother of Pearl)
798. Parastichtis suspecta (Suspected)
799. Diachrysia chrysitis (Burnished Brass)
800. Hylaea fasciaria (Barred Red)
801. Gandaritis pyraliata (Barred Straw)
802. Swammerdamia pyrella (a micro moth)
803. Borkhausenia fuscescens (a micro moth)
804. Bryotropha terrella (a micro moth)
805. Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady)
806. Campanula rotundifolia Harebell)
807. Centaurium erythraea  (Common Centuary)
808. Convolvulus arvensis  (Field Bindweed)
809. Hypericum tetrapterum (Square-stalked St. John's-wort)
810. Scorzoneroides autumnalis (Autumn Hawkbit)
811. Odontites vernus (Red Bartsia)
812. Sonchus arvensis (Perennial Sow-thistle)
813. Rhinanthus minor (Yellow-rattle)

Odontites vernus (Red Bartsia)

 

Rain Stopped Play

Been busy with botany surveys so the square has been neglected somewhat. It's only been the moth trap  thats  kept the list of species for the Monad going. Now, as soon as I have a bit of time, its 5 days of heavy rain thats put paid to the moth trapping too.

A big list since the last post but take away the moths and a few plants I got and there's not a great deal else. The Honey Bee I forgot to add some while ago , it wasn't my first but I have not seen many at all this year. Compare that to the Tree Bumble Bees and its a rarity.

I've now hit 300 species of plant for the year but I think I was a bit optimistic with planning for 375. I know a good handul more I can get but with the late start and two of the woods now sold into private ownership since 2014, and no longer any access,  I think I will need a lot more invertebrates than planned to make up the difference. I'm still fairly confident on the moths, provided this $£%%^& rain stops.

Green Arches

The Mayfly Ephemera danica

The list

727. Eilema lurideola (Common Footman)
728. Bupalus piniaria (Bordered White)
729. Rivula sericealis (Straw Dot)
730. Aethes rubigana (a moth)
731. Hadena plebeja (Shears)
732. Cydia splendana (a moth)
733. Caradrina morpheus (Mottled Rustic)
734. Euthrix potatoria (Drinker)
735. Evergestis forficalis (Garden Pebble)
736. Lyonetia clerkella (Apple Leaf Miner)
737. Ectoedemia decentella (a moth)
738. Campaea margaritaria (Light Emerald)
739. Hadena bicruris (Lychnis)
740. Stenoptilia millieridactyla (Saxifrage Plume)
741. Prays fraxinella (Ash Bud Moth)
742. Ephemera danica (Green Drake)
743. Cloeon dipterum (Pond Olive)
744. Microchrysa polita (Black-horned Gem)
745. Athripsodes albifrons (a Caddisfly)
746. Scoparia ancipitella (a moth) 
747. Scoparia pyralella (a moth)
748. Scoparia ambigualis (a moth)
749. Pterophorus pentadactyla (White Plume)
750. Bryophila domestica (Marbled Beauty)
751. Pandemis cerasana (Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix)
752. Anaplectoides prasina (Green Arches)
753. Venusia cambrica (Welsh Wave)
754. Idaea biselata (Small Fan-footed Wave)
755. Diarsia brunnea (Purple Clay)
756. Cheilosia scutellata (a hoverfly)
757. Melanchra persicariae (Dot Moth)
758. Eucosma campoliliana (a moth)
759. Hydriomena furcata (July Highflyer )
760. Mamestra brassicae (Cabbage Moth)
761. Thymelicus sylvestris (Small Skipper)
762. Zygaena filipendulae (Six-spot Burnet)
763. Anchusa arvensis (Bugloss)
764. Torilis japonica (Upright Hedge-parsley)
765. Carex pilulifera (Pill Sedge)
766. Carex paniculata (Greater Tussock-sedge)
767. Calystegia sepium (Hedge Bindweed)
768. Crepis capillaris (Smooth Hawk's-beard)
769. Juncus acutiflorus (Sharp-flowered Rush)
770. Juncus conglomeratus (Compact Rush)
771. Scirpus sylvaticus (Wood Club-rush)
772. Agrostis canina (Velvet Bent)
773. Glyceria fluitans (Floating Sweet-grass)
774. Ribes sanguineum (Flowering Currant)
775. Apis mellifera (Honey Bee)
776. Eristalis arbustorum (a hoverfly)

Scorchio!!

It''s been a really hot last few days and I love it.

I've had the moth trap out a few times with species counts all between 55-65

The first night was the best night  but all the sessions have produced a few new moths for the year and a Lacewing at last.

702.  Notocelia uddmanniana (Bramble-shoot Moth)   
703.  Hypena proboscidalis (Snout) 
704.  Epirrhoe alternata (Common Carpet)    
705.  Herminia tarsipennalis (Fan-foot)  
706.  Habrosyne pyritoides (Buff Arches)    
707.  Myelois circumvoluta (Thistle Ermine)   
708.  Acronicta psi (Grey Dagger)   
709.  Eupithecia innotata f. fraxinata (Ash Pug)  
710.  Alcis repandata (Mottled Beauty)   
711.  Achroia grisella (Lesser Wax Moth)     
712.  Apamea unanimis (Small Clouded Brindle)    
713.  Korscheltellus fusconebulosa (Map-winged Swift) 
714.  Eudonia mercurella (a moth)   
715.  Mythimna ferrago (Clay)   
716.  Eupoecilia angustana (a moth)    
717.  Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (a moth) 
718.  Ecliptopera silaceata (Small Phoenix)    
719.  Metzneria metzneriella (a moth)    
720.  Elachista argentella (a moth)    
721.  Chrysoperla carnea (Green Lacewing)


The Lesser Wax Moth was new for the garden - a good record.  It's been good for Hawk-moths these past nights too with up to three species per night.

Achroia grisella (Lesser Wax Moth)     - New for the garden

Hawk Moth Squadron - Elephant, Lime and Small Elephant

Yesterday I had a walk along the riverside at Chester-le-Street Riverside Park. With it being so hot it was very busy and difficult to find a quiet spot.  There were a lot of Calopteryx splendens (Banded Demoiselle) however. I counted at least 25 from the A1 bridge, along the river Wear for 1km towards the Lumley bridge. There a little patch of Rorippa sylvestris (Creeping Yellow-cress), a unassuming little crucifer,  that is almost exactly 1 km from the A1 bridge as the naturalist walks and it's rare to see them beyond this.



 

Banded Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle from a different angle

Today was another scorcher and was definately a butterfly day with a count on my hour's walk of 1 Dingy Skipper, 3 Large Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlet, 7 Large White, 2 Small White, 12 Speckled Wood, 1 Wall and 3 Common Blue. 

722.  Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral) 
723. Maniola jurtina (Meadow Brown)

Not a great deal else so I popped back home.  Lazing around on the bench a bright blue thing fluttered by, landed briefly in a rose bush, then fluttered against the fence before flying off. A Banded Demoiselle, a first not only for the garden but for the patch as well. I know I saw some good numbers yesterday but I promise I did not bring any home.

724. Calopteryx splendens (Banded Demoiselle)    

That got me out of my seat and spent a good while looking for and watching insects around the plants. There's a Tree Bumblebee nest in a bird nestbox that hadn't been used for years (except as an occassional roost for a few Wrens). However I found a second nest which accounts for the big numbers of them in teh garden this year.  The oven hob has an overhead extractor and their is a gap on the outside wall where it's attacghed to. They are enering there and presumably using the cavity wall to nest in.

There were a few Grypocoris stysi, a smart little bug around which were new and I potted up a couple of a swarm of Yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus sp.). They were put in the fridge and I've just checked them and keyed them out under the  microscope.  They are  Hylaeus communis , the Common Yellow Face Bee.

725.  Grypocoris stysi  
726. Hylaeus communis  (Common Yellow Face Bee).

Gone past the 700 mark - a nice surprise

I was asked a few weeks ago to lead a Durham Wildlife Trust Botany Group outing on Waldridge Fell today,  so yesterday,  I did a little reconnaissance to see what I could show them.

I did seem to spend most of my time looking amongst the nettles and hogweed in South Burn wood than finding flowers to show them. It resulted in getting another half dozen invertebrates on the list including my first Ringlet butterfly of the year.

665. Agapanthia villosoviridescens (Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn)

666. Cantharis cryptica  (a Soldier Beetle)

667. Ditropis pteridis (a planthopper)

668. Nephrotoma flavipalpis (Yellow Cranefly)

669. Phyllobius pomaceus (Nettle Weevil)

670. Tephritis bardanae (Burdock Fruit-fly)

671. Aphantopus hyperantus (Ringlet)

 

Ditropis pteridis

Agapanthia villosoviridescens (Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn)

Nephrotoma flavipalpis

Tephritis bardanae

I did find a few things, most of which obviously I have already found but picked up a few more, including the Wild Plum tree that I keep walking past but forgetting to count

672. Symphytum x uplandicum  (Russian Comfrey)

673. Carex leporina (Oval Sedge)

674. Galium palustre  (Marsh Bedstraw)

675. Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle)

676. Prunus domestica  (Wild Plum)

677. Danthonia decumbens (Heath-grass)

678. Ranunculus flammula (Lesser Spearwort)

679. Rumex acetosella (Sheep's Sorrel)

680. Schedonorus arundinaceus (Tall Fescue)

681. Silene x hampeana (Hybrid Campion)

682. Succisa pratensis (Devil's-bit Scabious)

Set the moth trap out and got two new for the year, a male Ghost Moth and one of the plume-moths with the English name of Triangle Plume. Also found a mass of aphids on one of the hellebores in the garden, (though numbers seriously depleted thanks to a finger and thumb). They looked a bit different and a bit of research showed them to be, surprise, surprise, a species with the English name Hellebore Aphid! Also noted I had missed counting my only Caddis-fly I've been able to identify this year but things may be better on that front as I may be able to get some help on some of the ones I've photographed so far and others I catch if I keep them.

683. Platyptilia gonodactyla  (Triangle Plume)

684. Hepialus humuli (Ghost Moth)

685. Macrosiphon hellebori (Hellebore Aphid)

686. Phryganea grandis (Caddisfly)

I decided to half a wander before meeting up with the group and picked up a few more species. by the wood they is a very tall, furry mint thats been here as long as I have. I got its identity confirmed way back then, its Mentha x villosa (Apple-mint). Also picked up a couple of other common species I had either overlooked or forgotten I had seen. On the Hogweed were lots of the sawfly Tenthrido notha with their yellow underparts and on the willows, my first Common Blue Damselflies of the year and the distinctive Longhorn moth Nemophora degeerella.

687. Mentha x villosa (Apple-mint)

688. Solanum dulcamara (Bittersweet)

689. Polygonum aviculare (Knotgrass)

690. Tenthrido notha (a Sawfly)

691. Enallagma cyathigerum (Common Blue Damselfly)

692. Nemophora degeerella (a micro-moth)

I met up with everyone a little later and had a good three hours, mainly checking one of the acid areas and also Wanister bog and the pool. Everybody seemed to have an enjoyable time.  We also got a few additional species as well as some of the more interesting species I've already had and managed to show them such as Mat Grass, Water Horsetail, Marsh & Willow-herbs, Bog Stitchwort, Common, Oval and Star Sedges, Cotton-grass, Marsh Bedstraw, Water Forget-me-not and Bog-bean. The new ones were

693. Ballota nigra (Black Horehound)

694. Molinia caerulea  (Purple Moor-grass)

695. Epilobium tetragonum (Square-stalked Willow-herb)

696. Lathyrus pratensis (Meadow-Vetchling)

697. Viola palustris  (Marsh Violet)

698. Stellaria graminea (Lesser Stitchwort)

And we found a few other bits and pieces as well

699. Aphelia paleana (Timothy Tortrix)

700. Timandra comae (Blood-Vein)

701. Cynips quercusfolii (Cherry Gall-Wasp

It was only was I added them all up tonight I realised I had gone past the 700 mark - a nice surprise