2017 - Some of my photographic highlights

As the year draws to a close I thought I'd take the opportunity to post photographs of some of my favourite species seen this year. There have been lots of highlights, so these are something of a mixed selection! Some of these I have found, some have been found by others whilst I've been out and the rest I have shamelessly twitched. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to my wildlife experiences throughout the year. All seen in Norfolk unless otherwise stated.

Golden species

Honeysuckle Sawfly (Zaraea lonicerae) an early-year highlight from my garden in Norwich

Ferdinandea cuprea (a hoverfly sp) - see at Swangey, Whitlingham and photographed here at Earlham Cemetery.

Broom Leaf Beetle (Gonioctena olivacea) found at Mousehold Heath

Rare plants

Field Wormwood (Artemisia campestris), at its main (only?) Breckland site, Brandon in Suffolk

Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem (Gagea lutea) at Wayland Wood

May Lily (Maianthemum bifolium) in North Norfolk

Spiked Speedwell (Veronica spicata) at Weeting Heath

Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoides) at Weeting Heath

Fungi

Inkstain Bolete (Cyanoboletus pulverulentus) at Earlham Cemetery

Lasiobolus macrotrichus growing on Red Deer Dung. A Norfolk first that I found at Barney Wood on a fungus study group foray.

Arched Earthstar (Geastrum fornicatum) - a slightly alien looking species seen at a Suffolk churchyard.

Common Morel (Morchella esculenta) at Holt C.P.

False Morel (Gyromitra esculenta) at Holt C.P.

Vinegar Cup (Helvella acetabulum) at Northrepps

Saw Sedge Rust (Puccinia cladii) - one of the Lost & Found Project fungi

Rutstroemia echinophila - a cup fungus found on sweet chestnut husks seen at How Hill

Powdery Piggyback (Asterophora lycoperdoides) parasitic on old Blackening Russula fruiting bodies. Seen at Fritton in Suffolk.

Mycena pterigena at Buckenham Carr

Parrot Waxcaps (Gliophorus psittacinus) from Felbrigg Hall - as featured on Springwatch!

Scarlet Caterpillar Club (Cordyceps militaris) - I've wanted to see this for ages! Found on an NNNS foray at Felbrigg Hall.

Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) egg - these are common but usually round, wheras this one had taken on an odd shape.

Poronia erici on a rabbit pellet, taken at Holme Dunes. I'd looked for these several times before, so thanks to Mark, Rob, Gary and Andy for their help in seeing this.

Daisy Earthstar (Geastrum floriforme), undisclosed site

Piggyback Rosegill (Volvariella surrecta) - like larger versions of the Powdery Piggyback, these grow on Clouded Funnel.

Lepidoptera

Black Hairstreak at Glapthorn Cow Pastures, Northants

Wood White at Salcey Forest, Northants

Brown Hairstreak at Chambers Farm Wood, Lincolnshire

Currant Clearwing, another long-wanted species seen in Norwich thanks to Jeremy and Vanna.

Clouded Buff moth at Weeting Heath

Horehound Plume moth catperpillar (Wheeleria spilodactylus). One of my finds of the year, before this it hadn't been seen in Norfolk since 1945!

Heteroptera

Spiked Shieldbug, new for me at Bawdeswell Heath

Breckland Leatherbug at Weeting Heath

Fallen's Leatherbug at Weeting Heath - I was proud of spotting this!

Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug - a long overdue species for me, seen here at Acle.

Juniper Shieldbug in Norwich - another new species of shieldbug for me.

Bees and wasps

Nomada sp - one of the red group with three possibles that can only be separated by examination, I was pleased just to see it!

 Wool Carder Bee at Earlham Cemetery

 Little Yellow-face (Hylaeus pictipes) - a rare solitary bee, this was the first Norfolk record in over 100 years, found by Jeremy and Vanna in Norwich.

 Fen Mason Wasp in the eastern broads

Hedychrum sp from a garden in Norwich. Quite possibly the most beautiful insect I've ever seen.

 Red-thighed Epeolus (Epeolus cruciger) seen at Weybourne Cliffs near a Colletes colony.

Coelioxys conoidea - a sharp-tailed Bee at Holkham pines

Other random invertebrates

 Centrotus cornutus - a treehopper at Tring, Hertfordshire

 Dusky Cockroach at Slacey Forest, Northants

 Anasimyia contracta at Cley Marsh

 Barred Snout (Nemotelus uliginosus) - a small soldierfly seen at Cley Marsh

 Chrystotoxum festivum at Trowse Woods

 Red-veined Darter at Winterton Dunes

Wasp Spider at Brandon, Suffolk.