The Whitlingham Bird Report for 2023 is now available to download from the Bird Reports page or from here

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.

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing James. Glad to see the Brown Hairstreak in there. Treehopper looks cool. Sure you'll add plenty more next year.

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    1. Thanks Jim. Yes Brown Hairstreak definitely on the highlights list. Am looking forward to 2018.

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  2. Super collection James. I hope you see an equally brilliant selection next year. Thank you for your all your help this year. Mike

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    1. Thanks Mike, I hope you have a great 2018 too.

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