NORTH NORFOLK: A walk on the saltmarsh

17th September 2022 

I had originally intended to attend a fungus study group foray on this date, but instead decided to head to Warham saltmarshes where the Norfolk Flora Group were holding a meeting combined with a workshop on Sea Lavenders. Unfortunately the area we were surveying held only Common Sea Lavender and a hybrid with Lax-flowered, so I still haven't seen Matted or Rock Sea Lavenders - maybe next year!

 The plant highlight for me was Corn Parsley, which I'd not seen before, whilst we also had the benefit of Alex Prendergast's Elm knowledge to point out a couple of different Elm species. 

 

I checked some Sea Wormwood plants unsuccessfully in the hope of finding Scarce Pug larvae, but did find a consolation in with some Wormwood Case-bearer larvae (Coleophora albicans). Other invertebrate highlights included Coleophora atriplicis on Annual Sea-blite, the lacebug Parapiesma quadratum and Sea Lavender Aphid Staticobium staticis. I failed to find any Sea Lavender Weevils, but perhaps focussed to much on the flowerheads, as something I've since read online suggests that they are best found by turning over the basal leaves.

WHITLINGHAM: September count and lots of Oak associates

11th September 2022

Highlight of the WeBS count was one Wigeon.

I spent a little while looking at an Oak, and found quite a few galls, leaf mines and caterpillars, most of which are pictured below. I also saw some Variegated Oak Aphids, including an alate (winged adult) which was a first for me, having only seen non-winged ones here previously.

Moth leaf mine - Tisheria ekebladella

Heliozella sericella mine and cut-out

Oak Marble Gall

Variegated Oak Aphid

Trioza remota galls

Stigmella sp. leaf mine

Oak Knopper gall

Artichoke Gall

Neurotus anthracinus gall

Smooth Spangle Gall

Buff-tip caterpillar

Caloptilia sp.

Coleophora 'flutipennella'

I also found a hawk moth caterpillar - Poplar Hawk or Eyed Hawk (it doesn't look quite typical for either unfortunately) being attacked by a wasp

NORWICH: An early September miscellany

Early September 2022

A miscellany of interesting sightings from around the city. Firstly whilst taking my daughter to see one of the T-Rex sculptures near Pull's Ferry I decided to check the nearby Walnut trees for galls. This turned out to be a good decision, as I found galls caused by Aceria brachytarsus, a new species for Norfolk. Later in the day I took a walk along the Avenues to see some large Ganoderma resinaceum fruiting bodies growing from the remains of some cut-down Red Oaks.

Last year I had noticed some mildew on Horse Chestnut leaves near Waterloo Park, but they had been too high to reach. This year I again saw the mildew, but this time some leaves were within jumping range! A check under the microscope confirmed that it was Erysiphe flexuosa.

Whilst checking Alders at Wensum Park I found some Green-barred Alder aphids, Pterocallis maculata. I also took advantage of the low water levels to record some new plants for the park, including Red Goosefoot and Trifid Bur-marigold.

NORTH WEST NORFOLK: Clover-root Weevil

Early September 2022

A visit to Hunstanton to visit the Sea Life Centre, the only wildlife highlight of which was a number of small weevils on the walls and perspex screens. Fortunately they were distinctive ones, Clover-root Weevil (Sitona hispidulus).

MID YARE VALLEY: North Burlingham woods

Late August 2022

When trying to think of a nice buggy-friendly walk I remembered the woodland at North Burlingham that I had intended to visit for a while. We had a pleasant stroll around, seeing some impressive bracket fungi including Beefsteak Fungus and Giant Polypore. I spotted a Roe Deer in a field adjacent to the wood, and also spotted some Gooseberry plants, a species I don't see very often. There was also some nice mature Oaks, including one being fed on by Caliroa cinxia larvae.

NORTH NORFOLK: Galls on Turkey Oak

Late August 2022

A family trip to Pensthorpe. Whilst in the play area I noticed a Turkey Oak, and checking it found two galls that I don't appear to have recorded before (although I have definitely seen the latter in the past), Neuroterus saliens and Aceria cerrea.

NORWICH: Some insects on Tamarisk

Late August 2022

I got a message from Vanna to say that whilst cutting the Tamarisk in their front garden she had noticed that there were quite a few tiny green bugs on it. These are a Tamarsik specialist, Tuponia brevirostris/hippophaes - two very similar bugs that require inspection of the rostrum length to separate. I popped round and managed to find both adult and nymphs, and as a bonus also saw some Tamarisk Leafhoppers, Opsius stactogalus.

CENTRAL NORFOLK: Spiders, hoverflies and moths at Buxton Heath

Late August 2022

An hour spent at Buxton Heath is seldom wasted. I spent a bit of time watching ants running up Oak trunks in the hope of seeing a rare aphid, Stompaphis quercus, but had no luck (I did find a couple of bugs though). As the hot weather had parched the heath I then headed to the mire, where the course of the stream was very obvious!

 

I managed to find some interesting bits and pieces. I was probably most happy with a Didea fasciata hoverfly, a fairly common species but one I'd not seen before, along with a Helophanus spider. There are two similar species, but I have a soft spot for the Salticidae (jumping spiders) and had wanted to see one of these tiny yellow palped species for a while. I found it completely by chance whilst checking heather for Heather Ladybird, a long-term target that I once again failed to find.

 

Other finds included a Wasp Spider (now common in Norfolk but I'd not seen one at Buxton before),  Buff Birch Case-bearer (Coleophora milvipennis), Wood Grass-veneer (Crambus silvella) and a gall on Fen Bedstraw caused by Dasineura galiicola.