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.

THORPE MARSH: Bearded Tit at last

22nd December 2017

Having been birding a fair bit in the last few days my intention was to stay in on Friday, but a call from Justin telling me that a Bearded Tit was currently showing at Thorpe Marshes changed that. I headed to Thorpe and made for the reedbed, where predictably there was no sign of it, but Justin was still on site so he came round to show me where he had seen it. After a short while a stunning male Bearded Tit appeared in the reeds. It showed well, although its constant movement meant that my attempt at photos were largely of different bits of it obscurred by reeds. I did get one photo that I was happy with (the 2nd one here) - it isn't particularly sharp or detailed, but captures the moment well I feel. This was my second new patch bird of the year (Hawfinch was the first) and my 147th Whitlingham and Thorpe bird overall. Whilst standing near the reedbed a Grey Wagtail flew over and the flock of Siskin moved along the Alders, but I returned home rather than do a full lap.

NORWICH: Waterloo Park - a new fly for Norfolk

21st December 2017

This autumn there have been sightings of two Ring-necked Parakeets in the north-western part of Norwich, but they have been rather mobile and despite several attempts I've not caught up with them yet. On Thursday morning they had been seen on Angel Road, close to where I live, so after returning from Thorpe I had lunch and then popped out for a quick look round. There was no sign of them in the roadside trees, lamp-posts and TV arials, so I decided to give Waterloo Park a quick look. There was no sign in there either, but on a whim I decided to have a look at the Globe Thistles to look for leaf mines. I found some, so took some pictures and returned home. It didn't take long to identify them as Phytomyza bipunctata, but to my surprise it turned out that this was the first Norfolk record of this species. An unexpected but pleasing end to my walk.

THORPE MARSH: More standing near reeds and c-r Black-headed Gulls

21st December 2017

On Thursday morning I popped in to Thorpe Marsh to have another look for the Bearded Tit. After a while standing and scanning the reedbed I there was no sign of any, so I decided to do a quick circuit before returning for a final look. It didn't appear to have been too disturbed, which was borne out when I saw the overwintering Stonechat perched up on a dead umbellifer. Further round I had a look on the broad, but the mist meant that visibility was poor.

Along the riverbank I noticed some Mycena growing on a fallen Ash, which when dried gave an Iodine smell. Along with spore size this confirmed them as Mycena arcangeliana (Angel's Bonnets). Some nice purple Chondrostereum purpurpeum (Silverleaf fungus) was also growing nearby.

After my lap I did return to the reeds for a bit. I then decided to head to Thorpe Green to check for colour-ringed gulls. I managed to pick out two, both regular overwinterers, white J0AJ and green J6U2.

YARE VALLEY: Rockland at dusk

20th December 2017

On Wednesday, Ricky & I travelled to Rockland to meet up with Jim. Before heading to the New Inn for a pint and a catchup we decided to have a look on the broad and marshes, before waiting to see if any harriers would come in to roost. There was an early highlight when we saw a white Muscovy Duck at the staithe, one of a local pair. Obviously this was tinged with worry about where the other one was, but we found it herding Moorhens in a field nearby.

In the scrub by the path a Chiffchaff called and we could hear a Redpoll flying around close by but unseen. A dead Chinese Water Deer was lying on the marsh but there was no sign of any interesting scavengers. Further along a Woodcock flushed from a belt of wet woodland and flew out onto the marshes. Where the dyke joins the broad we stopped to scan the open water. I said how rubbish I found  Rockland Broad for ducks, which undoubtedly helped Jim pick out a smart drake Goldeneye.

Walking down towards the river the light began to fade, and mist obscurred our view beyond the trees. A Tawny Owl had called distantly, and a Marsh Harrier flew past, but otherwise we were entertained by two Chinese Water Deer chasing each other and the constant pinging of Bearded Tits from the reeds behind the dyke. We headed back to the village for an enjoyable drink and snacks, having had a very pleasant evening out.

THORPE MARSH: Dusk watch

19th December 2017

After seeing the Bittern at Whitlingham I hurried round to Thorpe to see if my luck would continue. I spent a bit of time listening for the Bearded Tit(s) (one had been seen by the RSPB Strumpshaw volunteers on 13th, and two had been heard in November by Mark C). With no sight or sound I continued on to the marsh where I waited until just past sunset to see if anything emerged or roosted. A handful of Meadow Pipits flew in and a Snipe flew out, but that was about it. I left before dark though, so perhaps more would have happened then. Several Water Rails squealed (I managed to see one of them) and several Cetti's Warblers were also giving subdued bursts of sub-song.

WHITLINGHAM: Bittern in the sunshine

19th December 2017

I began a brief visit to Whitlingham with a check around the productive woodchipped area, where I noticed a group of Lepista sordida - which according to my records I had only seen twice before, back in 1995.

Walking along the south shore of the Great Broad a Kingfisher flew along the ditch, a few feet away. This would usually be the highlight of my visit, but a bit further along I was scanning the reeds on the far side of the broad when I noticed some movement. It was a Bittern, regular here in winter but elusive and always a pleasure to see here. Even better, whilst watching the Bittern a Kingfisher flew through my binocular view and landed close by. A quick scan of the sunny reeds now revealed a Grey Heron, a Kingfisher and a Bittern. Without doubt one of my favourite patch visits of the year.

Photographed through my binoculars so not great quality, but it is facing in different directions in the photos so you can see something has moved!

BEER: Long-eared Owl and Red Robin

Over the past week I've managed to sample a couple of new birdy beers. If you are in Norwich then it's always worth calling in at the Murderers on Timberhill, but now even more so as you can sample a pint of Long Eared Owl ale from Cotleigh Brewery (a staple source of beers named after birds).

If you frequent further along the Yare Valley then the New Inn at Rockland St Mary currently have Red Robin, a seasonal beer from the Green Jack Brewery, which I'd recommend.

If you see any other bird-beers whilst out and about in Norfolk this festive period then please leave details in the comments!

MID NORFOLK: Foxley Wood fungus foray

16th December 2017

The last fungus study group foray of the year was held at Foxley Wood, and there was a respectable turnout given the icy weather and various illnesses going around. We were also joined by Rob Yaxley, who has been getting more interested in fungi this autumn, and also used to visit Foxley regularly.

Steve found some Crepidouts epibyrus growing on leaves near the car park, before we headed off towards the older part of the woods. Our first stop was a log pile, where some Leafy Brain fungus was of note. We continued on into an area of mature Hazel, where we spread out to find as much as possible. Twig Parachute, Spring Hazelcup and some frozen Witches' Butter were the highlights here.

A bit further along the path were some Crimped Gill brackets, a species only added to the Norfolk list in the past five years but now relatively common, a late Fly Agaric, some Green Elf Cups and the contorted variant of Pipe Club. There were two new species for me, Dingy Twiglet and the sclerotia of Typhula phacorrhiza.

We had a room at Bawdeswell village hall booked for lunch, a planning meeting and a presentation of notable fungal finds this year, so after a couple of hours we turned back and headed for Bawdeswell. The village hall was very modern and the staff friendly - certainly worth considering if you are looking for a venue out this way. We thrashed out a prospective foray programme for next year and went over some of the interesting things that members of the group had found.

Many thanks go to Steve Pinnington for organising the forays this year, and of course to Tony Leech and everyone else who has attended and helped identify all of the species we find.

WHITLINGHAM: December wildfowl count

9th December 2017

I had been looking forward to the final WeBS count of the year. Duck numbers had been building, and a cold spell forecast for the days before increased the chances of encountering some of the scarcer wildfowl. As the weekend drew closer the weather forecast was updated to include heavy snow on Sunday. Whilst rain is a mere inconvenience on a count, snow is a big problem, because it can completely obscure the visibility. I also found myself coming down with a heavy cold, so I ended up dragging myself out of bed early on Saturday to get the count done. As it happened we didn't get much snow on Sunday after all, but there we are.

Arriving at the car park I got an unusual sense of barren-ness, but soon twigged that it was because the hedges had been cut low and so you could see out and across the field opposite. Scanning across the Little Broad I picked out a Kingfisher, always a good start to the count. There were few Tufted Ducks or Gadwall here, but there were five Shovelers at the east end.

Moving across to the Great Broad the highlight of my visit came when a Stoat scampered across the path near the ruins of Trowse Newton Hall. This was a rare sight here (not surprising given how well used the site is) - my first since 2012. Despite the cold weather there was nothing out of the ordinary, not even a Goldeneye. Justin counted Thorpe Broad simultaneously as many of the birds along the western shore wouldn't have been visible from Whitlingham, so these species counts are our combined counts:

• Gadwall 256 (2016: 252)
• Teal 151  (2016: 42)
• Tufted Duck 326 (2016: 387)
• Pochard 48 (2016: 31)
• Coot 151 (2016: 371)

To summarise, Gadwall numbers very similar to last year and Aythya numbers reasonably close too. The increase in Teal is likely to be as a direct result of the spell of cold weather, bringing extra birds in and also making birds that would have otherwise been out of sight on small pools into the open water. The key difference then is the Coot, with less than half of last years count. Going back to 2015 the December count was 264, so clearly there is a good deal of variance, but by either count this year looks like a poor one for Coot.