"For now we are young let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see" Neutral Milk Hotel.

Wednesday 28 September 2016

2 new species for the patch and two recent mystery ichneumons.....identities to be confirmed

Tawny Pinion, Holme NWT, 24th September 2016


A Chrysid cuckoo-wasp, Chrysis mediata, Holme NOA, 24th September 2016


An Ichneumon - presumed to be Dusona falcator, Holme NWT, 24th September 2016


An Ichneumon - presumed to be Achaius oratorius, Holme NWT, 24th September 2016


Cluster Fly

A Cluster Fly Pollenia rudis, Holme Marsh, 24th September 2016


Tuesday 27 September 2016

Off Patch: northeast Norfolk

Willow Emerald Damselfly, Beeston Common, 26th September 2016




Ivy Colletes, Colletes hederae, Beeston Common, 26th September 2016


Grass of Parnassus, Beeston Common, 26th September 2016


Goldenrod, Beeston Common, 26th September 2016


Staphylinus erythropterus, Holt Lowes, 26th September 2016


Orange Ladybird,  Holt Lowes, 26th September 2016


Gorse spider mite, Tetranychus lintearius, Holt Lowes, 26th September 2016



Monday 19 September 2016

A Flea Beetle and some new species for the patch

Wax Moth, Hunstanton, 15h September 2016


 White-bodied Conch, Cochylis hybridella, Hunstanton, 13th September 2016


Ladybird, Nephus quadrimaculatusHolme Marsh, 19th September 2016


Juncus foliosus, Holme Marsh, 19th September 2016


The flea beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala, Hunstanton, 15th September 2016


Tuesday 13 September 2016

Compass Jellyfish

This Compass Jellyfish Chrysaora hysoscella was stranded on the sand below the cliffs at Hunstanton.  The Compass Jellyfish gets its name from the brown, V-shaped markings on the bell which resemble the points of a compass.  The long trailing tentacles have a strong venom and produce a painful sting.


I have recently purchased a new book which I have found very interesting to read as well as a useful ID book for the seashore.  It is The Essential Guide to Beachcombing and the Strandline by Steve Trewhella and Julie Hatcher.

Monday 12 September 2016

A Snail Killer and a Wood Wasp at Holme

The Wood Wasp Sirex noctilio, Holme NWT, 12th September 2016


The Snail Killing Fly Salticella fasciata, Holme NWT, 12th September 2016

This fore-dune specialist is extremely range-restricted, known from The Wash, a site in Suffolk, south Wales and in Cornwall. Note the divergence of the wing venation away from the left hand spot and then strong convergence before the wing tip - diagnostic of this species in the British Sciomyzid fauna.





Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker, Holme Marsh, 8th September 2016


Saturday 10 September 2016

Pony dung-dwellers

Common Dumble Dor, Geotrupes spiniger, Holme NWT, 22nd August 2016


Aphodius fimitarius, Holme NWT, 22nd August 2016


Onthophagus similis, Holme NWT, 22nd August 2016


Aphodius rufipes, Holme NWT, 22nd August 2016



Aphodius foetens, Holme NWT, 22nd August 2016



A snail-killer on Redwell

The Scyomyzid Sepedon sphegea, Redwell Marsh, 21st August 2016


Two new Conopids from Holme NWT

Conops quadrifasciatus, Holme NWT, 14th August 2016


Conops flavipes, Holme NWT, 14th August 2016


Tuesday 6 September 2016

Dark-fringed Flat-body

Dark-fringed Flat-body, Agonopteryx nervosa, Hunstanton, 6th September 2016 - a fine new addition to the post 2014 patch list by Joan and Keith Fox.





A patch miscellany from 5th September 2016

Eyed Ladybird Anatis ocellata, Holme NOA, 5th September 2016


Vapourer caterpillar, Holme NOA, 5th September 2016


The Sarcophagid Miltogramma punctuate, a parasite of the Sea Aster Coletes bee, Ragged Marsh Holme NWT, 5th September 2016





The Foredune Robberfly Philonicus albiceps, Old Hunstanton, 5th September 2016


Snout, Holme NOA, 5th September 2016


The hoverfly Melanostoma mellinum, Gypsy Triangle, 6th September 2016



Off Patch: an East Norfolk Carabid

The rare and local coastal carabid Nebria livida, northeast Norfolk, 5th September 2016


A find of the worst kind

Australian Swamp Stonecrop, Crassula helmsii, Redwell Marsh, 5th (upper) and 7th (lower) September 2016 - a highly invasive non-native, found already established in a small part of the marsh




Another new soldier for the patch

Twin-spot Centurion, Sargus bipunctatus, female, Redwell Marsh, 5th September 2016


Monday 5 September 2016

Sarcophagid

Probably Miltogramma punctata - a known associate to colonies of the Sea Aster Bee Colletes halophilus per Steve Falks Bees of Great Britain & Ireland.  Looks to be a very good Norfolk record going by the NBN so a specimen has been taken to rule out the other possibility M. germari (which would appear to be an equally as good find).



Thursday 1 September 2016

Off Patch: highlights from Grimston Warren and Bawsey Pits


The Groundbug Graptopeltus lynceus, Grimston warren, 29th August 2016


Black Darter, Grimston warren, 29th August 2016


The Carabid Omophron limbatum, Bawsey Pits, 29th August 2016


Golden-tabbed Robberfly Eurolmus rufibarbis, Basey Pits, 29th August 2016