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

Sunday 3 November 2019

Streak

The Streak, Holme NOA, 24th October 2019


A spectacular rustgill at Holme

Spectacular Rustgill, Gymnophilus junonius, Holme NWT, 20th October 2019


Two fungi from Holme

Ear Pick Fungus, Auriscalpium vulgare, Holme NWT, 3rd November 2019



Daisy Earthstar, Geastrum floriforme, Holme NWT, 3rd November 2019


Whooper Swans on the grazing marshes

Whooper Swans, Holme NWT, 27th October 2019



Sunday 20 October 2019

Four dune-specialist fungi

Dune Stinkhorn Phallus hadriani, Holme NWT, 19th October 2019


Scaly Stalkball, Tulostoma brumale, Holme NWT, 19th October 2019


Dune Waxacap, Hygrocybe coincides, Holme NWT, 19th October 2019


Rabbit Dung Button, Poronia ericii, Holme NWT, 19th October 2019


Friday 11 October 2019

Three more saltmarsh beasties

Sea Lavender Weevil Pseudaplemonus limonii, Holme NWT, 7th October 2019



Saltmarsh Pill-woodlouse Armadillidium album Holme NWT, 7th October 2019



Saltmarsh Tortoise Beetle Cassida vittata, Holme NWT, 7th October 2019


Monday 30 September 2019

Five saltmarsh beasties

Wormwood Case-bearer, Coleophora albicans, Holme Lavender Marsh, 30th September 2019



The Delphacid plant hopper Eurybregna nigrolineata, Holme Lavender Marsh (off Sea Wormwood), Holme 30th September 2019


Dicheirotrichus obsoletus, Holme Lavender Marsh, 30th September 2019


The Beetbug Parapiesma quadratum, Holme Lavender Marsh, 30th September 2019


Marram Pseudoscorpion, Dactylochelifer latreillei, Holme Lavender Marsh, 30th September 2019



Thursday 19 September 2019

A Tachinid fly at Holme

I came across this fly Nowickia ferox in the pines at Holme Dunes today. I believe its larvae develop inside the Dark Arches moth.



Monday 9 September 2019

Green Nightshade

Green Nightshade, Holme NWT, 9th September 2019


Chocolate Tip

Chocolate-tip Caterpillar on Grey Poplar, Holme NWT, 9th September 2019


Carline Neb

Carline Neb, Metzneria asticella, in flower head of Carline Thistle, Holme NWT, 9th September 2019



Parent Bugs

Parent Bug, late instar nymphs, Holme NWT, 9th September 2019


Twin-spot Centurion

Twin-spot Centurion, Sargus bipunctatus, female, Holme NWT, 9th September 2019


Three Bugs from Holme

The Leafhopper Viridicerus ustulatus, off Grey Poplar, Holme NWT, 9th September 2019


The Stiltbug Gampsocoris punctipes Holme NWT, off Restharrow, 9th September 2019


The Mirid Bug Dicyphus annulatus, Holme NWT, off Restharrow, 9th Septemebre 2019


Friday 23 August 2019

Yellow Dodder on the 'Moon'

When I went to weed the 'Moon' Bed on the Upper Green in Hunstanton this afternoon I found Yellow Dodder Cuscuta campestris growing in the white lobelia in the 'Moon's Mouth'.
Yellow Dodder is an alien and a native of North America. In Britain it parasitizes a variety of cultivated plants including tomato and carrot as well as species of Medicago and Trifolium.  It was originally introduced into Europe with agricultural seed in about 1900. It has orange/yellow stems and clusters of small white/yellow flowers.




(I only had my mobile with me so no close-ups of the flowers.)

Sunday 18 August 2019

Two pondweeds at Holme Dunes

I recently had a closer look at two of the pondweeds growing at Holme Dunes.

Potamogeton pectinatus Fennel Pondweed is found in the brackish ditch north of the West Field fence.  It is the only Potamogeton to be found in brackish ditches near the sea and can grow rapidly to choke the ditches.


When you pull a leaf off the stem the sheath and ligule come away with the leaf (resembling grasses).



Zannichellia palustris Horned Pondweed has recently been found growing in the Crater Pool ( It was previously recorded by Petch, Swann and Newton in 1982).  It can be found in still brackish water. Its fruits are a distinctive banana shape, appearing after the tiny flowers in the leaf-axils.


Two hoverflies at Ringstead Downs

There were lots of insects feeding on the flowers at the downs on our West Norfolk Group walk on Wednesday 15th August. Two individuals of the hornet-mimic Volucella zonaria were spotted feeding on knapweed and a lone Volucella pellucens, also on knapweed.







Monday 5 August 2019

Three Hoverflies on Holme Marsh

Volucella zonaria, female, Holme Marsh, 3rd August 2019


 Eristalis intricarius, male, Holme Marsh, 3rd August 2019


 Helophilus hybridus, male, Holme Marsh, 3rd August 2019


Sunday 4 August 2019

An amazing find by Joan Fox - the fifth clearwing for the patch

Six-belted Clearwing, Hunstanton, 4th August 2019




Off Patch: invertebrates at Dersingham Bog

Black Darter, male, Dersingham Bog, 4th August 2019


Sundew Plume, Dersingham Bog, 4th August 2019


Banded General, Stratiomys potamida, Dersingham Bog, 4th August 2019


Wasp Spider, Dersingham Bog, 4th August 2019