As we reach the end of another year, it is time to have a look at all the wildlife and botanical recording that I did during the year and find out which new species I added to my lists. Most of my observations were done in and around Uckfield (Sussex) and Leatherhead (Surrey).
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| Goosander - 26 February 2019, Leatherhead |
In 2019, I recorded 342 different species compared to 315 the year before. Like last year, about 80 of the species were new to my lists.
February's heat wave tempted me to walk along the River Mole to work. Amongst the usual Swans, Ducks and Egrets, I spotted my first "new" bird in many years - a pair of Goosanders.
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| Common Tamarisk-moss - 17 March 2019, Hempstead Woods |
Enthused by a
moss hunt conducted by Brad Scott, I started looking out for mosses while exploring local woodlands. I added 10 new ones to my list including the pretty Common Tamarisk (Thuidium tamariscinum) moss shown.
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| Common Pottia - 1 Sept 2019 - Buxted |
One of the "best" finds, by which I mean that I found a species that had not been previously recorded in the "tetrad" square on the map, was a Common Pottia (Tortula truncata). I had simply scooped up a little sample while I was out on a run.
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| Cochlicopa lubrica - 14 April, Garden |
My one new mollusc came from our own garden. It was just a few mm long but had an attractive shape.
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| Tall Ramping Fumitory - 21 April 2019 |
This year, I did some plant hunts in Victoria Pleasure Ground for the
Sussex Botanical Recording Society Survey of Village Greens and Recreation Grounds. I was pleasantly surprised by the
variety of plants I found and the way that Uckfield Town Council balances the needs of sport and recreation with respect for nature. I found a total of 111 species of which 16 were new to my lists. Two were new records for the area. The first of these was Tall Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria bastardii).
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| Small Flowered Geranium - 8 July 2019, Victoria Pleasure Ground |
The other new record for the area was Small Flowered Cranesbill (Geranium pusillum) that I found during my July visit.
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| Nail Galls - 26 May 2019, Victoria Pleasure Ground |
When doing my plant surveys, I look out for other species. I found my first "Acarine", which is a mite that causes the Nail Galls shown.
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| Malachite Beetle - 26 May 2019, Victoria Pleasure Ground |
Another Victoria Pleasure Ground find was a Malachite Beetle, which was one of five new beetles for my lists.
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| Red-backed Furrow Bee - 2 May 2019, Garden |
I found a total of 9 new "hymenopteran" - bees and wasps. One of the prettiest was a Red-backed Furrow Bee with bold yellow stripes and a ginger back.
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| Gasteruption jaculator - 11 Aug 2019, Hempstead Meadows Nature Reserve. |
I found one of the strangest while taking a shortcut through the Hempstead Meadows Nature Reserve. Two Gasteruption jaculators were feeding on the Hogweed flowers near "stickleback bridge". Fortunately the long projection at the back isn't a sting, it is an ovipositor for laying eggs in the burrows of solitary bees and wasps.
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| Woundwort Sheildbugs - 19 May 2019, Garden |
I found one new type of bug this year, the incredibly shiny Woundwort Sheidbug (Eysarcoris venustissimus), which was on the Hedge Woundwort in our garden.
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| Golden-ringed dragonfly - 25 Aug 2019 |
On what, sadly, turned out to be one of my last visits to the Horse Rescue in Hempstead Lane, I saw one of 3 new types of damsel/dragonflies to my list. It may also be a first for the area as the map in my "Dragonflies of Sussex" book does not show any dots for Uckfield although there is an old record over to the East, somewhere near Shortbridge.
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| Toadflax brocade caterpillar - 31 Aug 2019, Garden |
When gardening, I am careful not to harm any creatures or uproot the plants on which they depend. However on one hot August day I must have been careless when cutting back some Purple Toadflax because the first I saw of the Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula) caterpillars was when I saw one creeping up the inside of the green waste bin! According to the UK Moths website, "It is a relatively recent colonist, arriving around 1950 and quickly gaining a foothold, but appears to be now in decline again." I was mortified and spent quite some time rescuing them from the bin and rehoming them on our remaining Toadflax. This is one of the 6 new species of moth I added to my list.
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| Wasp Spider - 4 Aug 2019, Rugby Club |
I also added six new species of spiders to my lists. My favourite is the Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi) - just because it is so colourful.
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| Chrysotoxum festivum - 17 Aug 2019, Garden |
This year, I found three new types of fly, including the hoverfly shown.
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| Clouded Yellow - 21 Sept 2019, Garden |
The Clouded Yellow is the first new species of butterfly that I have recorded for some years - and it led me a merry dance round the garden before settling high in our Magnolia tree.
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| Common Bird's Nest Fungi - 24 Nov 2019, West Park Nature Reserve |
This has been one of the wettest autumns that I have known. The upside is fungi have been popping up everywhere as described in my post,
A Wonderful Autumn for Fungi. I have added 13 new species to my lists including the lovely little Common Bird's Nest fungi, which we found one of the regular Uckfield Local Nature Reserve Supporters Group nature walks. If you are interested, join the
Facebook Group.
