Here's to 2013... and beyond!

Well, we are near the end of the year, so it's time to look back and reflect. And look forwards and plan stuff.

So, the reflecty bit first. What has finding 1000 species been all about? For me, it has been the most amazing journey of natural history discovery, and also about making new connections, finding out in a deeper way about my neighbourhood, and an almost biblical act of self-improvement. I first opted in around about mid Feb I think, through the quasi-mysterious and intriguing tweetings of Andy and a few others. I knew this was for me, and my first decisive act was to put together some decent reference books and equipment. I now have a shelf full.

Getting to know these books has been a great learning experience. Next was figuring out how on earth I was going to reach one thousand. I reckoned it would be difficult. My game plans are outlined to an extent in previous posts. But basically I knew that I would have to enlarge my skill base considerably. I couldn't just sit back and rely on my previous experience. Besides, I wanted to tackle new things. It was going to be like exploring.

From then on it was a kind of whirlwind of seasons changing, species coming in, and species fading out.

I don't want to run through the challenge blow by blow, so here's some of the highlights in pictures:

Oak Beauty

Brook Lamprey

The moth trap

Species No 1000 - Lagria hirta

Dark Green Fritillary

 Merveille-du-jour, most wanted moth of the year on Twitter!

And many many others. I discovered the joys of identifying new groups, like hoverflies, spiders, molluscs and ground beetles, and also the frustrations of many groups I have yet to master - hymenoptera, fungi, aphids, springtails and others. These are the future. I found a closer connection with the weather and the seasons. I discovered places that now have a piece of my heart - the green lane, the stream, the ponds, the hedges and the trees.

I thought it interesting to break down my eventual species list of 1170 species into species groups. I think it probably just indicates how large-species-centric I am, but here it is just for the reader's titillation:

Amphibian 3

Aphid 5

Bird 86

Bristletail 1

Bryophyte 16

Assorted bug 35

Centipede 2

Charophyte 1

Coleoptera 42

Crustacean 1

Diptera 53

Fish 3

Fungi 30

Hymenoptera 28

Lacewing 3

Lepidoptera 451

Lichen 10

Mammal 13

Millipede 4

Mollusc 22

Odonata 12

Orthoptera 6

Leech 1

Spider 27

Trichoptera 5

Vascular plant 305

Woodlouse 3

Worm 1

So, there it is. Lots more to discover. 

Now, looking forwards, I have clearly become a committed pan-species naturalist. I intend to widen my search area and start putting in some time at some of Norfolk's best places for wildlife. I won't forget my home turf, and will keep building the 1k square list. I will pass my records on to Norfolk Biological Information Service. And I will try to encourage other folk to get on board. Inspired and energised!

Rob