Having a go

Lets have a go then, hoping to get further this time around. Think i gave up half way through last time? Home square again, SO1500 Home Square

My list so far...a couple of old photos chucked in to break things up a little.

1..Arion owenii (Slug)

2..Arion rufus (Slug)

3..Oniscus asellus (Woodlouse)

4..House Sparrow

5..Melogona scutellaris (Millipede)

6..Kalaphorura burmeisteri (Springtail)

7..Drymus sylvaticus (Bug)

8..Oxychilus cellarius (Snail)

9..Ceratosphys amoena subsp confusa - Telfer's Millipede

10..Galium aparine – Cleavers

11..Calluna vulgaris – Heather

12..Pteridium aquilinum - Bracken

13..Arion subfuscus (Slug)

14..Lehmannia marginata (Slug)

15..Rumex obtusifolius – Broad-leaved Dock

16..Murchieona muldali (Earthworm)

17..Acer campestre – Field Maple

18..Sorbus aucuparia – Rowan

19..Metzgeria furcata – Forked Veilwort

20..Frullania dilatata – Dilated Scalewort

21..Primula vulgaris – Primrose

22..Ranunculus repens – Creeping Buttercup

23..Fraxinus excelsior – Ash

24..Asplenium scolopendrium - Hart's-tongue Fern

25..Chrysosplenium oppositifolium - Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage

26..Fagus sylvatica – Beech

27..Dipper

28..Drypoteris diatata - Broad-buckler Fern

29..Wren

30..Fallopia japonica - Japanese Knotweed

31..Digitalis purpurea – Foxglove

31..Geranium robertianum – Herb Robert

32..Cormorant

33..Cristulariella depraedans (Sycamore Leaf Spot)

34..Alnus glutinosa – Alder

35..Dunnock

36..Betula pubescens – Downy Birch

37..Piptoporus betulinus – Birch Polypore

38..Corylus avellena – Hazel

39.. Blechnum spicant – Hard Fern

40..Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (Occupied Gall)

41..Chordeuma proximum (Millipede)

42..Deroceras invadens

43..Lamium galeobdolon – Yellow Archangel

44.. Oenanthe crocata - Hemlock Water-dropwort

45..Nasturtium officinale – Watercress

46..Heracleum sphondylium – Hogweed

47..Stereum hirsutum - Hairy Curtain Crust (Fungi)

48..Carex pendula - Pendulous sedge

49..Panellus serotinus – Olive Oysterling (Fungi)

50..Panellus stipticus – Bitter Oysterling

51..Bullfinch

52..Stereum subtomentosum – Yellowing Curtain Crust

53..Trametes versicolor -Turkey Tail

54..Carex paniculata - Greater Tussock-sedge

56..Goosander

57..Polypody interjectum -- Intermediate Polypore (Fern)

58..Polytrichum commune - Common Haircap (Moss)

59..Conocephalum conicum - Great Scented Liverwort

60..Rhizomnium punctatum - Dotted Thyme-moss

61..Fontinalis antipyretica - Greater Water Moss

62..Thamnobryum alopecurum - Fox-tail Feather-moss

63..Cyrtomium fortunei – Japanese Holly Fern

64..Clausilia bidentata – Two-toothed Door Snail

65..Xylaria longipes – Dead Moll's Fingers (Fungi)

66..Long-tailed Tit

67..Asplenium trichomanes - Maidenhair Spleenwort

68..Haplophthalmus mengei – Common Ridgeback Woodlouse

69..Asplenium adiantum-nigrum – Black Spleenwort

70..Green Woodpecker

71..Vicia sepium – Bush Vetch

72..Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet

73..Daucus carota – Wild Carrot

74..Prenulla vulgaris – Selfheal

75..Centuria nigra – Common Knapweed

76..Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort Plantain

77..Ulex gallii – Western Gorse

78..Lasius niger – Black Ant

79..Bellis perennis – Daisy

80..Populus tremella – Aspen

81..Xylaria hypoxylon - Candlesnuff Fungus

82..Daedaleopsis confragosa - Blushing Bracket

83..Diatrype stigma – Common Tarcrust

84..Hypoxylon fragiforme – Beech Woodwart (Fungi)

85..Taxus baccata – Yew

86..Ectopsocus petersi (Barklouse)

87..Micaria pulicaria (Spider)

88..Cladonia fimbriata (Lichen)

89..Lichenomphalia umbellifera – Heath Navel

90..Cladonia furcata (Lichen)

91..Byssomerulius corium - Netted Crust Fungi

92..Pinus sylvestris - Scots pine

93..Pinus contorta – Lodgepole Pine

94..Chaffinch

95..Goldfinch

96..Orchesella cincta (Springtail)

97..Paroligolophus agrestis (Harvestman)

98..Lepinotus patruelis (Booklouse)

99..Jackdaw

100..Starling

101..Collard Dove

102..Euphorbia peplus – Petty Spurge

103..Monobella grassei (Springtail)

104..Pogonognathellus longicornis (Springtail)

105..Great Tit

106..Arion fasciatus (Slug)

107. Arion circumscriptus (Slug)

108..Ilex aquifolium – Holly

109..Arion distinctus (Slug)

110..Deroceras reticulatum (Slug)

111..Dilta chateri (Bristletail)

112..Cornu aspersum - Garden Snail

113..Trochulus striolatus – Strawberry Snail

114..Polydesmus angustus (Millipede)

115..Rhopographus filicinus – Bracken Map (Fungi)

116..Vaccinium myrtillus – Whimberry

117..Tandonia budapestensis (Slug)

118..Quercus petraea – Sessile Oak

119..Ulex europaeus – European Gorse

120..Acer pseudoplatinus – Sycamore

121..Leycesteria formosa - Himalayan honeysuckle

122..Galium saxatile – Heath Bedstraw

123..Parmelia sulcata – (Lichen)

124..Microlejeunea ulicina – Fairy Beads (Liverwort)

125..Hypoxylon multiforme – Birch Woodwart (Fungi)

126..Macrosternodesmus palicola (Millipede)

127..Arion flagellus (Slug)

NT1582, Dalgety Bay - Valentine's day special

Dropped these two into a closed petri dish under the microscope to have a better look at them and then turned the light off to avoid drying them out while I checked something in the book. When I turned around ... cue Marvin Gaye. It all got a bit mucusy after that

Last records end of play 13/02:

274	Ocypus olens	Devil's Coach-horse
275	Lepidochitona cinerea	A Chiton
276	Sisymbrium officinale	Hedge Mustard
277	Catenella caespitosa	Chain Weed
278	Trifolium repens	White Clover
279	Arion hortensis	Garden Slug (putative)

Skye - Spawnographic Content

Beautiful, sunny day today so I took myself down to the beach for low-tide shenanigans. I headed down to the water's edge, as far down the shore as I could manage without getting wet. Lifting stones seemed the best bet of finding seashore stuff, but then I spotted an actual rockpool (rare as rocking horse shit over here!) Only about 7ft by 4ft and all of 5" deep, but better than nothing. I carefully began lifting stones and before long I found this truly remarkable-looking creature

It's a leucistic tadpole  Montagu's Sea Snail !!!

I recognised what this was but simply couldn't remember the name. All I kept thinking was juvenile Lumpsucker, bizarrely. A quick look in the book reminded me, yes of course - Montagu's Sea Snail Liparis montagui, a lifer for me and my 63rd species of British fish. Brilliant. It seemed quite docile and soon assumed this characteristic resting position. But the fishy fun didn't stop there, oh no. Moments later, in the same small pool I found a Butterfish Pholis gunnellus under a stone. Cool stuff.

I left the rockpool and headed to the water's edge, lifting rocks all the way. Beneath one large rock I found yet another Butterfish, this one being the largest and palest one I've ever encountered. Large because she was heavily gravid, note the mass of eggs at her side, I'm sure many more were about to follow

Fit to burst

 And still the fish came, my total count was one Montagu's Sea Snail, four Butterfish and two small Shore Rocklings Gaidropsarus mediterraneus, here's one of the latter. The three barbels on the head seperates it from all other British species of rockling apart from Three-bearded. The uniformly unmarked browny flanks confirm it as Shore Rockling, Three-bearded Rockling has much paler marbled/spotted flanks. 

One of two that were under the same rock - my 64th species of British fish.

The underside of rocks were fast becoming my fave habitat to explore! Despite much turning I failed to find any anemones. Loads of encrusting bryozoans though, none of which I could name because I wasn't about to start lugging large rocks up the hill to my microscope. Electra pilosa was found on wrack blades (I don't mind taking bits of seaweed back with me!) and I spotted this distinctively patterned snail on some kelp

Banded Chink Shell Lacuna vincta - really surprised I haven't recorded this species before

Space Invader

Dog Whelk Nucella lapillus eggs being actively laid

Next up I found a really weird-looking blobby thing attached to the underside of a rock. No, I hadn't dropped a rock on my toe - this was even weirder and blobbier than that. Essentially I had no clear idea of what I was looking at, that's how weird it was!

Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

 It fell off the rock to reveal its underside, which gave me an inkling as to what it actually was

It's a bloomin' mollusc!

Sherlock Holmes himself couldn't have figured it out any quicker. The foot was the big giveaway, hiding under the outer mantle. This was some sort of a sea slug, or so I figured. I'd never seen anything like it before and back indoors I was still none the wiser after a fair whack of internet and literature trawling. Bugger, I had to do something I hate doing - I asked for help on the PSL Facebook Group. Suggestions so far are Lamellaria perspicua (though I think it's about twice as large as that species is meant to be), Jorunna tomentosa (that's Dave Fenwick's suggestion, so I ought to listen really) and Doris pseudoargus (my own suggestion and the one I'm happiest with - despite my lack of experience with any of the species mentioned!) As if that wasn't bad enough, I turned a nearby rock and found this!

Fer Gawd's Sake, now there's gonna be even more of them - whatever they are!

I love seashore stuff, it's just so damned alien!!! I saw a paddleworm egg sac bobbing away in weed, it really is that time of year again isn't it. It was full moon a couple of nights ago, I suspect this may have triggered this spawning/mating behaviour. Or maybe the increasing daylight hours? Pretty sure the sea hasn't warmed up noticeably of late!

If I ever get a definitive answer on the identification of the blobby things I'll let you know. My money is on Doris, though what do I know?

Total for NG3963 up to 12th Feb is 318 species. 

NT1582, Dalgety Bay - back on track

Getting back into the swing after a week in warmer climes to thaw out.

A few additions and an easterly blow providing some commoner seabirds and no exotica (Gannet, Fulmar, Larger Auks).

This Verrucaria mucosa was on some smooth rocks with a prominent white prothallus.

Sadly this nice limpet was an empty shell (like a good amount of molluscs on site), but hopefully a live one can be located at some point.

The latest additions:
12/02/2017

265	Morus bassanus	Gannet
266	Fulmarus glacialis	Fulmar
267	Alca torda	Razorbill
268	Anas penelope	Wigeon
269	Mytilus edulis	Common Mussel
270	Verrucaria mucosa	A lichen

Inverting

 I realised that my list was showing a distinct lack of invertebrates, so headed down to patch with a friend to pond dip, and sift some leaf litter. 18 species were added, including my 50th life myriapod: Cylindroiulus nitidus! Other highlights included Saucer Bug, Neobisium carcinoides (our commonest pseudoscorp) and the Water Spider: Argyroneta aquatica! My species total is now 260.

Argyroneta aquatica

Neobisium carcinoides

The Group expands to four.

Hi,

Mostly as a means to make myself explore British wildlife in more detail (even including Bryophytes, yuck) I have decided to join this madcap 1000 for 1KSQ challenge.
My square is ST52 17 which is where I work so I will visit it all too frequently. It is a fairly normal lowland farmland square near Yeovil without - alas - any major waterbodies.
With my current level of knowledge I expect 1000 will actually be quite a tall order but we shall.

A quick summation of my records so far this year gives me a commanding 'Wooden Spoon' position with an exceptionally meagre 86 species recorded.

These are made up of the following;

Fungi                                4
Bryophyte                         1   Yes, managed to key out my 1st Bryophyte ever
Vascular Plants                 28
Molluscs                           4
Annelids                           2
Myriapods                        1
Butterflies                        2
Hymenoptera                    2
Birds                                39
Mammals                          3  

Skye - And the 300th falls

Spent this morning wandering the woods instead of working (my boss is cool with flexi-hours... honest...) and found a couple of lifers in the process. First was the rather swanky looking moss Dicranium rufescens hiding in a clod of liverwort that I peeled off an earthen bank (Calypogeia fissa once again), followed by this Shrek-coloured stunner which turned out to be Peltigera leucophlebia. Excellent, that's one you won't see down in the south! 

Network of veins on the underside differentiate this from the similar P.britannica

Turning rocks and boulders is a great passion of mine. Today I added the flatworm Microplana terrestris, the Worm Slug Boettgerilla pallens, my first Geophilus insculptus of the year (which is the second record of this centipede from Skye following the one I found last year!) and a female millipede which, after a check of its naughty bits, keyed through to Ophyiulus pilosus. 

Female Ophyiulus pilosus - the intact version

Flashing her naughty parts for the camera

New plants included Tormentil, Square-stemmed St John's-wort and this lovely wee Pignut

Useful if I get peckish later in the summer

My revised totals are as follows (categories as per the PSL Website) :

Algae 8

Lichens 43 (inc 9 lifers)

Fungi 24 (inc 3 lifers)

Bryophytes 36 (inc 12 lifers)

Vascular Plants 74

Cnidarians 2

Molluscs 23 (inc 4 lifers)

Bryozoans 2

Annelids 5 (inc 4 lifers)

Platyhelminths 3 (inc 1 lifer)

Arachnids 2 (need to pull me finger out!)

Myriapods 9 (inc 1 lifer)

Crustaceans 8

Springtails 1

Orthopteroids 1

Coleoptera 6 (inc 2 lifers)

Diptera 1 (inc 1 lifer)

Moths 5

Fish 2

Birds 47

Mammals 4

Hoping for a bit of action regards flies, bees, bugs, beetles, spiders etc before too much longer. Just waiting, waiting, waiting for Spring to arrive!

All of which adds up to 306 species in NG3963 this year. 

Skye - Creeping along quite nicely

Managed to get out and about in the square a couple of times this week. Not too many additions to my overall tally but good hits from the beach included Black Guillemot, the fungus Stigmidium ascophylli on Egg Wrack bladders, the kelp fly Coelopa pilipes and an Otter at point blank range. 

The dark spots are the fruit bodies of Stigmidium ascophylii. Pretty damn stunning huh....

Ok, so I need to buy a proper camera!

In the woods plants are starting to burst into life with budburst being particularly advanced in both Elder and Fuchsia. Lots of Primroses pushing through too, I found the flymine Chromatomyia primulae on several old leaves, all vacated and hence (by my own rules) not admissable on the tally. Similarly the empty Thornback Ray egg case I found on the beach isn't on my tally. 

Empty - therefore not countable by my own Rules. Same with leafmines/galls/dead stuff.

Woodpigeon finally hurled itself onto the list, I'd been living on Skye two months to the day before I saw one (in fact it was two together. Bit like buses here. You wait 2 months....)

Very much looking forward to discovering which plants are here (I'm not too hot on 1cm tall seedlings) and massively looking forward to seeing lots more invert action. Apart from midges, but I guess that goes with the territory over here. 

Tally as of 5th February is 290 species and I've plenty in pots plus this afternoon free. Shouldn't be too much longer before I reach the 300th species...he says in a hopeful manner!

Totals so far

Not the most exciting blog post, but here is my species breakdown so far:

Amphibians: 1
Arachnids: 3
Birds: 69
Bryophytes: 43
Crustaceans: 6
Diptera: 3
Fungi: 3
Hymenoptera: 1
Lepidoptera: 1
Lichens: 8
Mammals: 2
Molluscs: 16
Myriapods: 6
Platyhelminthes: 1
Vascular Plants: 79

Overall total: 242

I've gotta get some more inverts seen!

NT1582, Dalgety Bay - springtail Gastranurida denisi

A springtail described by Bagnall in 1939, not seen since 1940 in Britain, and never seen by anyone else except Bagnall (per Hopkin, FSC "A Key to the Collembola")

Until yesterday morning anyway ... now it's been seen in Fife. By me. Get in!

A small group were found grazing on a whelk shell below the tideline and potted, presumed to be the more common maritime one whose name I couldn't remember. Only problem is when keying it out it didn't have quite enough eyes.

Try as I might I couldn't get it to be anything else, so I sent off some pics this morning and received confirmation back pretty quickly. Happy days!

Value in my 1k square count: 1

a la Damien Hirst

The keying

The knockout punch photo

the ocelli/PAO diagram in Hopkin