Brithdir Bank

Gave this area a look over today. Most of the large trees have been cleared by Network Rail, log piles every where...out of photo. Picked up several beetles (which made my day as i was beginning to think Beetles had all but vanished from my square), some Pseudo's and a few other things. Taking me to 233 with still a few things to check through...

198..Crocosmia x crocosmifolia (Monbretia)

199..Geum urbanum – Herb Bennet

200..Pholcus phalangioides (Spider)

201..Eiseniella tetraedra (Earthworm)

202..Stigmatogaster subterranea (Centipede)

203..Urtica dioica - Nettle

204..Microplana scharffi (Flatworm)

205..Tomocerus minor (Springtail)

206..Sabacon viscayanum subsp ramblaianum (Harvestman)

207..Trochila ilicina (Fungi)

Trochila ilicina - Holly Speckle

208..Bembidion lampros (Beetle)

209..Hylebainosoma nontronensis (Millipede)

Hylebainosoma nontronensis

210..Hyacinthoides non-scripta – Bluebell

211..Cepaea nemoralis (Snail)

212..Schizophyllum commune (Fungi)

Schizophyllum commune

213..Neobulgaria pura (Fungi)

214..Dicyrtoma fusca (Springtail)

215..Anacaena globulus (Beetle)

216..Cartodere nodifer (Beetle)

217..Lachnum virgineum (Fungi)

218..Tychus niger (Beetle)

219..Megalothorax minimus (Springtail)

220..Bembidion tetracolum (Beetle)

221..Neobisium carcinoides (Pseudoscorpion)

222..Roncus lubricus (Pseudoscorpion)

Roncus lubricus (Pseudoscorpion)

223..Hypoxylon fuscum (Fungi)

224..Neanura muscorum (Springtail)

225..Sitta europaea – Nuthatch

226..Buteo buteo – Buzzard

227..Strigamia crassipes (Centipede)

Strigamia crassipes

228..Ocys harpaloides (Beetle)

229..Medon brunneus (Beetle)

230..Metzgeria furcata (Liverwort)

231..Lophocolea bidentata (Liverwort)

Lophocolea bidentata and Rhizomnium punctatum

232..Rhizomnium punctatum (Moss)

233..Platynus assimilis (Beetle)

Platynus assimilis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bargoed Edgeland

Bargoed Edgeland

Gave myself an extra long dinner break and decided to visit a rough bit of ground known for its Ghost slug population. The site didn't disappoint, as it produced a Ghosty almost immediately. It didn't look to be in the best of shapes and it wouldn't extend.

Ghost Slug

The scarce Millipede Propolydesmus testaceus was seen in its usual high numbers, alongside another scarce Millipede Brachychaeteuma melanops.

Brachychaeteuma melanops

Further in was some hibernating Herald moths, counted 41 in all, a Cryptopa parisi and several Liverworts that covered much of the ground and walls...mostly Lunularia cruciata, Preissia quadrata and Pellia endiviifolia.

Herald Moths

Site of Hibernating Herald Moths

 

Cryptops parisi

 

Preissia quadrata

 

Lunularia cruciata

Cutting thought the fence to get onto the river produced a Goldcrest hunting through the Buddleja. Some fresh Otter spraint seen along the sewer pipe running along the river...so there is one about.

Rhymney River

Otter Spraint

Scanning the large high walls for signs of life produced another Ghost slug. First time I've ever come across one out in the open like this, especially climbing? Not sure if this has been documented before?

Ghost Slug

 

Ghost Slug climbing wall

An Honey Bee sat out on a stone on upper banks of the river. While a Water Cricket and Amphibious Leech were found.

 

Water Cricket

 

Amphibious Leech

Honey Bee

173..Herring gull

174..Glomeris marginata (Millipede)

175..Boettgerilla pallens (Slug)

176..Propolydesmus testaceus (Millipede)

177..Selenochlamys ysbryda (Slug)

178..Brachychaeteuma melanops (Millipede)

179..Cryptops parisi (Centipede)

180..Hypericum androsaemum – Tutsan

181..Caltha palustris – Marsh Marigold

182..Goldcrest

183..Allolobophora chlorotica (Earthworm)

184..Salmo trutta – Brown Trout

185..Mimulus guttatus – Monkey Flower

186..Scrophularia auriculata – Water Figwort

187..Apis mellifera – Honey Bee

188..Velia caprai – Water Cricket

189..Scoliopteryx libatrix – The Herald (Moth)

190..Lunularia cruciata (Lichen)

191..Rubus tricolour - Creeping Chinese Bramble

192..Rubus armeniacus - Himalayan blackberry

193..Lemna minor – Common Duckweed

194..Preissia quadrata (Liverwort)

195..Pellia endiviifolia – (Liverwort)

196..Plagiomnium undulatum – Moss

197..Trocheta subviridis (Leech)

Skye - A Promise of Spring

Just a quick whizz out and about today. Spent a short while on the beach and found a couple of extra bits - Chainweed Catenella caespitosa fringing the base of a large rock near the high water mark, growing beneath Serrated Wrack just like it says in the book. Also managed some better pics of the marine lichen Verrucaria mucosa, these showing a nice olive colouration

A far better background than yesterday's image!

And although this next image will make your eyes swim, this was the best I could manage of the tiny Lichina confinis, one I've not seen before. Very similar to Lichina pygmaea but found below the mid-water mark as opposed to the upper levels. Still seems weird to me that we have marine lichens, I always assumed they'd die if immersed in saltwater!

Too glaring with flash, too dull without...grey lichen on a grey rock taken on a grey day!

This also was new to me, but definitely dead and hence not countable (despite what this article says!) This is Snail Fur Hydractinia echinata, an encrusting hydrozoan that settles on whelk shells inhabited by hermit crabs. Can't wait to find both living animals!

Dead colony of Snail Fur Hyrdactinia echinata on washed-up whelk shell

Back in the woods I had an explore at the back of a car park and found a flourishing patch of variegated Yellow Archangel, presumably originating from garden throw-out material

Should look spectacular when in flower

The woodland floor is covered in thousands of Ground-elder seedlings, Common Nettles are also starting to push through. The stream has had a sudden flush of life, this was just bare mud last week!

Marsh Marigold clumps. I love these plants - so good for insects!

Last thing of note was Ramularia gei, a microfungus that infects the living leaves of Wood Avens. The purple border isn't always present but it shows well here. This has been visible all through the winter, I've just kept missing it! 

Ramularia gei - a new one for me

338 - Catenella caespitosa (marine alga)

339 - Lichina confinis (lichen) - Lifer

340 - Yellow Archangel (plant)

341 - Common Nettle (plant)

342 - Marsh Marigold (plant)

343 - Ground Elder (plant)

344 - Common Scurvygrass (plant)

345 - Ramularia gei (microfungus) - Lifer
346 - Pied Wagtail (bird) on 17th Feb.

Graig - Old Quarry

137..Polyporus leptocephalus (Fungi)

138..Veronica persica - Common Field Speedwell (in garden flower bed)

139..Parmotrema perlatum (Lichen)

140..Scolopostethus affinis (Bug). Under stone in garden near garden compost bin

141..Cladonia portentosa (Lichen)

142..Castanea sativa – Sweet Chestnut

143..Carrion Crow

144..Buddleja davidii – Butterfly Bush

145..Auricularia auricula-judae – Jews Ear

146..Vitrina pellucida (Snail)

147..Microplana terrestris (Flatworm) 

The common native flatworm Microplana terrestris and Vitrina pellucida from under same stone.

148..Trichoniscus pusillus (Woodlouse)

149..Leptoiulus belgicus (Millipede)

150..Sambucus nigra – Elder

151..Hyphodontia sambuci – Elder White Wash (Fungi)

152..Salix caprea – Goat Willow

153..Blaniulus guttulatus (Millipede)

154..Limacus maculatus (Slug)

Limacus muculatus from under a loose bit of branch. Was hoping for some beetles but no joy. Come to think of it, i've only seen one beetle in my square so far, that was a Longitarsus sp on Ragwort. Poxy thing bounced before i could catch it. 

155..Exidia recisa (Fungi)

156..Cylindroiulus punctatus (Millipede)

157..Oxychilus draparnaudi (Snail)

158..Oxychilus navarricus helveticus (Snail)

The larger empty shell is of O. draparnaudi (there where several alive specimens seen), the ones below are both O. helvaticus.

159..Octolasion cyaneum (Earthworm)

160..Achillea millefolium – Yarrow

161..Jacobaea vulgaris – Common Ragwort

162..Rumex acetosa – Common Sorrel

163..Malus sylvestris – Crab Apple

164..Aegopinella nitidula (Snail)

165..Dacrymyces stillatus (Fungi)

166..Physcia tenella (Lichen)

167..Geophilus alpinus (Centipede)...was G. insculptus

168..Nemastoma bimaculatum (Harvestman)

169..Geophilus truncorum (Centipede)

170..Sarcoscypha austriaca (Fungi)

171..Ramalina farinacea (Lichen)

172..Terana caerulea - Cobalt Crust (Fungi)

This Cobalt Crust seems to show nearly every year on same Willow....stunning to see

 Total so far...
Plants................60
Fungi.................25
Birds.................18
Molluscs............21
Bryophytes.........8
Myriapods.........11
Sprintails etc.......4
Crustaceans........5
Hemipteroids......4
Lichens...............7
Arachnids...........3
Annelid Worms...2

Platyhelminth.......1
Hymenoptera......1
Diptera...............1
Bristletails...........1

Skye - an AMAZING time at the beach

Hit the beach today. That was it. No work, no hills, no woods, no nuffin' - just the beach. I was there for hours n' hours and oh boy did I ever have a fun time! 

I concentrated on seaweeds (naughty word) marine alga and surprised myself by finding SEVEN new ones for my list. I walked away from a couple of red alga that looked too nondescript to even bother with (and I ignored the encrusting pink Lithophyllums!), but basically grilled all of the rest including a few green ones that required the microscope to clinch an ID. Ok, so I'll just whack up pics with captions - 

Prasiola stiptata in situ

Prasiola stiptata habbo shot - higher than the other species, often found where birds sit and crap.

Prasiola stipata - noticeable stipe which runs into blade, often several arise from a communal holdfast

Blidingia minima in situ where a freshwater burn runs across the rocks

Blidingia minima - cells not running in parallel rows (trust me...) hence not B.marginata

Cladophera rupestris - do-able on colour alone, but angle of branching and diagonal joins important too.

Choreocolax polysiphonia -  it's the pale 'galls' on the Polysiphonia lanosa

This was my find of the day - a truly tiny epiphytic colourless red alga that lives epiphytically on an epiphytic red alga, amazing! Took a lot of hard squinting to finally find some, then found several clumps on this one alga. Really pleased with this, a targeted search successfully completed. Talking of targeted epiphyte searches, this was another one - 

Elachista fusicola - growing here on Bladder Wrack

Elachista fusicola - microscope pic (and hence duff...)

Membranoptera alata - epiphytic on Cuvie stipes

Blimey, I never knew we had so many epiphytic marine algae, it's like a whole world full of bromeliads out there!!! 

Membranoptera alata microscope pic. Note the tetrasporangial sori in the blade at the bottom of the image

Hildenbrandia rubra - the red scuzz on the pebble. Massively prevalent across Uig Beach!

They were the lifers, add to that a host of other species that I've already seen and I was having a whale of a time. Didn't even fall over despite schlomping through acres of wrack! 

So that's seven new alga, but I also managed a new lichen. Massively common in this habitat, I have to thank Ali for the heads-up (I saw it in your blog!) Despite it being very common I managed the worst pics ever....apologies in advance! 

Verrucosia mucosa - note the pale outline to the thallus. Proper shite shot, huh?

I found a few other bits n bobs amongst the weed. As instructed by Steve Trewhella, I brought a tray with me this time and duly found another mollusc blob. Whack it in the tub and hey presto it grows horns and gills! 

I don't care what the experts say, I'm having this as Doris pseudoargus!

Also found this fella under a rock. Talk about slippery as an...oh....oh right, now I get it

Atlantic Eel Anguilla anguilla - note the Hildenbrandia rubra (red scuzz) on the pebble. Common as muck!

Managed to inadvertantly bring this chap home with me, hiding away amongst a clod of Cladophera. The shape of the telson (last segment of the body, the 'tail' if you like) is crucially important when identifying this genus of marine isopods.

Idotea granulatus - commonest of the genus but new for me (and 4th of the genus...)

Other things of interest included some amazing-looking sponges. My sense of smell is pretty poor (although I smell strongly if that means anything?) and I was unable to detect any bleach-like or bread-like smells emanating from this specimen. I suspect Breadcrumb Sponge but without microscopically checking the spicules it's a bit of a guessing game. Hence it's not on my list...yet

Probably Breadcrumb Sponge Halichondria panicea, but possibly not

And I found this dainty wee thing. No idea which species, a quick (2hr...) blast through various websites provided few clues. My good mate and fellow PSL weirdo Danny Cooper wisely counselled "anemones are a nightmare. Find a marine biologist or ignore them." If you are a marine biologist who knows the species, please do leave a comment!

I dunno, question is - do you?

Back at the top of the beach I found this lichen growing in mortar, possibly Collema cristatum (Ali, care to comment?) 

322 Hildenbrandia rubra (encrusting marine alga) - Lifer
323 Lichina pygmaea (lichen)
324 Verrucosa mucosa (lichen) - Lifer
325 Elachista fusicola (epiphytic marine alga) - Lifer
326 Choreocolax polysiphonia (epiphytic marine alga) - Lifer
327 Atlantic Eel (fish)
328 Doris pseudoargus (sea slug)
329 Prasiola stiptata (marine alga) - Lifer
330 Membranoptera alata (marine alga) - Lifer
331 Cladophera rupsetris (marine alga)
332 Blidingia minima (marine alga) - Lifer
333 Mastocarpus stellatus (marine alga)
334 Idotea granulosa (marine isopod) - Lifer
335 Ptilota gunneri (marine alga) - Lifer
336 Collema cristatum (lichen) - Lifer
337 Janua pagenstecheri (tubeworm)

So that's the first third of the 1000 species under the belt. Should go a bit slower for the next month or so before the inverts burst into action - then it'll all go mental for a few months! I'm well ahead of my 2013 tally for the 7th week of the year. In 2013 I reached 300 species on 26th February and 400 on 17th April. Hopefully I'll hit 400 before March is out this year. 

Those ten lifers bump my British PSL to 4553 species.

Lithobius

A nice little Lithobius crasspies from under some rubbish on my local heath. This is one of those with 2+2 teeth, no projections on tergites 9,11 and 13 and antennal articles of about 20. Easier to separate when you've got a male as L. curtipes can be very similar. L. curtipes males will have projection on tibia of last leg, lacking in L. crasspies.

Looks like i counted 31 twice...so new count is

129..Lithobius crassipes (Centipede)
130..Neosetophoma samararum (Fungi on Ash keys)
131..Diaporthe samaricola - (Fungi, also on Ash keys)
132..Lesser Black-backed Gull. How did i forget this one as it wakes me up calling nearly every morning.
133..Black Headed Gull
134..Oxychilus allarius (Snail)
135..Porcellio scaber - Common Rough Woodlouse
136..Philoscia muscorum – Common Striped Woodlouse.

Total so far...
Plants................51
Fungi.................18
Birds.................17
Molluscs...........16
Bryophytes.........8
Myriapods..........6
Sprintails etc.......4
Crustaceans........4
Hemipteroids......3
Lichens...............3
Arachnids...........2
Annelid Worms...1
Hymenoptera......1
Diptera...............1
Bristletails...........1

Skye - quick update

Just had a male Mottled Grey Colostygia multistrigaria flying around the security light outside. Not the Winter Moth I initially expected (and which I've STILL to see this year!) My book reckons mid February is too early for this species' flight season, yet it is currently being regularly caught by local moth-ers (see Skye Moths Facebook Page) A global warming caused phenology shift maybe?

It's a really big pot, in case you were puzzled by the moth's apparent diminutive size!

Just a couple of bits to add on from the last update -

319 Coprinellus micaceus (from last week, happier with ID now - cheers Ali!)
320 Laminaria hyperborea - Cuvie (somehow I'd missed this off the list)
321 Mottled Grey - Lifer

Hoping to get out tomorrow and seek out a few extra seaweeds for the tally. Plus whatever else I find.