Bramble

Wild flower 


In British English, a "bramble" is any rough tangled prickly shrub—specifically the blackberry bush —or any hybrid of similar appearance, with thorny stems. Bramble or brambleberry may also refer to the blackberry fruit or products of its fruit.

October 2018


Blackberry
Flower
Leaf
Bud



8/7/13 Park.

Flower

Nipplewort (Lapsana communis)

Wildflower Asteraceae


16/7/15
June 2023 
16 July 2015 

Lapsana communis, the common nipplewort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae

June 2023 


Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

Bee  Apidae


One of the ‘Big 7’ widespread and abundant species, found in a wide range of habitats across the UK. Queens and workers are jet-black, with a bright red tail covering up to 50% of the abdomen. Males have yellow facial hair and bright yellow bands at the front and rear of the thorax, along with a similar red tail to females (though this fades quickly in sunlight and can appear yellow or even white in worn specimens). Bumblebee conservation trust.


Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Bees


Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium)

Wild flower


Jul 19, 2015 Park

Vicia sepium or bush vetch is a species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. A nitrogen-fixing, perennial, leguminous climbing plant that grows in hedgerows, grasslands, the edges of woodland, roadsides and rough ground. 

Common rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)

Fish


19 July 2015

Morphologically, this species is very similar to the roach (Rutilus rutilus), with which it can be easily confused. It can be identified by the yellow eye colour. The eye of the roach has a big red spot above the pupil, that can be more or less conspicuous. The rudd has an upturned mouth allowing it to feed easily at the top of the water. The placement of the dorsal fin is more to the rear which is even visible in very young fish. There are normally only one or two scales between the tip of the pelvic fins and the anal fins, while on the roach there are five. Also the skin of the rudd is yellowish green, while the roach is bluish on the flanks. Also the upturned mouth is visible even in young fish. Furthermore, the rudd's number of soft rays in the dorsal fin (8–9 compared to 10–12). There can be confusion with the ide also, which has smaller scales however.

There is a variety of the common rudd, popular among pond-keepers, known as the golden rudd, which has a gold-coloured body.

The rudd can grow to a size of about 45–50 cm with an average of about 25 cm.

The dorsal fin and pectoral fins are greyish with a reddish tint and all the other fins are bright red. This coloring of the fins is the feature to which the seventeenth century name ‘rudd’ refers.





Light brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)


17 April 2015*
Micro moth

The males are smaller than the females. The forewings of the males are half pale yellowish and half reddish brown, whereas the females are more uniform in colour from yellowish brown to orange-brown.

The adults fly at dusk and are attracted to light. They may be disturbed from vegetation during the day.



This originally Australian species was probably accidentally introduced into Cornwall in the 1930's and since then has spread quickly northwards, and is now regular in many parts, and very common in some areas.

A pest species in Australian orchards, it is one of the most catholic polyphages in Britain, and should be considered as a possibility when identifying larvae off any plant.

It flies in two generations between May and October.

Nettle tap moth (Anthophila fabriciana)

Moth


A small, but very common species, occurring throughout Britain.

It is sometimes referred to as the Nettle-tap.

It flies in the daytime from May throughout the summer, and can sometimes be found in large numbers around clumps of nettle (Urtica dioica), the larval foodplant.

Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla)

Moth


May 2014*

A common moth in England but more local further north. Rests with wings tightly rolled, resembling a small cross. Usually a greyish-white to brown in colour. Each pair of spurs on the hind legs has one spur longer than the other.
Caterpillars feed in two overlapping generations from late May to September.
The adult moth is often seen on fence posts, walls and even indoors where they are attracted to light. Can also be found at Ivy blossom, ripe blackberries and, in spring, at sallow blossom.

Small White butterfly (Pieris rapae)


Butterfly 


July 2014*

It has brilliant white wings, with small black tips to the forewings and one or two wing spots. The undersides are a creamy white.

The Large White is similar but larger, and has a larger spot in the tip of the forewing that extends down the wing's edge.

Fairy longhorn moth (Adelidae sp)

Moth


July 2015*

The Adelidae or fairy longhorn moths are a family of monotrysian moths in the lepidopteran infraorder Heteroneura. The family was first described by Charles Théophile Bruand d'Uzelle in 1851. Most species have at least partially metallic patterns coloration and are diurnal, sometimes swarming around the tips of branches with an undulating flight. Others are crepuscular and have a drab coloration. Fairy longhorn moths have a wingspan of 4–28 millimeters, and males often have especially long antennae, 1–3 times as long as the forewing.

Micro Moth (Pammene albuginana )

Moth


July 2014*

Wingspan c. 11mm.
This species is locally distributed in England, mainly south and east, ranging northwards to Lancashire.
It frequents deciduous woodland and the moths are on the wing generally during May and June. The pale or creamy blotch on the dorsal area is not always so pronounced.
The larva feeds on oak (Quercus), inside galls formed by other, usually hymenopterous insects.

Meadow Brown Butterfly (Maniola jurtina)

Butterfly 

29 July 2019



29 July 2019
17 July 2015*

29 July 2019

17 July 15

Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae )

Butterfly 

17/ July/15
New for 2021 , 17 June 
19 April 2016 
17 July 2015

The small tortoiseshell is a colourful Eurasian butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Adults feed on nectar and may hibernate over winter; in warmer climates they may have two broods in a season. While the dorsal surface of the wings is vividly marked, the ventral surface is drab, providing camouflage.

17 June 2021 






19/4/16

Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-album)

Butterfly 


29 July 2019
15 July 2018
17 July 2015

15 July 2018


17/July/15

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)

Wildflower


Watercress or yellowcress is a species of aquatic flowering plant in the cabbage family Brassicaceae. Watercress is a rapidly growing, perennial plant native to Europe and Asia. It is one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by humans

Pignut flower (Conopodium majus)

Wild flower 



 Common in open woodland, hedgerows and dry grassland, pignut is a small umbellifer (member of the carrot family) with fine leaves and delicate stems. Small umbels (umbrella-like clusters) of white flowers appear between May and June, and are attractive to a range of insects, such as soldier beetles and hoverflies.

Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor)

Wild flower




Brush through a wildflower meadow at the height of summer and you'll hear the tiny seeds of yellow-rattle rattling in their brown pods, hence its name.

Honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Bees Apidae


19 April 2016

Probably the best known bee, the honeybee has been making honey for humans for thousands of years. In the wild they live in wooded areas in large hives made of wax honeycombs. The queen lays eggs whilst the workers care for the young, almost like a giant bee nursery! Every year a new queen will either take the place of her mother, or she will leave to start a colony of her own.


Flat-backed millipede (Polydesmus angustus)

Millipede 


Found in compost heaps and under stones in gardens, the Flat-backed millipede is a common minibeast. Despite its name, it only has about 40 legs. It is an important recycler of nutrients, feeding on decaying matter.

Brown-lipped Snail (Cepaea nemoralis)

2021 4 Feb

11 April 2022
4 February 2021
25 May 2015
2014* 

Also known as the Banded Snail, this is the most colourful and variable snail in the UK. The shell may vary in colour, and in the presence of banded patterning. They can be yellow, pink or brown and can have up to five horizontal bands across their shells or none at all. It nearly always has the dark rim at the lip of the shell opening. The shell can reach a height of about 20 mm and a width of 25 mm. The surface of the shell is semi-glossy, and it has from 4.5 to 5.5 whorls (LINK)




24/5/15














11 April 2022



Durham Slug (Arion flagellus)

Slug






60-100mm. Often greenish but can range from yellow to black. Usually larger than the similar A. subfuscus, it is also distinguished by its colourless mucous (orange in A. subfuscus) and the large tubercles on its back (only 6-9 rows between the dark bands behind the mantle). The crests of the tubercles may also be highlighted yellow. The sole is nearly always paler than the body and generally has a greenish tint. The foot fringe doesn't contrast with the body colour and the lineations don't extend very far across the sole.

Grey Field Slug (Deroceras agreste)

Slug



Colour is exceedingly variable and ranges from bright white to almost entirely black; it is most commonly pale buff with darker blotches.

The tail is usually longer than the mantle and the keel short and distinct.

The sole is pale, commonly with a visible darkened central strip of gut contents.

The head and tentacles are dark. Mucus often appears milky, especially if the slug is roughly handled. Juveniles appear similar to adults.

Slender Springtail (Orchesella villosa)

19 March 2022

Entomobryomorpha are an order of elongate springtails with bodies that are typically long and slim.
March 2022
July 2014*

Springtails are Hexapods - they have six legs - but unlike insects they are soft bodied, lack wings and have internal mouth parts. Although springtails are unable to fly, they can spring themselves into the air using a special appendage called a furcula. They tend to be extremely small (usually less than 6mm) and are found in almost every habitat on Earth.