PuffinusPuffinus.SuckedSlant.uk - Natural History Photographs - 2024 July - December - Natural History Photographs - 2024
Cley
Sea Aster (Aster tripolium)
Cley Windmill
Cley Church
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus Ibis)
Thornham
Annual Sea-blite (Sueda maritima)
An initial foray into the world of Glassworts
Glasswort? Over a thousand years ago glassmakers discovered that by adding the ashes of burned
vegetation they could produce the quality of the glass they produced. Quite how they eventually arrived
at using the plant we now know as glasswort, I guess remains a mystery. It is actually the Potash or Potassium oxide
contained in the ashes of the plant which is used in making glass and soap.
But Kelp was also used in the same way and there was a huge recorded industry in Scotland between about 1750 & 1820
There are nine species of Glasswort to be found at Thornham
Some were quite straight forward but others less so.
Corrections and additions always welcome.
Salicornia Sp?
One found early on in the quest that wasn't identified.
Ergot (Clavicepes spartinae) on Spartina (Spartina anglica))
from
CalNemo
Rust (Uromyces limonii) on Sea Lavender 
Spear-leaved Orache (Orache prostrata)
Bracteoles fused only at base
Purple Glasswort (Salicornia ramosissima)
Sea Aster (Aste tripolium)
The curious tiny seaweed that forms a mat at the base of the glassworts on the mud,
Fucus muscoides?
Shiny Glasswort (Salicornia emerici)
Although very rare a very nice multi coloured colony was found out on the mud as the images above show.
The lower fertile segments are only up to 3.5mm in height. Terminal spike in the range 12-40mm
Common Glasswort (Salicornia europea)?
This, the delectable samphire enjoyed at this time of year.
I have a feeling the image above is not Common Glasswort so a return to Salthouse is in the offing to get to grips with this one.
Yellow Glasswort (Salicornia fragilis) can be found throughout the salt marsh.
A terminal spike with between 6 -15 fertile segments. The image above has 13 segments.
The spike itself is cylindrical and the lateral branches also. The spike also finishes in a blunt tip.
There is another species which has a similar jizz (the one I forgot to take a photo of)
Long-spiked Glasswort (Salicornia dolichostachya)
but it's distinguishing feature is in the name. It has a long tapering spike with 12-30 fertile segments and it is a long tall plant.
The flowers are arranged in 3,2,3,2,3 pattern up the spike.
Found mostly on bare mud but can be found throughout the salt marsh.
Although I think this image probably shows Long-spiked Glasswort.
One can see the long terminal spikes quite clearly.
Petalless flowers of Shrubby Sea-blite (Sueda vera)
Rust (Uromyces chenopodii) on Shrubby Sea-blite)
One can clearly see the two types of segments in the image above.
Fertile segments compressed and untidy.
Unfertile segments
Perennial Glasswort (Sarcocornia perennis)
This one seems quite straight forward because of the unfertile segments contrasting with the fertile segments.
Another one unidentified that will be sent to a referee
One-flowered Glasswort (Salicornia disarticula)
One could almost say the easiest one to recognise, which was quite a relief.
Stands out well in amongst other species.
Hybrid Glasswort (Salicornia x marshallii)
From the Wildflower Society
A guide to identification of Glassworts in the British Isles
This one was really confusing. It is has segments with one, two flowers or three flowers.
Not easy to spot or be certain about. One to look for again.
Saltmarsh Rush (Juncus gerardii)
If Glaucous glasswort was found I didn't see that one.
But a fascinating day none the less
One last thing - a rust found on the underside of some Prunus domestica leaves.
Weybourne
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) nestled in the flowering head of a Perennial Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Frosted Orache
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Eastern Stonechat sp
Large Hawkweed Aphid (Uroleucon obscurum)?
Potato Aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae)
Large Hawkweed Aphid (Uroleucon obscurum)?
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea)
Titchwell
Curlew Sandpiper in flight with three Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Satellite Fly (Miltogramma punctata) attending the Sea Aster Mining Bees
Miniature forests of Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides) setting their face to the wind and sand.
One of the green metallic Lasioglossum Sp
A brilliant treat to see the two juvenile Little Stint (Calidris minuta) so close.
Frosted Orache (Atriplex laciniata)
Sea Aster Mining Bee ♂︎ (Colletes halophilus)
Sea Rocket (Cakile maritimum)
Female
Juvenile
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Sea Aster Mining Bee ♀︎ (Colletes halophilus)
Sand Hopper (Talitrus saltator)
Hairy Sand Wasp (Padolonia hirsuta)
Sea Beet (Beta vulgaris)
Spider Sp ?
Little Plumstead
Apple Leaf Mining Moth (Leonetia clerkella)) - leaf mine 
Buddleja lindleyana
Volutella Blight on Box
Pseudonectria buxi
Dock Bug Nymph (Coreus marginatus)
Ramularia ajugae
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Rust on Cosmos
Powdery Mildew on Courgette Leaf
Epilobium Sp?
Daisy Sp?
Giant Woodwasp (Urocerus gigas)
Orange-vented Mason Bee (Osmia leaiana)
Migrant Hawker ♂︎ (Aeshna mixta)
Spanish Fennel Flower (Nigella hispanica)
Native to Spain, Portugal & France 
Nowickia ferox
Olive Salver (Catinella olivacea)
Pearlwort
Procumbent Pearlwort (Sagina procumbens)
Seed capsules
Pear Juniper Rust
So named because the spores released by the rust in summer / autumn
from a pear tree spend the winter forming the fungus on a Juniper tree, which being an evergreen harbours the fungus over winter and then releases spores
again in the spring/summer to reinfect the Pear .
Downy Mildew on Geranium phaeum
Nemesia
Butterfly Sword Lilly (Gladiolus papilio)
Spotted Widow's Tears (Tinantia pringlei)
Currant leaf-curling Aphid
Elsinoe rosarum on Rose
from
Plant Parasites of Europe
?
? 
Salvia azurea?
Birch Shieldbug (5th Instar) (Elosmostethus interstinctus)
Yoke-leaved Amicia (Amicia zygomeris)
Oak Bush Cricket (Meconema thalassinum)
Prickly Poppy (Argemone albiflora)
Sweet Pea Mildew
Ereothrix rufomaculata
Thale Cress (Arabidopsis thaliana)
? feeding on the Periwinkle Rust
Periwinkle Rust (Puccinia vincae)
?
Fig-leaf Skeletoniser Moth (Choreutis nemorana)
Mulberry leaf Spot on Black Mulberry (Morus nigra)
European Paper Wasp Sp
Polistes dominula
Perenospora meconopsidis on Welsh Poppy (Mecanopsis cambrica)
Rudbeckia
Eucomis Sp
Superb Ant-hill Hoverfly (Xanthogramma pedissequm) sensu lato
Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)
Light Emerald (Campaea margaritaria)
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe)
Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)
Dusky Thorn (Ennomos fuscantaria)
Common Marble Moth (Celypha lacunana)
Caddis Fly Sp
Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)
Brass Y (Argyresthia geodartella)
Box-tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis)
Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)
Small Rivulet (Perizoma alchemillata)
Orange Swift (Triodia sylvina)
The adults have no proboscis so do not feed
Dark Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)
Pistol Case Bearer larval case (Coleophora anatipennella)
This one was found at Hoveton Hall
Green Carpet (Colystiga pectinataria)
Mosquito Sp?
Ancistrocerus Sp?
This was confirmed by the Norfolk Recorder as Ancistrocerus gazella
Flax Lilly (Dianella caerulea)
Large White Caterpillar (Pieris brassicae)
Pseudoscorpion
Savigny's Shining Claw (Lamprochernes savignyi)
Harlequin Glory Bower (Clerodendron trichotomum)
Everlasting Flower Sp?
Helichrysum bracteatum?
Euphorbia Sp? Euphorbia myrsinites?
Seeds Sp?
Sempervivum Sp?
Metallic green Lasioglossum Sp?
Tare Sp?
Slender Tare (Ervum gracile)?
Irregular shape 
Grass green needles in threes between 8-15cm long
Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) ?
East Harling
Dark Bush-cricket ♂︎(Pholidoptera griseoaptera)
Common Gromwell (Lithospremum officinale)
Fen Bedstraw
Apiculate leaves.
Square stems with downward pointing prickles on the angles.
Water Violet whorls (Hottonia palustris) with Callitriche sp showing through.
Floating Crystalwort (Riccia fluitans) with Lemna Sp
Smooth hawk's-beard (Crepis capillaris)
A possible cross between Marsh Thistle (Cirsium palustre) & Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Marsh Speedwell? (Veronica scutellata)
Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi)
Gall Midge (Jaapiella veronicae) Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)
Pepper Saxifrage (Silaum silaus)
Hairy Rock-cress (Arabis hirsuta)
Birch Catkin Bugs (Kleidocerys resedae)
Longhorn Beetle (Stictoleptura rubra)
Cyperus Sedge (Carex pseudocyperus)
A female without the usually associated male flowers
Bulbils in the leaf axils of Round-fruited Rush (Juncus compressus)
Holkham
Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)
?
Elm branch
Oak Knopper Gall (Andricus quercuscalisis)
Oak Apple Gall Wasp (Biorhiza pallida)
Oak Mildew (Erysiphe alphitoides)
Peacock (Aglais io)
Perennial Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Lesser Dung Fly Sp? (Sepsis Sp?) on seed heads of Upright Hedge-parsley (Torilis japonica)
Red-banded Sand Wasp (Ammophila sabulosa)
Shieldbug Stalker (Astata Boops)
Beewolf (Philanthus triangulum)
Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)
Small Spotty-eyed Dronefly (Eristalinus sepulchralis)
Hairs on the lower half of the eye.
Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus)
Long-winged Conehead (Conocephalus fuscus)
Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi)
Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris)
Mottled Grasshopper (Myrmeleotettix maculatus)
Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acer) seedheads
Dune Robberfly (Philonicus albisceps)
Sea Holly (Eryngium planum)
Spider Sp?
Sea Holly (Eryngium planum)
Sea Spurge (Euphorbia paralias)
Beewolf (Philanthus triangulum)
Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
Sea Lavender (
Grass-leaved Orache (Atriplex littoralis)
Glasswort (Salicornia europea)
Sea Purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum)
Orache Sp
Conops quadrifasciatus
Spaerophoria Sp
Araneus diadematus
Wasp Plumehorn (Volucella innanis)
Hylaeus Sp?
Given the very small white markings
on the face and the large size
possibly
Large Yellow-face Bee (Hylaeus signatus)
Buff-tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus terrestris)
Megachile Sp?
Holme
Female at rest complete with leaf
A male waiting for an opportunity to mate.
A female leaving the nest backwards.
A female arriving at the nest with a leaf segment.
Silvery Leafcutter Bee (Megachile leachella)
Old Man's Beard / Traveller's Joy (Clematis vitalba)
Galls on the leaves of Old Man's beard
Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia) in the dunes 
Short-winged Conehead ♀︎ (Conocephalus dorsalis)
♀︎
A very elegant Coastal Silver-stilleto Fly (Acrosathe annulata)
Red-legged Spider Wasp (Episyron rufipes)
She was digging in the area of the hole in the image above
Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonius)
Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
Willow - Wild Parsnip Aphid (Cavariella theobaldi)
Dune Robberfly (Philonicus albiceps)
Sand Sedge (Carex arenaria)
Galls on the leaves of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) caused by the mite Aceria hippophaeana
Foxley Wood
Oak (Quercus robur)
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Powdery Mildew
on
Alder
Erysiphe penicillata
You can just about see it. 
Leiobonum rotundum
Aceria aceriscampestris is a mite that causes galls to form on Field Maple (Acer campestris)
Bronze Shieldbug ? (Troilus luridus) Mid Instar Nymph
The
Exqusite
Alder Moth Caterpillar (Acronicta alni)
Wild snow
Angelica (Angelica archangelica) flowers
On Aspen?
?
False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum)
Blackberry Leaf Midge
The larvae of the Blackberry Leaf Midge (Dasineura plicatrix) cause galls to form on Bramble.
The young leaf is creased, pleated or buckled with thickened veins.
The larvae are present in the creases briefly in late spring and early summer.
from
Naturespot
Roesel's bush-cricket (Roeseliana roeselli)
Choke (Epichloe Sp) on Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata) 
Cock's-foot grass (Dactylis glomerata)
Common Dewberry (Rubus caesius)
Dock Sp
Dock Sp
A gall midge Dasineura pustulans causes this kind of gall on Meadowsweet
Gall on Meadowsweet
The larva of the Gall Midge Dasineura ulmaria causes gall to form on Meadosweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
Meadowsweet Rust?
Ergot (Claviceps purpureus) on False oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius)
From Botany in Scotland
False Fox-sedge (Carex otrubae)
Powdery Mildew
Whitish covering on the leaves of Field Maple (Acer campestre)
Sawadaea bicornis
Fungus Sp?
Galls of the Gall Midge (Harmandiola tremulae) on the upper side of an Aspen Leaf ?
This is caused by the Gall Mite Aceria tenuis
Grass Sp?
Harvestmen Sp
Dicranopalpus ramosus agg
Hazel (Corylus avellana) nuts.
Upright Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica) flower head.
The following images show various Chequered Hoverflies (Melanostoma scalare) that were seen hanging from the grass False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum ) at a height of about a metre from the ground.
Also of two attached to Common Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
They had all been infected by an Entomophthoragic fungus
♂︎
Early stage of infection presumably.
Well and truly stuck and not moving.
The hoverfly looks pristine and wings have yet to open
On Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
♀︎
Early stage the hoverfly looks pristine and wings have yet to open. No movement.
The lower hoverfly actually flew off the one attached to the grass but presumably had been infected.
Very different stage.
The wings are open and you can see the spores beginning to cover the insect.
A much more advanced state. The hovers are well and truly adhered to the plant. The insects have reached about a metre from the ground.
The wings are outstretched and the spores are pouring from their bodies.
On False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum)
The curious case of
epizootics
or
"The Zombies"
Entomophora fungal species
elicit dramatic behaviours in infected hosts
to
promote optimal spore dispersion
The genus Entomophthora:bringing the insect destroyers into the twenty-first century.
The images above show examples of infected hosts that have climbed the plants ('summiting disease') to give the fungus the best chance of spore dispersal.
When the proboscis touches the plant it adheres and thus effectively glues the hoverfly in place.
The wings will eventually raise up away from the dorsal abdomen
The legs have grasped the plant as well.
in this case
The Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalere)
Largely females but at least one male was found.
For more detailed information about the possible processes in play the article linked to above is a good summary.
Lesser Water Parsnip (Berula erecta)
Red-brown Longhorn Beetle (Stictoleptura rubra)
Timothy Grass (Phleum pratense)
Possibly Glandular Dog-rose (Rosa squarrosa)?
Glandular hairs on leaf tips and on stem. Leaves biserrate 
A powdery mildew sp
Podosphaera pannosa
Heath Wood Rush (Luzula multiflora subsp congesta)?
Rush Sp - Smooth Rush? (Juncus effusus) in flower
Glaucous Sedge (Carex flacca)
Ferruginous Bee-grabber (Sicus ferrigineus)
New Forest Shieldbug (Eysarcoris aeneus) ?
Late instar
Anther-smut (Microbotryum silene dioicae) on Red Campion (Silene dioica)
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
Long-jawed Orb weaver Sp (Tetragnatha Sp) & prey
Yellow-faced Bee Sp (Hylaeus Sp) Just didn't turn round
Grimston Heath
An beautiful extensive grassland restoration with lots to find.
A belt of Pampas Grass surrounding a small copse of Pines.
The leaves were quite broad thus Cortaderia selloana
There is a another species with long, thin razor edged leaves that grows to 7m
Cortaderia jubata
Broad-margined Mining Bee (Andrena dorsatta)
Amaranth Sp?
Basil Thyme (Clinopodium acinos)
Burnet Saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga)
Field Bugloss (Lycopsis arvensis)?
Puccinia Sp?
Puccinia recondita?
The larvae of the Blackberry Leaf Midge (Dasineura plicatrix) cause galls to form on Bramble.
The young leaf is creased, pleated or buckled with thickened veins.
The larvae are present in the creases briefly in late spring and early summer.
from
Naturespot
Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)
Night-flowering Catchfly (Silene noctiflora)
with six petals rather than five.
Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Thick-headed Fly Sp (Conopid Fly Sp) attacked by a fungus.
Physocephala rufipes
Dock sp
Becuase of the red colour and the shape of the leaves this gives a clue to the hybrid
Rumex crispus x obtusifolius
Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca)
Small-flowered Evening Primrose (Oenathera cambrica)
Euphrasia pseudokerneri
Cross between E pseudokerneri & E confusa
Eyebright Sp (Euphrasia pseudokerneri)
Field Pansy (Viola arvensis)
Field Scabious seed head (Knautia arvensis)
Forester Moth (Ascita statices) on one of its favourite flowers Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)
Upright Hedge-parley (Torilis japonica)
Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)
Some discussion about whether this could be a hybrid?
Gold-tailed Melitta (Melitta haemorrhoidalis)
Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
Aphids on Wild Parsnip
Willow - Parsnip Aphid (Cavariella theobaldii)
Alternates seasonally between two distantly related host plant species.
In this case the woody (Willow) host species , where sexual reproduction takes place and a
herbaceous host (Wild Parsnip) where reproduction is asexual
Fodder Radish (Raphanus sativus. oleiformis)
Wild Clary (Salvia vernbenaca)
White blister rust on Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
Although apparently it's not actually a rust.
It is an oomycete. Albugo candida
A thick white layer of sporangia that smother contorted and, often, enlarged parts of the plant.
More closely related to Brown Algae than to fungi.
Smothered in white
from
White Knights Biodiversity
Small Scabious Mining Bee (Andrena marginata)
Hoary Mullein (Verbascum pulverulentum)
Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum)
White Bryony (Bryony dioica)
Wild Basil (Clinopodiun vulgare)
Willowherb Sp?
Darsham Marsh - Suffolk
Chrysogaster solstitialis
Digger Wasp - Lindenius panzeri
Froghopper Sp?
Marsh Valerian (Valeriana dioica)
Amber Snail (Succinea putris)
Willowherb Sp
Heliophanus flavipes/cupreus
Opilio canestrinii
A particularly dark individual
Helophilus pendulus
Fly Sp
Eristalis Sp
Eristalis horticola ♀︎
Bugs?
The lower one
Common Flower Bug (Anthocorus nemorum)?
Cranefly Sp
Buttle's Marsh
Mixed ditch edge 
Large Thistle Aphid (Uroleucon cirsii)
Water Plaintain (Alisma plantago)?
Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides)
Lesser Water-parsnip (Berula erecta)
Brookweed (Samolus valerandii)
Branched Bur-reed (Sparganium erectum)
For comparison
A ditch community
An excellent dead tree in the landscape.
Exuvia
Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus ranae)
Floating Sweet Grass (Glyceria fluitans)
Greater Pond Sedge (Carex riparia)
Thumb print shape of the ligule and the arrangement and length of the cells.
False Fox-sedge (Carex otrubae)
Konik Ponies
River Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans)
The leaves are longer than the internodes.
Lesser Bulrush / Reedmace (Typha angustifolia)
Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort (Oenanthe silaifolia)
Nutall's Water Weed (Elodea nuttalli)
Tubular Water-dropwort (Oenanthe fistulosa)
Cyperus Sedge (Carex pseudocyperus)
Shining Pondweed (Potamogeton lucens)
Red Bartsia (Odontites vernus)
Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum)
Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata)
Greater Water Parsnip (Sium latifolium)
Common Club-rush (Schoenoplectus lacustris)
Tiger Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus)
Bristle Club-rush (Isolepis setacea)
Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile)
Thin walled hollow stems
Sweet Briar Marsh
Common Bent (Agrostis capillaris)
Ants relocating eggs.
Hempnettle Sp
Common Hempnettle (Galeopsis tetrahit)
in a variety of shades.
Cranefly Sp
Crosswort (Cruciata laevipes)
Common Cudweed (Filago germanica)
Devil's-bit Scabious 
Erodium/Geranium Sp?
Eyelash Fungus Sp
Reed Sweet grass (Glyceria maxima)
Reed Sweet Grass Smut probably
Ustilago filiformis
Harvestmen Sp
Opilio saxatilis ?
Swedish Whitebeam (Sorbus intermedia)
Musk Mallow (Malva moschata)
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
x 
Meadowsweet Rust (Triphragmium ulmariae)
Moth Sp
A White-barred Moth Species
it could be one of three Sp from Norfolk Moths
Minute Pouncewort (Myriocoleopsis minutissimum)
Frizzled Pincushion (Plenogemma phyllantha)
Marsh Woundwort (Stachy palustris)
Glandular Dog-rose (Rosa squarrosus)
Sharp-flowered Rush (Juncus acutiflorus)
Brown Sedge (Carex distichum)
Southern Crestwort (Lophocolea semiteres)
Marsh Ragwort (Jacobea aquatica)
St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Tubular Water-dropwort (Oenanthe fistulosa)
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi)
Water-purslane (Lythrum portula)
Greater Bird'sfoot Trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus)
Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris)
Timothy Grass (Phleum pratense)
Marsh Cinquefoil leaf (Comarum palustris)
