30th December 2019 - Burton Mere RSPB, The Wirral - A birding wander in glorious weather, the outcome, 61 species, which wsn't bad for a morn's mooching and considering a few expected species were missing. The list was:- Blackbird; Magpie; Blue Tit; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Shelduck; Robin; Moorhen; Mallard; Lapwing; Wood Pigeon; Tufted Duck; Raven; Stock Dove; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Long Tailed Tit; Teal; Gadwall; Wigeon; Pink Footed Goose; Redshank; Coot; Great Tit; Chaffinch; Siskin; Dunlin; Cormorant; Grey Wagtail; Shoveler; Black Tailed Godwit; Black Headed Gull; Grey Heron; Kingfisher; Herring Gull; Curlew; Starling; Bullfinch; Goldfinch; Water Rail; Sparrowhawk; Canada Goose; Mute Swan; Wren; Song Thrush; Rook; Great Black Backed Gull; Great White Egret; Fieldfare; Little Egret; Marsh Harrier; Pheasant; Stonechat; Common Gull; Mistle Thrush; Greenfinch; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Redwing; Kestrel; Greylag Goose + Cetti's Warbler on call.

Red Campion and Meadow Buttercup were still holding flowers.

25th December 2019 - Poynton Pool, Stockport, Cheshire - As we had our Christmas Day walk we fed the birds and I counted what we saw, the end result was 364 birds of 30 species, these were: - Great Tit (*2); Carrion Crow (*13); Robin (*3); Mallard (*43); Coot (*5); Moorhen (*8); Magpie (*13); Black Headed Gull (*100); Canada Goose (*4); Lesser Black Backed Gull (*1); Jackdaw (*28); Tufted Duck (*3); Cormorant (*2); Great Crested Grebe (*1); Goosander (*1); Blue Tit (*13); Wood Pigeon (*15); Wren (*5); Nuthatch (*1); Blackbird (*4); Redwing (*54); Starling (*6); Long Tailed Tit (*14); Rook (*1); Goldfinch (*10); Kestrel (*1); House Sparrow (*10); Great Spotted Woodpecker (*1); Song Thrush (*1) and Coal Tit (*1).

Winter Heliotrope was now in flower.

6th December 2019 - Scout Dike and Royd Moor Reservoir, Barnsley, S. Yorkshire - Some birding whilst having a good wander, the list was:- House Sparrow (*2); Lapwing (*7); Coot (*4); Pink Footed Goose (*1); Canada Goose (*359); Herring Gull (*1); Great Crested Grebe (*2); Dunnock (*1); Mute Swan (*1); Black Headed Gull (*20); Common Gull (*3); Mistle Thrush (*1); Kestrel (*1); Jackdaw (*3); Tufted Duck (*7); Bullfinch (*1); Magpie (*3); Wood Pigeon (*11); Jay (*1); Long Tailed Tit (*4); Great Tit (*6); Blue Tit (*3); Robin (*4); Carrion Crow (*13); Wren (*2); Goldfinch (*6); Starling (*2); Fieldfare (*7); Mallard (*12); Cormorant (*5); Blackbird (*12) and Redwing (*22).

Flowers in bloom were:- Yarrow; Groundsel; Shepherd's Purse; Lesser Knapweed; Cow Parsley; Herb Robert; Daisy and Bush Vetch.

Shiny Woodlice and a Brown Hare were also seen with 2 galls, these being:- Andricus fecundator and Andricus kollari.

Cladonia conicocraea; Evernia prunastri and Xanthoria parietina were the few lichens noted.

29th November 2019 - Skipton Woods, NW Yorkshire - The second wander of the day, in quiet woodland with only a couple of folk seen. Birds noted were:- Blackbird; Chaffinch; Coal Tit; Blue Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Great Tit; Nuthatch; Mallard; Wood Pigeon; Wren; Jackdaw and Starling.

29th November 2019 - Ben Rhydding NR, NW Yorkshire - During a short trip away to do some shopping and chilling we found time to have a pootle at this smalll nature reserve. There wasn't a lot about today with bird species seen being:- Jackdaw; Goldfinch; Redwing; Blackbird; Mallard; Moorhen; Curlew; Song Thrush; Rook; Magpie; Redshank and Fieldfare.

A couple of Rabbits fed in the undergrowth and a Short Tailed Vole was seen scurrying off into some leaf litter.

18th November 2019 - Chorlton Water Park, G.Manchester - Whilst waiting to do a base-line survey with The Orchard Project I did a spot of birding, species seen were:- Robin; Ring Necked Parakeet; Magpie; Black Headed Gull; Moorhen; Coot; Mallard; Mute Swan; Gadwall; Tufted Duck; Wren; Common Gull; Feral Pigeon; Canada Goose; Cormorant; Grey Heron; Carrion Crow; Kestrel; Goldfinch; Blue Tit; Starling; Jackdaw; House Sparrow; Great Tit; Chaffinch; Collared Dove; Great Crested Grebe; Buzzard and Long Tailed Tit.

3 species of Hoverfly were seen, these were:- Eristalis pertinax (*4); Eristalis tenax (*1) and Episyrphus balteatus (*1). I also noted 3 Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis) and a Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus).

Ox-Eye Daisy and Herb Robert was still in flower.

3rd November 2019 - Dibbinsdale NR, The Wirral - A fungus mooch with some friends, along the way I noted a few galls:- Andricus gemmeus; Eupontania pendunculi; Agathomyia wankowiczii; Trioza remota; Dasineura ulmaria; Neuroterus quercusbaccarum and Andricus fecundator.

A Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina) and a Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) were enjoying the sun and a Jay was seen flitting about.

23rd October 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, G. Manchester - A walk in the dinner break, the sun was charming out a few bugs with Eristalis tenax (*1); Eristalis pertinax (*1) and Episyrphus balteatus (*1) all on the hovering wing.

11 Common Green Shield Bugs (Palomena prasina) were bathing in the solar delights along with 34 Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis).

Cow Parsley was still in flower.

9th October 2019 - Moore NR, Cheshire - Today I took a bunch of home-schooled kids out and their parents, the main aim was looking for fungi but we also saw 2 Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum), a few Alder Leaf Beetles (Agelastica alni), 6 False Ladybirds (Endomychus cocccineus); a Devil's Coach Horse (Ocypus olens); 1 Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) and 1 Long Bodied Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta).

2 * Red Admiral; 2 * Comma; 1 * Speckled Wood and 1* Common Marbled Carpet were the lepidoptera seen.

6 Smooth Newts, 4 Frogs, a Kestrel; 1 Redwing; a flock of Goldfinch; a Jay and a few Magpies were added extras.

5th October 2019 - Nutsford Vale CP, Greater Manchester - A fungal foray, on the way we noted a Sallow Moth, a Common Plume; 2 Harlequin Ladybirds; 2 Speckled Woods; several Alder Leaf Beetles; a Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax) and a hibernating Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum).

Large Yellow Slugs and Shiny and Striped Woodlice were frequent under wood.

A few galls were noted, these were:- Neuroterus albipes; Acalitus brevitarsus; Andricus curvator; Andricus lignicola; Andricus quercuscalicis and Neuroterus qurecusbaccarum.

A few flowers were still in bloom:- Groundsel; Red Clover; Canadian Fleabane; Common Ragwort; Meadow Buttercup and Weld.

30th September 2018 - Hollymount Orchard (and area), Lancashire - A base-line survey, 3 hours with focus on making improvements to the area and noting fungi. 5 species of butterfly were seen:- Comma (*1); Speckled Wood (*1); Peacock (*1); Small Tortoiseshell (*2) and Red Admiral (*1).

Other insects were few but the Drone-Fly (Eristalis pertinax); Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana); 10 Common Green Shield Bugs (Palomena prasina) and a 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) were noted.

White Lipped Banded Snail; Large Yellow Slug; Dusky Slug; Garlic Snail; Budapest Slug and Garden Snail were joined by Rough; Shiny; Striped and Pygmy Woodlice and a Variegated Centipede.

A Raven flew overhead; Magpies pootled about and a few galls were noted, these were:- Neuroterus quercusbaccarum; Andicus kollari; Andricus fecundator and Andricus lignicola.

I didn't keep a flower list but a few in bloom were:- Self-Heal; Ribwort Plantain; Great Willowherb; Himalayan Balsam; Herb Robert; Common Toadflax; Broad Leaved Willowherb; Common Mouse Ear; Bush Vetch and Red Campion.

23rd September 2019 - Pedley's Wood, Warwickshire - A very quiet woodland, birds seen were:- Chiffchaff; Great Tit; Jackdaw; Long Tailed Tit; Robin and Wood Pigeon with flowers noted in bloom being:- Spear Thistle; White Clover; Great Willowherb; White Dead Nettle; Hogweed; Red Campion; Comfrey agg and Yarrow. Again, we didn't dawdle, we wanted to keep to the pace set - I am sure we will return.

23rd September 2019 - Leam Valley NR, Warwickshire - A very early start and a very brisk walk. a 7 Spot Ladybird; a Common Green Shield Bug; 2 Dock Bugs and the Meadowsweet Gall (Dasineura pustulans) was all that was noted down as we got the blood surging. It was a ruddy nice morning too - bonus.

22nd September 2019 - Welches Meadow NR, Warwickshire - An early evening walk in settled conditions, The first bugs of the day showed the shy faces, 36 * Dock Shield Bug (Coreus marginatus); 1 * 22 Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora 22-punctata); 1 * Twin Spot Centurion (Sargus bipunctatus); 12 * Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina); 1 * Common Earwig (Forficula auricularia); 1 * Diamond Back Moth (Plutella xylostella) and a Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus).

Galls seen were:- Aceria ulmicola; Jaapiella veronicae; Taxomyia taxi; Dasineura urticae; Pontania proxima; Dasineura pustulans; Dasineura ulmaria; Andricus quercuscalicis; Diplolepis rosae; Urophora cardui and Aceria erinea.

Marsh Woundwort and Gyspsywort were a couple of flowers in bloom.

22nd September 2019 - Stockwood Park, Bedfordshire - Period gardens, a carriage museum, a good hearty breakfast and a walk around the park. Galls seen were:- Eriophyes leiosoma; Andricus curvator; Neuroterus numismalis; Neuroterus quercusbaccarum; Andricus quercuscalicis; Eriophyes tiliae and Dasineura urticae.

A Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) and a Speckled Wood (Parage aegeria) were the only other things noted.

22nd September 2019 - Batford Springs NR, Hertfordshire - An early morning walk with a few flowers in bloom noted:- Yarrow; Hogweed; Knotgrass; Common Nettle; Nipplewort; White Dead Nettle; Groundsel; Hedge Mustard; Shepherd's Purse; Red Dead Nettle; Large Bindweed; Creeping Thistle; Comfrey agg; Dandelion agg; Common Ragwort; Himalayan Balsam; Common Chickweed; Spear Thistle; Pineappleweed; Great Willowherb; Angelica; Redshank; Ribwort Plantain; Water Mint agg and White Clover.

Birds seen were few, these were:- Wood Pigeon; Starling; Blackbird; Collared Dove; Ring Necked Parakeet; Grey Wagtail; Jackdaw; Robin; Magpie; Wren; Pheasant; Grey Heron; Moorhen; Great Tit; Carrion Crow; Song Thrush and Swift.

A few galls were added to the walk:- Neuroterus quercusbaccarum; Andricus quercuscalicis; Aceria fraxinivora and Eriophyes laevis.

Other species noted were a Brown Rat; numerous Roach; a Grey Squirrel; Elder; Hornbeam and Common Reed.

20th September 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - A chilly night produced only a handful of moths, these being:- Common Carpet (*1); Large Yellow Underwing (*7); Setaceous Hebrew Character (*3); Light Brown Apple Moth (*2); Common Marbled Carpet (*1); Tachystola axcroxantha (*2); Garden Rose Tortrix (*1) and Lesser Yellow Underwing (*2).

In the garden a few hoverflies were enjoying some tall daisies I had acquired from a kind lady at the local environmental centre. Eristalis pertinax; Eristalis tenax; Eupeodes luniger and Syrphus ribesii were all doing their pollinating business.

15th September 2019 - Ainsdale NE, Lanchashire - Whilst looking for fungi on an overcast but dry day I noted down a few other things on show. Flowers noted in bloom were:- Ploughman's Spikenard; Creeping Thistle; Red Campion; Common Centaury; Large Flowered Evening Primrose agg; Common Fleabane; Water Mint agg; Creeping Cinquefoil; Red Clover; White Campion; Soapwort; Scarlet Pimpernel; Common Mouse Ear; Lesser Stitchwort; Self-Heal; Greater Celandine; Ribwort Plantain; Bugloss; Common Stork's-Bill; White Clover; Rosebay Willowherb; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Agrimony; Harbell and Broad Leaved Helleborine (just).

Sphaerophoria scripta and Melanostoma scalare were the only hoverflies seen.

A Brown Lipped Banded Snail; Buzzard; a flock of Linnets and a Blackbird were the other things noted whilst the eyes were to the ground.

Andricus curvator; Andricus lignicola and Diplolepis rosae were the few galls noted.

14th September 2019 - Parrs Wood Environmental Centre, Didsbury, G. Manchester - The autumn fair was here, I arrived early to sell some books and count some species before going to football. Hoverflies seen were:- Volucella zonaria (*1); Eristalis tenax (*5); Xylota segnis (*1); Syrphus ribesii (*3); Syritta pipiens (*5); Episyrphus balteatus (*2); Helophilus pendulus (*1); Rhingia rostrata (*3); Eristalis pertinax (*1); Epistrophe grossulariae (*1); Eristalis arbustorum (*2) and Myathropa florea (*1).

Butterflies seen were:- Speckled Wood (*5); Red Admiral (*4); Comma (*4); Small White (*1) and Green Veined White (*1).

Other bugs seen were:- Pine Ladybird (*1); 7 Spot Ladybird (*3); Harlequin Ladybird (*3); Juniper Shield BUg (*1); Hairy Shield Bug (*3); Birch Shield Bug (*6); Common Green Shield Bug (*3); Alder Leaf Beetle (*2); Rose Sawfly (*2); Tachina fera (*2); Tree Bee (*3); Apis mellifera (*10); Common Carder Bee (*2); Buff Tailed Bumble Bee (*1) and a sinlgle example of the Soldier Fly (Sargus bipunctatus).

The galls Andricus gemmeus; Neuroterus anthracinus and Acalitius rudis.

A male Bullfinch, a sleeping Fox, a Garlic Snail, 2 Garden Snails and Thale Cress in good flower made for an interesting wander.

13th September 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, G. Manchester - A dinnertime stroll, hoverflies seen were:- Eristalis tenax (*1); Volucella zonaria (*1); Syritta pipiens (*1); Syrphus ribesii (*1); Helophilus pendulus (*1); Baccha elongata (*1) and Xylota segnis (*1).

Other bugs seen were:- 158 * Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina); 4 * Honey Bee (Apis mellifera); 2 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 1 * 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) and 1 * Hawthorn Shield Bug (Acanthasoma haemorrhoidale).

A Speckled Wood and a Green Veined White said 'Hello', and 5 Garden Spiders (Araneus diadematus) hung around on their webbing.

Strawberry Snail; Garden Snail and White Lipped Banded Snail were hiding from the sun, a Sparrowhawk glided overhead and a few House Sparrows flitted about. Magpies, Carrion Crows and Wood Pigeons fed on a football pitch and a female Blackbird mooched about along a shaded alleyway.

12th September 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - A few moths species in the trap:- Setaceous Hebrew Character (*1); Large Yellow Underwing (*10); Lesser Yellow Underwing (*12); Svensson's Copper Underwing (*1); Square Spot Rustic (*1); Grey Chi (*1) and Light Brown Apple Moth (*1).

2 specimens of the hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare) were also in the trap.

8th September 2019 - Moore NR, Cheshire - A general wander, hoverflies seen were:- Sphaerophoria scripta (*1); Helophilus pendulus (*2); Helophilus hybridus (*2); Eristalis tenax (*7); Eristalis pertinax (*3); Volucella pellucens (*2); Eristalis arbustorum (*2); Myathropa florea (*2); Melanostoma scalare (*4) and Platycheirus albimanus (*1).

Butterflies noted were:- Red Admiral (*3); Painted Lady (*1); Small Tortoiseshell (*1 plus 1 larva); Speckled Wood (*18); Common Blue (*1); Small Copper (*1); Green Veined White (*1) and Meadow Brown (*1). 2 Nettle Tap Moths were also observed.

Other insects seen included:- 1 * Forest Shield Bug (Pentatoma rufipes); 4 * Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); 9 * Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum); 1 Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea); 1 * Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum); 5 * Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina); 1 * Tachnid Fly (Tachina fera); 1 * Parent Bug (Elasmucha grisea); 1 * Devil's Coach Horse (Ocypus olens); 2 * Common Earwig (Forficula auricularia); 3 * Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis); 1 * 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata); 1 * Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus); 1 * Pea Weevil (Sitona sp); 1 * Broad Damsel Bug (Nabis flavomarginatus), 1 * Marsh Damsel Bug (Nabis limbatus) and 1 * Spear Thistle Lace Bug (Tingis cardui).

A few birds were picked up whilst we pootled, these were:- Magpie; Wren; Jay; Feral Pigeon; Wood Pigeon; Buzzard; Common Whitethroat; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Swallow; Mallard; Coot; Mute Swan; Little Grebe; Great Crested Grebe and Long Tailed Tit.

59 flowers were seen in bloom:- Common Nettle; Common Ragwort; Red Campion; White Dead Nettle; Creeping Thistle; White Clover; Dandelion agg; Ribwort Plantain; Black Medick; Rosebay Willowherb; Great Willowherb; Common Stork's-Bill; Broad Leaved Willowherb; Meadow Crane's-Bill; Mugwort; Large Bindweed; Yarrow; Lady's Bedstraw; Bird's Foot Trefoil; Himalayan Balsam; Red Bartsia; Creeping Buttercup; Japanese Knotweed; Large Flowered Evening Primrose agg; Comfrey agg; Lesser Trefoil; Common Mouse Ear; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Meadow Vetchling; Self-heal; Ox-Eye Daisy; Tufted Vetch; Silverweed; Wild Carrot; Red Clover; Great Mullein; Salad Burnet; Lesser Stitchwort; Herb Robert; Thyme Leaved Speedwell; Meadowsweet; Meadow Buttercup; Daisy; Bramble agg; Wild Angelica; Marsh Thistle; Spear Thistle; Common Centaury; Sheep's Sorrel; Tormentil; Harebell; Chickweed; Enchanter's Nightshade; Redshank; Wavy Bittercress; Barren Strawberry; Nipplewort; Bittersweet; Hogweed and Purple Loosestrife.

Broad Leaved Helleborine was in seed; Elder was in fruit and a single Hornbeam was picked out.

Galls noted were:- Andricus fecundator; Neuroterus quercusbaccarum; Neuroterus numismalis; Eriophyes laevis; Eriophyes inangulis; Acalitus brevitarsus; Phyllocoptes goniothorax; Rondaniola bursaria; Eriophyes tiliae; Eriophyes leiosoma; Aceria pseudoplatani; Dasineura pustulans; Dasineura ulmaria; Phyllopcoptes populi; Psyllopsis fraxini; Taphrina tosquinetii; Jaapiella veronicae; Dasineura urticae and Andricus quercuscalicis.

Several Great Pond Snails, 3 Smooth Newts, a White Lipped Banded Snail; a Strawberry Snail; Frog; Striped, Shiny and Pygmy Woodlice were all added to the day's tally of 164 species.

7th September 2019 - Cheadle Heath Nomads, Stockport, G. Manchester - A check of the nature area I have been working on at this obliging football ground. Hoverflies noted were:- Myathropa florea (*2); Syrphus ribesii (*1); Episyrphus balteatus (*3); Eristalis pertinax (*4); Syritta pipiens (*1); Helophilus hybridus (*1); Volucella inanis (*1); Meliscaeva auricollis (*1); Helophilus pendulus (*1) and Eristalis tenax (*1).

Other insects seen were:- Tachnid Fly (Tachina fera); Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus); 3 * Small White Butterfly (Pieris rapae); Harlequin Ladybird (Palomena prasina); Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) and Buff Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus terrestris).

A Magpie and a Wood Pigeon will be added to this local list.

1st September 2019 - Parrs Wood Environmental Centre, Didsbury, G. Manchester - A lovely afternoon spent pootling at this local private area that has so much to offer. The sun peeped, the rain fell, we had tea and biscuits and a chat with some fine familiar faces and saw the following hoverflies:- Rhingia rostrata (*1); Volucella pellucens (*1); Eristalis pertinax (*2); Eristalis tenax (*1); Meliscaeva auricollis (*1); Eristalis arbustorum (*2); Myathropa florea (*1); Helophilus hybridus (*1); Xylota segnis (*1) and Syrphus ribesii (*2).

Butterflies and moths noted were singles of:- Red Admiral; Small White; Old Lady and Herald.

Other insects seen were:- 1 * Tachnid Fly (Tachina fera); 1 * 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); 7 * Birch Shield Bugs (Elasmostethus interstinctus); 1 * Parent Bug (Elasmucha grisea); 1 * Ichneumon Fly (Hepiopelmus variegatorius) and Rose Sawfly (Arge pagana).

Galls noted were:- Andricus curvator; Andricus quercuscalicis; Andricus fecudator; Neuroterus numismalis; Psyllopsis fraxini; Phyllocoptes goniothorax; Aceria pseudoplatani; Andricus lignicola; Phytomyza ilicis and Taphrina tosquinetii.

Flowers noted in bloom were:- Purple Loosestrife; Black Medick; Common Mouse Ear; Ribwort Plantain; Water Mint agg; Common Nettle; Wood Avens; Herb Robert; Purple Toadflax; Hogweed; Thyme Leaved Speedwell; Meadow Buttercup; Broad Leaved Willowherb; Daisy; Greater Willowherb; Dandelion agg; Shepherd's Purse; Ivy Leaved Toadflax; Nipplewort; Common Field Speedwell; Garlic Mustard; Redshank; Common Knotgrass; Procumbent Pearlwort; Enchanter's Nightshade; Common Ragwort; Red Dead Nettle; Himalayan Balsam; Large Bindweed; Groundsel and Chickweed.

Moorhen; Jackdaw and Raven were the only birds seen

Leopard Slug; Shiny Woodlouse; Rough Woodlouse; Common Field Horse-Tail were a few oddments included.

29th August 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, G. Manchester - In my dinner break I found the following hoverflies:- Melanostoma scalare (*1); Eristalis pertinax (*1); Helophilus pendulus (*1); Xylota segnis (*1); Syrphus ribesii (*1) and Episyrphus balteatus (*2).

A Speckled Wood was on the wing and 42 * Common Green Shield Bugs (Palomena prasina) were picked out, 2 of which were adults, the rest varying nymphal stages.

Small Balsam was still in flower.

26th August 2019 - Ifton Meadows LNR, Shropshire - We were looking for fungi with a friend today but I noted a few other things. Flowers in bloom were:- Common Ragwort; Red Clover; Yarrow; Hogweed; Ribwort Plantain; Greater Plantain; Garlic Mustard; Nipplewort; Bramble agg; Black Medick; Daisy; Common Mouse Ear; Scarlet Pimpernel; Herb Robert; Broad Leaved Willowherb; White Clover; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Agrimony; Meadow Vetchling; Tormentil; Self-Heal; Marsh Thistle; Red Campion; Rosebay Willowherb; Square Stalked St John's-Wort; Wood Avens; Bittersweet; Greater Willowherb; Teasel; Mugwort; Common Knotgrass and Common Nettle.

Insects seen were:- Eriothrix rufomaculata (*3); Common Darter (*2); Common Field Grasshopper (*1); Common Earwing (*1); Common Green Shield Bug nymph (*1); Eristalis pertinax (*1); Spiked Shield Bug (*2) and Heterogaster urticae (*1).

Butterflies were represented by:- Painted Lady (*1); Gatekeeper (*2) and Meadow Brown (*1). A Straw Dot Moth was also picked out.

The few galls noted were:- Japiella veronicae; Trioza remota; Andricus kollari; Andricus lignicola; Andricus foecundatrix; Neuroterus numismalis; Andricus quercuscalicis and Diplolepis rosae.

Striped Woodlouse; Rough Woodlouse; Dusky Slug; Jackdaw; Goldfinch and Wood Pigeon were a few other things thrown into the day's mix.

25th August 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - More mothing, 207 moths of 22 species were caught, the list was:- Lesser Yellow Underwing (**6); Mother of Pearl (*1); Large Yellow Underwing (*150); Light Brown Apple Moth (*17); Square Spot Rustic (*4); Svensson's Copper Underwing (*2); Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing (*10); Willow Beauty (*3); Flame Shoulder (*2); Setaceous Hebrew Character (*2); Marbled Beauty (*1); Pandemis corylana (*1); Common Rustic agg (*1); Diamond Back Moth (*1); Agriphila tristella (*3); Double Striped Pug (*1); Agriphilla straminella (*1); Straw Dot (*1); Pyrausta purpuralis (*1); Blastobasis adustella (*2); Epinotis nisella (*1) and Garden Rose Tortrix (*1).

3 Harlequin Ladybirds were also in the mix as was the Mirid Bug (Phytocoris tiliae).

Eristalis tenax; Eupeodes luniger; Eristalis arbustorum and Sphaerophoria scripta were hoverflies in the garden as well as the usual Small White.

24th August 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - A touch of mothing, 100 moths of 22 species caught, these were:- Light Brown Apple Moth (*11); Marbled Beauty (*1); Large Yellow Underwing (*48); Willow Beauty (*4); Mother of Pearl (*3); Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing (*7); Square Spot Rustic (*1); Garden Carpet (*2); Lesser Yellow Underwing (*8); Setaceous Hebrew Character (*1); Flame Shoulder (*1); Brown House Moth (*1); Strawberry Tortrix (*1); Blastobasis adustella (*1); Tachystola acroxantha (*1); Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (*1); Double Striped Pug (*2); Garden Rose Tortrix (*1); Apple Leaf Miner (*1); Argyresthia goedartella (*2); Svensson's Copper Underwing (*1) and Clavigesta purdeyi (*1).

The Caddis Fly (Mystacides longicornis) also put in an appearance.

23rd August 2019 - Heaton Mersey Bowl, Stockport, Cheshire - A wander around the perimeter of the bowl, flowers noted in bloom were:- Large Bindweed; Common Knapweed; Red Clover; Common Nettle; Common Ragwort; Greater Willowherb; Ribwort Plantain; Bush Vetch; Himalayan Balsam and Meadow Buttercup.

Lepioptera were represented by:- Painted Lady (*1); Speckled Wood (*1) and the moth Udea lutealis.

Hoverflies seen were:- Helophilus pendulus; Eristalis pertinax and Volucella inanis.

Other bugs noted were 31 * Common Green Shield Bug nymphs (Palomena prasina); 10 * Birch Catkin Bug nymphs (Kleidocerys resedae); 1 * Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis); 1 * 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) and 1 Mirid Bug (Plagiognathus arbustorum).

Galls seen were:- Andricus quercuscalicis and Neuroterus albipes.

2 Magpies, 2 Swifts and 1 male Bullfinch were also seen.

20th August 2019 - Heaton Mersey Orchard, Stockport, Cheshire - A short pootle in the sun brought the following butterflies:- Painted Lady (*3); Common Blue (*4); Gatekeeper (*1); Speckled Wood (*3); Comma (*1); Large White (*1) and Meadow Brown (*1). A Straw Dot and 4 Mother of Pearls were within the fluttering weave.

Hoverflies were represented by:- Helophilus pendulus (*3); Episyrphus balteatus (*1); Syrphus ribesii (*1); Eristalis nemorum (*1); Myathropa florea (*1); Volucella inanis (*1); Epistrophe grossulariae (*1); Eristalisa intricaria (*3); Eristalis pertinax (*1) and Sericomyia silentis (*1).

11 Common Green Shield Bug nymphs (Palomena prasina) were lapping up the solar goodness; a lone Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum) was looking dapper; 1 Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) and the Tephrid Fly (Chaetorellia jaceae) were other bugs seen.

Bramble was now in fruit and a clump of Hemp Agrimony was in splendid flower.

18th August 2019 - Fernilee Reservoir, Derbyshire - Whilst looking for fungi a few other things were noted and duly recorded. Butterflies seen were:- Ringlet (*1); Wall Brown (*1); Gatekeeper (*5); Peacock (*1); Small Heath (*2) and Green Veined White (*1). The Ground Moss Grey Moth (Eudonia truncicolella) was added later.

Hoverflies seen were:- Melanostoma scalare (*3) and Episyrphus balteatus (*1).

Other bugs and beasties seen were:- Pill Millipede (Glomeris marginata); Alder Spittle Bug (Aphrophora alni); Forest Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes); Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus); Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus); Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus paralellus); Heather Fly (Bibio pomonae); Green Leafhopper (Cicadella viridis) and 4 Adult Birch Shield Bugs (Elasmostethus interstinctus) and 10 nymphs.

The Beetle (Cychrus caraboides) was added to the list after close scrutiny and the Harvestman (Mitopus morio) was spotted, photographed and ID's on-line (Thanks to Ant for getting a piccie).

A few flowers noted in bloom were:- Tormentil; Creeping Thistle; Greater Willowherb; Common Nettle; European Gorse; Marsh Thistle; Great Burnet; Eyebright agg; Greater Plantain; Enchanter's Nightshade; Herb Robert; Hedge Woundwort; Common Knapweed; Daisy and Red Clover.

Hartigiola annulipes; Aceria pseudoplatani; Dasineura pteridis; Trioza remota and Andricus foecundatrix were a few galls noted.

11th August 2019 - Ainsdale Sands, Lancashire - A 90 minute wander to finish the day and a look at some flowers:- Daisy; Traveller's Joy; Spear Thistle; Gypsywort; Sea Rocket; Common Centaury; Bird's Foot Trefoil; Lesser Centaury; Strawberry Clover; Sea Holly; Soapwort; Lesser Spearwort; Yellow-Rattle; Hare's-Foot Clover; Yellow-Wort; Water Mint agg; Broad Leaved Everlasting Pea; White Clover; Kidney Vetch; Carline Thistle; Meadowsweet; Sea Spurge; Lesser Trefoil; Red Clover; Eyebright agg; Round Leaved Wintergreen; Grass of Parnassus; Large Flowered Evening Primrose agg; Japanese Rose; Wild Parsnip; Restharrow; Yarrow; Harebell; Meadow Buttercup; Bittersweet; Large Bindweed; Meadow Vetchling; Creeping Thistle; Great Willowherb; Greater Plantain; Common Nettle; Sea Aster and Cloudberry.

The galls Eupontania viminalis; Eriophyes laevis; Taphrina alni and Acalitus brevitarsus were also seen.

Butterflies seen were:- Common Blue (*3); Meadow Brown (*1); Gatekeeper (*1) and Painted Lady (*1) and 3 Six Spot Burnets were seen.

Mottled Grasshopper; Common Field Grasshopper; Smooth Newt; Common Frog; Red Tailed Bumble Bee and Striped Millipede were other species seen along with Common and Grey Alder.

11th August 2019 - Mere Sands Wood, Lancashire - A shrooming wander but we saw a few bugs too:- Meadow Brown (*2); Gatekeeper (*2); Red Admiral (*1) and Painted Lady (*1); Green Veined White (*1) plus Mother of Pearl Moth (*2) were the lepidoptera on show with hoverflies een being:- Eristalis pertinax (*16); Platycheirus albimanus (*1); Episyrphus balteatus (*9); Syritta pipiens (*1) and Helophilus pendulus (*1). 2 * Common Green Shield Bug nymphs (Palomena prasina); 5 * Common Snipe Fly (Rhagio tringarius); 3 * Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum); a Soft Winged Flower Beetle (Anthocomus rufus); the Fly (Graphomyia maculata) and 1 * Tachnid Fly (Tachina fera).

Flowers in bloom were:- Hemp Agrimony; Corn Marigold; Great Willowherb; Cow Parsley; Purple Loosestrife; Greater Plantain; Water Ming agg; Creeping Thistle; Common Fleabane; Canadian Fleabane; Common Nettle; Spear Thistle; Red Campion; Redshank; Large Bindweed; Herb Robert; Broad Leaved Willowherb; Silverweed; Yellow Water Lily; Common Knapweed; Creeping Buttercup; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Common Centaury; Eyebright agg; Square Stalked St John's Wort; Red Bartsia; Yellow-Wort; Yellow Bartsia; Enchanter's Nightshade; Tufted Vetch; Yellow Loosestrife; Wood Avens; Common Poppy; Hogweed; Himalayan Balsam; Ivy Leaved Toadflax; Angelica; Large Flowered Evening Primrose agg; Meadow Vetchling; Black Medick; Yarrow; Smooth Tare and Lady's Bedstraw.

Galls seen were:- Pontania proxima; Dasineura urticae; Andricus quercuscalicis and Chirosia betuleti.

Only a fwew birds were seen whilst we had the noggin primarily to the ground:- Coal Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Chaffinch; Dunnock; Wren; Jay; Mallard; Wood Pigeon; Magpie; Cormorant and Kestrel.

A Frog and a Toad were also noted.

7th August 2019 - Sugar Brook Farm, Cheshire - Today I took a group of Young Carers to the farm with my work colleague Jeanette. Whilts being led around the grounds I noted a flowers in bloom, these grounds being:- Creeping Thistle; Spear Thistle; Pineappleweed; Common Field Speedwell; Wild Radish; Hedge Mustard; Common Knotgrass; Nipplewort; Self-Heal; Herb Robert; Enchanter's Nightshade; Greater Plantain; Dandelion agg; Wood Avens; Red Campion; Hedge Woundwort; Gypsywort; Marsh Thistle; White Clover; Procumbent Pearlwort and Scarlet Pimpernel.

Hoverflies seen were:- Episyrphus balteatus; Eristalis pertinax and Platycheirus albimanus.

Butterflies seen were:- Painted Lady and Small White.

A couple of galls were noted:- Acalitus brevitarsus; Eriophyes laevis and Andricus quercuscalicis.

5th August 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - I was leading an event today, 2 hours taking 20+ people on a hunt for 50 species. The end tally was broken down as thus:-

Butterflies seen were:- Painted Lady (*2); Meadow Brown (*2); Red Admiral (*1); Comma (*1); Gatekeeper (*3); Common Blue (*1); Peacock (*1) Small Skipper (*1) and Speckled Wood (*2). Moths added were Agriphila straminella (*2) and Straw Dot (*1) with several Cinnabar Moth larvae counted too as well as a lone Ruby Tiger caterpillar and a Grey Dagger larvae.

Hoverflies noted were:- Volucella zonaria (*1): Volucella pellucens (*2); Episyrphus balteatus (*4); Melanostoma scalare (*2); Helophilus pendulus (*1); Scaeva pyrastri (*1); Spaerophoria scripta (*1) and Eristalis pertinax (*3).

General bugs and beasties seen were:- Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); ; Mirid Bug (Oncotylus viridiflavus); Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); Tachnid Fly (Eriothrix rufomaculata); Black Tipped Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva); Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius); Mirid Bug (Heterotoma planicornis); 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus); Mirid Bug (Drearocoris ruber); Common Green Shield Bug (Palomina prasina); Leafhopper (Cicadella viridis); Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum) and Common Earwig (Forficula auricularia).

Flowers discussed were:- Rosebay Willowherb; Tufted Vetch; Greater Plantain; Meadow Buttercup; Meadow Crane's-Bill; Ribwort Plantain; Common Ragwort; Hogweed; Common Knapweed; Creeping Buttercup; Pineappleweed; Knotgrass; White Clover; Common Nettle; Creeping Thistle; Large Bindweed; Red Clover; Black Medick; Teasel; Goosegrass; Great Willowherb; Red Bartsia; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Marjoram; Tall Melilot; Wild Carrot; Bramble agg; White Water Lily; Water Mint agg; Perforate St John's Wort; Yarrow; Tansy; Mugwort and Spear Thistle.

Hazel was producing many nuts, a Squirrel was briefly seen as well as a flitting Wood Pigeon. The Spider Araneus quadratus was a good find and Strawberry Snail; Brown Lipped Banded Snail; White Lipped Banded Snail; Large Yellow Slug; Leopard Slug; Large Black Slugg agg; Striped Woodlouse; Shiny Woodlouse; Pygmy Woodlouse and the galls Aceria pseudoplatania and Pontania proxima made up the the end tally.

With 3 species of fungi added onto the list the end total was 90 species - not bad and tea and biscuits to finish was just a supreme bonus.

4th August 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - A bit of mothing but not that much about. The end list was:- Acrobasis advenella (*1); Antler Moth (*1); Common Rustic agg (*1); Dark Arches (*2); Mother of Pearl (*1); Agriphila straminella (*4); Riband Wave (*1); Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing (*1); Straw Underwing (*2); Light Brown Apple Moth (*4); Carcina quercana (*1); Large Yellow Underwing (*14); Willow Beauty (*2); Blastobasis adustella (*21); Tachystola acroxantha (*3); Argyresthia goedartella (*1) and Riband Wave f. remutata (*2).

A Forest Shield Bug was also in the mix.

In the garden during the day were the hoverflies:- Sphaerophoria scripta and Eristalis tenax and a Comma was seen laying eggs on the Nettle patch.

3rd August 2019 - Dalton Bank NR, West Yorkshire - Prior to the first footballing match of the new season we had a walk around a new area and clocked up a decent list of species. We had no camera, no bins, no books, just a few pots and some drinks, it was just as well as it was a sizzler. Butterflies seen were:- Speckled Wood (*6); Painted Lady (*7); Meadow Brown (*7); Gatekeeper (*18); Comma (*2); Small White (*3); Small Skipper (*7); Small Copper (*2); Small Heath (*2); Peacock (*2); Small Tortoiseshell (*1); Purple Hairstreak (*1); Ringlet (*1); Holly Blue (*1) and Wall Brown (*1). Many Cinnabar Moth caterpillars were observed and several Udea lutealis moths plus a lone Light Brown Apple Moth.

Hoverflies seen were:-Episyrphus balteatus (*14); Volucella pellucens (*1); Volucella inanis (*2); Eristalis tenax (*2); Syritta pipiens (*1); Myathropa florea (*1) and Eristalis pertinax (*1).

Other insects seen were:- 2 * Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); 2 * Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria); 2 * Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus); Mottled Grasshopper (Mymeleotettix maculatus); Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneaus); 2 * Tachnid Fly (Eriothrix rufomaculata); Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); 2 * 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); 1 * Honey Bee (Apis mellifera); 2 Nettle Pollen Beetles (Brachypterous urticae); 2 * Black Tailed Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva); 1 Leaf Beetle (Cryptocephalus pusillus) and 3 * Tachnid Fly (Tachina fera).

To add to the day's tally we saw:- Dunnock; 2 * Green Woodpecker; Blackbird; Goldfinch; Pheasant; Magpie; Jay; Carrion Crow; Wood Pigeon; Dusky Slug; Variegated Centipede; Rabbit; Grey Squirrel; Bracken; Silver Birch; Rowan; Elder; Beech; Dusky Slug; Garden Snail and a Common Garden Spider.

Galls listed were:- Trioza remota; Andricus curvator; Andricus foecundatrix; Andricus quercuscalicis and Andricus kollari.

Flowers in bloom were:- Ribwort Plantain; Common Ragwort; Red Clover; Large Bindweed; Creeping Thistle; Oxford Ragwort; Common Nettle; Great Willowherb; Mugwort; Rosebay Willowherb; Hogweed; Spear Thistle; Feverfew; Common Knotgrass; Meadow Crane's-Bill; Common Knapweed; Yarrow; Common Centaury; Ling; Self-Heal; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; White Clover; Tormentil; Foxglove; Chickweed; Common Mouse Ear; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Hedge Mustard; Sheep's Sorrel; Common Poppy; Pineappleweed; Goosegrass; Wood Sage and Squinancywort.

30th July 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, Cheshire - A walk in the dinner break saw me pick out a few hoverflies, these were:- 13 * Episyrphus balteatus; 2 * Eristalis pertinax; 1 * Helophilus pendulus and 1 * Syritta pipiens.

A Holly Blue and a Speckled Wood were also seen as well as a Diamond Back Moth; a Common Marbled Moth; 2 Red Tailed Bumble Bees and a lone Black Tipped Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva).

29th July 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - After sorting a little bit of stuff for nature at Cheadle Heath Nomads myself and my daughter popped down river where I had a quick wildlife hunt and Katie went running. Galls seen were:- Dasineura fraxini; Psyllopsis fraxini; Pontania proxima; Iteomyia major; Diplolespis nervosa; Eupontania pendunculi; Acalitus brevitarsus; Neuroterus numismalis; Andricus curvator; Andricus fecundator and Andricus quercuscalicis.

3 Marmalade Flies (Episyrphus balteatus) buzzed about; 1 Volucella inanis rested up; 2 Peacock butterflies enjoyed a Buddleia Bush and a Kingfisher darted over the turgid waters. The Mirid Bug (Heterotoma planicornis) was seen on flowering Tansy and Mugwort was now in subtle bloom.

25th July 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - More mothing, the result 176 moths of 42 species. The collection was made up of:- Spilonota ocellana (*1); Dark Arches (*6); Blastobasis adustella (*13); Lesser Yellow Underwing (*2); Marbled Minor agg (*1); Brown House Moth (*8); Diamond Backed Moth (*3); Swallow-Tailed Moth (*1); Shuttle Shaped Dart (*1); Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing (*2); Common Rustic agg (*1); Chrysoteuchia culmella (*3); Clay (*2); Bee Moth (*1); Agriphila straminella (*2); Apple Leaf Miner (*2); Argyresthia trifasciata (*1); Light Brown Apple Moth (*8); Dun-Bar (*1); Rustic (*2); Riband Wave f. remutata (*9); Mother of Pearl (*1); Marbled Beauty (*7); Large Yellow Underwing (*51); White Satin (*1); Acleris forsskaleana (*1); Small Phoenix (*1); Heart and Dart (*11); Eudonia lacustrata (*4); Antler Moth (*1); Orchard Ermine (*3); Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing (*1); Crassa unitella (*4); Tachystola acroxantha (*8); Dark/Grey Dagger agg (*1); Riband Wave (*1); Common Footman (*1); Double Square Spot (*1); Udea prunalis (*1); Udea lutealis (*1); Early Thorn (*1); Carcina quercana (*1) and Eudemis profunda (*1).

A very large lacewing was caught, it turned out to be Nineta flava and a Weevil turned out to be the rather lovely Curculio glandium.

23rd July 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - And after the days walk I had a moth trap to empty, the result, 145 moths of 43 species:- Orchard Ermine (*1); Marbled Beauty (*4); Light Brown Apple Moth (*5); Riband Wave f. remutata (*8); Common Rustic agg (*2); Large Yellow Underwing (*39); Common Footman (*1); Agapeta hamana (*1); Tachystola acroxantha (*6); Eudonia lacustrata (*3); Heart and Dart (*7); Bee Moth (*2); Mother of Pearl (*1); Smoky Wainscot (*1); Dun-Bar (*3); Chrysoteuchia culmella (*4); Riband Wave (*2); Straw Underwing (*3); Clay (*2); Small Phoenix (*1); Swallow-Tailed Moth (*2); Shuttle Shaped Dart (*1); Blastobasis adustella (*5); Bryotropha affinis (*2); Willow Beauty (*1); Dark Arches (*5); Fan Foot (*1); Lesser Yellow Underwing (*4); Brown House Moth (*7); Diamond Back Moth (*3); Common Emerald (*2); Hypsopygia glaucinalis (*1); Dot Moth (*1); Bright Line, Brown Eye (*1); Apple Leaf Miner (*3); Small Magpie (*1); Argyresthia goedartella (*2); Batia lunaris (*1); Chequered Fruit Tree Tortrix (*1); Crassa unitella (*1); Double Square Spot (*1) and Rustic (*1).

An Orange Ladybird and a Harlequin Ladybird also visited the trap.

23rd July 2019 - Gatley Carrs, Stockport, Cheshire - Another walk for the carers, a grand group pootled together, chatted and enjoyed the great outdoors whilst we aimed to name and shame (and of course take delight in), 50 wildlife species. The end total was 83 and included the following flowers in bloom:- Rosebay Willowherb; Common Ragwort; Herb Robert; Spear Thistle; Ribwort Plantain; Pineappleweed; Common Hogweed; Broad Leaved Willowherb; Goosegrass; Creeping Buttercup; Meadow Buttercup; Curled Dock; Hedge Woundwort; Bush Vetch; Figwort; Meadow Vetchling; Red Campion; Field Forget-Me-Not; Lesser Trefoil; Teasel; Tansy; Wood Avens; Foxglove; Large Flowered Evening Primrose agg; White Clover; Common Mouse Ear; Musk Mallow; Common Knapweed; Himalayan Balsam; Wall Speedwell; Thyme Leaved Speedwell; Self-Heal; Nipplewort; Enchanter's Nightshade; Daisy; Wood Sage; Yellow Water Lily; Purple Loosestrife; Angelica; Meadowsweet; Greater Willowherb; Common Nettle; Bramble agg; Yellow Loosestrife; Skull-Cap; Feverfew and Gypsywort.

Canada Goose; Mallard; Jackdaw; House Sparrow; Grey Heron; Black Headed Gull; Feral Pigeon; Mandarin Duck and Coot were the few birds noted.

On the invertebrate front we saw:- Cinnabar Moth larvae; Black Tipped Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva); Common Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemorum); Common Green Shield Bug nymphs (Palomena prasina); Common Blue Damselfly; Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus); 4 * Hoverfly (Leucozona glaucia); Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) and the butterflies Small White (*1); Small Skipper (*1); Small Tortoiseshell (*2); Painted Lady (*1) and a Ringlet (*1).

Galls seen were:- Eriophyes inangulis; Acalitus brevitarsus; Eriophayes laevis; Erioiphyes similis and Taphrina alni.

Hazel; Common Beech; Hornbeam; Pendulous Sedge; Common Alder; Dusky Slug; White Lipped Banded Snail and a Mole were a few extras thrown into the mix.

With 2 fungal species discussed I think, within 2 hours we did mighty fine.

22nd July 2019 - Gatley Carrs, Stockport, Cheshire - A good walk with my mate Ant, the list slowly tickled along with hoverflies seen as follows:- Platycheirus albimanus (*2); Eristalis pertinax (*11); Episyrphus balteatus (*2); Leucozona glaucia (*1); Myathropa florea (*7); Chrysogaster solstitialis (*1)

Insect counted were:- 20 * Mirid Bug (Plagiognathus arbustorum); 1 * Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella); 30 * Common Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemorum); 7 * Common Green Shield Bug nymphs (Palomena prasina); 1 * Mirid Bug (Phytocoris longipennis); 5 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 10 * Black Tipped Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva); 2 * Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis); 2 * Pea Weevil (Sitona sp); 4 * Mirid Bug (Heterotoma planicornis); 9 * 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata); 2 * Mirid Bug (Stenotus binotatus); 2 * Alder Spittle Bug (Aphrophora alni); 2 * Mirid Bug (Leptopterna dolabrata); 1 * 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); 1 * Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus); 1 Nettle Ground Bug (Heterogaster urticae); 1 * Mirid Bug (Orthops campestris); 2 * Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); 1 * Mirid Bug (Deraeocoris ruber); 1 * Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); 2 * Darkling Beetle (Lagria hirta); 2 * Spear Thistle Lacebug (Tingis cardui); 1 * Rhopalid Bug and nymphs (Rhopalis subrufus); 1 * Thistle Tortoise Beetle (Cassida rubiginosa); 1 * Leafhopper (Eupteryx urticae) and 1 * Ground Bug (Scolopostethus cf. afinis) and 1 * Mirid Bug (Notostira elongata).

Butterflies seen were:- Green Veined White (*2); Red Admiral (*1); Comma (*4); Speckled Wood (*3); Large White (*1) and Meadow Brown (*1).

Galls seen were:- Dasineura pustulans; Psyllopsis fraxini; Acalitus brevitarsus; Eriophyes laevis; Pontania proxima and Protomyces macrosporus.

Flowers in bloom were:- Creeping Buttercup; Common Knapweed; Musk Mallow; Perforate St John's Wort; Lady's Bedstraw; Ox-Eye Daisy; Yarrow; Greater Knapweed; Tall Melilot; Broad Leaved Dock; Meadow Vetchling; Red Campion; Canadian Goldenrod; Rosebay Willowherb; Daisy; Common Mouse Ear; Meadow Buttercup; Common Ragwort; Silverweed; Tufted Vetch; Black Medick; White Clover; Dandelion agg; Creeping Thistle; Meadow Crane's-Bill; Enchanter's Nightshade; Purple Loosestrife; Meadowsweet; Common Valerian; Shepherd's Purse; Broad Leaved Willowherb; Knot-Grass; Self-Heal; Hairy Tare; Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill; Canadian Fleabane; Spear Thistle; Hedge Woundwort; Greater Willowherb; Greater Plantain; Himalayan Balsam; Nipplewort; Goosegrass; Large Bindweed; Hedge Mustard; Wood Avens; Herb Robert; Pineappleweed; Bramble agg; Common Hogweed; Common Nettle and Common Field Speedwell.

20th July 2019 - Fletcher Moss, G. Manchester - Whilst looking for fungi I noted 4 butterfly species:- Speckled Wood (*5); Meadow Brown (*5); Green Veined White (*1) and Red Admiral (*1).

A Striped Millipede (Ommatoiulus sabulosus); Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata) and a Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) made up the small bug list with Garden Snail; Leopard Slug and Dusky Slug a couple of things seen whilst rolling logs.

Hartigiola annulipes and Aceria erinea were two galls noted.

15th July 2019 - Leyland Park/Bickershaw Woods, Hindley, G. Manchester - A walk around some old stomping ground and an area now overgrown, 5 Black Tailed Skimmers and 1 Emperor Dragonfly frequented some water on the park with 3 Brown Hawkers seen throughout the walk and 1 Common Darter.

Butterflies seen were:- Comma (*4); Gatekeeper (*9); Speckled Wood (*7); Small Tortoiseshell (*1); Small Skipper (*4); Meadow Brown (*4); Large Skipper (*1) and Red Admiral (*3).

Willow Tits called and a Raven flew high overhead.

15th July 2019 - Pennington Flash, G. Manchester - A catch up with my fine brother after a long break, birds were a mere aside as we concentrated on nattering and recording bugs and blooms. We did see a Common Tern, a Jay and a Tufted Duck with young but beyond that, all the usuals.

Flowers in bloom noted were:- White Clover; Greater Plantain; Common Nettle; Tufted Vetch; Smooth Sow Thistle; Red Clover; Hogweed; Meadowsweet; Lesser Swinecress; Curled Leaved Dock; Greater Willowherb; Meadow Crane's-Bill; Meadow Buttercup; Red Campion; Daisy; Broad Leaved Willowherb; Ribwort Plantain; Teasel; Common Toadflax; Goat's-Beard; Common Ragwort; Pineappleweed; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Dandelion agg; Himalayan Balsam; Meadow Vetchling; Hedge Bindweed; Goosegrass; Wood Avens; Marsh Woundwort; White Melilot; Silverweed; Yellow-Rattle; Purple Loosestrife; Self-Heal; Common Fleabane; Tall Melilot; Lady's Bedstraw; Ox-Eye Daisy; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Common Knapweed; Perforate St John's-Wort; Yarrow; Black Medick; Wild Carrot; Greater Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Ragged Robin and White Dead Nettle.

1 * Darkling Beetle (Lagria hirta); 4 Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans); 5 Black Tipped Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva); 1 * Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); 2 * Broad Centurion Soldier Fly (Chloromyia formosa); 1 * Semaphore Fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus); 2 Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella); 1 * Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa); 6 * Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis); 2 * 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata); 2 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 2 * 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); 3 * Mirid Bug (Plagiognathus arbustorum); 1 * Potato Capsid (Closterotomus norwegicus); 3 * Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); 1 * Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus); 2 * Red Eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas); Pot Bellied Emerald Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula); 1 * Mirid Bug (Grypocoris stysi) and 1 * Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

Hoverflies seen were:- Eristalis pertinax (*6); Cheilosia illustrata (*1); Episyrphus balteatus (*2); Platycheirus rosarum (*1); Melanostoma scalare (*1); Xanthogramma pedissequum agg (*2); Chrysogaster solstitialis (*1) and Myathropa florea (*1).

Butterflies noted were:- Speckled Wood (*4); Gatekeeper (*7); Meadow Brown (*2); Comma (*2); Small Skipper (*6); Small Tortoiseshell (*1) and Red Admiral (*2) plus the moths Shaded Broad Bar (*2) and Straw Dot (*1).

2 galls were added, these were:- Eriophyes laevis and Taphrina alni.

14th July 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - A bit of mothing, species caught were:- Willow Beauty (*1); Marbled Beauty (*1); Scalloped Oak (*7); Clouded Border (*1); Dark/Grey Dagger sp (*1); Heart and Dart (*9); Riband Wave f. remutata (*6); Clay (*3); Blastobasis adustella (*1); Eudonia lacustrata (*6); Light Brown Apple Moth (*1); Dark Arches (*4); Rustic (*4); Triple Spotted Clay (*1); Small Fan-Footed Wave (*1); Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing (*1); Lesser Yellow Underwing (*1); Bright Line, Brown Eye (*1); Riband Wave (*1); Timothy Tortrix (*1); Large Yellow Underwing (*1); Anania coronata (*1); Bee Moth (*1) and Small Phoenix (*2).

A House Mouse was seen climbing up the Ox-Eye Daisy in the garden, nibbling a stem and then disappearing within the vegetation.

12th July 2019 - Heaton Mersey/River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - 6 * Speckled Wood; 1 * Red Admiral; 1 * Large Skipper; 2 * Small Tortoiseshell; 1 * Gatekeeper and 1 * Ringlet were butterflies enjoying a break between the downpours.

A few hoverflies were seen, all singles, these being:- Melanostoma scalare; Episyrphus ribesii and Cheilosia illustrata.

A Brown Hawker hunted over the river and the galls Eupontania pendunculi and Taphrina alni were added to the day's listings.

Broad Leaved Willowherb and Hemp Agrimony were in flower.

8th July 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - Some mothing, a small collection included:- Riband Wave f. remutata (*6); Bright Line, Brown Eye (*1); Tachystola acroxantha (*1); Scalloped Oak (*7); Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (*1); Riband Wave (*2); Swallow-Tailed Moth (*2); Bee Moth (*2); Fan-Foot (*1); Rustic (*4); Eudonia lacustrata (*7); Brown House Moth (*1); Diamond Back Moth (*2); Heart and Dart (*6); Light Brown Apple Moth (*1); Dark Arches (*3) and Golden Plusia (*1).

A 2 Spot Ladybird was in the garden as well as the hoverflies - Eristalis pertinax and Myathropa florea.

6th July 2019 - Collard Hill, Somerset - On the way home from our holiday we broke up the journey with a quick jaunt around a site we haven't visited for quite a while. Butterflies seen were:- Painted Lady (*2); Large Blue (*1); Common Blue (*2); Marbled White (*4); Small Heath (*4); Meadow Brown (*6) and Gatekeeper (*1). The moth Oncocera rubella was nice to catch up with again.

I made note of a few flowers:- Lesser Centaury; Devil's Bit Scabious; Self-Heal; Agrimony; Wild Thyme and Common Centaury.

A Common Field Grasshopper was the only thing added as we were pressed for time.

5th July 2019 - Radipole Lake RSPB, Dorset - Traveller's Joy and Hedgerow Crane's-Bill were 2 nice flowers in bloom with birds seen being:- Greater Black Backed Gull; Herring Gull; Mediterranean Gull; Black Headed Gull; Tufted Duck; Coot; Little Egret; Mute Swan; Mallard; Feral Pigeon; Wood Pigeon; Blue Tit; Cormorant; Great Crested Grebe; Moorhen; Starling; Goldfinch; House Martin; Cetti's Warbler; Grey Heron; Reed Warbler; Dunnock; Carrion Crow; Bearded Tit and Canada Goose.

A Blue Tailed Damselfly; 12 * Scarlet Tiger Moths; 1 * Black Tailed Skimmer; 1 * Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) and a gang of Carp were the other things seen.

5th July 2019 - Tadnoll and Winfrith Heath, Dorset - An early morning walk in yet more burning sun, it kept the insects down but we did see:- Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus); 4 Spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata); 2 * Mirid Bug (Stenotus binotatus); 1 * Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus); 4 * 16 Spot Ladybirds (Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata); Nettle Ground Bug (Heterogaster urticae); Long Winged Conehead nymph (Conocephalus fuscus); Dark Bush Cricket nymph (Pholidoptera griseoaptera); 1 * Mirid Bug (Deraeocoris ruber); 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata); 1 * Tortoise Shield Bug (Eurygaster testudinaria); 3 * 10 Spot Ladybirds (Adalia decempunctata); 4 * 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata); 2* Tortoise Bugs (Cassida murraea); 2 * Heather Bugs (Ulopa reticulata); 2 * 24 Spot Ladybirds (Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata) and a Common Groundhopper (Tetrix undulata).

Butterflies noted were:- Large Skipper (*5); Small Heath (*1); Silver Studded Blue (*3); Meadow Brown (*9); Red Admiral (*1); Brimstone (*1); Peacock (*1); Marbled White (*1); Small Skipper (*1) and Ringlet (*12).

Flowers in bloom were:- Yarrow; White Clover; Pineappleweed; Bird's Foot Trefoil; Common Stork's-Bill; Daisy; Red Clover; Marsh Bedstraw; Black Nightshade; Marsh Cudweed; Hop Trefoil; Nodding Thistle; Ladys Bedstraw; Meadow Buttercup; Self-Heal; Marsh Thistle; Ox-Eye Daisy; Bog Asphodel; Greater Plantain; Ribwort Plantain; Meadowsweet; Tormentil; Lesser Centaury; Scarlet Pimpernel; Common Mouse-Ear; Common Vetch; Foxglove; Lesser Stitchwort; Creeping Thistle; Curled Dock; Thyme Leaved Speedwell; Dandelion agg; Tufted Vetch; Silverweed; Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill; Twayblade; Ragged Robin; Red Campion; Black Medick; Germander Speedwell; Hogweed; Herb Robert; Common Centaury and Eyebright agg. We also saw Round Leaved Sundew and Lesser Swine Cress.

4th July 2019 - Dean Hill, Ulwell, Dorset - Butterflies seen were:- Small Skipper (*10); Small Heath (*11); Marbled White (*7); Dark Green Fritillary (*12) and numerous Meadow Browns. Silver Y was the only moth seen.

Stonechat and Meadow Pipit were the only birds.

Yellow-Wort; Broad Leaved Eyebright and Bladder Campion.

Roe Deer were calling and a couple were seen peeping over some Bracken.

4th July 2019 - Hartland Moor, Dorset - An early morning walk, the weather was blissful - 2 Dartford Warblers were picked up, a fine male Stonechat and a few Goldfinch flitted about. Brimstone; Comma and Marbled White were flitting about. We saw a few flowers too - Hare's Foot Clover; Bird's-Foot; Fragrant Agrimony; Common Centaury and Short Haired Eyebright.

Robin's Pincushion was a nice find, an Emperor Dragonfly was whizzing about and 2 Golden Ringed Dragonflies were delightful.

3rd July 2019 - Portland Bill, Dorset - A lazy day around the obs and a walk to Easton. Moths noted at the lighthouse were:- Scarce Light Plume; Small Waved Umber; Mullein Wave; Eucosma conterminana; Argolamprotes micella; Acrobasis suavella; Notocelia rosaecolana; Double Square Spot and Archips xylosteana.

Whilst walking back from Easton we called in a Cheyne Weares and saw a female Peregrine Falcon; a male Kestrel with a tasty rodent in its claws; 6 Wall Lizards and 3 Lulworth Skippers.

A bit of sweep-netting later in the day produced:- 3 * 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata); 1 * Adonis Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata); ; 2 * Hairy Shield Bugs (Dolycoris baccarum); 1 Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus); 1 * Great Green Bush Cricket nymph (Tettigonia viridissima); ; 1 * Diamond Back Moth (Plutella xylostella); 1 * Mirid Bug (Leptopterna ferrugata); 2 * Bishops Mitre Bugs (Aelia acuminata); 1 * Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus); 1 Grass Veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella); 1 * 16 Spot Ladybird; 2 * Malachite Beetle (Cordylepherus viridis); 1 * Denticulate Leather Bug (Coriomeris denticulatus); ; 2 * Mirid Bugs (Orthocephalus saltator) and many Black Tipped Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva).

A Little Owl was seen at rest on a fence post enjoying the early evening sun.

2nd July 2019 - East Creech NR, Dorset - After tea and cake we had a walk around this baking reserve and had a good array of species. Large Red Damselfly (*2); Emerald Damselfly (*2); Emperor Dragonfly (*2) and Keeled Skimmer (*7) were the odonates on show with lepidoptera represented by:- Meadow Brown (*6); Small Heath (*2); Silver Studded Blue (*20+); Small Copper (*1) and the moths:- Cinnabar (*1); Beautiful Hook Tip (*1) and Purple Bordered Gold (*1).

A pair of Linnets and a pair of Stonechat were great to see as was a Grass Snake; a Scarce 7 Spot Ladybird; a Common Field Grasshopper; the Mirid Bug (Stenotus binotatus); a Speckled Bush Cricket nymph and 5 Heath Bee Flys (Bombylius minor).

2nd July 2019 - Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset - The morn was spent pottering around this lovely area, we didn't see much but some real quality made up for the lack of variety. Meadow Brown (*3); Gatekeeper (*1); Ringlet (*1); Marbled White (*2) and Peacock (*1) were the butterflies on the wing with Black Headed Gull; Linnet and House Sparrow the couple of birds noted.

A few flowers were listed, these being:- White Clover; Pineappleweed; Wild Carrot; Hedge Bindweed; Bristly Ox-Tongue; Greater Plantain; Bittersweet; Red Campion; Curled Dock; Ribwort Plantain; Yarrow Greater Willowherb; Hemlock Water Dropwort; Teasel; Red Clover; Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil; Black Medick; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill and Thrift.

A paddle was had - Mermaid's Tresses (Chorda filum); and Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) were the seaweeds identified plus several Cushion Starfish (Asterina gibbosa) were seen and a Broad Clawed Porcelain Crab (Porcellana platycheles), Star Ascidian (Botryllus schlosseri); a Common Blenny (Lipophrys pholis) but the star find was the simply amazing Candy Striped Flat-Worm (Prostheceraeus vittatus) - what a stunner. We also saw a wonderful display of the alga Peacock's Tail (Padina pavonica) - what a lovely thing.

1st July 2019 - Portland Bill, Dorset - An evening walk with the good lady and two fantastic blokes, stand up Terry and Alan. We found a few moths, namely Crescent Plume; White Plume; Lackey; 6 Spot Burnet and Brown Tail.

Slender Tare was a new flower for the year as was the gall Aceria sanguisorbiae. A male and female Great Green Bush Crickets were lovely and 4 different sized Slow Worms was just marvellous. We showed our finds to a local lady, she was a bundle of genuine enthusiasm - we all returned to the lighthouse in a good frame of mind.

1st July 2019 - Happy Bottom NR, Dorset - A tucked away place to unwind and enjoy a shot walk. We didn't see a great deal but Comma (*1); Marbled White (*1); Forest Shield Bug nymph; Episyrphus balteatus (*3); Capsus ater (*2); Meadow Grasshopper; Black Tipped Soldier Beetle; Speckled Bush Cricket nymph; Dark Bush Cricket nymph; Long Winged Conehead nymph; Eurygaster testudinaria (*2) and Stenotus binotatus (*2) were some of the bugs and beasties seen. We later identified the Picture Wing Fly (Rivellia syngenesiae) of which there were 3 specimens - yes!

The galls Chirosia grossicauda and Trioza remota were added the sightings as well as a circling Common Buzzard, a Robin and a Blackbird.

1st July 2019 - Longham Lakes, Dorset - We set off for one place, ended up here, it was a new area and on the map looked OK - so why the Hell not! Odonates were affected by the wind but we still saw:- Red Veined Darter (*10); Emperor Dragonfly (*4); Black Tailed Skimmer (*4); Banded Demoiselle (*2); Blue Tailed Damselfly (*2); Common Darter (*1); Scarce Chaser (*1); Golden Ringed Dragonfly (*1) and Azure Damselfly (*1).

Butterflies noted were:- Meadow Brown (20+); Marbled White (*21); Small Skipper (*5); Painted Lady (*3); Comma (*2); Small Tortoiseshell (*1); Common Blue (*1); Green Veined White (*2) and Red Admiral (*6). The moths Silver Y (*1) and Endotricha flammealis (*1) joined the scale winged foray!

Other bugs seen were:- 1 * Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus); 1 * Alder Spittle Bug; 2 * Alder Leaf Beetle; 1 * Harlequin Ladybird; 1 * Semaphore Fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus); 1 * 7 Spot Ladybird and 2 * Figwort Weevils (Cionus scrophulariae).

Common Valerian; Monkeyflower; Common Centaury; New Zealand Pygmyweed; Common Cudweed; Orange Hawkweed; White Bryony and Creeping Jenny were a few flowers noted.

Robin's Pincushion Gall is always nice to see and a Green Woodpecker was spied buggering off into the distance.

30th June 2019 - Portland Bill, Dorset - Arriving back at the lighthouse and a group of lepidopterists were excited, a Large Tortoiseshell had been seen and after 5 minutes wait it reappeared and gave some real close up views as it fed on Red Valerian alongside a Hummingbird Hawk-Moth.

A few moths were left by the warden, Marbled Clover; Tawny Barred Angle and Blue Bordered Carpet were the best and rounded off a cracking day's hunting.

30th June 2019 - Broadcroft Quarry, Portland, Dorset - A short walk, the sun was hammering our tired bonses but we did see the following butterflies;- Marbled White (*48); Ringlet (*3); Meadow Brown (*22); Lulworth Skipper (*3); Small Skipper (*5); Small Heath (*1); Green Veined White (*1) and Common Blue (*2).

Musk Mallow; Grass Vetchling; Sainfoin were nice flowers to see.

30th June 2019 - Chesil Beach, Dorset - A morning and early afternoon spent at an area we know well. A flower list was kept by my good lady, the end total was 77 species, these were:- Tree Mallow; Yellow-Rattle; Goat's-Beard; Carrot Broomrape; Agrimony; Marjoram; Teasel; Wild Parsnip; Crow Garlic; Common Toadflax; Fennel; Goosegrass; Common Mallow; Sea Aster; Thrift; Greater Sea Spurrey; Lucerne; Herb Robert; Sea Campion; Ivy Leaved Toadflax; Viper's Bugloss; English Stonecrop; Dove's Foot Crane's-Bill; Red Valerian; Rock Samphire; Common Stork's-Bill; Broad Leaved Everlasting Pea; Self-Heal; Chicory; Pale Flax; Common Ragwort; Lady's Bedstraw; Lesser Swinecress; Black Medick; Red Clover; Field Madder; Weld; Mugwort; Opium Poppy; Common Poppy; White Campion; Creeping Cinquefoil; Curl Leaved Dock; Bramble agg; Pyramidal Orchid; Shrubby Sea Blite; Sea Plantain; Biting Stonecrop; Welted Thistle; Tall Melilot; Groundsel; Yellow Horned Poppy; Sea Beet; Bucks-Horn Plantain; Dandelion agg; Wild Carrot; Bristly Ox-Tongue; Bittersweet; Rough Clover; Scarlet Pimpernel; Pellitory of the Wall; Sea Kale; Spear Thistle; Lesser Trefoil; Hogweed; Restharrow; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; White Clover; Large Bindweed; Field Bindweed; Oxford Ragwort; Yarrow; Daisy; Creeping Thistle; Hop Trefoil and Kidney Vetch.

We didn't take notice of the bird life but saw a several Mediterranean Gulls; a couple of fishing Little Terns; the odd Oystercatcher; a lone Ringed Plover and some young Pied Wagtails.

Bugs seen were few:- 5 * Summer Chafer (Amphimallon solstitialis); 1 * Common Earwig (Forficula auricularia); 1 Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); 2 Red Tailed Bumble Bees (Bombus lapidarius); 4 * 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); 1 * Large Rose Sawfly (Arge ochropus); 1 Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta) and numerous Pill Woodlice (Armadillidium vulgare); 1 * 11 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella undecimpunctata) and Meadow Grasshoppers (Chorthippus parallelus).

Butterflies on the wing were:- Meadow Brown (*25); Marbled White (*3); Small Skipper (*5); Painted Lady (*2) and Clouded Yellow (*1). 2 Moths were added, Crescent Plume and Coleophora trifolii.

I had a paddle and uncovered some very interesting sea-life. Shore Crab; Edible Crab; Broad Clawed Porcelain Crab; Beadlet Anemone; Common Limpet; Snakelocks Anemone; Neptune's Heart Sea Squirt (Phallusia mammillata); Leathery Sea Squirt (Styela clava); Baked Bean Ascidian (Dendrodoa grossularia); Star Ascidian (Botryllus schlosserri); Sea Slug (Archidoris pseudoargus); Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita); Blue Jellyfish (Cyanea lamarckii); Variegated Scallop (Chlamys varia); Shore Clingfish (Lepadogaster lepadogaster); Bootlace Worm (Lineus longissimus); Bladder Wrack (Fucus vesiculosus); Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca); Plump Bodied Isopod (Sphaeroma serratum) and Purple Topshell (Gibbula umbilicalis) were the finds of the day.

29th June 2019 - Nicodemus Knob, Portland, Dorset - Late morning was spent pootling in the baking heat, we didn't see a great deal as we were getting baked. Dingy Skipper (*1); Marbled White (*5); Small Heath (*6); Small Skipper (*1); Common Blue (*6) and Ringlet (*3) were the butterflies seen with one moth species, this being Pyrausta despicata (*2). Bugs were represented by:- 1 * Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus); 5 * Malachite Beetle (Cordylepherus viridis); 2 * Mirid Bug (Capsus ater); 2 * Alder Spittle Bug (Aphrophora alni); 2 * Swollen Thighed Beetles (Oedemera nobilis); 1 * Mirid Bug (Macrotylus paykulli); 1 * Mirid Bug (Leptopterna ferrugata); 1 * Mirid Bug (Leptopterna dolabrata); 1 * Hawthorn Shield Bug and some Long Winged Conehead nymphs.

Flowers noted were:- Ivy Broomrape; Hedge Bedstraw; Wild Madder; Goldenrod; English Stonecrop and Rock Stonecrop.

Galls seen were:- Diplolepis eglanteriae/nervosa and Aceria labiatiflorae.

The moth Dioryctria abietella was kicked up from the grass.

29th June 2019 - Portland Bill, Dorset - The early part of the morning was spent holding hands walking up to the end of the island from the Bird Obs and just gently noting a few things. The highlight on the birding front was 6 Ravens sat close-by on the pathways with one holding on to a Rabbits head. A Wheatear looked rather tatty, 2 Rock Pipits looked slim and elegant and the sea was dotted with many Guillemots and Razorbills.

A free flowers were noted, these were:- Tree Mallow; Pale Flax; Agrimony; Wild Carrot; Bastard Toadflax; Kidney Vetch; Yellow Vetchling; Thrift; Crow Garlic and Rock Samphire.

Butterflies observed were:- Small Skipper (*1); Marbled White (*20); Small Heath (*7); Meadow Brown (*10) and Painted Lady (*3). A Silver Y was also in the lepidopteran mix.

Back at the lighthouse and a couple of grand blokes were going through the moth trap, I offered a few helpful hints and made note of:- Vine's Rustic; Crescent Dart; Heart and Club; Short Cloaked Moth; Muslin Footman; Kent Black Arches; White Ermine; Mottled Rustic and a Lackey. In the evening we added a Blue Bordered Carpet from nearby fields.

In the Obs we were shown a specimen of Large Rose Sawfly (Arge ochropus) by one of the regulars (cheers Duncan).

Tamarisk was seen in flower later in the day along with 3 more Painted Ladys.

28th June 2019 - Portland, Dorset - The day started and ended on the lovely island where we were spending our holidays. Wild Privet; Wild Thyme; Restharrow; Pyramidal Orchid and Small Scabious.

Marbled White (*4); Large Skipper (*1); Yellow-Shell (*1); Scarlet Tiger Moth (*7) and Lackey larvae were on their webs.

The hoverfly Helophilus triviattus; a Slow Worm and Quaking Grass were lovely extras.

28th June 2019 - Lytchett RSPB, Dorset - The second area of the day, it was a bird reserve but of course we were might distracted. The birds seen were:- Wood Pigeon; House Sparrow; Blackbird; Cormorant; House Martin; Black Headed Gull; Kingfisher; Little Egret; Goldfinch; Grey Heron; Moorhen; Mallard and Lapwing were the only species noted.

Flowers in bloom were:- Lesser Trefoil; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil; Figwort; Marsh/Hedge Woundwort; Ground Elder; Scarlet Pimpernel; Common Vetch; Black Medick; Redshank; White Clover; Tufted Vetch; Common Hogweed; Bush Vetch; Black Bryony; Common Nettle; Goosegrass; Herb Robert; Meadow Buttercup; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Hemlock Water Dropwort; Nipplewort; Marsh Thistle; Red Clover; Foxglove; Field Bindweed; Comfrey agg; Hairy Tare; Hairy Buttercup; Meadowsweet; Buttonweed and Red Campion.

Bugs were represented by:- 1 * Field Damsel Bug (Nabis ferus); 13 * 16 Spot Ladybird (Tythaspis sedecimpunctata); Bog Bush Cricket (Metrioptera brachyptera); 1 * Figwort Weevil (Cionus scrophulariae); 2 * Figwort Weevil (Cionus alauda); Long Winged Conehead; 7 Spot Ladybird; Mirid Bug (Capsus ater) (*3); 1 * Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus); 1 * Spear Thistle Lace Bug (Tingis cardui); 2 * Speckled Bush Cricket Nymphs (Leptophyes punctatissima); 3 * Wasp Longhorn Beetles (Rutpela maculata); 1 * Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); 1 * Banded Demoiselle (Calopterys splendens); 1 * Dark Bush Cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera); 2 * Tachnid Fly (Nowickia ferox); 1 * Ruddy Darter (*1); 1 * Malachite Beetle (Cordylepherus viridis); Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus); 1 * Alder Spittle Bug (Aphrophora alni); 1 * ; Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 1 * Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); Male and female Flecked Snout Soldier Fly (Nemotelus notatus); 1 * Ground Bug (Cymus melanocephalus); 1 * Mirid Bug (Leptopterna ferrugata); 1 * Soldier Beetle (Cantharis nigra); 1 * Soldier Beetle (Cantharis thoracica) and 3 * Black Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Hoverflies included:- Eristalis pertinax (*2); Episyrphus balteatus (*1).

Lepidoptera seen included:- Painted Lady (*2); Comma (*3); Meadow Brown (*15); Large Skipper (*1); Small Skipper (*1) plus the moths Clouded Border (*1); Brimstone (*1); Celypha lacunana (*1) and Scallop Shell (*1).

28th June 2019 - Slop Bog, Dorset - A walk in sizzling weather, Silver Studded Blues were the dominant feature - we counted 110 and gave up. Other butterflies seen were:- Ringlet (*1); Red Admiral (2) with moths noted:- Silver Y (*1) and Common Heath (*1).

1 * Banded Demoiselle; 1 * Black Tailed Skimmer; 1 * Golden Ringed Dragonfly; 1 * Beautiful Demoiselle; 5 * Large Red Damselfly; 1 * Small Red Damselfly; 1 * Azure Damselfly and 3 * Four Spotted Chasers

Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus); Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus); 3 * Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata); 2 * Wasp Longhorn Beetles (Rutpela maculata); 4 * Heath Bug (Ulopa reticulata); 2 Birch Catkin Bugs (Kleidocerys resedae) and 3 Forest Bug Nymphs (Pentatoma rufipes) made up the small insect list.

Bog Asphodel and Enchanter's Nightshade were in fine flower; Bog Myrtle smelled glorious and the gall Iteomyia major was abundant.

27th June 2019 - Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset - A quick pootle before we headed to Portland Bill Bird Observatory. Things were pretty quiet but we did see the following birds:- Carrion Crow; Common Tern; Oystercatcher; Little Egret; Mallard; Gadwall; Mediterranean Gull (*25); Herring Gull; Shelduck; Starling; Grey Heron; Lapwing; Marsh Harrier; Coot; Little Ringed Plover (*2); Collared Dove; Wood Pigeon; House Sparrow; Little Grebe; Pochard; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Blue Tit; House Martin; Feral Pigeon; Shoveler; Magpie; Black Tailed Godwit; Redshank; Teal and Cormorant.

Painted Lady (*2); Ringlet (*2); Red Admiral (*1) and Comma (*1) were butterflies on the wing.

Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); Black Tipped Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva); Blue Tailed Damselfly (*1) and the Hoverfly (Cheilosia illustrata) were the other insects seen.

Stinking Iris and Lady's Bedstraw were in flower and the gall Eriophyes similis was prevalent.

27th June 2019  - Willow and Wetlands Centre, Somerset - After a cracking lunch in The Lemon Tree Cafe we had a short walk in blazing heat. Hoverflies were represented by:- Eristalis tenax (*2); Syritta pipiens (*1); Eristalis pertinax (*2) and Episyrphus balteatus (*4).

The odonates observed were:- Southern Hawker (*1); Emperor Dragonfly (*1); Blue Tailed Damselfly (*2); Azure Damselfly (*1); Banded Demoiselle (*3) and Black Tailed Skimmer (*6).

Other bugs noted were:- 7 * Broad Centurion Soldier Fly (Chloromyia formosa); 1 * Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) and 1 * Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana).

Lepidopterans seen were:- Meadow Brown (*3); Red Admiral (*1); Small Tortoiseshell (*2) and Nettle Tap Moth (*1); Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (*1); Cinnabar Moth (*2) and a single Magpie Moth larva.

Purple Loosestrife; Pink Water Speedwell and Meadowsweet were a few flowers in bloom.

24th June 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - A morn at Cheadle Heath Nomads doing some nature work with my mate Ant and then a walk around this local area and a meet up with 2 volunteers. We got a soaking, the sky was overcast, surprisingly we xclocked up the following lepidopterans:- Painted Lady (*2); Green Veined White (*1); Speckled Wood (*1); Large Skipper (*2); Meadow Brown (*6); Common Blue (*3); and Ringlet (*3) plus the moths:- Celypha lacunana (*1); Narrow Bordered Five Spot Burnet (*2); Chrysoteuchia culmella (*1); Nettle Tap Moth (*1) and a Silver Y (*1).

Insect life was made up of:- 1 * Slender Robberfly (Leptogaster cylindrica); 1 * Dance Fly (Empis opaca); 1 * Mirid Bug (Grypocoris stysi); 3 * Swollen Thighed Beetles (Oedemera nobilis): 1 * Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens); 5 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 1 * 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata); 4 * Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum); 1* Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus); 1 * Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus paralellus); 1 * Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella); 2 * Bracken Bugs (Ditropis pteridis); 5 * Red Tailed Bumble Bees (Bombus lapidarius); 1 * Pollen Beetle (Chrysolina oricalcia); 1 * Mirid Bug (Leptopterna dolobrata) and the lone Beetle (Lagria hirta).

Hoverflies seen were:- Volucella bombylans (*1); Cheilosia illustrata (*1); Episyrphus balteatus (*4); Syrphus ribesii (*1) and Eristalis tenax (*1).

Fox and Cubs; Bladder Campion and Common Ragwort were a few flowers noted in bloom.

A Brown Rat was noted too and a young female Blackcap landed right beside us as we contemplated a few bugs.

23rd June 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - A few moths were caught overnight, these were:- Ancylis achatana (*1); Green Pug (*1); Scythropia crataegella (*3); Eudonia lacustrata (*1); Lozotaenia forsterana (*2); Bee Moth (*1); Large Yellow Underwing (*3); Willow Beauty (*3); Marbled Minor agg (*1); Riband Wave f. remutata (*3); Heart and Dart (*7); Diamond Back Moth (*3); Dark Arches (*3); Tachystola acroxantha (*8); Ectoedemia decentella (*1); and Light Brown Apple Moth (*4).

3 species of hoverfly frequented the garden despite cloudy skies, these were:- Episyrphus balteatus; Myathropa florea and Sphaerophoria scripta. A Painted Lady was flushed from the herbage and I found another Light Brown Apple Moth and The Elderberry Pearl (Anania coronata). The Ichneumon (Gasteruption jaculator) was a nice bonus.

The Nettles held 3 Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis); 2 Nettle Ground Bugs (Heterogaster urticae) and some breeding Nettle Pollen Beetles (Brachypterus urticae).

22nd June 2019 - Abbot's Moss, Cheshire - An early morning walk, it was remarkably quiet on all fronts, birds seen were:- Blackbird; Blackcap; Magpie; Mistle Thrush; Goldfinch; Mute Swan; Nuthatch; Long Tailed Tit; Wren; Song Thrush; Bullfinch; Swallow; Carrion Crow; Tufted Duck; Little Grebe; Jay; Willow Warbler; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Blue Tit; Robin and Common Whitethroat.

Many usual flowers were in bloom, only Bog Rosemary was new for the year.

3 galls were noted, these were:- Hartigiola annulipes; Biorhiza pallida and Chirosia betuleti.

Insects ween were:- 1 * Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea); 1 Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula); 1 * Mirid Bug (Grypocoris stysi); 1 * Scorpion Fly (Panorpa germanica); 1 * 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata); 1 * Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); 1 * Malachite Beetle (Malachius bipustulatus); 1 * Green Lacewing (Chrysopa perla); 4 * Birch Catkin Bugs (Kleidocerys resedae); 2 * Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria); 3 * Heather Bug (Kleidocerys ericae); 1 * Heath Damsel Bug (Nabis ericetorum); 1 * Forest Shield Bug (Pentatoma rufipes) and 2 * Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis).

Lepidoptera seen were:- 1 * Brimstone; 3 * Cinnabar Moth; 4 * Common Heath Moths; 1 * Common Marbled Moth; 1 Marbled Orchard Tortrix; 2 * Brown Silver Line; 1 * Grass Wave plus a Beautiful Yellow Underwing larva.

Eristalis pertinax; Chrysogaster solstitialis and Meliscaeva auricollis were the only hoverflies seen.

Tall Melilot was just in flower. 

17th June 2019 - Fletcher Moss, G. Manchester - Crap weather but I had a good cycle and saw a few things. Insects noted were:- 3 * Birch Shield Bugs (Elasmostethus interstinctus); 5 * Forest Shield Bug nymphs (Pentatoma rufipes); 3 * Parent Bugs (Elasmucha grisea); 1 Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria); 4 Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis); Alder Spit Bug (Aphrophora alni); Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) and 173 * Birch Catkin Bug (Kleidocerys resedae).

A few galls were noted as per:- Pemphigus spyrothecae; Pontania proxima; Psyllopsis fraxini; Aceria nervisequa; Aceria macrochelus and Aceria myriadeum.

16th June 2019 - Roman Lakes, Stockport, Cheshire - I led a Signpost for Carers walk today, they are always gratifying events to lead as it gives a chance for people in stressful situations a break and time to just chill out. Today we were blessed with good weather until gettimng caught in a downpour just before we went for tea and cake, hey ho - tis all part of the adventure. Flowers in bloom seen were:- Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Daisy; Wood Avens; Herb Robert; Ribwort Plantain; Silverweed; Curled Dock; Self-Heal; Pineappleweed; Tutsan; Bird's Foot Trefoil; Brooklime; Broad Leaved Dock; Red Campion; Yellow Flag Iris; Marsh Thistle; Ladies Mantle agg; Wall Speedwell; Thyme Leaved Speedwell; Nipplewort; Common Nettle; Foxglove; Meadow Buttercup; Garlic Mustard; Hedge Mustard; Goosegrass; Germander Speedwell; Ragged Robin; Lesser Trefoil; Hogweed; Lesser Stitchwort; Bush Vetch; White Clover; Creeping Buttercup; Sweet Cicely; Fringe Cups; Cow Parsley; Ivy Leaved Toadflax; Procumbent Pearlwort; Red Clover; Figwort; Ground Ivy; Common Mouse Ear and Ox-Eye Daisy.

Insects seen were:- 1 * Caddis Fly (Mystacides longicornis); 2 * Figwort Weevil (Cionus scrophulariae); 8 * Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); 2 * Pot Bellied Emerald Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula); 4 * Black Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus cristatus); 8 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 1 * Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); 1 * Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); 1 * White Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lucorum); 1 * Soldier Beetle (Cantharis nigricans); 3 * Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella); 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata); 1 * Red and Black Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata); 1 * Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans); Black Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum); 1 * Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula); 1 * Golden Bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle (Agapanthea villosoviridescens) and 1 * Mirid Bug (Grypocoris stysi).

Hoverflies seen were:- Platycheirus rosarum; Episyrphus balteatus; Volucella pellucens; Meliscaeva auricollis and Chrysogaster solstitialis.

Galls seen were:- Eriophyes laevis; Eriophyes inangulis; Psyllopsis fraxini; Acalitus brevitarsus; Pontania proxima; Aceria macrorhyncha; Aceria pseudoplatani and Eupontania pendunculi.

Lepidoptera were low today, only 2 species - a Speckled Wood (*1) and the Nemophora degeerella (*2).

14th June 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - A snippet of sunshine, a Green Veined White and a Small White took to the wing, Episyrphus balteatus and Meredon equestris were the hoverflies on parade, 2 Bracken Bugs (Ditropis pteridis) were also seen as well as 5 specimens of Anthocoris nemorum and 3 specimens of Grypocoris stysi.

A lone Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria) was a nice extra.

12th June 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - Still crap weather but 30 minutes pottering around an orchard brough 4 species of hoverfly:- Meliscaeva auricolls; Eupeodes luniger; Episyrphus balteatus and Melanostoma scalare.

3 moths were noted:- Celypha lacunana; Crambus lathoniellus and the rather pretty micro Mompha conturbatella.

On the flowering Japanese Rose I noted the Birch Catkin Bug (Kleidocerys resedae); 3 Common Carder Bees (Bombus pascuorum) were braving the poor conditions,

Hogweed was looking proud and in waiting to be blessed by sun and a host of bugs, Yellow Rattle was going to seed and a lone Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) looked rather fed up.

Numerous 7 Spot and Harlequin Ladybirds were still visible and 1 Pot Bellied Emerald Beetle stayed puit on his chosen leaf.

10th June 2019 - Gatley Carrs, Stockport, Cheshire - A walk with a mate after sorting some wildlife stuff at Cheadle Heath Nomads. The weather was threatening, we escaped a soaking by the skin of our teeth. A few moths were seen, these were:- Light Brown Apple Moth (*1); Celypha lacunana (*2); Silver Ground Carpet (*2); Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (*2); Heart and Dart (*1) and Straw Dot (*3). 3 Small Tortoisehsell larvae were also noted.

Hoverflies noted were:- Myathropa florea (*5); Episyrphus balteatus (*1); Platycheirus albimanus (*1); Sphaerophoria scripta (*1); Xylota sylvarum (*1); Melanostoma scalare (*1); Xylota segnis (*1); Merodon equestris (*1); Cheilosia illustrata (*1); Chrysogaster solstitialis (*2); Eristalis pertinax (*1);

Other bugs and beasties seen today were:- 1 * Common Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemorum); 2 * Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); 50+ Honey Bee (Apis mellifera); 1 * Green Lacewing (Chrysopa perla); 1 * Common Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus); 1 * Birch Catkin Bug (Kleidocerys resedae); 3 * Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus); 2 * Broad Centurion Soldier Fly (Chloromyia formosa); 1 * Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans); 1 * Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); 14 * Figwort Weevil (Cionus scrophulariae); 2 * Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); 3 Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); 5 * Mirid Bug (Grypocoris stysi); 3 * 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata); 3 * Black Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus cristatus); 1 * 2 Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata); 4 * Welsh Chafer (Hoplia philanthus); Pea Weevil (Sitona sp); 3 * Leafhopper (Eupteryx urticae) and numerous Harquin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis).

Galls listed were:- Trioza remota; Eriophyes inangulis; Eriophyes similis; Cecidophyes rouhollahi; Pontania proxima; Eriophyes laevis; Acalitus brevitarsus; Aceria pseudoplatani; Psyllopsis fraxini; Aceria macrorhyncha and Dasineura urticae.

A Common Frog finalised the days list.

10th June 2019 - Cheadle Heath Nomads, Stockport, Cheshire - A bit of work for some wildlife, whilst I pottered I saw:- 2 * Devil's Coach Horses and a Rough Woodlouse. Thyme Leaved Speedwell; Wood Avens; Goosegrass and Groundsel were in flower plus a Speckled Wood was on the wing.

A Mistle Thrush; Wood Pigeon; Starling and Great Tit were noted too.

9th June 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - Up early and just 3 miles on the bike. I stopped off at a small area by the river and did a flower count, the list was quite decent for a newly cleared patch that does get flooded. Hedge Mustard; Common Nettle; Dame's Violet; Nipplewort; Red Campion; Herb Robert; Goosegrass; Wood Avens; Rape; Pineappleweed; Broad Leaved Dock; Curled Dock; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Monkeyflower; Smooth Sow Thistle; Celery Leaved Buttercup; Large Bittercress; Water Speedwell; Groundsel; Brooklime; Redshank; Ox-Eye Daisy; Cow Parsley; Meadow Buttercup; Scented Mayweed; Common Mallow; Wild Carrot; Ribwort Plantain; Hemlock; Common Poppy; Chickweed; Wood Stitchwort and White Dead Nettle.

A Song Thrush and 2 Goosanders were seen and 7 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 7 * Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens); 2 Common Green Shieldbugs (Palomena prasina); 1 * Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella); 1 Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); 1 Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); 1 * Small White (Pieris rapae); 1 Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus); 1 Hoverfly (Merodon equestris) and 2 Nettle Ground Bugs (Heterogaster urticae) were also added to the days list.

7th June 2019 - Beckton Creekside NR, Essex - The weather had turned, blustery wind and rain on the cusp - we just found a window to get in a good walk and see a few things. Bugs kept low, we did pick out the following:- Common Earwig; Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus); Hoverfly (Eristalis arbustorum) and 7 Spot Ladybird.

Flowers were easier to spot, the list wasn't half bad:- Hedgerow Crane's-Bill; Knotted Hedge Parsley; Common Orache; Smooth Sow Thistle; Lesser Knapweed; Lesser Swine Cress; Hoary Cress; Greek Dock; Large Bindweed; Common Nettle; Goosegrass; Groundsel; Herb Robert; Scarlet Pimpernel; Common Field Speedwell; Cow Parsley; Hemlock Water Dropwort; Hedge Mustard; Common Mallow; White Campion; Red Campion; Creeping Cinquefoil; Hemlock; White Clover; Daisy; Ribwort Plantain; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Yarrow; Ox-Eye Daisy; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Garlic Mustard; Creeping Buttercup; Bittersweet; White Dead Nettle; Goat's-Beard; Green Alkanet; Black Horehound; Sea Beet; Wild Carrot; Common Toadflax; Hop Trefoil; Parsley Piert; Giant Hogweed; Hoary Plantain; Meadow Buttercup; Shepherd's Purse; Weld and Petty Spurge.

Birds were few:- Blackbird; Cetti's Warbler; Coot; Black Headed Gull; Magpie; Reed Warbler and Goldfinch were all I listed.

The Willow Gall (Iteomyia major) was a bonus and Crested Dog's Tail Grass looked as good as ever.

6th June 2019 - Belhus Woods CP, Essex - A relaxed walk to boost the step count and have a general exploration. Lepidoptera were represented by the butterflies:- Common Blue (*4); Brown Argus (*2); Speckled Wood (*3) and Meadow Brown (*1) plus the moths:- Cinnabar (*5); Green Oak Roller (*1); Burnet Companion (*1) and Mother Shipton (*1).

5 * 4 Spot Chaser; 3 * Black Tailed Skimmer and 5 * Red Eyed Damselfly were joined by the hoverflies:- Episyrphus balteatus (*1) and Volucella pellucens (*1). We also found a Black Headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea) and a young Grass Snake that let us take its picture (although it was playing dead).

6th June 2019 - Rainham Marsh RSPB, Essex - A walk with my 2 favourite lasses, the sun was keen, the air fresh, the end result - a rewarding day out.

Insect life was splendid with the following species named:- 14 * Dock Bugs (Coreus marginatus); 2 * Rambur's Pied Shieldbug (Tritomegas sexmaculatus); 1 * Rhombic Leather Bug (Syromastus rhombeus); 15 * Brassica Shieldbug (Eurydema oleracea); 1 * Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum); 16 * Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina); 2 * Rosemary Beetle (Chrysolina americana); Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella); 2 *14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata); 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); 2 * Bryony Ladybird (Henosepilachna argus); 1 * 22 Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata); 1 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 1 * 4 Spot Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata); 2 * Bryony Bee (Andrena florea); Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans); 1 * Common Wasp (Vespa vulgaris); 6 * Dark Bush Crickey nymphs (Pholidoptera griseoaptera); 1 * Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus); 1 * Soldier Beetle (Cantharis figurata); Grey Bloomed Longhorn Beetle (Agapanthia villoviridescens).

Hoverflies picked up were:- Episyrphus balteatus (*1); Eristalis arbustorum (*2); Syrphus ribesii (*1); Volucella bombylans (*1); Xanthogramma pedissequum agg (*1) and Helophilus pendulus (*3).

Butterflies on the wing were:- Speckled Wood (*1); Holly Blue (*6) and Green Veined White (*1) with moths seen:- Celypha lacunana (*1); Nemophora deegerella (*2); Cinnabar (*1) and Burnet Companion (*1). 3 Drinker larvae were also spied.

We had the good fortune to also see a Common Lizard; 7 Marsh Frogs; 2 Short Tailed Voles and a Water Vole.

Some flowers were admired:- Salsify; Goat's-Beard; Tufted Vetch; Goat's-Rue and Common Toadflax were the ones added to the day's tally.

Birds seen were:- Collared Dove; Starling; House Sparrow; Dunnock; Canada Goose; Redshank; Greylag Goose; Lapwing; Grey Heron; Coot; Little Egret; Wood Pigeon; Cetti's Warbler; Common Whitethroat; Goldfinch; Robin; Blackbird; Greenfinch; Blue Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Shelduck; Great Crested Grebe; Moorhen; Carrion Crow; Reed Warbler; Mallard; Black Headed Gull; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Black Headed Gull; Wren; Reed Bunting; Gadwall; Sedge Warbler; Little Grebe; Avocet; Pochard; Magpie; Herring Gull; Marsh Harrier; Swift; Linnet; Shoveler and House Martin.

The only other things added today was the Walnut Leaf Gall (Aceria erinea) and the Blackthorn Gall (Taphrina pruni).

5th June 2019 - Barton Hills, Bedfordshire - A simply lovely place and barely a should about. Birds seen were few but we enjoyed them nonetheless:- Red Kite (*4); Grey Partridge (*2); Jackdaw; Wood Pigeon; Robin; Magpie; Rook; Skylark; Carrion Crow; Common Whitethroat; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Blackbird and Linnet were the species seen.

More galls were noted:- Aceria myriadeum; Aceria eriobia; Trichochermes walkeri; Aceria thomasi; Aequsomatus annulatus; Eriophyes similis; Aceria pseudoplatani; Psyllopsis fraxini; Eriophyes avellanae; Diplolepis rosae; Aceria campestricola; Acericecis campestre; Epitrimerus trilobus and Liposthenes glechomae.

A few new flowers were added to the annual tally, these being:- Field Bindweed; Agrimony; Fairy Flax; Rock Rose; Bladder Campion; Horse-Shoe Vetch; Common Valerian and Dropwort.

Insects seen were:- 10 * Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus); 1 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 2 * Red Headed Cardinal Beetles (Pyrochroa serraticornis); 1* St John’s-Wort Beetle (Chrysolina hyperici); 3 * Hoverflies (Volucella bombylans); 1 Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria); 1 * Hoverfly (Chrysogaster solstitialis); 1 Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); 1 * Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha lutea); 1 Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus); 4 * Nettle Ground Bug (Heterogaster urticae); 1 * Common Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus); several Nettle Pollen Beetles (Brachypterus urticae); 1 * Bramble Sawfly (Arge cyanocrocea); 1 * Pine Ladybird (Exichomus quadripustulatus); 1 * Malachite Beetle (Malachius bipustulatus); 1 * Soldier Beetle (Cantharis nigricans); 1 * Scorpion Fly (Panorpa germanica); 1 * Flower Beetle (Variimorda villosa) and; 1 Leafhopper (Eupteryx urticae); Lesser Golden Knapweed Fly (Goniglossum wiedemanni); 1 Hairy Shield Bug with eggs (Dolycoris baccarum).

To add we saw the following lepidopterans:- Speckled Wood (*1); Common Blue (*5); Yellow-Shell Moth (*2); Crambus lathoniellus (*1); Sitachroa verticalis (*1) and Burnet Companion (*1).

5th June 2019 - Wyken Slough NR, Warwickshire - Another trip away, first port of call this new reserve for us. First things first and a gall list comprised of the following species:- Phyllocoptes goniothorax; Macrodiplosis pustularis; Andricus curvator; Eriophyes laevis; Taphrina tosquinetii; Psyllopsis fraxini; Eriophyes leiosoma; Eriophyes inangulis; Aceria pseudoplatani; Blennocampa phyllocolpa; Cecidophyes rouhollahi; Aceria macrochela; Aceria macrorhyncha; Andricus kollari; Phyllocoptes populi and Aceria myriadeum.

Despite the wind a few hoverflies were noted:- Myathropa florea (*2); Eristalis pertinax (*1); Anasimyia lineata (*6); Chrysogaster solstitialis (*3); Leucozona lucorum (*1); Merodon equestris (*1); Xanthogramma pedissequum agg (*1); Episyrhpus balteatus (*5) and Anasimyia contracta (*1).

Lepidopteran representatives were:- Large Skipper (*1); Common Blue (*2) and Speckled Wood (*1) plus the moths Mother Shipton (*1); 1 * Pyrausta aurata; Nemophora deegerella (*1) and Timothy Tortrix (*1).

Other bugs seen were:- 1 * Broad Centurian Soldierfly (Chloromyia formosa); 1 * Bramble Sawfly (Arge cyanocrocea); 1 * Tachnid Fly (Tachina fera); 1 * 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata); 10 * Parent Bug (Elasmucha grisea); 1 * Honey Bee (Apis mellifera); 1 * Common Earwig (Forficula auricularia); 1 * Turnip Sawfly (Athalia rosae); 1 * Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); 1 * Snipe Fly (Rhagio scolopaceus); 1 * Black Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus cristatus); 2 * Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); 1 * Malachite Beetle (Malachius bipustulatus); 3 * Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus); 1 * Soldier Beetle (Cantharis pallida); 1 * Black Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum); 1 * Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum); 1 * Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); 1 * Green Lacewing (Chrysopa perla); 25 * Birch Catkin Bugs (Kleidocerys resedae); 2 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 1 White Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lucorum) and 1 * Mirid Bug (Miris striatus).

Birds seen were few, these being:- Wood Pigeon; Magpie; House Martin; Mute Swan; Coot; Canada Goose; Mallard; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Grey Heron; Blackbird; Collared Dove; House Sparrow; Grey Wagtail and Moorhen.

3rd June 2019 – Brandon Marsh, Warwickshire – Only one area visited today and despite not covering the entire reserve I think we did rather ok.

The bird list comprised of:- Wood Pigeon; Carrion Crow; Blackbird; Goldfinch; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Great Tit; Magpie; Reed Bunting; Sedge Warbler; Robin; Swallow; Little Egret; Greenfinch; Common Whitethroat; Green Woodpecker; Linnet; Dunnock; Jackdaw; Bullfinch; Reed Warbler; Garden Warbler; Moorhen; Avocet; Grey Heron; Cetti’s Warbler; Pied Wagtail; Mallard; Coot; Oystercatcher; Gadwall; Lapwing; Canada Goose; Black Headed Gull; Little Ringed Plover; Redshank; Common Tern; Goldcrest; Swift  + Wren; Chiffchaff and Cuckoo on call.

Flowers were made up of:- Dove’s-Foot Crane’s-Bill; Meadow Buttercup; Lady’s Mantle agg; Bird’s-Foot Trefoil; Common Stork’s-Bill; Wild Strawberry; Daisy; Common Nettle; Field Forget-Me-Not; Scarlet Pimpernel; Thyme Leaved Speedwell; Creeping Cinquefoil; Cut Leaved Crane’s-Bill; Weld; White Clover; Creeping Buttercup; Foxglove; Common Vetch; Lesser Trefoil; Hogweed; Ox-Eye Daisy; Hairy Tare; Ribwort Plantain; Wood Avens; Yellow Rattle; Common Mouse Ear; Common Spotted Orchid; Ragged Robin; Green Alkanet; Ground Ivy; Yellow Oxalis; Curled leaved Dock; Herb Robert; White Dead Nettle; Germander Speedwell; Yellow Flag Iris; Meadow Crane’s-Bill; Cuckooflower; White Bryony; Wall Speedwell; Hedgerow Crane’s-Bill; Biting Stonecrop; Water Figwort (not in flower); Yellow Water Lily; Black Medick; Cow Parsley; Red Clover; Goosegrass; Garlic Mustard; Silverweed and Red Campion.

With the clouds gather butterflies were few, we saw:- Holly Blue (*1); Brimstone (*2); Small Copper (*1); Speckled Wood (*3); Large Skipper (*1); Small Tortoiseshell (*4); Small Heath (*5); Common Blue (*10); Painted Lady (*1); Peacock (*3); Brown Argus (*1) and Red Admiral (*1).  Moths seen were:- Heart and Dart (*1); Treble-Bar (*2); Burnet Companion (*3); Nemophora degeerella (*3); Yellow-Shell (*3); Ptycholoma lecheana (*1) and Mother Shipton (*2). 4 Mullein Moth caterpillars were also picked out as well as a Brown Tailed Moth larvae.

Bugs noted were:- Red Eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas); Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina); Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans); Common Hornet (Vespa crabro); 4 * Figwort Weevil (Cionus scrophulariae) 2 * Banded Demoiselles (Calopteryx splendens); 1 * Black Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum); 1 * Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); 1 * 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata); 3 * Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula); Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); Birch Catkin Bug (Kleidocerys resedae); Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella); Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); Red Headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis); Green Lacewing (Chrysopa perla); St John’s-Wort Beetle (Chrysolina hyperici); Snipe Fly (Rhagio tringarius); Red and Black Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata); Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis); Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus); 5 * Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) and 3 * Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum).

Hoverflies included:- Xanthogramma pedissequum agg (*2); Myathropa florea (*1); Epistrophe eligans (*1); Episyrphus balteatus (*5); Tropida scita (*7); Volucella bombylans (*3); Melanostoma scalare (*1) and Helophilus pendulus (*2).

Plant galls listed were:- Psyllopsis fraxini; Biorhiza pallida; Trioza remota; Dasineura acrophila; Blennocampa phyllocolpa; Eriophyes inangulis; Cryptomyzus ribis; Dasineura urticae; Eriophyes laevis; Dasineura ulmaria; Chirosia betuleti; Eriophyes similis;  Eriophyes sorbi; Dasineura fraxini; Aceria pseudoplatani and Cryptosiphum artemisiae.

2 stonking Grass Snakes were seen at close quarters, Pendulous Sedge was looking marvellous and Hornbeam was in good flower.

2nd June 2019 - Godmanchester NR, Cambridgeshire - Another early start, we kept another flower list, but only those in bloom as per. The list was:- Hedge Mustard; White Campion; Field Penny Cress; Small Flowered Crane's-Bill; Common Nettle; Red Campion; Hogweed; White Dead Nettle; Goosegrass; Ground Ivy; Common Field Speedwell; Creeping Buttercup; Field Forget-Me-Not; Silverweed; Wood Avens; Germander Speedwell; Sheep's Sorrel; Black Medick; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Bird's Foot Trefoil; Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill; Weld; Common Knapweed; Greater Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Creeping Cinquefoil; Meadow Buttercup; Cow Parsley; Dandelion agg; Wall Speedwell; White Bryony; Common Mouse Ear; Common Mallow; Common Stork's-Bill; Bittersweet; Hemlock; Pineappleweed; White Clover; Grass Vetchling; Bush Vetch; Celery Leaved Buttercup; White Water Lily; Yellow Water Lily; Ox-Eye Daisy and Yellow Flag Iris. Water Dock was added but was only in leaf.

Birds were listed, we saw:- Magpie; Blackcap; Wood Pigeon; Blackbird; Mute Swan; Coot; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Swallow; Carrion Crow; Buzzard; Raven; Song Thrush; Greylag Goose; Great Crested Grebe; Canada Goose; Herring Gull; Jackdaw; Robin; Moorhen; Mallard; Reed Bunting; Cormorant; Starling; Egyptian Goose; Common Whitethroat; Greenfinch; Oystercatcher; Lapwing; Tufted Duck; Great Spotted Woodpecker + Chiffchaff; Yellowhammer; Green Woodpecker and Cuckoo on call.

More butterflies were seen today:- Red Admiral (*1); Common Blue (*6); Large Skipper (*4); Meadow Brown (*2); Holly Blue (*1); Small Copper (*1); Speckled Wood (*2) and Brimstone (*4) with a supporting cast of moths, these being:- Burnet Companion (*1); Nettle Tap Moth (*1); Thistle Ermine (*1) and Cinnabar (*2). 7 Peacock larvae were also seen.

Odonata were observed, conservative counts were:- Red Eyed Damselfly (*335); Scarce Chaser (*41); Large Red Damselfly (*1); Blue Tailed Damselfly (*7) Banded Demoiselle (*4) and oodles of Common Blue Damselflies.

The bug list was varied, the end tally being:- Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus); Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); Dark Bush Cricket nymph (Pholidoptera griseoaptera); 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus); Soldier Fly (Chloromyia formosa); 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata); Mirid Bug (Capsus ater); Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum); Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus); Nettle Ground Bug (Heterogaster urticae); Nettle Pollen Beetle (Brachypterus urticae); Malachite Beetle (Malachius bipustulatus); Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemoralis); Black Tipped Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva); Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); Dancing Kiss-Fly (Platystoma seminationis); Lacehopper (Tachycixius pilosus); Leafhopper (Eupteryx urticae); Mirid Big (Leptopterna dolabrata); Scorpion Fly (Panorpa germanica); Soldier Beetle (Cantharis nigricans); Mirid Bug (Stenodema calcarata) and Pot Bellied Emerald Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula).

A few hoverflies were seen, these were:- Eristalinus sepulchralis (*1); Eupeodes luniger (*1); Syrphus ribesii (*1); Volucella bombylans (*1); Eristalis horticola (*1) and Sphaerophoria scripta (*1).

Galls seen were:- Liposthenes glechomae; Dasineura urticae and Aceria macrorhyncha.

1st June 2019 - Paxton Pits NR, Cambridgeshire - The second walk of the day, birds seen:- Yellowhammer (*2); Carrion Crow; Mute Swan; Magpie; Cormorant; Red Crested Pochard (M/F); Grey Heron; Mallard; Gadwall; Tufted Duck; Black Headed Gull; Great Crested Grebe; Common Tern; Herring Gull; Jay; Blackbird; Jackdaw; Cuckoo (*2); Lesser Black Backed Gull; Wren; Willow Warbler; Common Whitethroat; Goldfinch; Greenfinch; Moorhen; Great Tit; Collared Dove + Cetti's Warbler; Bullfinch; Robin; Chiffchaff; Green Woodpecker and Reed Warbler on call.

Red Eyed Damselfly (*3); Emperor Dragonfly (*1); Common Blue Damselfly; Banded Demoiselle (*3); Blue Tailed Damselfly; Black Tailed Skimmer (*1) and Scarce Chaser (2 * M) were the odonates on the wing.

Holly Blue (*2); Brimstone (*6); Speckled Wood (*3) and Common Blue (*1) were the butterflies flitting around with 3 Cinnabar Moths. 3 Mullein Moth larvae were also recorded.

A Hornet whizzed by; more Swollen Thighed Beetles (Oedemera nobilis) were mooching about and a Red and Black Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata) was picked out.

A few flowers were listed:- Bugloss; Welted Thistle; Nodding Thistle; White Bryony; Black Bryony; Common Spotted Orchid and Biting Stonecrop were all admired.

31st May 2019 - Draycote Water, Warwickshire - As per a fine breakfast to start the day and then a 5 mile walk to see what we could see. Birds listed were:- Great Spotted Woodpecker; Wood Pigeon; Garden Warbler; Mallard; Coot; Magpie; Long Tailed Tit; Dunnock; Carrion Crow; House Martin; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Gadwall; Greylag Goose; Tufted Duck; House Sparrow; Mute Swan; Yellowhammer; Canada Goose; Great Tit; Blackcap; Great Crested Grebe; Goldfinch; Linnet and Pied Wagtail.

Flowers in bloom were:- Cuckooflower; Self-Heal; Common Nettle; Daisy; White Dead Nettle; Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill; Meadow Buttercup; Bulbous Buttercup; White Clover; Goat's-Beard; Goosegrass; Common Field Speedwell; Common Mouse Ear; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Hogweed; Hemlock; Cow Parsley; Common Sorrel; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; White Bryony; Groundsel; Wood Avens; Silverweed; Procumbent Pearlwort; Germander Speedwell; Lesser Trefoil; Weld; Creeping Cinquefoil; Herb Robert; Ground Ivy; Bittersweet; Chickweed; Red Campion; Ox-Eye Daisy; Parsley Piert; Field Madder; Ribwort Plantain; Wild Carrot; Wall Speedwell; Bee Orchid; Common Vetch; Red Clover; Black Medick; Yellow-Rattle; Wood Stitchwort; Dandelion agg and Common Poppy. Guelder Rose was also sporting an abundance of flowers. Spindle was also in flower.

We always have one eye on the plant gall front, there were only a few spied today, these being:- Eriophyes leiosoma; Cecidophyes rouhollahi; Aceria pseudoplatani; Liposthenes glechomae; Aceria macrorhyncha; Aceria campestricola; Psyllopsis fraxini and Andricus curvator.

Bugs noted were as follows:- 2 Tree Bees (Bombus hypnorum); 2 Red Tailed Bees (Bombus lapidarius); 2 Yellow Dung Flies (Scathophaga stercoraria); 5 Swollen Thighed Beetles (Oedemera nobilis); 3 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata); 4 Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis); 4 Dance Flies (Empis tessellata); 2 Tachnid Flies (Tachina fera); 4 Nettle Weevils (Phyllobius pomaceus); 6 Soldier Beetles (Cantharis nigricans); 3 Ichneumon Flies (Heteropelma amictum); 1 Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietus); 1 Red and Black Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata); 1 Soldier Fly (Chloromyia formosa) 10 Spot Ladbird (Adalia decempunctata f. decempustulata); Acorn Weevil (Curculio glandium); Bramble Sawfly (Arge cyanocrocea); Dancing Kiss-Fly (Platystoma seminationis); Soldier Beetle (Cantharis paludosa) and Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha)

Hoverflies seen were:- Episyrphus balteatus (*3); Merodon equestris (*1); Xanthogramma pedissequum agg (*1) and Syrphus ribesii (*1).

1 Large Red Damselfly; 1 Common Blue Damselfly; 1 Beautiful Demoiselle and a single 4 Spot Chaser.

Lepidoptera were represented by the butterflies:- Common Blue (*15) and Small Copper (*1) and the moths:- Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (*37); Silver Ground Carpet (*2); Burnet Companion (*3); Cinnabar (*5); Adela croesella (*2); Cock's-Foot Moth (*5); Celypha lacunana (*2) and Yellow-Shell Moth (*2).

30th May 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - Homeward bound a slightly different route, galls noted were:- Eriophyes leiosoma; Eriophyes tiliae; Taphrina pruni; Psyllopsis fraxini; Aceria pseudoplatani; Andricus curvator; Aceria macrorhyncha; Dasineura fraxini; Pontania proxima; Eriophyes sorbi; Phyllocoptes goniothorax; Eupontania pendunculi; Phyllocoptes populi and Zygiobia carpini.

Yarrow was now in flower, Lesser Swine Cress almost there, 6 Sand Martins whizzed over the river, 2 specimens of the White Barred Gold Moth (Micropteryx aruncella) were seen pootling over some vegetation and 1 Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) was defying the cloudy conditions.

I saw a Kingfisher in the morning, again.

28th May 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - Walking home from work and a bit of grassland revealed 6 Common Blue Butterflies and a few Red Tailed Bumble Bees (Bombus lapidarius). The Crane-Fly (Epiphragma ocellare) was seen as well as an Orange Tip and the grass, Crested Dog's-Tail. Later I confirmed the Hook-Streaked Grass Veneer Moth (Crambus lathoniellus) - one has to be careful.

3 hoverflies were seen:- Episyrphus balteatus; Platycheirus albimanus and Xylota segnis.

27th May 2019 - Astley and Chat Mosses, G. Manchester - A roam to finish off the Bank Holiday break in windy weather with the odd shower and some sun. 34 bird species seen, these were:- House Sparrow; Chaffinch; Wood Pigeon; Blackbird; Song Thrush; Goldfinch; Robin; Wren; Starling; Lapwing; Magpie; Pied Wagtail; Greenfinch; Dunnock; Swallow; Blue Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Swift; House Martin; Yellow Wagtail (*3); Skylark; Carrion Crow; Kestrel; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Meadow Pipit; Mallard; Pheasant; Oystercatcher; Stock Dove; Yellowhammer; Tufted Duck; Common Whitethroat; Great Tit and Tree Sparrow.

Flowers in bloom were:- Dove's Foot Crane's-Bill; Common Field Speedwell; Scented Mayweed; Hedgerow Crane's-Bill; Wall Speedwell; Weld; Chickweed; Thale Cress; Ivy Leaved Speedwell; Sheep's Sorrel; Hogweed; Foxglove; Red Campion; Greater Celandine; Borage; Black Medick; Red Dead Nettle; Yellow Flag Iris; Red Clover; Broad Leaved Dock; Bush Vetch; White Clover; Goat's-Beard; Herb Robert; Common Mouse Ear; Ribwort Plantain; Lesser Trefoil; Pineappleweed; Rape; Shining Crane's-Bill; Green Alkanet; Wood Avens; Nipplewort; Greater Periwinkle; Ground Ivy; Garlic Mustard; Hedge Mustard; Groundsel; Daisy; Ground Elder; White Dead Nettle; Dandelion agg; Cow Parsley; Common Nettle; Shepherd's Purse; Goosegrass; Cut Leaved Crane's-Bill; Creeping Buttercup; Common Ramping Fumitory; Common Poppy and Comfrey agg.

We managed to compile a bug list despite the weather, the minibeasts seen were:- 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); Swollen Thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis); Pot Bellied Emerald Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula); Harlequin Ladbird (Harmonia axyridis); 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata); Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum); Figwort Weevil (Cionus scrophulariae); Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); Black and Red Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata); Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula); Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus); Scorpion Fly (Panorpa germanica); Soldier Beetle (Cantharis livida); Picture Winged Fly (Seioptera vibrans); Green Veined White (Pieris napi); Birch Bell Moth (Epinotia demarniana) and Common Marble Moth (Celypha lacunana).

Hoverflies were once again few and far between with singles only of:- Episyrphus balteatus; Syritta pipiens; Leucozona lucorum and Eristalis pertinax.

Galls noted were:- Cecidophyes rouhollahi; Eriophyes sorbi; Aceria pseudoplatani; Andricus curvator; Chirosia betuleti; Acalitus rudis; Aculus laevis; Aceria exilis; Acalitus brevitarsus; Eriophyes laevis; Aceria macrochelus and Aceria macrorhyncha.

26th May 2019 - Freshfield Dune Heath NR, Lancashire - I had a walk to lead in the morning, it was cancelled so in the afternoon we met up witha couple we know and had a pootle. Flowers in bloom were:- Ground Elder; Herb Robert; Wood Avens; Germander Speedwell; Dandelion agg; Bulbous Buttercup; Tormentil; Silverweed; Sheep's Sorrel; Common Sorrel; Dove's Foot Crane's-Bill; Common Stork's-Bill; White Campion; Common Vetch; Mouse Ear Hawkweed; Common Mouse Ear; Bird's-Foot; Cuckooflower; Daisy; Red Campion; Common Nettle; Meadow Buttercup; Lesser Trefoil; Black Medick; White Dead Nettle; Common Water-Crowfoot; and Pineappleweed.

A bugs were seen, these were:- Nettle Pollen Beetle (Brachypterus urticae); 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella semipunctata); Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 10 Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata); Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); Common Groundhopper (Tetrix undulata); Slender Groundhopper (Tetrix subulata); Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum); Birch Shield Bug (Elasmostethus interstinctus); Black and Red Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata); Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum); Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus); Mottled Grasshopper (Myrmeleotettix maculatus); Soldier Beetle (Cantharis rustica); Lacewing (Chrysopa perla); Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) and Birch Catkin Bug (Kleidocerys resedae).

Butterflies noted were all singles, these were:- Speckled Wood; Common Blue; Small Copper; Small Heath and Comma. 4 moths seen were:- Common Heath; Common Marbled Moth; Meadow Longhorn and Cinnabar Moth.

A Short Tailed Vole is always a nice thing to see and a Common Frog hopped through the undergrowth.

Galls seen were:- Macrodiplosis dryobia; Andricus curvator; Phyllocoptes goniothorax; Trioza remota; Eriophyes leionotus; Dysaphis crataegi and Macrodiplosis volvens.

Common Spike-Rush was a nice find.

25th May 2019 - Heaton Mersey Community Orchard, Stockport, Cheshire - Leaving work and down a back alley I spied a Bramble bush and picked out the hoverflies Xylota segnis; Myathropa florea and Episyrphus balteatus as well as a Common Green Shield Bug; the Dance Fly (Empis tessellata) and a Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum.

Broad Leaved Willowherb was in flower nearby.

I decided to have a looked round the Heaton Mersey Community Orchard and discovered a nice range of species. A Four Spotted Chaser rested on some Red Campion, an Azure Damselffly roamed along the side of a hedge and a Blue Tailed Damselfly popped up within some herbage, Low down in the grass was a male Banded Demoiselle - what a stunner. Hoverflies listed in this area were:- Cheilosia illustrata (*4); Platycheirus rosarum (*1); Merodon equestris (*1) and Myathropa florea (*1).

A Common Blue Butterfly was joined by a Silver Ground Carpet Moth and 5 Cock's-Foot Moths. Several Small Tortoishell larvae were seen.

2 Tortoise Bugs (Cassida rubiginosa); 2 Soldier Beetles (Cantharis rustica); 2 Turnip Sawfly (Athalia rosae); 1 Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum); Soldier Fly (Chloromyia formosa); numerous Dock Beetles (Gastrophysa viridis); 2 Swollen Thighed Beetles (Oedemera nobilis); a Tachnid Fly (Tachina fera) and 2 Red Tailed Bumble Bees were other insects noted. A new Weevil was found, Phyllobius robertanus - a small green species with no tooth of the front femora and partial scaling on the underside. The Potato Leafhopper (Eupteryx aurata) was later confirmed by my rusty self.

Flowers in bloom were:- Yellow-Rattle; Common Mouse Ear; Meadow Buttercup; Bush Vetch; Common Vetch; Hogweed; Cow Parsley and oodles of Ribwort Plantain.

23rd May 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - I finished work early to do some decorating, I called in at a local pond and at a look down the river whilst the sun was out. Odonata seen were:- 21 * Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella); 16 * Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula); 1 * Black Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum); 1 * Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) and 7 Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens).

Only 4 butterfly species were picked up:- Holly Blue (*1); Green Veined White (*1); Orange Tip (*1) and Peacock (*1). 2 moths were noted, these being:- Pyrausta aurata (*3) and Celypha lacunana (*1).

Hoverflies were represented by:- 1 * Myathropa florea; 1 * Episyrphus balteatus and 1 * Xylota segnis.

Other bugs picked up were:- Black Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus cristata); Turnip Sawfly (Athalia rosae); Malachite Beetle (Malachius bipustulatus); Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum) and Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius).

Yellow Flag was in glorious flower.

As an addition I noted a distorted Ribwort Plantain head, examined and found a Weevil. I took the critter, posted a photo on Facebook and was given an ID - Trichosirocalus troglodytes was the species, sincere thanks to Graham Finch for his advice.

22nd May 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, G. Manchester - Hoverflies are struggling, during my dinner break I could only find 3 species, these were:- Merodon equestris (*4); Episyrphus balteatus (*1) and Epistrophe eligans (*1).

39 Harlequin Ladybirds were seen along with 3 Yellow Dung Flies (Scathophaga stercoraria); 1 Honey Bee (Apis mellifera); 1 Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus); 2 Tree Bees (Bombus hypnorum) and 2 Birch Catkin Bugs (Kleidocerys resedae).

20th May 2019 - Etherow CP, Stockport, G. Manchester - A walk with a few friends, I was striving to keep chipper but it was hard work finding much. With good effort and a few rewarding corners we didn't do too bad, we all must try harder though.

Ladybirds seen were:- Harlequin Ladybird (*4); 7 Spot Ladybird (*2); Cream Spot Ladybird (*1); 2 Spot Ladybird (*2); Kidney Spot Ladybird (*1): Orange Ladybird (*1); Eyed Ladybird (*1) and 14 Spot Ladybird (*9).

Hoverflies noted were:- Xylota segnis (*1); Cheilosia impressa (*1); Syrphus ribesii (*1); Episyrphus balteatus (*3); Baccha elongata (*1); Leucozona lucorum (*1); Portevinia maculata (*44); Melanostoma scalare (*3); Meredon equestris (*2); Platycheirus albimanus (*2); Epistrophe eligans (*1);

Other bugs seen were:- Alder Leaf Beetle; 4 * Solomon's Seal Sawfly (Phymatocera aterrima); 2 * Tree Bees (Bombus hypnorum); 2 * Common Carder Bees (Bombus pascuorum); 4 * Soldier Beetle (Cantharis rustica); Pot Bellied Emerald Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula); 1 * Malachite Beetle (Malachius bipustulatus); 2 * Snipe-Fly (Rhagio scolopaceus); Nettle Pollen Beetle (Brachypterus urticae); 2 * Common Nettle Bugs (Liocoris tripustulatus); 2 * Dance Fly (Empis tessellata); 20 * Black and Red Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata); 1 * Giant Crane-Fly (Tipula maxima); 1 *Mirid Bug (Harpocera thoracica); 1 * Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria); 2 Red Tailed Bumble Bees (Bombus lapidarius); 1 * Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus); 1 Weevil (Phyllobius glaucus); Reed Beetle (Donacia aquatica); 2 Mirid Bugs (Notostira elongata) and 1 * Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana).

2 Orange Tips; 1 Green Veined White, 1 Speckled Wood and 3 Meadow Longhorn Moths (Cauchus rufimitrella), a Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) and at least 40 Marsh Marigold Moth (Micropterix calthella) were the lepidopteran specimens noted. A Blood-Vein larva and a Copper Underwing larva were later added.

Galls listed were:- Eriophyes similis; Phyllocoptes eupadi; Chirosia betuleti; Eriophyes laevis; Eriophyes inangulis; Acalitus brevitarsus; Psyllopsis fraxini; Aceria pseudoplatani; Eriophyes leiosoma; Cryptomyzus ribis; Epitrimerus trilobus; Aceria macrochela; Acalitus rudis and Dasineura urticae.

Other odds and sods seen included a Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis); several Mandarin Ducks, a Wren's nest and a few Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars.

19th May 2019 - Errwood Reservoir, Derbyshire - Some birding, species noted were:- Magpie; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Meadow Pipit; Carrion Crow; Blackbird; Willow Warbler; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Grey Heron; Canada Goose; Mallard; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Spotted Flycatcher (*2); Redstart; Wren; Tree Pipit (*2); Robin; Raven; Grey Wagtail; Chaffinch; Wood Pigeon; Pied Flycatcher; Nuthatch; Treecreeper (*4); Coal Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Mistle Thrush; Kestrel; Buzzard; Red Grouse; Curlew (*2); Cormorant; Common Sandpiper and Great Crested Grebe + Cuckoo; Pheasant and Chiffchaff on call.

Flowers in bloom were few, these were:- Cuckooflower; Tormentil; Yellow Pimpernel; Ribwort Plantain; Daisy; Dandelion agg; Thyme Leaved Speedwell; Bluebell; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Wood Sorrel; Bilberry and Germander Speedwell.

Hornbeam was noted with numerous catkins.

Insects seen were:- St Mark's Fly (Bibio marci); Common Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemorum); Dance Fly (Empis tessellata); Soldier Beetle (Cantharis rustica); 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); Red and Black Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata); Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); Lacehopper (Tachycixius pilosus); Bracken Bug (Monalocoris filicis); Mirid Bug (Stenodema laevigata); Ground Beetle (Pterostichus niger) and Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus).

Moths seen were:- Brown Silver Line (*1); Adela reaurmurella (*2); Ancylis myrtillana (*2); Nematopogon schwarziellus (*1) and Common Heath (*20). 2 Green Hairstreaks were added to the end tally.

18th May 2019 - Chadkirk Chapel, Stockport, Cheshire - A walk under grey skies, bugs seen were:- Mirid Bug (Stenodema laevigata); Malachite Beetle (Malachius bipustulatus); Soldier Beetle (Cantharis pellucida); Mirid Bug (Harpocera thoracica); Common Damsel Bug (Nabis rugosus); Soldier Beetle (Cantharis rustica); Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga sercoraria); Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina); Downlooker Snipe-Fly (Rhagio scolopaceus); Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); Common Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemorum); Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum); Pea Weevil (Sitona sp); Rhopalid Bug (Rhopalus subrufus); Black and Red Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata); Black Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus cristatus); Pot Bellied Emerald Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula); 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata); Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); Cream Spot Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata) and the Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus).

Moths seen were:- Diamond Back Moth (*2); Mompha raschkiella (*1) and Cock's Foot Moth (*1).

Hoverflies seen were:- Melanostoma scalare *2; Baccha elongata *1 and Episyrphus balteatus *1.

Today's gall list included:- Eupontania pendunculi; Andricus lignicola; Pontania proxima; Eriophyes laevis; Psyllopsis fraxini; Biorhiza pallida; Aceria pseudoplatani; Aceria macrorhyncha and Phytomyza ilicis.

2 Kingfishers chased each other along the river, a Common Buzzard was mithered by Jackdaws, 3 male Manadarins were seen and a Pied Wagtail.

Flowers in bloom were:- Cow Parsley; Creeping Buttercup; Large Bittercress; Meadow Buttercup; Red Campion; Herb Robert; Dandelion agg; Ramsons; Garlic Mustard; Common Bistort; Common Vetch; Wood Avens; Greater Stitchwort; Germander Speedwell; Fringe Cups; Bush Vetch; Ribwort Plantain; White Clover; Daisy; Ivy Leaved Toadflax; Welsh Poppy; Yellow Pimpernel; Procumbent Pearlwort; Yellow Archangel; Wood Stitchwort; Pink Purslane; Pignut; 3 Nerved Sandwort; Wood Speedwell; Opposite Leaved Saxifrage; Lesser Trefoil; Groundsel; Ground Elder; Common Nettle; Lady's Mantle; Water Avens; Wood Sorrel; Sweet Cicely; Ivy Leaved Speedwell; Curled Leaved Dock and Cuckooflower.

Geulder Rose was also in flower.

17th May 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - I pootled at the side of a pond after work and in a nearby grassy area. 1 Orange Tip and 1 Common Blue were joined by the moths Ancylis badiana; Diamond Back Moth and a Small Yellow Underwing.

A Large Red Damsel (Phyrrosoma nymphula); 5 Swollen Thigh Beetles (Oedemera nobilis); 1 Tachnid Fly (Gymnocheta viridis); 1 Green Lacewing (Chrysopa perla); a Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum); a Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); a Hoverfly (Cheilosia pagana) and the ladybirds:- 7 Spot; 14 Spot and Harlequin were all noted.

A Great Pond Snail (Lymnaea stagnalis) was picked up an examined.

16th May 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - Moths caught overnight were:- Bee Moth (*1); Light Brown Apple Moth (*2); Tachystola acroxantha (*1) and Common Marbled Carpet (*1).

2 Marmalade Fly's (Episyrphus balteatus), the hoverfly (Syritta pipiens) and a Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius) were in the garden.

14th May 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - Moths caught overnight were:- Bee Moth (*3); Cinnabar Moth (*1); Light Brown Apple Moth (*8) and Tachystola acroxantha (*4).

The Blue Mason Bee (Osmia caerulescens) and the Rhopalid Bug (Rhopalus subrufus) were in the garden earlier in the day.

13th May 2019 - Fletcher Moss, G. Manchester - An early morning bike ride and a call off at this location to look for some bugs. Hoverflies noted were:- Cheilosia pagana (*2); Cheilosia variabilis (*1): Rhingia campestris (*1); Baccha elongata (*1); Melanostoma scalare (*2); Episyrphus balteatus (*1); Platycheirus albimanus (*2); Syrphus ribesii (*1); Leucozona lucorum (*1) and Myathropa florea (*1).

Butterflies noted were few, these being:- Orange Tip (*4) and Speckled Wood (*1). A Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner was also picked out.

Other bugs listed were:- Empis tessalata; Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); 4 * 7 Spot Ladbirds (Coccinella septempunctata); 10 * Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis); 1 * 2 Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata); 1 * Cream Streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata); 2 * Common Green Shield Bugs (Palomena prasina); 2 * Alder Leaf Beetles (Agelastica alni) and 2 * Birch Catkin Bugs (Kleidocerys resedae).

Several galls were also spotted:- Aceria myriadeum; Aceria macrochelus; Andricus curvator; Eriophyes leiosoma; Phyllocoptes goniothorax; Eriophyes similis; Psyllopsis fraxini; Taphrina pruni; Eupontania pendunculi and Phytoptus avellanae.

Honeysuckle and Small Leaved Lime were both in flower.

12th May 2018 - Mere Sands Wood, Lancashire - A catch up with a few fine folk helping this great reserve run smoothly and then a short wander in the late afternoon sun. Azure Damselfly (*1); Large Red Damselfly (*2); 4 Spotted Chaser (*6) and Broad Bodied Chaser (*1) were freshly emerged and greatly enjoyed.

Alder Leaf Beetle; 7 Spot Ladybird; Cream Streaked Ladybird; 14 Spot Ladybird; Violet Ground Beetle (Carabus violaceus); 6 Tree Bees; 2 Hairy Shield Bugs; 2 Orange Tips; 4 Peacocks; 1 Hoverfly (Epistrophe eligans) and a Grey Gorse Piercer (Cydia ulicetana) were the other insects seen.

3 Common Terns, a singing Sedge Warbler and Blackcap and a close up Reed Warbler were the best of the birds.

Geulder Rose; Sheep's Sorrel; Yellow Flag Iris and Bog Bean were a few flowers in bloom and a Smooth Newt and a Toad were also picked out.

The gall (Eriophyes leionotus) was seen on Downy Birch.

In some nearby farmland we saw 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Lapwing, 4 Stock Doves, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Linnets and 4 Red Legged Partridge to round off a decent day out.

12th May 2018 - Ainsdale NE, Lancashire - A morning stroll around this quiet area looking for a few bugs. 7 Spot Ladybird (*5); Cream Streaked Ladybird (*1); 14 Spot Ladybird (*2); Harlequin Ladybird (*5) and Cream Spot Ladybird (*1) started things off with several butterflies seen along the way, these being:- Speckled Wood (*8); Orange Tip (*2); Small Copper (*1); Small Heath (*2); Wall Brown (*2); Small Tortoiseshell (*1) and Green Veined White (*1). 6 Cinnabar Moths were added as well as numerous Grey Gorse Piercer (Cydia ulicetana).

Hoverflies seen were:- Melanostoma scalare (*5); Epistrophe eligans (*2); Syrphus ribesii (*2); Myathropa florea (*2); Episyrphus balteatus (*1); Leucozona lucorum (*2); Xylota segnis (*1); Platycheirus albimanus (*3); Baccha elongata (*1); Dasysyrphus albostriatus (*1); Meredon equestris (*2) and Didea fasciata (*1).

Other insect life noted was:- Common Carder Bee (*5); Tree Bee (*1); Common Green Shield Bug (*5); Turnip Sawfly (*1); Northern Dune Tiger Beetle (*2); Meadow Grasshopper (*1); Red Tailed Bumble Bee (*2); Corizus hyoscyami (*2); Ashy Mining Bee (*1); Cantharis rustica (*2); Gorse Seed Weevil (*1); Hairy Shield Bug (*8); Empis tessellata (*5); Parent Bug (*1); Black and Red Froghopper (*2); Pine Cone Bug (Gastrodes grossipes); Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha lignosa); Great Blackcock (Pterostichus niger); Tachnid Fly (Panzeria rudus) and Birch Catkin Bug (*3).

We kept a list of flowers in bloom, these were:- Spring Beauty; Herb Robert; Red Campion; Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Ribwort Plantain; Daisy; Dove's Foot Crane's-Bill; Early Forget Me Not; Changing Forget Me Not; Red Dead Nettle; Bush Vetch; Parsley Piert; Cuckooflower; Wood Avens; Creeping Buttercup; Cornsalad; Common Nettle; Common Vetch; Bluebell; Marsh Marigold; Star of Bethlehem; Common Stork's-Bill; Lily Of The Valley; Greater Celandine; Garlic Mustard; Scarlet Pimpernel; Bulbous Buttercup; Hound's-Tongue; Wall Speedwell; Spring Vetch and Wild Strawberry.

Other plants added were:- Common Beech; Hawthorn; Creeping Willow and the moss Cladonia rangiferina.

Plants galls were few:- Andricus curvator; Andricus kollari; Aceria pseudoplatani; Aceria macrorhyncha; Phyllocoptes goniothorax and Andricus forcundatrix were the only ones seen.

Birds seen were:- Buzzard; Carrion Crow; Mistle Thrush; Jackdaw; Pied Wagtail; Blackbird; Goldfinch; Magpie; Red Legged Partridge; Grasshopper Warbler; Skylark; Wheatear (*2); Meadow Pipit; Great Tit; Wood Pigeon; Wren; Robin; Long Tailed Tit; Moorhen and Mallard.

2 Red Squirrels and 1 Frog were added along with 2 fungi made for a list of

7th May 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, G. Manchester - Melanostoma scalare and Epistrophe eligans were the two hoverflies noted hiding from the wind with several species of Ladbird found, these being:- Harlequin, 2 Spot, 7 Spot and 14 Spot.

A couple of Tree Bees (Bombus hypnorum) were feeding on Japanese Rose and several Strawberry Snails were on Common Nettle.

6th May 2019 - Millers Dale, Derbyshire - A flower walk, species in bloom were:- Cow Parsley; Sweet Ciceley; Green Alkanet; Red Campion; Dandelion agg; Bluebell; Herb Robert; Garlic Mustard; Bush Vetch; Germander Speedwell; White Dead Nettle; Salad Burnet; Ivy Leaved Toadflax; Cornsalad; Ribwort Plantain; Wild Strawberry; Crosswort; Greater Stitchwort; Dog's Mercury; Water Avens; Lords and Ladies; Cowslip; Ramsons; Lesser Celandine; Cuckooflower; Butterbur; Creeping Buttercup; Opposite Leaved Golden Saxifrage; Sweet Woodruff; Common Gorse; Sanicle; Shining Crane's-Bill; Early Purple Orchid; Lesser Trefoil; Daisy; Rue Leaved Saxifrage; Thale Cress; Bulbous Buttercup; Common Mouse Ear; Tormentil; Goldilocks Buttercup; Wood Anemone; Bugle; Ground Ivy; Meadow Saxifrage; Wood Speedwell and False Yellow Archangel.

Birds were very quiet today, the list of species seen was:- Chiffchaff; Willow Warbler; Blackbird; Wood Pigeon; Blue Tit; Blackcap; Goldfinch; Chaffinch; Wren; Grey Wagtail; Canada Goose; Mallard; Mandarin Duck; Jackdaw; Dipper; Moorhen and Robin.

Butterflies noted were few:- Green Veined White (*9); Speckled Wood (*2) and Orange Tip (*5).

Hoverflies spotted were:- Portevinia maculata (*4); Syrphus ribesii (*1); Rhingia campestris (*6); Leucozona lucorum (*1); Platycheirus albimanus (*1) and Melanostoma scalare (*2).

Other bugs added were:- Red and Black Frogger (*31); Hairy Shieldbug (*1); Common Green Shieldbug (*2); Bee Fly (*1); 7 Spot Ladybird (*5); 14 Spot Ladybird (*1); Kidney Spot Ladybird (*1); Yellow Dung Fly (*1); Common Carder Bee (*1) and Nursery Web Spider (*1).

Hawthorn was in flower and sporting the galls Phyllocoptes goniothorax; Phyllocoptes eupadi was on a species of Cherry and beneath several Sycamore leaves was the felt gall (Acera pseudoplatani).

Wall Rue; Wood Melick; Pendulous Sedge; Field Woodrush and the Common Liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) were other things seen.

Several Brown Trout were looking dapper and along with a few fungi completed a good walk that avoided any rain.

2nd May 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, G. Manchester - Shattered today but whilst waltzing home I noted Bird's-Foot Trefoil; Sweet Woodruff and Germander Speedwell in flower and 9 Hairy Shieldbugs (Dolycoris baccarum) on Horse Radish.

The Mirid Bug (Harpocera thoracica) was also picked out.

The Willow Gall (Pontania pendunculi) was added to the year's listing.

1st May 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, G. Manchester - Cryptomizus ribis; Andricus lignicola and Cecidophyes rouhollahi were 2 galls today with a couple of hoverflies added to the days sightings:- Episyrphus balteatus (*1) and Syrphus ribesii (*2).

Horse Chestnut Leaf Miners (Cameraria ohridella) were now on the wing.

30th April 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, G. Manchester - Shining Crane's-Bill and Honesty were in good flower and the gall (Aceria erinea) was seen on Walnut leaves. A Parent Bug (Elasmucha grisea) was also seen, this one on the leaves of Silver Birch.

Beech was now in flower.

29th April 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - Some time spent lurking round a pond resuted in the following sightings:-

Flowers in bloom were:- Thyme Leaved Speedwell; Marsh Marigold; Wood Avens; Creeping Buttercup; Dansdelion agg; Ribwort Plantain; Cow Parsley; Garlic Mustard and Common Mouse Ear. Elder and Hawthorn were also sporting flowers.

Bugs seen were:- 7 * Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis); 7 * 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata); 3 * 14 Spot Ladybirds (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata); 2 * Coryzus hyoscyami; 2 * Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus); 7 * Common Green Shieldbugs (Palomena prasina); 1 * Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); 1 * Turnip Sawfly (Athalia rosae); 1 * Alder Sawfly (Eriocampa ovata); 2 * Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) plus the hoverflies:- 1 * Syrphus ribesii; 1 * Baccha elongata; 4 * Melanostoma scalare; 2 * Platycheirus albimanus; 1 * Eristalis pertinax; 1 * Epistrophe eligans; 1 * Eupeodes luniger; 1 * Melangyna cincta and 3 * Episyrphus balteatus.

3 butterflies were seen:- Orange Tip (*1); Comma (*1) and Holly Blue (*1).

It was good to see many Tadpoles around the water's edge - here's to a Frog-Fest!

As I cycled home I saw 3 Orange Tips; 1 Speckled Wood; a Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius) and another Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina).

Wood Stitchwort was in glorious flower.

28th April 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - After a mooch and some shopping I had a quick look at the garden, recently battered after the atrocious weather. The first Holly Blue was on the wing and a Orange Tip settled on top of an Aquilegia flower with several Harlequin Ladybirds prowling about as well as a lone 14 Spot variety.

Hoverflies seen were:- Episyrphus balteatus; Melanstoma scalare and Epistrophe eligans.

A Light Brown Apple Moth was disturbed from vegetation; a Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum) looked for potenial pollen sources and the Common Nettle Bug (Liocoris tripustulatus) was on the right host plant.

28th April 2019 - High Rid Reservoir, Bolton, G. Manchester - A sedate walk due to being fagged out, birds noted were:- House Martin; Magpie; Goldfinch; Blackbird; Robin; Black Headed Gull; Blue Tit; Grasshopper Warbler; Carrion Crow; Pied Wagtail; Common Whitethroat; Wood Pigeon; Little Gull; Mallard; Tufted Duck; Swallow; Arctic Tern; Common Tern; Lapwing; Jackdaw; Scaup (F); Stock Dove; Common Sandpiper; Grey Wagtail; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Starling; House Sparrow; Willow Warbler; Goldcrest; Mistle Thrush; Coot; Wren + Blackcap; Chiffchaff and Song Thrush on call.

Pignut was now in flower and Wood Horsetail was looking quite lovely.

7 Orange Tips and 1 Speckled Wood were the butterflies on the wing.

25th April 2019 - Gatley Carrs, Stockport, Cheshire - A walk with some adult carers from work and a chance to just stroll along and enjoy some wildlife. We spent a couple of hours chatting and relaxing and noted the following blooms:- Dandelion agg; Ivy Leaved Speedwell; Thale Cress; Garlic Mustard; Lord's and Ladies; Cow Parsley; Bluebell; Garden Forget-Me-Not; Herb Robert; Fringe Cups; Ramsons; Marsh Marigold; Large Bittercress; Butterbur; Wood Avens; Red Campion; Ribwort Plantain; Shepherd's Purse; Bush Vetch; Meadow Buttercup; Lesser Celandine; Hogweed; Nipplewort; Wood Anemone and Groundsel.

Bugs were few as the weather was cloudy but we did see 7 Spot Ladybird; Harlequin Ladybird; 14 Spot Ladybird; Alder Leaf Beetle; Common Carder Bee; Orange Tip and 2 hoverflies:- Syrphus ribesii and Melanostoma scalare.

Shiny Woodlice; Black Millipede; Striped Millipede; Dusky Slug and White Lipped Banded Snail were a few extras discussed.

Grey Heron; Moorhen; Canada Goose and Blackcap were noted and Holly; Ivy; Hawthorn; Sycamore and Silver Birch were admired and the plant galls:- Aceria pseudoplatani; Aceria macrorhynca and Phytomyza ilicis were discussed further.

With 9 fungi on the list the short stroll ended with a tally of 59 species and of course tea and cake.

24th April 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - Another stroll home on a slightly different route. Hairy Tare; Creeping Buttercup and Rowan were all in flower. 3 galls were new for the year:- Taphrina pruni; Eriophyes sorbi and Protomyces macrosporus.

The Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) and the Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) were also added.

23rd April 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - Walking home, a quartet of 14 Spot Ladybirds were on Nettle, 3 Speckled Woods frequented a Bramble bush, a Orange Tip and a Comma flew around and a Varied Carpet Beetle was on Cow Parsley. The Hoverfly (Epistrophe eligans) and a Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum) were enjoying the last of the current sunny spell.

Broom and Wood Speedwell were now in flower.

22nd April 2019 - Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire - A touch of mothing, a few species for year:- Bee Moth (*3); Shuttle Shaped Dart (*1); Waved Umber (*1); Hebrew Character (*1); Common Oak Pug (*1); Dyseriocrania subpurpurella (*1) and Yellow Barred Brindle (*1) were the characters on show.

A Small White visited the garden.

21st April 2019 - Anderton NR/Marbury CP, Cheshire - A circular walk with the lasses, bird numbers were poor, the list was:- Goldfinch; Magpie; Grey Heron; Black Headed Gull; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Wood Pigeon; Mallard; Kingfisher; Wren; Blue Tit; Robin; Jackdaw; Kestrel; Jay; Reed Bunting; Song Thrush; Blackbird; Blackcap; Dunnock; Goldcrest; Coot; Great Crested Grebe; Moorhen; Mute Swan; Tufted Duck; Mistle Thrush; Stock Dove; Cormorant; Shelduck; Canada Goose + Chiffchaff; Reed Warbler; Willow Warbler and Lapwing on call.

Butterflies noted today were:- Small Tortoiseshell (*1); Peacock (*1); Brimstone (*2); Speckled Wood (*20); Comma (*2) and Orange Tip (*28). 1 moth was seen, the Green Longhorn (Adela reaumurella).

Large Red Damselfly (*5) and Azure Damselfly (*1) were now on the wing. Other insects seen were:- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); Gorse Seed Weevil (Apion ulicis); Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana); Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindella campestris); Bee Fly (Bombylius major) and the hoverflies:- Epistrophe eligans; Myathropa florea and Eristalis pertinax. The Nomad Bee (Nomada lathburiana) was later added after some pointers via Facebook.

Wild Strawberry was in good flower.

17th April 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, Cheshire - A walk during my dinner break, the findings were few but I needed the chill. Common Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemorum); 2 Common Green Shield Bugs (Palomena prasina); a Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum), a Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) and a Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum) were the main finds of the day.

A Speckled Wood and Small Tortoisehsell were knocking about and Epistrophe eligans was the only hoverfly seen.

15th April 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - A walk to pick up the daughter from Uni, Sycamore was now in subtle flower, Goosegrass; Ribwort Plantain and Oxford Ragwort was also sporting pollens producing parts. A Coal Tit was a rare sighting down river, the Kingfisher par for the course.

Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata); Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina) and the Drone-Fly (Eristalis pertinax) were getting the best of the early rays. 2 extra Hoverflies seen included Syrphus ribesii and Parasyrphus punctulatus.

A new gall for the year was the common Aceria macrorhynchus.

13th April 2019 - Marshside RSPB, Lancashire - An early birding wander, 53 species were noted, these were:- Magpie; Pink Footed Goose; Wood Pigeon; Canada Goose; Little Egret; Willow Warbler; Shoveler; Meadow Pipit; Linnet; Redshank; Black Headed Gull; Wren; Moorhen; Pheasant; Tufted Duck; Mallard; Jackdaw; Black Tailed Godwit; Lapwing; Dunnock; Wigeon; Shelduck; Gadwall; Mute Swan; Goldfinch; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Skylark; Pintail; Herring Gull; Little Grebe; Avocet; Swallow; Long Tailed Tit; Oystercatcher; Blackbird; Teal; Ruff; Greylag Goose; Curlew; Song Thrush; Pied Wagtail; Carrion Crow; Blue Tit; Starling; House Sparrow; Collared Dove; House Martin; Great Tit; Barnacle Goose; Buzzard + Chaffinch and Chiffchaff on call.

Flowers in bloom were:- Green Alkanet; Dandelion agg; Bluebell; Red Dead Nettle; Common Stork's-Bill; Daisy; Common Mouse Ear; White Dead Nettle; Danish Scurvygrass; Spotted Dead Nettle; Alexanders; Rape; Cow Parsley and Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill.

2 Common Carder Bees (Bombus pascuorum); a Peacock (Aglais io); a couple of 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata); a Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); a Creeping Thistle Bug (Tingis ampliata) and the Drone-Fly (Eristalis pertinax) were the few bugs seen.

A Brown Hare and a Short Tailed Vole added extra interest to a lovely bracing wander.

8th April 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport to Fletcher Moss, Cheshire - I was up and out with the lark, I was planning on a short trip but ended up dawdling for 5 hours. Butterflies noted today were:- Peacock (*7); Green Veined White (*1); Small White (*1); Comma (*1); Brimstone (*1); Orange Tip (*10); Speckled Wood (*6) and Small Tortoiseshell (*6).

3 Buff Tailed Bumble Bees (Bombus terrestris); 1 Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius); 1 Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); 1 Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum); 23 Common Green Shield Bugs (Palomena prasina); Pot Bellied Emerald Beetles (Gastrophysa viridula); 1 Sloe Bug (Dolycoris baccarum); 16*7 Spot Ladybirds 1*14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata); a Kidney Spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus); 2 Common Wasps (Vespa vulgaris); 8 Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis); 2 Yellow Dung Flies (Scathophaga stercoraria); 2 Tawny Mining Bees (Andrena fulva) and 2 colonies of Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria) of at least 60 individuals were the bugs noted in some fine, sunny weather.

Hoverflies seen were:- Episyrphus balteatus (*1); Syrphus torvus (*2); Eristalis intricarius (*1); Melanostoma scalare (*2); Epistrophe eligans (*1); Cheilosia pagana (*1); Helophilus pendulus (*1); and Platycheirus albimanus (*2).

Cuckooflower; Field Maple; Hogweed were flowers in bloom and considered and a Kingfisher and several Sand Martins were added to the list.

6th April 2019 - West Moor, Somerset - An evening walk after some Non-League football, Chaffinch; Rook; Herring Gull; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Jackdaw; Blue Tit; Goldfinch; Mallard; Mute Swan; Blackbird; Blackcap (M/F); Great Spotted Woodpecker; Wood Pigeon; Great Tit; House Sparrow; Collared Dove; Magpie; Carrion Crow plus Pheasant; Chiffchaff; Song Thrush and Wren on call.

Honesty was in flower.

6th April 2019 - Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset - A wonderful morning looking at bird life at this splendid reserve. Birds seen were:- Collared Dove; Blue Tit; Chiffchaff; Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Sand Martin; Great Tit; Wood Pigeon; Blackcap; Bittern; Little Egret; Canada Goose; Great Crested Grebe; Mallard; Coot; Shoveler; Pochard; Teal; Cetti's Warbler; Lapwing; Buzzard; Carrion Crow; Garganey (2*M/1*F); Cormorant; Gadwall; Mute Swan; Moorhen; Great White Egret; Little Grebe; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Long Tailed Tit; Willow Warbler; Reed Bunting; Grey Heron; Dunnock; House Sparrow; Robin; Black Headed Gull; Magpie; Marsh Harrier (2*M); Greylag Goose; Coal Tit; Wren plus Song Thrush; Bullfinch; Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goldcrest on call.

Butterflies seen were:- Brimstone (*1); Orange Tip (*3); Small Tortoiseshell (*1) and Peacock (*3),

Other bugs noted were:- The Drone-Fly (Eristalis pertinax); St Mark's Fly (Bibio marci); Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 2 Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata); 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); 24 Spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata); Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum); Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina); Bee Fly (Bombylius major) and Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria).

5th April 2019 - Woodchester Park NT, Gloucestershire - A good stretch of the legs at a fine place where people were almost absent, that will do me. Wood Spurge; Stinking Hellebore and Wood Anemone were in flower along with Ground Ivy; Primrose; Ivy Leaved Speedwell and Dandelion agg.

A Raven flew by and the Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare) was noted.

5th April 2019 - Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire - A fine walk taking in the birds both captive and in the wild. From the wild-side 46 bird species were noted:- Magpie; Jackdaw; Wood Pigeon; Rook; Black Headed Gull; House Sparrow; Buzzard; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Chiffchaff; Blackbird; Shelduck; Canada Goose; Greylag Goose; Feral Pigeon; Coot; Moorhen; Mallard; Herring Gull; Black Tailed Godwit; Tufted Duck; Oystercatcher; Shoveler; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Avocet; Gadwall; Cormorant; Lapwing; Skylark; Common Crane; Curlew; Peregrine Falcon; Mute Swan; Common Tern; Robin; Greenfinch; Sand Martin; Goldfinch; Collared Dove; Grey Heron; Little Egret; Redshank; Bewick's Swan plus Blackcap; Willow Warbler; Wren and Dunnock on call.

Lords and Ladies and Spotted Dead Nettle were in flower and Pendulous Sedge was producing pollen from the dangling heads.

1st April 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - A walk into Stockport to do some shopping, I strolled home and noted the following birds:- Blue Tit; Blackbird; Kingfisher; Sand Martin (*7); Wren; Dipper; Feral Pigeon; Mallard; Grey Wagtail; Bullfinch; Great Tit; Magpie; Canada Goose; Goldfinch; Robin and Wood Pigeon.

Corn Salad and American Wintercress were in flower and Field Horsetail was getting quite tall and ready to produce its fern-like growth.

A new gall for the year, namely Eriophyes crataegi - we are ticking along nicely.

31st March 2019 - Leverhulme Park Nature Reserve, Bolton, Lancashire - A pleasant hour speny checking out a small area and coming up with some lovely sightings. 2 Roe Deer let us get fairly close before scampering away into the undergrowqth and a splendid Mistle Thrush and equally attractive Song Thrush were also viewed up close.

3 Bullheads were seen in the river, one of which was caught in a tub, identified and released. A Lone 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) and 2 Buff Tailed Bumble Bees (Bombus terrestris) were the only bugs observed and Sweet Cicely and Common Ash were both in flower.

30th March 2019 - Rother Valley CP, Sheffield, W. Yorkshire - An early morning walk in glorious sun, 36 birds were noted:- Mallard; Canada Goose; Magpie; Mute Swan; Wood Pigeon; Carrion Crow; Blackcap; Long Tailed Tit; Goosander; Buzzard; Blue Tit; Chiffchaff; Coot; Tufted Duck; Coal Tit; Bullfinch; Jay; Robin; Wigeon; Great Tit; Dunnock; Great Crested Grebe; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Black Headed Gull; Gadwall; Grey Heron; Moorhen; Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Reed Bunting; Grey Wagtail; Pied Wagtail; Jackdaw + Greenfinch; Wren and Song Thrush on call.

Common Whitlow Grass; Cowslip; Lesser Celandine; White Dead Nettle; Dandelion agg ands Ground Ivy were in flower,

18 Gorse Shield Bugs (Piezodorus lituratus) were enjoyed the sun as well as a couple of 2 Spot Ladybirds (Adalia bipunctata), 7 * 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata); 2 Tawny Mining Bees (Andrena fulva); 3 Gorse Seed Weevils (Apion ulicis) and 1 Buff Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus terrestris).

1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell were the only butterflies observed.

29th March 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - Busy, busy times but the River Mersey always gives me time to consider the natural world.  2 Red Tailed Bumble Bees (Bombus lapidarius); 1 Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina); Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria); 1 Drone-Fly (Eristalis pertinax); 3 Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis) and a trio of 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata).

3 Commas and 2 Peacocks were the butterflies on the wing and brought, as per, a smile to my face.

24th March 2019 - Chorlton WP, G. Manchester - A brief walk before we had a good rest. A couple of Red Velvet Mites (Trombidium sp) were seen whilst rolling logs and then 5 * 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata); 2 Drone Flies (Eristalis pertinax); 1 Hoverfly (Meliscaeva auricollis); 1 Buff Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus terrestris); 1 Sawfly (Aglaostigma aucupariae); 1 Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) and 5 Pot Bellied Emerald Beetles (Gastrophysa viridula) were added to the day's sightings.

2 Small Tortoiseshells (Aglais urticae) were enjoying the sunshine.

23rd March 2019 - Eccleshall, Staffordshire - A walk around some waste ground and along some country lanes checking the hedgerows, the result was:- 1 * Bee Fly (Bombylius major); 7 * Buff Tailed Bumble Bees (Bombus terrestris); 44 * 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata); 1 Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum); 1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina); 40 Pied Shieldbugs (Tritomegas bicolor); 3 Dead Nettle Leaf Beetles (Chrysolina fastuosa); 1 Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria); 2 * Clarke's Mining Bees (Andrena clarkella); 2 Tawny Ming Bees (Andrena fulva); 1 Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria); 1 * Sawfly (Aglaostigma aucupariae) and 2 Nursery Web Spiders (Pisaura mirabilis) and 1 Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

The white form of Red Dead Nettle was seen along with several Field Pansies in flower. Not bad for a short walk.

23rd March 2019 - Doxey Marshes, Staffordshire - An early morning wander with 46 birds noted, these being:- Wood Pigeon; Blackbird; Goldfinch; Magpie; Chiffchaff; Canada Goose; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Wren; Grey Heron; Lapwing; Coot; Tufted Duck; Great Crested Grebe; Mallard; Teal; Cetti's Warbler; House Sparrow; Dunnock; Reed Bunting; Gadwall; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Cattle Egret; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Starling; Robin; Mute Swan; Little Egret; Shoveler; Moorhen; Long Tailed Tit; Cormorant; Great White Egret; Black Headed Gull; Goosander; Greenfinch; Treecreeper; Stock Dove; Mistle Thrush; Kestrel; Buzzard + Chaffinch; Skylark; Bullfinch and Pheasant on call.

A Buff Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus terrestris); 7 * 7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) were the only bugs seen with 10 spawning Frogs and 2 Toads nice extras.

Grape Hyacinth; White Dead Nettle and a white variety of Bluebell were all in flower.

21st March 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - A walk down the river after dropping the bike off for some brake repairs. A Brown Rat was noted as well as 7 Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis). Grape Hyacinth; Toothwort; Hairy Bittercress; Hornbeam and Laurel were all in flower and the regulation Kingfisher was seen once again.

A Buff Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus terrestris) was seen too.

17th March 2019 - Worsbrough CP, W. Yorkshire - The second walk of the day, 24 birds were noted:- Robin; Mallard; Canada Goose; Black Headed Gull; Grey Heron; Goosander (*7); Great Crested Grebe (*8); Long Tailed Tit; Great Tit; Magpie; Wood Pigeon; Wren; Carrion Crow; Coot; Blackbird; Kingfisher; Jackdaw; Moorhen; Pheasant; Dunnock; Grey Wagtail + Goldcrest; Bullfinch and Goldfinch on call.

An Early Bumble Bee (Bombus pratorum) did well to brave the cold and Primrose; Wood Anemone and Dog's Mercury were flowers considered.

17th March 2019 - Old Moor RSPB, W. Yorkshire - A trip back to a haunt we hadn't visited for a quite a few years. The wander was in a brisk breeze with sunshine and showers the order ofthe day. 47 birds were seen, these were:- Canada Goose; Blackbird; Wood Pigeon; Chaffinch; Stock Dove; Magpie; Great Tit; Bullfinch; Robin; Dunnock; Black Headed Gull; Coot; Barn Owl; Gadwall; Moorhen; Tufted Duck; Little Grebe; Pochard; Teal; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Kestrel; Greylag Goose; Wigeon; Pheasant; Shoveler; Jackdaw; Goosander; Shelduck; Carrion Crow; Mallard; Redshank; Lapwing; Oystercatcher; Long Tailed Tit; Black Tailed Godwit; Green Sandpiper; Reed Bunting; Goldfinch; Blue Tit; Collared Dove; Dunnock; Brambling; Wren and Tree Sparrow.

3 Gorse Shieldbugs were seen soaking up the odd sunny spell and Ground Ivy was seen in flower.

11th March 2019 - Parkgate, The Wirral - We were clemmed so a visit to the chippy was had and a nice wander, birds seen were:- Great White Egret (*2); Hen Harrier (*1 ringtail); Short Eared Owl (*5); Teal; Oystercatcher; Wigeon; Mallard; Little Egret; Jackdaw; Grey Heron; Starling; Wood Pigeon; Magpie; Redshank; Song Thrush; Carrion Crow; Pink Footed Goose; Canada Goose; Common Buzzard; Blackbird; Blue Tit; Dunnock; Pheasant; Goldfinch; Coot; Pied Wagtail and Long Tailed Tit.

Alexanders was now in flower and a Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) was seen enjoying the blooms as well as the Drone-Fly (Syrphus torvus). 2 Devil's Coach Horses were alos seen.

3rd March 2019 - Flixton/William Wroe Golf Course, G. Manchester - We met up with a fellow nature moocher and his son, he led us around someone's garden that had the potential to become a nature reserve. I didn't keep a comprehensive list as it was primarily a reccie and the weather was rubbish but we saw a Buzzard, some Rough and Shiny Woodlice; a Garden Snail plus Groundsel; Thale Cress; Ivy Leaved Speedwell; Lesser Cleandine; Red Dead Nettle and Common Whitlow Grass in flower.

Moving on to the golf course we saw the years first 22 Spot Ladybird and Common Frog plus a 7 Spot Ladybird; Harlequin Ladybird and the Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria).

23rd February 2019 - Brockholes LWT, Lancashire - A lovely day out starting with a breakfast and some birding at this pleasant reserve. 49 bird species were noted, these were:- Carrion Crow; Blue Tit; Wood Pigeon; Canada Goose; Great Tit; Reed Bunting; Magpie; Meadow Pipit; Blackbird; Pied Wagtail; Long Tailed Tit; Oystercatcher; Dunnock; Coot; Redwing; Robin; Lapwing; Tufted Duck; Teal; Goldeneye; Grey Heron; Goosander; Great Crested Grebe; Cormorant; Shoveler; Black Headed Gull; Goldfinch; Wren; Chaffinch; Mute Swan; Moorhen; Mallard; Gadwall; Redshank; Kingfisher; Starling; Curlew; Little Egret; Nuthatch; Buzzard; Coal Tit; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Herring Gull; Ringed Plover; Kestrel; Common Gull + Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goldcrest on call.

A Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria); a Drone-Fly (Eristalis tenax) and 31*7 Spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) were added to the day's listing.

Colt's-Foot was in wonderful bloom and gave the opportunity of seeing the year's first butterfly, a Comma.

21st February 2019 - Heaton Moor/Mersey, Stockport, G. Manchester - A couple of new species for the year, Daffodil Fly (Norellia spinipes) and a Tree Bee (Bombus hypnorum) were enjoyed along with the hoverflies Meliscaeva auricollis and Eristalis tenax. A pair of 7 Spot Ladybirds were noted on the way home and 2 Honey Bees (Apis mellifera).

20th February 2019 - Heaton Moor, Stockport, G. Manchester - I pootled in the dinner hour and found a few interesting things beneath bark, the best being 3 Hairy Snails (Trochulus hispidus), a Springtail (Dicyrtomina ornata) and a Ground Nettle Bug (Heterogaster urticae) - tis good to mooch.

18th February 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - A ride down stream planting some seeds and feeding the birds, 27 bird species were seen:- Feral Pigeon; Wren; Greenfinch; Cormorant; Ring Necked Parakeet; Black Headed Gull; Pied Wagtail; Long Tailed Tit; Mistle Thrush; House Sparrow; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Dipper; Carrion Crow; Kingfisher; Goosander; Blackbird; Dunnock; Wood Pigeon; Moorhen; Canada Goose; Robin; Mallard; Song Thrush and Magpie.

Red Dead Nettle; Pineappleweed; Rape and Feverfew were in flower.

17th February 2019 - Parrs Wood Environmental Centre, Didsbury, G. Manchester - A potter down to catch up with some nice folk and to pick up a clump of Michaelmas Daisies. We had a stoll, 6 Redwing fled from a berry laden tree, 4 Smooth Newts were seen, a Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) and a Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax). Beneath a stone a Harlequin Ladybird was seen and beneath alog we found a Budapest Slug.

Thale Cress was in flower.

10th February 2019 - Crosby Marina, Merseyside - A birding browse in the breeze, 39 species noted:- Black Headed Gull; Pied Wagtail; Oystercatcher; Carrion Crow; Starling; Redshank; Herring Gull; Mute Swan; Cormorant; Canada Goose; Coot; Tufted Duck; Feral Pigeon; Pochard; Black Tailed Godwit; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Wood Pigeon; Goldeneye; Skylark; Curlew; Turnstone; Knot; Great Black Backed Gull; Shelduck; Meadow Pipit; Magpie; Shoveler; Teal; Robin; Blue Tit; Blackbird; Goldcrest; Greenfinch; House Sparrow; Collared Dove; Song Thrush; Long Tailed Tit; Goldfinch and Dunnock.

The only other thing noted were masses of Common Barnacles.

9th February 2019 - Fletcher Moss, Didsbury, G. Manchester - Birds seen were:- Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Magpie; Wren; Long Tailed Tit; Song Thrush; Great Tit; Blackbird; Dunnock; Robin; Wood Pigeon; Blue Tit; Carrion Crow; Mistle Thrush; Redwing; Canada Goose; Mallard; Black Headed Gull; Jackdaw; Grey Wagtail; Ring Necked Parakeet; Bullfinch and Treecreeper.

A fine English Yew was admired, a 7 Spot Ladybird was seen clinging onto an Ash branch and the Wall Screw Moss (Tortula muralis) was common.

4th February 2019 - Bruntwood Park, Stockport, Cheshire - A swift walk, not much seen, 14 bird species, these being:- Great Spotted Woodpecker; Greenfinch; Robin; Blackbird; Magpie; Wood Pigeon; Wren; Great Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Carrion Crow; Goldfinch; House Sparrow; Coal Tit and Nuthtach.

A Common Shrew was a delight and the gall Taxomyia taxi expected.

27th January 2019 - Gatley Carrs, Stockport, Cheshire - A quick pootle with the wind whooshing. Several Alder Leaf Beetles (Agelastica alni) were hiding beneath some bark and a Bullfinch was noted flying by. I was rather rushed today!

Cladonia coniocraea was identified later using the usual key.

26th January 2019 - Aqualate Mere NR, Staffordshire - A tidy stroll after the weather had kindly cleared with only 20 bird species seen:- Goldfinch; Mistle Thrush; Jackdaw; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Canada Goose; Wren; Mallard; Mute Swan; Reed Bunting; Cormorant; Tufted Duck; Coot; Carrion Crow; Long Tailed Tit; Blackbird; Common Buzzard; Robin; Chaffinch ands Goldeneye.

The Fungus Gall (Agathomyia wankowiczii) was a nice extra along with a few fungi. Ramalina farinacea was a lichen identified.

20th January 2019 - Astley and Chat Mosses, G. Manchester - A stroll in fine weather, a few birds seen, these were:- Kestrel; Common Buzzard; Wood Pigeon; Magpie; Blackbird; Starling; Yellowhammer (*4); Chaffinch; Carrion Crow; Goldfinch; Great Tit; Wren; Blue Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Pied Wagtail; Robin; Moorhen; Mallard; Sparrowhawk; Dunnock; Stonechat and House Sparrow.

Daisy, Red Dead Nettle; White Dead Nettle; Shepherd's Purse; Greater Periwinkle and Pineappleweed were in flower and a couple of 7 Spot Ladybirds were seen.

14th January 2019 - River Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire - A bike ride, Common Ragwort, a Common Toad and the years first Buff Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) were the highs from a bikeride and a mooch.

13th January 2019 - Poynton Pool, Stockport, Cheshire - Some birding to the usa ticking over. Wood Pigeon; Magpie; Jackdaw; Canada Goose; Mallard; HouseSparrow; Great Tit; Pied Wagtail; Redwing; Starling; Blue Tit; Moorhen; Dunnock; Long Tailed Tit; Carrion Crow; Wren; Coot; Goosander; Herring Gull; Tufted Duck; Goldfinch; Mute Swan and Wigeon made up the small but enjoyable list.

Winter Heliotrope was in flower and some Oak Marble Galls (Andricus kollari) were noted.

10th January 2019 - Heaton Mersey Nature Reserve, Stockport, G. Manchester - 14 birds were seen on a dinnertime stroll:- Starling; Great Tit; Wood Pigeon; Nuthatch; Black Headed Gull; Common Gull; Blackbird; Robin; Magpie; Song Thrush; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Bullfinch; Mallard and Goldcrest.

The Ash Key Gall (Aceria fraxinivora) and Crescent Cup Liverwort (Lulularia cruciata) were noted as well.

7th January 2019 - Elton Reservoir, Bury, G. Manchester - A walk that started under grey skies and ended soon after under horrible rain. 35 species of bird were recorded before we dashed for cover, these were:- Robin; Goldfinch; Chaffinch; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Coal Tit; Blackbird; Black Headed Gull; Bullfinch; Mallard; Coot; Herring Gull; Common Gull; Collared Dove; House Sparrow; Carrion Crow; Feral Pigeon; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Canada Goose; Mute Swan; Goosander (*4); Great Crested Grebe; Cormorant; Little Egret (*4); Grey Heron; Magpie; Starling; Jackdaw; Teal; Long Tailed Tit; Tufted Duck; Gadwall; Pied Wagtail; Greenfinch + Wren on call.

Hedge Mustard was showing a few shabby flowers.

4th January 2019 - Fletcher Moss, G. Manchester - A roam with a keen bod and after picking out a bundle of fungi a few birds were listed too:- Magpie; Ring Necked Parakeet; Great Tit; Wood Pigeon; Blue Tit; Blackbird; Long Tailed Tit; Coal Tit; Robin; Treecreeper; Nuthatch; Wren; Mistle Thrush; Grey Wagtail; Dunnock; Goldfinch; Carrion Crow; Black Headed Gull; Mallard; Bullfinch; Redwing; Chaffinch and Jay.

Whilst rolling a few logs we noted:- Budapest Slug; Large Yellow Slug; Dusky Slug and some stonking Leopard Slugs. Variegated Centipede, Shiny Woodlouse; Rough Woodlouse and Striped Woodlouse were expected as was a Garlic Snail. A Birch Shieldbug was a nice extra.

Wood Avens; Green Alkanet; White Dead Nettle; Nipplewort and Greater Periwinkle were in flower and Mistletoe was looking good.

Taxomyia taxi and Phytomyza ilicis were the only galls noted.

1st January 2019 - Bathpool Park, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire - The second walk of the day with the good lasses. Only 13 species of bird on show:- Carrion Crow; Blue Tit; Tufted Duck; Coot; Mallard; Black Headed Gull; Magpie; Great Tit; Moorhen; Mute Swan; Long Tailed Tit; Dunnock and Blackbird.

Gorse was in flower; Grey Cushion Moss (Grimmia pulvinata) observed and Groundsel held a few weak blooms.