Gateshead Birder Home Page

2008 Notable Records and first flowers

May 2008

Medicago lupulina (Black Medick) at Birtley on the 1st was followed by Ranunculus acris (Meadow Buttercup) noted on 3rd near Stargate when Prunus domestica (Wild Plum), Sambucus nigra (Elder) and Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn) were at Shibdon and Myrrhis odorata (Sweet Cicely) near Birtley. On the 5th, in flower today Carex paniculata (Greater Tussock-sedge), Carex riparia (Greater Pond-sedge) and Veronica chamaedrys (Germander Speedwell)

One of the First Elder flowers [George Simpson]

Flora in flower near the Metrocentre on the 5th included Valerianella locusta (Common Cornsalad) - the first record since 1999, Festuca rubra (Red Fescue), Anthoxanthum odoratum (Sweet Vernal-grass) and Carex flacca (Glaucous Sedge. Also on the 5th, Eleocharis palustris (Common Spike-rush) and Carex otrubae (False Fox-sedge) were at Lamesley Water Meadows.

April 2008

Hairy Bittercress [George Simpson)

The first Field Woodrush (Luzula campestris) was noted at two sites on the 2nd as was Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell) at Longacre Wood. Veronica hederifolia (Ivy-leaved Speedwell) and Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle) were seen in flower at Springwell on 3rd. Oxalis acetosella (Wood-sorrel) and Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard) in flower at Clara Vale on 5th. By the 9th the following were also noted White Dead-nettle (Lamium album ), hybrid Bluebell (Hyacinthoides x massartiana), Wavy Bitter-cress (Cardamine flexuosa), Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale ), Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica ), Cowslip (Primula veris), Honesty (Lunaria annua ), Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) and Apple (Malus domestica). On the 10th Common Dog Violet (Viola Riviniana) and Fraxinus excelsior (Ash) was noted at Shibdon. Ribwort Plantain was in flower by the 14th. The 17th produced Arenaria serpyllifolia (Thyme-leaved Sandwort), Cytisus scoparius (Broom)and Prunus padus (Bird Cherry). The 20th produced Ribes uva-crispa (Gooseberry), Salix fragilis (Crack-willow), Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel), Vinca major (Greater Periwinkle), Muscari armeniacum (Garden Grape-hyacinth) and Fagus sylvatica (Beech), followed the following day by Stellaria holostea (Greater Stitchwort), Alopecurus pratensis (Meadow Foxtail), Silene dioica (Red Campion) and Luzula sylvatica (Great Wood-rush). The 27th produced Myosotis sylvatica (Wood Forget-me-not) at Ravensworth Fell and
Lady Park produced Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine), Narcissus poeticus (Pheasant's-eye Daffodil), Allium ursinum (Ramsons), Brassica napus subsp. oleifera (Oil-seed Rape), Dactylis glomerata (Cock's-foot Grass) and Sinapis arvensis (Charlock). The 29th in the Blaydon area had Cerastium fontanum (Common Mouse-ear), Geranium molle (Dove's-foot Crane's-bill) and Viola arvensis (Field Pansy)in flower. Carex caryophyllea (Spring-sedge) at Westfield Pasture and Myosotis arvensis (Field Forget-me-not) near Birtley were both noted on 29th.

Ash bud opening up [Peter Harvey]

March 2008

Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa ) & Primrose (Primula vulgaris) in flower at Swalwell visitor centre on the 12th. Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) was noted on 19th together with Swede (Brassica napus subsp. rapifera). On the 30th Adoxa moschatellina (Moschatel), Chrysosplenium oppositifolium (Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage), Cochlearia danica (Danish Scurvygrass), Petasites hybridus (Butterbur) and Salix cinerea subsp. cinerea (Grey Willow) were in flower. Finally on 31st, Veronica filiformis (Slender Speedwell) and Arabidopsis thaliana (Thale Cress) was noted

Petasites hybridus (Butterbur) in flower at Shibdon

[George Simpson]

February 2008

Common Field Speedwell (Veronica persica) at Shibdon [George Simpson]

On 1st, the Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera ) at Shibdon as noted to be in flower. On 5th, Common Whitlow-grass (Erophila verna) and Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. major) was seen in flower. On the 8th at Hollinside Manor Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) in flower and more at Paddock Wood. The next day Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) was noted in the Derwent Walk CP.

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Common Field Speedwell (Veronica persica) was noted at Shibdon on 11th. On 17th the first Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) was noted in flower

Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera ) at Shibdon on 1st [George Simpson]

January 2008

Nine species of plant were in flower on 1st January Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus), Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Dandelion (Taraxacum aggregate) , Hazel (Corylus avellana), Downy Birch (Betula pubescens), Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) at Shibdon on 1st [George Simpson]

By the 11th, Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), Petty Spurge ( Euphorbia peplus), Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua), Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) were noted. Cardamine hirsuta (Hairy Bitter-cress) and Betula pendula (Silver Birch) on 13th and. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) first recorded on the 17th. Tripleurospermum inodorum (Scentless Mayweed), at Dunston was in flower on 20th. Towards the end of the month, the first ,Goat Willow (Salix caprea) catkins seen on 29th (13th February last year) as was Shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) and Common Chickweed (Stellaria media )

Goat Willow (Salix caprea) at Shibdon on 29th [George Simpson]

Gateshead Birders