Gateshead Birder Flora Page

2011 Notable Records and first flowers

January 2010

Hazel (Corylus avellana), Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and Alder Alnus glutinosa) all had catkins on 2nd along Greenford Lane, Lamesley and Gorse (Ulex europaeus) was in flower on the 3rd at Derwent

 Gorse at Derwenthaugh on 3rd [George Simpson]

Maidenhair Spleenwort & Hartstongue Fern under Derwenthaugh Bridge [George Simpson]

Maidenhair Spleenwort & Hartstongue Fern were both noted under Derwenthaugh Bridge on 5th and Sulphur-tuft fungi at Shibdon the same day. On 16th, another fungi, Candlesnuff, was also noted at Shibdon.

	*Pixie -Cups (Cladonia sp)* at Shibdon [George Simpson] on 5th January

Butterbur was noted in flower at Shibdon on 28th. More fungi were noted in late January in the Shibdon/Derwenthaugh area with Birch Polypore, Variable-coloured Bracket, Willow Bracket, Blushing Bracket, King Alfreds Cakes, Jews-ear, Earth-star and Beef-steak Fungi


Jews-ear at Shibdon	King Alfred's Cakes at Swalwell

Velvet-shank Fungi noted at Shibdon on 1st and Common Field Speedwell there on 4th. On 7th Hairy Bittercress and Oak Moss Lichen was found at Shibdon, with Dandelion there and Snowdrops in Birtley the following day. Red Dead Nettle was noted on 10th.

Marsh Marigold was first noted in flower on 18th at Clara Vale and Lesser Periwinkle, Common Chickweed, Common Mouse-ear, Shepherd's Purse and Common Daisy on 24th.

Goat Willow and Cherry Plum in flower on 1st at Shibdon with Coltsfoot the next day together with Net-marked parmelia (Parmelia sulcata)

Grey Alder and Downy Birch in flower at Strother Woods on 13th and Black Spleenwort was found growing on walls in Low Fell on 19th. Dog's Mercury and Yew in flower also Greenford Lane on 20th Blackthorn was next in flower on 21st. The first Field Woodrush was, as usual, on a lawn in Cowen Road, on 24th. The first (?) Groundsel noted next day.

Wild Plum note at Birtley reedbed Pools and White Dead-nettle at several sites on 27th when Ivy-leaved Speedwell was seen at Ryton and Primrose at Shibdon. On 30th Cowslip was at Shibdon

Moschatel was noted at Westfield Pasture on 2nd and Common Scurvy Grass on the Tyne on 5th.

Common Foxtail and the Hairy Lady's Mantle Alchemilla xanthochlora were found in flower at Bradley Hill early month and Hawthorn and Bird Cherry at Shibdon on 10th

Field Horsetail was seen in the Derwent Valley on 13th when Ribwort Plantain was found in flower on a lawn at Cowen Road, Blaydon together with Broom also in flower. The 14th had Common Storksbill , Shepherds Purse , Cuckoo-Pint ,Marsh Marigold and Creeping Yellowcress at Shibdon.

An afternoon botanising in the Bradley Fell are on 20th produced many new species for the year - See panel opposite.

The 23rd at Shibdon proceced another in flower - Birdsfoot Trefoil, Wild Migonette, Rowan and Meadow Buttercup, with Hairy Tare, Leopard's Bane, False Oat-grass, Heath Speedwell and Water Forget-me-not there on 26th and Black Medick nearby at Cowen Road. Derwenthaugh had Field Madder at in a slightly different location to last year. Also Herb Robert in flower here. Shibdon Bittersweet and Oxeye Daisy on the 27th. Alchemilla glaba was found on Bradley fell on 28th. Finally the 29th produced Wood Cranesbill, Sweet Cicely, Smooth Meadow-grass

The 1st at Shibdon added Common Comfrey , Dog Rose and Dame's Violet, with the next day adding Red Campion, White Campion, Guelder Rose and Nipplewort and Greater Celandine on 3rd. Celery Leaved Buttercup & Wood Avens at Shibdon and Mouse-ear Hawkweed at Cowen Road, Blaydon, were new for the year on the 4th/5th. The 6th had Columbine and Raspberry in flower there and the 8th Bladder Campion and Charlock. Bramble , Pineappleweed, Swedish Whitebeam, Sticky Mouse-ear and Elder in flower on 11th at Shibdon and Wall Speedwell and Yellow-flag on 13th. The 20th found Yellow-rattle, Orange Hawkweed (aka Fox & Cubs), Mouse-ear Hawkweed and Field Forget-me-Not at Shibdon.

The 21st - 23rd produced Northern Marsh Orchid, Yarrow, Smooth Hawksbeard, Self-heal, Common Spikerush, Hard Rush and the hybrid Pink Campion with Kidney Vetch and Meadow Vetchling on 27th. Common Mallow and Common Figwort on 31st

The 'Bio-blitz' on 4th June added an excellent number of new plants to the list for teh year and included only the 3rd site in the borogh being found for Common Twayblade. With afew species still to confirm the current year list stands at 378.

Blue Fleabane at Derwenthaugh on 13th. Meadow Cranesbill and Tall Melilot at Derwenthaugh and Bee Orchid and Musk Thistle in flower at Shibdon on 14th/15th and the nearby river Derwent on the 17th had Himalayan Balsam, Meadowsweet and Monkeyflower.

The 23rd produced Yellow-wort and Agrimony at Shibdon and Large-flowered Evening-Primrose on 26th.

Common Spotted and a single Bee Orchid were found in a lawn in Cowen Road, Blaydon on 27th.

Shibdon had Broad Leaved Helleborine , Sisyrinchium striatum , Marsh Thistle on 1st when Greater Burnet-saxifrage was noted at Blaydon and Frogbit and Fen Bedstraw at Maryside.

Heather, Tansy in flower
Pink Waxcap, Meadow Puffball, Shaggy Inkcap and Chicken of the Woods fungi noted

Gateshead Birders

Maidenhair Spleenwort & Hartstongue Fern under Derwenthaugh Bridge [George Simpson]