Greater Manchester Wildlife

i've jealous phil. i've been poking about water channels for weeks and never found a water scorpion. They have to be near the surface or edge as they breathe through a tube at the rear. Very leaf like so well spotted. The stick insect lookalike could be one of two things a water stick insect or a water measurer. The first are rare in GM according to NBN Gateway one location at the airport and a lodge down the road from my address. I think they are much more common as the sighting on the lodge had a lot of keen amateurs regularly checking. They are up to 5cm long. Water measurers are more common up to 3cm long.  I saw one a few weeks ago on the BB canal. Good sightings. They both feed by inserting their hooter into their victims and sucking out the insides.

Pics

Water Stick Insect (Ranatra (Ranatra) linearis

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikehannon/5680522964/

Water Measurer Hydrometra stagnoroum

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger_key/2691579667/

-- Edited by IanB on Monday 2nd of May 2011 06:58:38 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Monday 2nd of May 2011 08:39:49 PM

A very lazy day yesterday in the garden - just added a Speckled Wood. Must get into gear today!!! Obviously weather permitting.

Evening walk with the youngest to Ellenbrook Ponds off Longwall Avenue - loads of Common Frog, a few Common Toad and one definate Smooth Newt male plus a few other newts probably this species. Also over the garden a small bat - assuming a Pipistrelle.

Forgot to add first summer bird - singing Chiff-chaff plus Cowslips coming through

Also added a few moths  Twin-spotted Quaker and Pale Pinion

-- Edited by Phil Mansfield on Tuesday 22nd of March 2011 07:50:43 PM

Added this week - Buzzard 

Wonder with the family today - picked out a few plants - Creeping Buttercup, Snowdrop, Common Nettle, Ribwort Plantain, Daisy, Dandelion, Honeysuckle, Water Solider and a surprise Gorse - single bush by path in woodland - just seemed odd. Loads of other plants coming - can put to families but not species will have to wait for flowers.

The tetrad challange is a bit of fun but equally is an attempt to give an insight into some of the flora and fauna of the area. The one I look at has an old waste tip in it and all sorts turn up some clearly garden escapees blow in or throw aways. I have always been amazed what turns up where. But equally its part of the the picture of that area, so record with location. I personally do not record ones that are on the other side of a garden hedge or clearly planted. Many 'wild' flowers were once garden darlings.

It's somewhat of a grey area Phil, but if plants genuinely are in a naturalised state and have self-sustaining populations (hard to tell due to either long-lifespans, slow reproduction rates or ephemeral natures) then they can be countable I think. Most of those species you mention can be counted and there are quite a few garden escapes which can also. If the escapes in question are in the Collins guide then that assumes that these species often naturalise away from gardens. I always prefer to record things which seem to be in a naturalised state as even if they may not be now, they may soon due to changing climates, habitats etc and it's a good documentation of their colonisation to have the records.

Sorry I can't give you a fixed definition though Phil!

cracking start

Thanks you two all help as always greatly appreciated, maybe an extra field guide or two on the Christmas wish list!

I will be happy to try and help with any wildflower ID's Phil and I'm sure Dave can't wait to get stuck into some tricky fungi photos too!
Great to see you joining the tetrad challenge!