Garden biodiversity has not been that well researched in the past so every record is important.
You can only record species of animals and plants that have arrived in the garden of their own accord so all those lovely native shrubs, trees and flowers we've planted over the years can't be counted! :(
If you want to find out more or take part next year there is a website at www.bioblitz.org.uk.
I couldn't take part on the Saturday (FA Cup Final) so opted to do the recording on Sunday, 31st May. The weather wasn't brilliant as it rained most of the morning. The afternoon luckily was dry with some sunny intervals.
Last year I found just over 70 species and, as expected with the cool weather, this year's findings were lower. There were certainly far fewer insects about and I didn't find even one spider. No mammals were seen this year - not even the Grey Squirrel who is a regular visitor.
Species seen
Birds
Blue Tit
Blackbird
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Wood Pigeon
Magpie
Dunnock
Carrion Crow,
Wren
Feral Pigeon
House Sparrow
Wildflowers
(Many of these weren't in flower this year but luckily many of the species I had also found in 2014 and were, therefore, easy to identify this time round.
Tormentil
Daisy
Ribwort Plantain - was a bit worried about this one as we have planted this species in the wildflower "meadow" area but this was in the lawn in the front garden so I've counted it!
Green Alkanet (I am really pleased this has somehow self-seeded as its such a magnet for pollinating insects)
Upright Yellow Sorrel
Lesser Trefoil
Yellow Corydalis
Herb Robert
Dandelion
Hairy Bittercress
Bramble
Common Nettle
Groundsel
Wall Speedwell
White Clover
Smooth Sow Thistle
Common Mouse-ear
Cut-leaved Dead-Nettle
Common Ragwort
Cleavers
Common Cat's Ear
Broad-leaved Willow Herb
Ferns
This Hart's Tongue Fern has self-seeded in one of the stone walls
Trees
Sycamore
Rowan
Oak - this Oak (Quercus sp.) self-seeded and OH has planted it in a pot
Common Whitebeam - a common street tree round here and this one self-seeded just after we moved in - its now huge and home to the nestbox which houses the Blue Tit family - all six chicks by the way are still doing well.
Grasses
Meadow Grass
Perennial Rye Grass
Common Couch Grass
Bryophytes
Rough-stalked Feather-moss
Amphibians
Common Frog
Common/Smooth Newt
Bees
Buff-tailed Bumble Bee
Honey Bee
Early Bumble Bee
Ants
Black Garden Ant
Red Ant
Mines
Holly Leaf Mine (Phytomyxa ilicis)
Stigmella aurella - found on Bramble
Snails
White-lipped Banded Snail
Garden Snail
Butterflies
Holly Blue
Moths
Bee Moth
Beetles
I found a real hotspot for ladybirds in the front garden where part of the Beech hedge was in full sun. There were loads of Harlequins
Harlequin Ladybird
Several pairs were mating - anxious to guarantee the next generation!
and I was really pleased to find a native 2-spot ladybird in the same area of the hedge. Sorry rubbish photo to be honest when I am bioblitzing I just snap away to get a record for id purposes only as from memory they want you to upload loads of photos to verify your records.
Flies
Green-bottle
Blue-bottle
Black Bean Aphid
Other Insects
Common Pond Skater
Common Rough Woodlouse
I ran out of time again this year so didn't have chance again to do any pond dipping or examine the log pile. There are several moss, lichen and grass species I am having problems identifying.
The total is higher than I expected given the cool weather - just over 60 species although a few may not be accepted by i-Record. For example, I suspect Honey Bee is probably not on their list! Last year I had problems with some of the species names although I think in the end I managed to record them all.
Its certainly a fun thing to do and would be particularly good if you had young children. It also makes you realise just how many species are using the garden and gives you an incentive to actually identify them all.