James Common
@commonbynature.bsky.social
Botanist & biological recorder. Joint BSBI recorder for N'Northumberland, urban plant lover & fledgling fernaholic. Partial to grasses, Galanthus & old woods.
🐞 Senior Naturalist @nenature.bsky.social
🍃 commonbynature.com
🐞 Senior Naturalist @nenature.bsky.social
🍃 commonbynature.com
#Galanthus season is officially underway in the yarden! Galanthus rizehensis 'Lady Latife' right on cue ☺️
November 7, 2025 at 8:07 PM
#Galanthus season is officially underway in the yarden! Galanthus rizehensis 'Lady Latife' right on cue ☺️
Reposted by James Common
New #GBRedList for vascular plants is published today by a team led by @bsbibotany.bsky.social with partners @naturalengland.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social @natreswales.bsky.social @nhm-london.bsky.social @plantlifeintl.bsky.social @rbgkew.bsky.social @thebotanics.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 9:21 AM
New #GBRedList for vascular plants is published today by a team led by @bsbibotany.bsky.social with partners @naturalengland.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social @natreswales.bsky.social @nhm-london.bsky.social @plantlifeintl.bsky.social @rbgkew.bsky.social @thebotanics.bsky.social
A colourful display of #waxcaps on today's @nenature.bsky.social fungi foray. Scarlet, Parrot, Butter, Blackening and Golden were recognisable, but several others, not so much! 🍄
October 30, 2025 at 1:29 PM
A colourful display of #waxcaps on today's @nenature.bsky.social fungi foray. Scarlet, Parrot, Butter, Blackening and Golden were recognisable, but several others, not so much! 🍄
About as urban as they come. Couldn't help but pause to admire this burly Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) on a neighbour's front step. #urbanflora
October 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM
About as urban as they come. Couldn't help but pause to admire this burly Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) on a neighbour's front step. #urbanflora
Reposted by James Common
This morning I revisited the site where I found the Date Waxcaps (Hygrocybe spadicea) to take a better look and get more photos. There are more than I thought - they're well camouflaged - perhaps a dozen, some still just emerging brown bumps. Still buzzing from the find. 😍💚 #fungi @sewbrec.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 1:53 PM
This morning I revisited the site where I found the Date Waxcaps (Hygrocybe spadicea) to take a better look and get more photos. There are more than I thought - they're well camouflaged - perhaps a dozen, some still just emerging brown bumps. Still buzzing from the find. 😍💚 #fungi @sewbrec.org.uk
Reposted by James Common
Plymouth Thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus) at (where else?) Plymouth Hoe and Plymouth Thistle selfie with @janettem34.bsky.social on the way back from the SW. Thanks to @andymus.bsky.social for the quality gen. Three plants in flower in this area #wildflowerhour
October 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Plymouth Thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus) at (where else?) Plymouth Hoe and Plymouth Thistle selfie with @janettem34.bsky.social on the way back from the SW. Thanks to @andymus.bsky.social for the quality gen. Three plants in flower in this area #wildflowerhour
Officially waxcapped out... 😬🍄
I’m an absolute beginner when it comes to #fungi, but think we managed eight species today along Hadrian's Wall including Snowy, Crimson, Scarlet, Meadow, Parrot, Golden, Butter and Vermilion Waxcaps.
I’m an absolute beginner when it comes to #fungi, but think we managed eight species today along Hadrian's Wall including Snowy, Crimson, Scarlet, Meadow, Parrot, Golden, Butter and Vermilion Waxcaps.
October 11, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Officially waxcapped out... 😬🍄
I’m an absolute beginner when it comes to #fungi, but think we managed eight species today along Hadrian's Wall including Snowy, Crimson, Scarlet, Meadow, Parrot, Golden, Butter and Vermilion Waxcaps.
I’m an absolute beginner when it comes to #fungi, but think we managed eight species today along Hadrian's Wall including Snowy, Crimson, Scarlet, Meadow, Parrot, Golden, Butter and Vermilion Waxcaps.
Chuffed to stumble across a troop of rather pristine Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) on today's woodland wander. Right on time for #UKFungusDay! 🍄
October 4, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Chuffed to stumble across a troop of rather pristine Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) on today's woodland wander. Right on time for #UKFungusDay! 🍄
Pavement Parsley! Petroselinum crispum growing from the base of a wall during yesterday's @nenature.bsky.social Weed Walk. #pavementplants
October 3, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Pavement Parsley! Petroselinum crispum growing from the base of a wall during yesterday's @nenature.bsky.social Weed Walk. #pavementplants
Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) is a relatively new arrival in Newcastle but already seems to be replacing Canadian Fleabane in several parts. Wonder when the others will arrive! #urbanflora
October 3, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) is a relatively new arrival in Newcastle but already seems to be replacing Canadian Fleabane in several parts. Wonder when the others will arrive! #urbanflora
Reposted by James Common
Our annual membership special offer opens today!
Join us this month & you'll enjoy 15 months of membership benefits for the price of 12.
Those benefits are so numerous & fabulous you'll have to head over here to see them all:
bsbipublicity.blogspot.com/2025/10/bsbi...
Then join us! bsbi.org/join-us
Join us this month & you'll enjoy 15 months of membership benefits for the price of 12.
Those benefits are so numerous & fabulous you'll have to head over here to see them all:
bsbipublicity.blogspot.com/2025/10/bsbi...
Then join us! bsbi.org/join-us
October 1, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Our annual membership special offer opens today!
Join us this month & you'll enjoy 15 months of membership benefits for the price of 12.
Those benefits are so numerous & fabulous you'll have to head over here to see them all:
bsbipublicity.blogspot.com/2025/10/bsbi...
Then join us! bsbi.org/join-us
Join us this month & you'll enjoy 15 months of membership benefits for the price of 12.
Those benefits are so numerous & fabulous you'll have to head over here to see them all:
bsbipublicity.blogspot.com/2025/10/bsbi...
Then join us! bsbi.org/join-us
A quick detour on the way home today turned up a new species for me in Rigid Buckler-fern (Dryopteris submontana). No need for a hand lens to see those glands! #ferns
September 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
A quick detour on the way home today turned up a new species for me in Rigid Buckler-fern (Dryopteris submontana). No need for a hand lens to see those glands! #ferns
A nice supporting cast of commoner ferns on today's wander, including heaps of Lemon-scented Fern (Oreopteris limbosperma). Matt trying and failing to be patient with me... 😅
September 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
A nice supporting cast of commoner ferns on today's wander, including heaps of Lemon-scented Fern (Oreopteris limbosperma). Matt trying and failing to be patient with me... 😅
Couldn't resist a later season visit to see the North East's only remaining population of Forked Spleenwort (Asplenium septentrionale). #ferns
September 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Couldn't resist a later season visit to see the North East's only remaining population of Forked Spleenwort (Asplenium septentrionale). #ferns
Collared Earthstar (Geastrum triplex) today in Jesmond Dene 🍄
September 27, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Collared Earthstar (Geastrum triplex) today in Jesmond Dene 🍄
Reposted by James Common
Coming soon: 'Wild Roses of Great Britain and Ireland'.
This latest title, no.26 in the series of #BSBIHandbooks for tricky plant groups, has just gone to the printers!
Available for #BSBImembers to pre-order now at the discount price of £16 (vs RRP £25).
Sample pages here:
bsbi.org/bsbi-handboo...
This latest title, no.26 in the series of #BSBIHandbooks for tricky plant groups, has just gone to the printers!
Available for #BSBImembers to pre-order now at the discount price of £16 (vs RRP £25).
Sample pages here:
bsbi.org/bsbi-handboo...
September 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Coming soon: 'Wild Roses of Great Britain and Ireland'.
This latest title, no.26 in the series of #BSBIHandbooks for tricky plant groups, has just gone to the printers!
Available for #BSBImembers to pre-order now at the discount price of £16 (vs RRP £25).
Sample pages here:
bsbi.org/bsbi-handboo...
This latest title, no.26 in the series of #BSBIHandbooks for tricky plant groups, has just gone to the printers!
Available for #BSBImembers to pre-order now at the discount price of £16 (vs RRP £25).
Sample pages here:
bsbi.org/bsbi-handboo...
An interesting fern from today's wander in Throckley Dene - Dryopteris borreri morph. foliosum. A great big untidy looking thing with crimped pinnules. Certainly stood out! #ferns
September 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
An interesting fern from today's wander in Throckley Dene - Dryopteris borreri morph. foliosum. A great big untidy looking thing with crimped pinnules. Certainly stood out! #ferns
Reposted by James Common
Marginal veins of Nymphaea alba (left) and Nymphaea candida (right) for comparison.. Veins of candida join to form closed loops, those of alba end at the leaf edge. Of course there’s a hybrid too, which is common where they meet.
September 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Marginal veins of Nymphaea alba (left) and Nymphaea candida (right) for comparison.. Veins of candida join to form closed loops, those of alba end at the leaf edge. Of course there’s a hybrid too, which is common where they meet.
It’s been a while since I went out looking for #ladybirds, but with the recent surge in Hieroglyphic Ladybird records from unusual spots across the North East, I felt obliged to try and find one myself... 🐞🔎
September 6, 2025 at 1:08 PM
It’s been a while since I went out looking for #ladybirds, but with the recent surge in Hieroglyphic Ladybird records from unusual spots across the North East, I felt obliged to try and find one myself... 🐞🔎
Reposted by James Common
Black Nightshade, Solanum nigrum, with unripe berries (they will ripen to black). Seen on the approach path to Staines Reservoir. #WildflowerHour
August 31, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Black Nightshade, Solanum nigrum, with unripe berries (they will ripen to black). Seen on the approach path to Staines Reservoir. #WildflowerHour
Reposted by James Common
Nine Nightshade family members from #Cambridge and #Suffolk:
Woody, Black, Green,
Small, Deadly & Tall Nightshades,
…plus Thorn Apple, Henbane & Duke of Argyll's Tea Plant.
Scientific names in ALT.
#WildflowerHour #Fruits
Woody, Black, Green,
Small, Deadly & Tall Nightshades,
…plus Thorn Apple, Henbane & Duke of Argyll's Tea Plant.
Scientific names in ALT.
#WildflowerHour #Fruits
August 31, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Nine Nightshade family members from #Cambridge and #Suffolk:
Woody, Black, Green,
Small, Deadly & Tall Nightshades,
…plus Thorn Apple, Henbane & Duke of Argyll's Tea Plant.
Scientific names in ALT.
#WildflowerHour #Fruits
Woody, Black, Green,
Small, Deadly & Tall Nightshades,
…plus Thorn Apple, Henbane & Duke of Argyll's Tea Plant.
Scientific names in ALT.
#WildflowerHour #Fruits
A few healthy patches of Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus) from coastal masonry at Tynemouth. #urbanflora
September 1, 2025 at 8:34 AM
A few healthy patches of Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus) from coastal masonry at Tynemouth. #urbanflora