Good bye 2015

Well it's almost the end of the year and my festive itinerary means that I probably won't get another chance to post before 2016 is upon us.

Looking back at this time last year I made all sort of natural history goals and predictions, almost none of which came true. So, I think for 2016 my plan is to just enjoy what comes along and to keep trying to see new bits of the natural history of these isles. But I am going to keep concentrating on beetles as discovering these over the last couple of years has been a revelation and has added so much to my enjoyment of natural history. My new job means that I'm based in a nature reserve which should mean some lunchtime forays over the coming months and may even result in some visits to other reserves over the year.

The one goal from last year that has sort of come true is that this blog is still going. In all honestly I was pretty sure it would fizzle out pretty quickly and although it is usually light on text and heavy on crap pictures, this posts represents the 52 post of the year. That's one a week!!

The blog has had more than 3000 views this year from a bizarrely varied list of countries. Not many comments but you can't have everything and that's probably just a result of my unengaging posts!

Anyway, if anyone reads this I hope you have a great Christmas and New Year and that 2016 brings you everything you hope for.

(and here's a nicely marked Mottled Umber that was hanging out at work the other day)

What's in store for 2015?

2014 has a been a really fun year nature recording wise. Having had a bit of a break for a few years while bringing up small kids and renovating houses, it's been nice to get back into observing and recording, and especially to learn new things.

Gold Spot Plusia festucae

I ended 2013 by joining iRecord and vowing to upload my sightings and have been true to my word throughout the year, with the exception of most bird records. Weirdly I now find I lack the motivation to keep an up to date notebook for birds.

I've run the moth trap throughout the year and this has set me a target to beat for 2015, species wise.
I also went on a Carabid beetle course run by Brian Eversham which opened up my eyes to a whole new world and have since been dipping my toes into the joys of beetles. I recorded a paltry 43 species during the later half of the year but this area is my main aim for 2015. I'm not sure about setting an actual target but I'll be happy if I see 100 new beetle species during the year.

Nicrophorus investigator

One of the (many) areas that I lack a good knowledge in is vascular plants. My other New Year's resolution is to familiarise myself with more plant species, especially those around my local area of South Cambridgeshire.

So, looking through my 2014 records I've recorded 374 species in total, the vast majority being moths. Not a huge amount and there are a lot of birds, plants and mammals that I haven't added.

Given this, my 2015 aim to see 1000 species in the UK over the course of the year. Hopefully this is an achievable goal, fitted in around family and work commitments.