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
And here I was thinking growing ferns from spores would be tricky! Having sown them in June, I am swimming in Brittle Bladder-ferns. Not entirely sure what I will do with them all, the significant other already thinks we have way too many 😬 #ferns
November 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
And here I was thinking growing ferns from spores would be tricky! Having sown them in June, I am swimming in Brittle Bladder-ferns. Not entirely sure what I will do with them all, the significant other already thinks we have way too many 😬 #ferns
#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 ☺️
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
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
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 🍄
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
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... 🐞🔎
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
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) with a sea view at Cullercoats. A surprisingly frequent part of Tyneside's #urbanflora 😅
September 1, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) with a sea view at Cullercoats. A surprisingly frequent part of Tyneside's #urbanflora 😅
Some rather large examples of Red Goosefoot (Oxybasis rubra) on today's #urbanflora ramble. Common elsewhere, this one is actually on the Rare Plant Register for VC67! 🌱
August 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Some rather large examples of Red Goosefoot (Oxybasis rubra) on today's #urbanflora ramble. Common elsewhere, this one is actually on the Rare Plant Register for VC67! 🌱
I’ve spent quite a bit of time observing ‘weeds’ while working on the #urbanflora, but this one might just take the biscuit… 😅
Presenting Hemp (Cannabis sativa) in all its glory, growing on a patch of dumped soil in Walker.
Presenting Hemp (Cannabis sativa) in all its glory, growing on a patch of dumped soil in Walker.
August 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I’ve spent quite a bit of time observing ‘weeds’ while working on the #urbanflora, but this one might just take the biscuit… 😅
Presenting Hemp (Cannabis sativa) in all its glory, growing on a patch of dumped soil in Walker.
Presenting Hemp (Cannabis sativa) in all its glory, growing on a patch of dumped soil in Walker.
A bonny example of Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa) spotted while perusing lunch spots in Teesdale today. Makes a change from supermarket carparks... #botany
August 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A bonny example of Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa) spotted while perusing lunch spots in Teesdale today. Makes a change from supermarket carparks... #botany