Species Index jumped to 818.
Overcast and humid.
Perforate St. John Wort - Hypericum perforatum - is a species that I would have expected to find on my local patch, but it hasn't shown up. In Lifford, it is the most common 'weed', growing on verges, waste ground, pavements, garden edges, demolition sites and gateways.
Another species which I have not found locally: the Two-spot Ladybird - Adalia bipunctata. About 4 mm long, the same size as a 10-spot.
I found the 2-spot on Spear Thistle - Cirsium vulgare (left). Creeping Thistle - Cirsium arvense - has also opened.
Continuing with new species, this is Eupodes luniger, a hoverfly. Not a great picture, but it's a very busy little beast.
I'm just short of 6 feet , and this Giant Hogweed - Heraclium mantegazzianum - was well over my head height. The flower head shown is about 50 cm. across.
At the river bank it was interesting (and unsettling) to see great swathes of three invaders side by side: Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed. I suppose the seeds are spread by the river.
Fox-and-Cubs - Pilosella aurantiaca - is an established escape, perhaps not such a surprising find in an urban environment.
I always like to investigate disturbed land and last year's roadworks didn't disappoint.
Common Poppy - Papaver rhoeas - is a scarce plant nowadays, but Redleg - Persicaria maculosa - appears anywhere soil has been turned over.
Note the Bombus terrestris on the Poppy.
Red Valerian - Centranthus ruber - was growing on walls all around the town. Another escape.