This week’s image is a collection of photographs sent in this autumn by London’s recorders via GiGL’s one-off sighting form.
The leopard slug record was sent in by Helen Saunders, seen in September in a garden. The common frog was found by Sarah Bailey in composting leaf mulch in October. This kestrel was snapped by Gary Sollof perching on the roof terrace fence in November. The harvestman is Opilio saxatilis, photographed by Penny Frith in Warwick Gardens this September.
The GiGL database includes records from a huge range of species. We are often asked if observations of common species are of interest to us, and the answer is always ‘yes’!
Records are interesting whether they are rare or common, big or small, furred or feathered, vertebrate or invertebrate, native or non-native. Each record contributes to a bigger picture of wildlife in the capital over time.
It is also useful to have records from different places. For example, private gardens or roof terraces are rarely formally surveyed by ecologists, but garden owners are perfectly placed to fill us in on what wildlife they see there. Equally, though parks and nature reserves may have historical survey data, maybe your records will be more up to date and help verify a species is still there, or list a new species for the site. Thanks to all those who’ve shared records (and photographs) over the autumn.
November 2014