Stackpole Estate Bosherston Lilly Ponds Otter

Otter spotted on the west shoreline of the Central Lake 08-00 today

National Trust Stackpole Estate Pembroke

Mum and two cubs seen running along the south bank of the Bosherston Lilly Ponds Eastern Arm, about 8-00 am

adder

Bosherton; an adder that did not hang about to be photographed well, so a hurriedly taken snap before it had gone (Saturday 17th), picture by James Hopkins.

Deer Park and Marloes Sands

The sheer numbers of chough seen between the Deer Park and Marloes Sands was the stand out highlight for today. They were everywhere in flocks of up to 40. Plenty of other birds around including wheatear and stonechat.

A couple of great black gulls and two juveniles were seen flying around the seal pup breeding beaches a week last Saturday, possibly attracted to the afterbirth from a freshly born seal pup at midday.

Sunfish!

A large Sunfish (3-4ft in each direction) seen on Saturday about 3/4 mile offshore basking in sea between West Dale beach and Marloes Sands. Sadly it would not stay around for photos!

National Trust Stackpole Estate Pembroke

Is this the otters pipe dream, seen thur 22nd 0830 in the Bosherston Lilly Ponds. Mum followed by the two cubs.

Female Otter at the Grassy Bridge.

Nice sighting of the three otters at Bosherston Lilly Ponds this morning, 08-00, in the Eastern Arm close to the Grassy Bridge, this is the mum, shortly after this pic they crossed the Broad Haven Beach path and headed towards Bosherston.

Same eel worn as a muffler

This is the same eel as the last post showing its brown back (as compared to the first pic showing white underside) does this tell you its a female?

Deer Park Saturday 17th Sept

The Deer Park was spectacular on Saturday with the odd heavy shower followed by beautiful light. We saw a pup born on Pebbly cove with plenty of cows and pups surrounding it. The nearest cow started a fight with the new mother. Gannets were plunge diving offshore and plenty of raven and chough flew past.

West Williamston

Brown Hairstreaks will be around until the second week of October. They come down over the tree canopy, 'hugging' it and the Blackthorn which is their food plant (and where the females lay their little white bun-shaped eggs).

The weather has been appalling ......... by this time last year I had recorded over 30 adults - the tally so far for me this year is 7 positives and 3 probables, all female!! If the weather settles, warms up, the wind drops and there is a bit of sun to be seen, I reckon females laden with eggs will be on the wing within a few hours laying. Main places to witness this is on Blackthorn on the tree egde in top field by little carpark, in the middle field where there is plenty of Blackthorn, and along the foreshore of the reserve ......... the butterfly glade is a popular spot at the moment because is has a micro-climate and can be very warm on a very average day.

Last year and this, females were seen on leaves in the trees edging this glade. The other place that is both interesting (an important geological fault - part of the Carew Anticline) and sheltered for BH is the main estuary side of the Limestone Ridge which is off the foreshore and further along it.

Mum and Cubs at Bosherston Lilly Ponds

The three otter otters seen in the Eastern Arm and Central Lake at Bosherston Lilly Ponds Stackpole. At one point an otter, which I took to be the smaller of the two cubs, was on its own swimming in an agitated manner and making short high pitched squeaks, cub calling for mum? or mum calling the cubs?

Spiders from Wendy Smit

Wendy Smit, Penwaun has sent me these spiders snapped recently in her garden. I used to have a book on British Spiders, but I couldn't get on with it so gave it to a friend. He's away in The Outer Hebrides. Can anyone provide names for these two?

Peter Byles, Ceibwr.

Eel and Otter

Lovely picture from Jim.
The interesting (and rather depressing) fact is that an eel of that size (a female) if probably nowadays significantly rarer (both here in Pembrokeshire and elsewhere in the UK) than the Otter.

Female otter, taken tues 13th at 17-30, in the Eastern Arm of the Bosherston Lilly Ponds, she took the eel over to the far bank and let the two cubs fight over it.

Mark's caterpillar

Definitely an Elephant Hawk-moth!
Likely feeding up before it pupates for the winter.

Hawk moth

This fella was in the garden today, braving the hefty showers. I think it is an elephant hawk moth caterpillar, probably!

Mark Wilson

Help needed with Brown Hairstreak photography at West Williamston SSSI

Wanted - good photographs of male Brown Hairstreak butterflies taken at West Williamston – a unique Wildlife Trust Reserve half a mile west of the hamlet.

We are looking for help with photographing and/or recording male Brown Hairstreak butterflies at West Williamston.  For over three years now surveys have been carried out to learn more about behaviour of this stunning little butterfly, and to try and establish where the assembly trees are, and the extent of the population there. 

Females have been regularly photographed with excellent results.  However – photographing males is a completely different story:- results consist mostly of small dots high in trees!   

Males were thought to be on the wing in the earlier weeks of their life cycle, but it is quite possible that they are around just as long as females (12th October was the last sighting at West Williamston last year – possibly a UK record – she was battered but flying among bramble on the foreshore there).  They remain mostly in trees, often Ash, basking on leaves even in weak sunshine or making short flights lower down. Being less obvious and with all the focus on egg-laying females they are definitely under-recorded.

So – if you fancy a visit to somewhere new, or a photographic challenge, please make a visit to West Williamston.  All records would be valuable, including negative data of trees observed with dates and times.
     
On Bank Holiday Monday seventeen keen enthusiasts from all over South Wales helped survey the whole reserve, and despite poor weather six Brown Hairstreak were photographed with at least a further 3 seen briefly on the wing.  There were, however, no males seen!

Nikki Anderson

For any further information please contact Nikki Anderson on 01646 686469 or via email pembrokenikki@hotmail.co.uk  and Jean Hambly on 01834 871701 or email jean525@btinternet.com

Moth

Thanks Mike. When a youngster - just a few years ago !! - I used to see them in Worcetershire, it seems an odd place to find one where I live now. I guess it may have been blown here from somewhere else.

Lyndon's Moth

Tried to post as a comment but failed miserably.
The moth is an Oak Eggar - very sad looking as you say.

A storm damaged moth

I found this very sad looking storm damaged moth on my lawn yesterday. Anyone able to identify it?

Speckled Bush Cricket

These Bush Crickets have incredibly long antenae. Peter Byles, Ceibwr.

Here be Dragons

My neighbour, Wendy Smit of Penwaun Farm, has just sent me these super photos of Dragonflies from round her huge pond. All common, but nice. Gold-banded, Southern Hawker and Emperor. Peter Byles, Ceibwr.