Horse Fly

Supposedly a female Chrysops Relictus by one reference - another reference doesn`t look anything like it! Anyway it was in our conservatory on Friday last.

Butterflies in the South

A look at a few sites in the south was rewarding with a good variety of species. Highlights of the less common species included -
White Letter Hairstreak at Holyland Wood, Pembroke, early morning. On to Bosherston, an excellent spot in the dunes held Brown Argus (photos), Small Blue, Common Blue and Grayling. A single Silver washed Fritillary was on bramble near the grassy bridge. In Mere Pool valley there were a few Small Coppers and numerous Gatekeepers. Dragonflies there included 2 Emperors, some Common Darters and lots of immature Azures and Common Blue Damselflies. Next, St Govans, where just one pair of Silver Studded Blues were found. The path through the range was closed a better look is needed another day.


(Paul G and WendyJ)

Anyone for cricket

This handsome fellow was climbing my patio door this morning.

The feelers are so long they would need a separate picture.


The underside is yellow-green so I assume this is the Bog Bush Cricket which is said to be common in England and Wales and active by day from July to October.

Skomer puffins - an update

The puffin season on Skomer is reaching its climax with pufflings emerging from their burrows in nearly complete plumage with just a remnant of their first fluffy coat. Numerous adults were returning with beaks full of sandeels. One puffin had clogged it's bill with sticky mud and was a comical sight as it tried to preen itself.

The weather was a challenge on Wednesday with a heavy shower around lunchtime and a monsoon hour when everyone was soaked waiting to get the boat back. The razorbills and guillemots are just about absent on the ledges up from the landing. All the auks will be gone in around 2-3 weeks.

A couple more watery plants

Water Avens and Ivy-leaved Crowfoot brighten up our new mini wetland.

Peter Byles, Ceibwr.

Wendy J's Plant

I think this is a Bog Pimpernel.
Peter Byles.

Around St Davids

After an unplanned trip to St Justinians' to see the Lesser Grey Shrike on Monday, the good weather was right for a look for some wildlife while in this area of diverse habitat.
At the south end of Dowrog Common (SM771 263) we were rewarded with some Small Red Damsels, a nationally scarce species.
Some plants on the common were new to us. This, I think, is Lesser Water Plantain.
but still struggling with the ID of this...
On to Ivor's pond (SM753 271), a good spot for Black-tailed Skimmers. Several were basking on the rocky path between the ponds and one pair in a mating wheel.

A good day out, with plenty of common butterflies and damsels seen too.
(Wendy J and Paul G, pictures Dyfed J)

Fritillaries

Visited the Deer Park this morning to look for Dark Green Fritillaries and I was not disappointed! I counted 54 in total during my stroll (about 3/4 hour) - it was quite breezy and they were continually on the move, dipping and bobbing up and down over the vegetation. Presumably the males are looking for females and the females are looking for places to lay eggs. But here is a mystery - my book says the larvae feed on violets - are there any violets on the Deer Park? Maybe I have just missed them?

Managed a photo of rather a tired specimen - some of them were positively dazzling in the sunlight. Incidentally, when asked what they are, the answer is always met with disbelief - "But they aren't dark green - they are bright orange" - so you have to explain about the underwing which actually you can never see!

Rosemary

Purple Hairstreaks.

The first Purple Hairstreaks at Westfield Pill this morning.

Grub

This colourful beast in our garden today. I havn`t a clue what it is. Anybody?

Mixed up Crow

I have had a couple of really pretty pigeons in the garden recently and then this Crow arrived. At first I thought it may be a Hooded Crow but we are too far South and the hood is not large enough. It could be a cross-breed but we are still a bit too far South so I guess it has a pigment problem...unless someone out there knows different?
Ooh, it could be a Welsh mutation! (For anyone trying to learn Welsh)