Non-hibernating Toad

With the lack of frosts near the coast, we have come across several toads over the New Year period. Here is a full-sized on that welcomed us by the front door one night!

Bottlenose dolphins in Dale bay

Around 50 Bottlenose Dolphins moved in to Dale Bay at about 9.15am this morning. Pressumably individuals for the Cardigan Bay population returning north. The pod circled the bay and passed close to Dale Fort before playing in the mouth of the Haven for around 2-3 hours. They appeared to be a mix of ages, including mothers and calves and seemed to be feeding on small bait fish - most likely herring on the dropping tide. 

Another Glow Worm....

This larva was crawling around rather actively on our track this morning. And it is BIG: closer to 4cm than 3cm, and compared to the size estimated on several websites of 2.0-2.5cm.
we have already seen one glowing, and hope for a good June-July, once the wind stops!

Martin’s Haven Glow Worms

Many thanks to Kevin Caley for identifying this as a female Lampyris Noctiluca, (Common Glow Worm) “looks like she is in top breeding form”! We found several of these in the garden in recent weeks, and saw the first one glowing last night. They appear to prefer not to glow while the moon is shining quite so bright so, at present, that means after c.0200!
We worth a look on the Deer Park through this month and in July.

Broad-bodied Chaser

We have seen several of these in our garden at Martin’s Haven, but the numbers at Marloes Mere are remarkable, especially along the hedges on the lanes to the bird hides.

Stickleback

We found this rather dessicated 15-Spined Stickleback down on Martin’s Haven beach. It’s remarkably big, at 17cm long.

Martin’s Haven seal

With the lack of visitors to Skomer meaning that the jetty here is unused, a bull seal has taken up residence

Emperor Moth

On our Kitchen window frame all day!

Newts and Fox

Following on from Sash's post, we have palmate newts in our pond but I have not yet seen a toad! Usually toads are easy to stumble across when gardening - are they hiding out during the dry weather?
A lucky lockdown mammal sighting from the garden was this fox:

Martin’s Haven reptiles

With a rather surprising basking Grass Snake this morning, we have now seen all four species of reptile found in the garden.
I saw the Grass Snake actually slither down from a low-hanging beach of sallow, where it could just catch the early morning sun; I had no idea they could climb trees!

At least two different Adders already identified by pattern, size and location.
And I found out first Slowworm under a sent of roofing yesterday.

But no amphibians seen at all: we seem to have lost the Palmate Newts that used to breed in our pond: I wonder if the regular visit by a pair of prospecting Mallard has anything to do with this?