Martin's Haven & Deer Park Adders & Slowworms

A really good weekend for both: Adders seen every day, most regularly at around mid-morning when they are sunning themselves at the side of paths. Lots of Slowworms, too ranging from tiny shoelace babies to huge fat females. Again, mid-morning is best, and somewhere in the sun.

Colour scheme

August 2011. I am trying to improve my Macro images and , the other day, I took shots of this Devilsbit Scabious flower head. My eyesight isn't very sharp these days and it was only with the magnification of a Macro photo that I was able to appreciate the beautiful crimson anthers complementing the lilac-blue of the florets. It is the sort of colour scheme some of my grand daughters might go for! Peter Byles, Ceibwr.

Fantastic Fungi

The recent rains seem to have caused a sudden eruption of wonderful large fungi. On the coast path near St Ann's head we found two enormous parasol mushrooms - they would have made a tasty dinner but in the end we left them for others to admire. Then walking back along the track from Watwick, there was a Giant Puffball - the first I have seen for many, many years. It had, unfortunately, been kicked by a passer by - why do people do that? - and again we toyed with taking it home for dinner. They are such extraordinary things, with their soft suedey texture and earthy smell.

Rosemary

Hedgehogs

Just wanted to say that my first hedgehog has hibernated already, a week earlier than the record of last year set by Lavender. The frosts set in 2 weeks later last year so I don't know what Peter Tick Tock thinks we have in store.
It does mean that the latest litters will need to be picked up and cared for if they are to survive the winter. Any hedgehog weighing less than 650g or 1.5lbs needs to be put in a high sided box, covered with scrunched up newspaper, maybe fed with meaty dog or cat food and water and then to come to the Hogspital as most will have lungworm anyway.
If you see a mother with her young, do not seperate them but put food along their path each night until the young start to come on ther own, then pick them up. Their food goes to ground when the frosts come and they die of starvation, not the cold. More info and contact details on www.wobblyhogs.moonfruit.com

Seal pup season

The last seal pup of the 2010/2011 season was born on North Haven, Skomer in March. Pups were appearing in the Deer Park coves well into the New Year.

Offshore on Celtic Wildcat - 17August 2011

A group of members from the Mid Pembs and Bird Group section of the Wildlife trust went ‘Offshore’ on the Celtic Wildcat to watch sea birds and marine mammals.

We stopped for a while near Grassholm , the only Gannet colony in Wales and then went further out to sea, where there were lots of Auks, Shearwaters etc. Having laid a bait trail we were visited by Storm petrels and a Bonxie. Eventually approx 90 Fulmars swimming around the boat – mostly they had swum to us as they were in moult.

Having seen many seabirds, a few porpoise and some pods of Common Dolphin our skipper spotted Whales in the distance. As they came closer to us we many exciting views of them, as bets as we could we decided there were between 10 and 12. They were accompanied by ‘bow wave riding’ common dolphins and a few Manx shearwaters. A couple of hours later we spotted another two animals which may or may not have been from the initial group.

Seal Pupping Season

Seal pups are starting to appear around the coast - so here is a nice picture (Copyright Janet Baxter) to get you inspired to go and see some...
Pupping season lasts until the end of November. In Pembrokeshire, many of the areas that have been agreed to be ‘seasonally restricted’ to protect seals during the breeding season are out of bounds from 1^st August.

So if you are planning to view any seal pupping sites from the coastpath/ sea kayaking / boating / coasteering adventures etc make sure you have a good look at the Pembrokeshire Marine Code maps and follow the best practice guidance which is all on the Pembrokeshire Marine Code website www.pembrokeshiremarinecode.org.uk

Be sure to give seals the space they need to have a successful year!

Cheers,
Tom

Bosherston Otters

Although less confiding than last year, there is a new Otter family at Bosherston and one or more of these animals can be seen fishing in the central lake (from Grassy Bridge) periodically - this adult was seen between 10:00-11:00 this morning.

The juvenile Garganey was also still present with the moulting Mallards between Eight-arch Bridge and Grassy Bridge.

By The Wind Sailor.

There have been several  "By The Wind Sailor" stranding events  over the past few years. The last one about four or five years ago was not merely restricted to Pembrokeshire. The shores of southern Ireland, south west England and most of Wales were covered in them, literally billions, a fantastic eruption of biomass, one of the most incredible wildlife spaectacles I have ever witnessed!  Whilst on the marine theme... (hope you dont mind Andy),

I, like many others thoroughly enjoyed the BBC programme about TV personality/marine biologist Monty Walls helping the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and taking  Photo ID images for them last night.
However I would point out that to do this in the UK, you require a licence from CCW/English Nature/Scottish Heritage depending where you are doing it.

The danger is that if everyone with a boat and a camera goes out chasing them, they could panic and either strand or mothers and calves become separated. Its a job for trained researchers.

To chase, follow or disturb dolphins or other protected sea creatures to photograph them is illegal and anyone doing so without a licence could be prosecuted. That is not to say merely taking photo's of animmals you encounter by chance is illegal but you must not chase them for photographs.
For more info see: http://www.pembrokeshiremarinecode.org.uk/code-of-conduct/
Cliff /Sea Trust

Grass Eggar moth?

Hello - my name is Sam Burton and I'm 7. My dad found this moth in the road by Musselwick just outside Marloes village and brought it home to show me as he knows I'm very interested in moths. We haven't seen one like it before. Can you tell us if it is a Grass Eggar? And if yes - are there many sightings of it in Pembrokeshire? I think it could be quite rare. We let this one go in our garden in Marloes, but it didn't look very well.

Thank you.
Sam

By the wind Sailor

Wonderful to see an image of this creature in Medusa form. I,ve only seen the mature form in 2004 when hundreds were washed up on Pembs beaches. I tried 'sailing' one. It was quite incredible. It sailed a pretty steady course. If one were to remove the rudder from a sailing dinghy it would tend to turn into the wind and 'luff up'.Maybe sail designers could learn something from this creature.

Peter Byles

Hummingbird Hawkmoth; the movie

A brief view of a hummingbird hawkmoth gave me a chance to try out my new camera. You can see the proboscis clearly right at the end of the clip.

Peter

Hare

On Sunday I was travelling between Moylegrove and Newport and was surprised to see a hare on the road in front of us. Unfortunately my camera was in the boot of the car and by the time we stopped and got the camera out the hare had been moved on by traffic. I looked around for some time but did not see it again. Are hares common in this part of Pembrokeshire? I have lived in the area for most of my life and not seen one before.

Tommy

Skomer 3rd August

Just a few groups of puffins around the island on the water, some still carrying sandeels and feeding the last chicks in the burrows.

My Fly

I agree - thankyou Mikeyp.

Derek's Fly

Tried to post as a comment but failed miserably.

Looks to me like the hoverfly -Volucella pellucens - a handsome beast anyway!