Martin's Haven (and elsewhere in the County)

 Lots of reptiles now sunning themselves, generally from late morning. Best we have found under a single piece of cover have been 4 Grass Snakes, 3 Adders. Really interesting how closely they associate.

We have found Oil Beetles both here and along the Western Cleddau, but are uncertain as to whether they are the same species.

A really good hatch of Emperor Moths in April: well over a dozen, mostly females, attracted to an external light in a clam but cold night.

Green Hairstreaks on Brynberian Moor: stunning colour!

All the reptiles (and a Glowworm)!

 We have put a number of sheets of corrugated bitumen out in the garden and, in less than a week, reptiles have started to use them. Yesterday we had all four of the Pembrokeshire reptiles, which was nice. The best was six slow worms, one of which was moulting.

The Grass Snake was tiny: less than 10cm long, and looked like a jewel. I presume it has hatched this year.  

We have only seen one Adder this year so far, but ?he is always in the same place , frequently sunning for several hours at the time. A good length: at least 15”.

Glowworm larvae appreciate the heat from bitumen sheets, too - this is the first we have found this year. Roll on June/July, when they should be glowing!

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?

Martin’s Haven wildlife

As it has got warmer, we have found some nice wildlife in the garden, including a regular adder, which has basked in the same place each sunny afternoon. Also several pregnant Common Lizards. Best invertebrate has been an Oil Beetle, but the Oak Beauty moth (thanks to Rosemary Royle for the ID) was a lovely find on our window frame.

 

Daddy Longlegs spider consuming prey

I've known that Pholcus preys on house spiders for years but never seen one doing it before until earlier this year:

Possible water striders seen at Dale Fort Jetty and Castle Beach, presumably blown over the Atlantic?  Seen by me and (independently) a student.  They had amazing bioluminescing front ends pulsing like flashing headlights.

Also, 2 sightings of pseudoscorpions on consecutive days, I haven't seen one for years and then, like buses used to....

Pembroke Millpond

Over the last couple of years I have been monitoring otter activity on the Wildlife Trust, Pembroke Upper Mill Pond Reserve at two artificial holts using a couple of trail cameras. In addition to the, now, several hundred video clips of otters I have accumulated numerous clips of other visitors to the immediate vicinity of the holts. The video footage, of variable quality, both daytime and at night, consist of 15 or 20 second clips of the bird and mammal species listed below. The figures in brackets represent the approx number of video clips. 

If any followers of the Pembrokeshire Wildlife blog would find the material useful in any way, then they are welcome to copies. Please make a request in the Comments section below if you would like to see the footage then I can arrange to forward a copy of the material that amounts to approx. 30+GB of data in total. Dave Levell.

28 Bird species

• Blackbird, Adult + juveniles (200+)
• Blue tit (1)
• Bullfinch (1)
• Chaffinch (1)
• Coal tit (1)
• Dunnock (7)
• Greater spotted woodpecker (5)
• Great tit (4)
• Grey wagtail (4)
• Heron, also Heron with eel. Site 2 only (10+)
• Jay (1)
• Kingfisher (1)
• Little Grebe (4)
• Magpie (4)
• Mallard, pair, hybrid (10)
• Moorhen, adult and juveniles (160+)
• MUSCOVY (2)
• Redwing (30)
• Reed bunting (10)
• Robin adult, Juv.(50+)
• Song thrush (30)
• Snipe (3)
• Swan (20+)
• Teal, single and pair (15)
• Treecreeper (1)
• Water rail, adults and juveniles (200+)
• Wood pigeon (4)
• Wren (7)

10 Mammal species

• Badger (80+)
• Bat (3)
• Fox, single and whole family of Vixen and cubs in the rain. (220+)
• Grey Squirrel (30)
• Mice (20+)
• Mink (3)
• Rat (125+)
• Water shrew (1)
• CAT (5)
• DOG (1)

Unknown species

I took this shot yesterday when walking around Llangloffan fen and am at a loss as to its origin. Can anyone help? Elwyn

Marine sightings

The herring are spawning upstream of the Cleddau Bridge over the two neap tides this month. Mackerel have also been reported and it makes sense if they are feeding on them. Porbeagle sharks may alse be around the open coast as they also come to feed on the herring.

I also saw a barrel jellyfish on Castle Beach, Dale which feels very early. The plankton should be going well during this exceptionally warm Easter.

Wales Land of the Wild

Three of the four programs in this series have been shown so far. I have had a number of clips used with a main feature on auto fluorescence of snakelock anemones.

Emperor moth

Here is a photo of one of our more spectacular moths. I wondered if she might replace that spider.
 I put her on a nice stone wall this morning hoping some males would be attracted. (I once had success with this and the moth laid a lot of eggs which hatched in a home-made larvarium). This evening she was in the same spot and all alone, so I snapped her in the late sunlight.

Peter Byles