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