Yesterday, I made the visit to see the Cream-coloured Courser at Kington Golf Course which is located on Bradnor Hill , Herefordshire. It's a quite stunning bird which has been there for a few days. However, today it was reported to fly off high in a SW direction. If it follows a SSW direction that would bring it into our area! Seems very unlikely but you never know.
Also it gives me a great excuse to put the video that I took of the bird on here.
Cream-coloured Courser video
23 May 2012
22 May 2012
Reddish-bellied Swallow
Reddish-bellied Swallows are occasionally seen on passage and there is often wild speculation about the origins of such birds. I've seen a number of these birds before but I have never come across one that's been on breeding territory, so was interested to hear of this one photographed at Nantgaredig by Joyce Rae.
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| (c) J. Rae |
Whilst initially this might look a possible candidate for transitiva, the largely non-migratory eastern Mediterranean race, Svensson states that occasionally the nominate
form can be buffish-red below, especially so towards north-west Africa, this being the southern limit of the nominate form. The breast band is too wide for the N.American race erythrogaster, therefore, this handsome, long-tailed male is presumably just an example of the reddish-bellied form of the nominate race Hirundo rustica rustica.
21 May 2012
Great Skua on Crymlyn Burrows beach last year
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| Great Skua with sheep carcass (c) R Ross |
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| Great Skua at Crymlyn Burrows (c) R Ross |
18 May 2012
Spoonbill at Penclacwydd
17 May 2012
Fringecups
With forests of Western Hemlock, Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce and the occasional Western Red Cedar, parts of the Neath Valley bear more than a passing resemblance to the Pacific North West. Unfortunately the fabulous native ground flora associated with these forests is missing, but for one exception. Fringecups (Tellima grandiflora) was introduced from the Pacific North West as a plant suitable for wet, shady spots in the garden and is found growing wild in suitable habitats. It does well in our mild, oceanic climate and it sets abundant seed. It loves cool, moist woodland and is very much at home along the streams in Glyn Castle Woods in the Neath Valley. It is also found in the Bishopston Valley.
At the moment there are only a handful of records for this species in Glamorgan, but it is probably more widespread than we suspect and we'll probably see significant increases in its occurrence in the future.
Hoverfly Help Needed
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| (c) Ian Tew |
Andrew Lucas wrote...
I'm coming into the second year of a study of pollinating insects, mainly bees and hoverflies, in Welsh grasslands. The study involves catching insects in pan traps - or 'washing up bowls' as they are commonly known - in different grassland types.
To protect the traps from grazing animals, I put up a small amount of fencing, and this is where I need some help. I'm looking for volunteers to help with the fence building. No previous knowledge or skills are needed. All the sites are on grassland SSSIs that are not open to the public, so this is a chance to see bits of Carmarthenshire and Swansea that you may not have visited before.
If you are interested, please email me as soon as possible at 599841@swansea.ac.uk The first weekend's work is this Sunday, 20 May, and will continue for the next two to three weeks.
Andrew Lucas
Swansea Ecology Research Team
Department of Biosciences
College of Science
Swansea University
| Bryn Crwys 2011 |
16 May 2012
Petty Whin in profusion
This spectacular display of Petty Whin (Genista anglica) near Tre-Forgan was buzzing with bees and other insects today. Now a very localised species, sights like this are quite special.
On a nearby tip, the diminutive Heath Pearlwort (Sagina subulata) was noted, this being a new species for Glamorgan...
Yesterday the petal-less Sea Pearlwort (Sagina maritima) was noted on the coast at Margam...
On a nearby tip, the diminutive Heath Pearlwort (Sagina subulata) was noted, this being a new species for Glamorgan...
Yesterday the petal-less Sea Pearlwort (Sagina maritima) was noted on the coast at Margam...
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