Barrel Jellyfish off Mumbles Pier

Barrel Jellyfish in water off Mumbles Pier

 photographed by Barry Nicholls

This photograph of a Barrel Jellyfish was take by Barry Nicholls last Tuesday afternoon from the end of Mumbles Pier. Barry said it was about the size of a coffee table. Others have been washed up on the beaches locally (e.g. Oxwich), but seeing them like this in the water is spectacular. Look out for Leatherback Turtles that follow the swarms.

recent stuff

On reading the excellent new moth book for Glamorgan, congratulations guys, I realised there are no records for Scarlet Tiger from Crymlyn Burrows, one of the main uses of such a publication. I have seen them last weekend although this picture was taken last year.

This soldier fly, a female Oplodontha viridula, was seen at Yarrow at the same site. It is supposedly one of the most common but new to me.

This soldier fly a female Nemotelus notatus, a lot smaller, was taken at Arthur's Stone on Cefn Bryn in good numbers when sweeping for insects for the students. According to Stubbs and Drake it is found in brackish places? 

Whilst waiting for neighbours to come and eat outdoors at home (a rare event) I noticed these Lasioglossum males (solitary bees) roosting on a Plantago lanceolata head. So far they have come every night to the exact same spot for a week. Don't have to go far!

nice looking fly

Seen on a recent trip to the waterfalls. Recorded as few records from Wales by Stubbs and Drake but showing well enough on NBN. Chrysops viduatus.

Phone picture courtesy of Hilary Jones.

Turtle Dove sighting on Gower

Apologies for the delay in posting this message but I was advised by Rod Hanson during the RSPB walk last weekend that he and his wife have recently observed a Turtle Dove on Gower.  If anyone is birdwatching in the area between Ilston and Pengwern Common it would be worth keeping an eye open for this now rare sight in West Glamorgan.


Turtle Dove on Gower

      

Mediterranean Gulls confirmed breeding

sub-adult pair on 8th April, W. Thomas

After a long and patient wait, today Wendell Thomas finally obtained proof of the first successful breeding record of Mediterranean Gulls in Carmarthenshire. Wendell's video, which can be seen HERE, shows the young gull being attended by one of its parents at the Lagoon at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Llanelli. Both parent birds are sub-adults (both are only in their 3rd calendar year) and although they were seen mating and nest building earlier in the season, the rapid growth of vegetation on the island quickly hid all activity until today.

...here's a photograph of the rapidly growing chick taken on the 22nd by Lyndon Evans

More breeding success in south-west Gower

(c) G. Howe

Gordon Howe has informed me of an additional pair of Chough that have bred successfully, plus he photographed three recently fledged Peregrines. What a great breeding season we appear to be having!

(c) G, Howe

Peach Leaf Curl

Taphrina deformans is a fungal pathogen that causes Peach leaf curl. I don't recall seeing this striking gall-former previously and was quite struck by its appearance in a garden in Horton today. There are very few Welsh records on the NBN, which does not mean it's not elsewhere of course, but if you have seen this gall former locally I'd be interested to hear. The hosts are said to include Peach Prunus persica and Almond P. amygdalus, so I guess any fruit-growers out there will know more about how frequent this species is locally?
Thanks to Jack for letting us into his parent's wonderful garden.