The adaptable Heron

Dave Williams took these images during the recent cold spell, which show how resourceful the Grey Heron can be, this bird adopting a Kingfisher-style approach to fishing in a small ice-free pool:

 

 This bird decided Starling was a good substitute for fish!

Bats waking up mid-winter

This Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) appeared in our neighbours living room a couple of nights back and chatting to Rob Colley it's apparent that there have been a number of sightings of active bats recently.

There's no obvious explanation why bats should emerge mid-winter, but an interesting coincidence was that they appeared around the same time that Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata) were noted on the wing in good numbers. It's tempting to speculate that bats are able to coincide their winter activities with those of the Winter Moth?

Sanderling roosting on Oxwich Beach

Paul Tyrrel wrote: '...while walking along Oxwich Bay at high tide on Sunday morning, I came across this small number of Sanderling roosting in the sun.'

This attractive little wader is found on most of our sandy beaches in winter, with favoured sites including Margam, Aberavon, Crymlyn, Swansea Bay as-well-as Oxwich. However, the expansive sands of Cefn Sidan in Carmarthenshire hold the largest numbers, for example 1700 were counted on 27 Nov 2010 by Wendell Thomas.

Velvet Scoter off Aberavon Beach

6 Velvet Scoter were feeding offshore at Aberavon Beach today. I was viewing them from the NW end of the esplanade which can be most easily accessed from a rough carpark off Scarlet Avenue.

As Scoters go Velvet are quite exciting! The striking wing flashes that most easily distinguish these Scoter from the other Scoter species can be made out (just about) in the video below.

Sea Spleenwort on Oxwich Point

Despite never having taken the route before, I managed to convince Neil (Edwards) that a walk back from the point along the rocks above the splash zone would be easier than going up and down through the woods. This wasn't quite the case but we did have great views of the bay, the large rock fall that occurred the week before Christmas 2009 and we discovered a very healthy population of Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinum). This frost-sensitive fern grows only in close proximity to the sea, typically in or near to the splash zone. Although found all along the Gower coast this is by far the biggest population that I have come across with over 50 plants noted.

Sea Spleenwort typically growing from shady crevice

Neil putting into perspective the Oxwich rock fall

Bittern still at Eglwys

The Bittern is still present at Eglwys and showing very well indeed.

I saw it today at the same location as on New Years Eve, in the bay in front of the old hide beyond the yacht club. It isn't confined to this area however; George Morgan saw it flying out of the reedbed next to the old boating shed two days ago.


The light was not helping matters very much today, but with Bittern performing so well it was impossible not to take more video footage of this fascinating bird. Follow the link below for a bit more Bittern action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WKmFmuIB-Q0

Long tailed duck

Came across this old slide from November 2007 today. Thought it was worth showing here, the bird was on the river off Dalton's point.