Nitten and Thurba

Spent the morning first checking moth traps then walking out to Thurba Head. A total of 90 species was recorded in the Nitten Field, the highlight being five L-album Wainscots (a recently established species in South Wales). The Lobster Moth is one of my favourite species and is shown below...

Probably more significant than any of the moths, and totally unexpected at this site, was my first sighting of the Wood Carder Bumble-bee (Bombus hypnorum), possibly the first occurence of this species in our area.

On Thurba Head, birds included 2 Shag nests, nesting Herring Gulls, 3+ pairs of Fulmar, 2 Chough and several Swifts. This section of coast is the only place in the county were Swifts nest in natural cliff sites, with around 12 pairs present this year.

If you do venture out onto Thurba careful you don't fall down 'The Eye'. It's surprising how suddenly it appears and it's about 50m straight down give or take a few rocks!

BTO Breeding survey

Back in the recording area today Ieuan Blackmore and myself took an opportunity to try and confirm some breeding birds for a couple of Tetrads I cover between Cimla and Cwmavon. A pretty good day, some birds confirmed were Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Pied Wagtail and 4 common Tits. Also noted were Grasshopper, Sedge and Wood Warbler plus Spotted Flycatcher, Stonechat, Wheatear and Cuckoo. Its a really good time to confirm breeding at the moment with lots of parent birds carrying either food or faecal sacs in their bills.

c35 Small Heath around Foel Fynyddau and moths noted today included Burnet Companion(1), Common Heath(2), Brown Silver-line(2) and Silver Y(3)

Later this evening we tried successfully for Nightjar near Tonmawr. At least 7 birds were seen with one pair showing very well, particularly the male. The birds stated to show around 9:30 and by 9:45 was the best combination of activity and light. Also seen were, at least, 2 species of Bat (1 much larger than the other) and 2 Fallow Deer

Whinchat at Blorenge

The subject is not quite as rare but what a bird all the same. The Whinchats help pass the time while waiting for the Marmora's to show.

Oh Marma!

A Marmora's Warbler was found yesterday at Blorenge. I went up today at 1pm and it showed well from a small carpark. It showed for about 5-10mins each time and gave the best views from a compact Holy bush. It sang most of the time it was present as shown in the video.

The best place to park for this bird is a carpark at the radio masts SO263108 and walk down the road(east) about 700m to a smaller carpark. View from here and make sure you have a good view of the Holly bush. The ranger has asked people to not walk among the scrub to respect the breeding birds. This was pretty well accepted by the majority today. If you go, good luck! It's well worth the effort.

Another 'sea' Otter, this time at Pennard

Gareth Watkins reported the following yesterday 'On the way home...[from the cliffs at Pennard] I saw something swimming; my wife thought on the first brief glance it must be a small darkish seal. But we saw another ten or so surfacings, some through binocs & scope, and there's absolutely no doubt that it was an otter. It seemed to be pulling more & more seaweed loose. Are they common here? I don't watch the sea a lot, but I see seals occasionally -- but I can't remember seeing an otter at Pennard before.'

leaf-cutter bee in Britton Ferry

Cedwyn Davies took some photographs this morning of a leaf-cutter bee (Megachile sp.) entering and exiting an old plastic plant pot in his garden in Briton Ferry. How apt it chose this particular pot!

bee entering (with cut leaf) ...

.. bee exiting

Marsh Fritillary sightings in NPT made by Richard G. Smith

28th May - On marshy grassland to west of Bryn Tip, 4 Common Blue, 3 Small Heath & 1 Dingy Skipper. Then along track to north, more Common Blue, Small Heath & my first Small Copper this year. On tip itself, despite the stiff breeze, 21 Common Blue (two female) and 12 Small Heath. No frits this year, but probably too early yet.

2nd June: At Seven Sisters, I counted 21 very fresh Marsh Fritillary in 5 mins, before sun went in, in a sheltered hollow south of access track. Only 1 fresh male Marsh Fritillary was seen flying across burnt & damaged area, north of access track. There were numerous Small Heath and a couple of Burnet Companion also fresh on wing.

2nd June: At Rhos Common, Crynant, I found 1 fresh Marsh Fritillary today, after walking across most of southern part of common. Like many sites this year, nectar sources were scarce and this individual stayed around a small group of Heath Spotted-orchid flowers.

Funny year in many ways as vegetation still mostly very late (e,g. not even buds on Meadow Thistle yet) but many butterflies emerging normal time, then finding little nectar sources, particularly on burnt areas of Purple Moor-grass.