Seal season

The seal pup season is going strongly with many pups on the Deer Park coves and at Martins Haven. Alas, the Dale Princess has now finished but I was fortunate enough to spend last Wednesday on the Island watching numerous adult seals and pups in North Haven.

Bosherston Lily Ponds 'clock change' otter

Cub waiting for mum to rescue it, it wasn't going to loose this one.

Pembrokeshire Stackpole otter running from the fight

This one decided enough was enough!

Pembrokeshire Stackpole otters fighting

All very quiet one minute then POW this happened

Sunfish

Sunfish ‘molar molar’ often become covered in parasites. In order to have these parasites removed they ‘offer’ themselves to gulls by floating/swimming on the surface of the sea and via their gills ‘squirting ’water vertically as the attraction for a meal to the gulls. From my own observations it seems that only Juvenile GBBGulls seem to ‘get the message’ at these latitudes, which, must be pretty frustrating for the poor sunfish.
Hopefully the pictures I took on a Sea Trust trip in 2006 show both parasites and the attraction technique. Perhaps this explains the behaviour blogged below.

Otters - Wldlife Trust reserve Cilgerran

Over the last few weeks I (and many others) have been lucky enough to see the ‘Otter family’ on the Wildlife Trust reserve at Cilgerran. Their territory might not always be truly in Pembrokeshire but it certainly is worth a look if you are in that ‘neck of the woods’

Sunfish

Between 4.20 and 4.45  on the 18th October, we watched a sunfish off Wooltack Point in Deer Park. We watched it drift down from St. Brides Bay passed Tusker Rock into Jack Sound. It was about 1.5 metres long and swimming near the surface waving its dorsal fin. For some of the time it was lying on its side and was being followed by a couple of gulls.

Sara-Jane Arden

Ichneumon suspiciosus

This common Ichneumon was probably looking for somewhere to hibernate when I caught it. It is easy to identify by the white bits in the middle of the antennae , the orangy abdo. and the white tail end. I'd love to know how it got its name; likewise the moth, Suspected (Parastychtis suspecta). Peter Byles, Ceibwr.

red admiral

There were 3 red admirals in our garden just after lunch today; getting late, although I presume they are feeding up ready to hibernate soon.

Autumn but still some insects about

Despite the cold wind this Common Hawker (I think) Dragonfly was still out and about at midday and feeding okay as it was eating a fly.
At St Govan's a Clouded Yellow butterfly was a nice sight but it wouldn't pose for a photo.

Westfield Pill.

Plenty of signs of winter this morning,with parties of Redwings,Fieldfares,and Siskins.Also a record count of 7 Little Egret.

Bosherston Lily Ponds Otter having a good roll around in the mud

only cloud with a yellow lining?

I was looking for some silver lining to lift my spirits after the debacle of this mornings rugby. This clouded yellow flew past me at the car park at Strumble this afternoon and then landed on a Dandelion. It must have been exhausted having flown off the sea, and allowed me to approach very close (my fingers!).

Its the only one I have seen this year and so far as I can remember my only ever October record! 

Solitary bees

The local records centre is organising a one-day workshop for people to learn more about the habits and identification of solitary bees. It will probably take place at the end of November at the Cardiff Museum. If anyone is interested in attending, please contact Annie at rushmoor1@tiscali.co.uk

This one is Andrena hattorfiana

Otter family at Bosherston Lilly Ponds today, waiting for full moon?

WNFC visit in September

There is a report on the visit to Pembrokeshire by the Wexford Naturalists Field Club in September here http://www.wexfordnaturalists.com/images/tripreports/walestrip.pdf

They stayed at Stackpole & highlights of the visit included the Bosherton otters, a bat walk with Bob & Annie Haycock & the local hospitality.

The report has a list of the birds, mammals & other wildlife seen by the group on their trip. It does show what can be achieved in one short week-end.

Water Shrew at Llangloffan Fen

After a lot of deliberating, book searching and a chat with Nathan Walton I am happy to confirm seeing a Water Shrew about 20 metres from the hide overlooking the pond at the ‘Wildlife Trusts reserve at Llangloffan Fen’ I have never seen one before – brill !!

Bosheston Otters

Mother and cubs enjoying this bright Saturday morning.

Stackpole Estate Bosherston Lilly Ponds Otter

Female otter on west bank of Central Lake, 08-00 today, cubs around somewhere!