Seeing the Changes 856

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in flower in the cycle tract between Swansea and Blackpill.

Seeing the Changes 855

More flowers out including Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) in Loughor and Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) in Bynea. In Penclacwydd, Ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) and Common vetch (Vicia sativa) were in flowers. Got a nice shot there of a male Orange-tip butterfly on Cuckoo flower (the food plant).

Seeing the Changes 854

In Bynea, Ramping fumitory (Fumaria capreolata) was in bloom.

Maltese Cross

Quite a battle seems to be developing between bird conservationists and people enthusing about the 'tradition' of shooting migrating birds as they 'refuel' in Malta (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/20/conservationists-marksmen-malta-bird-hunt). The range of species that are shot is really quite wide and many of these animals have shown marked declines in their populations. Somewhat strangely, some of the shooters blame agricultural practises in other parts of Europe for this. They may have a sort of point but blasting them out of the sky whilst they attempt to rest and feed up can't be a help!

Seeing the Changes 853

Only been away in Holland a week but big changes in Loughor natural history. Speckled woods (Parage aegeria tercis) in the garden. Lots of Small tortoiseshells (Aglais urticae), Green-veined whites (Artogeia napi), Brimstones (Gonepteryx rhamni)and Orange-tips (Anthocharis cardamines) in Bynea and Penclacwydd. A Barred carpet moth (Perizoma taeniata) came to the light in Loughor and a small bumblebee fed on Hawthorn in Penclacwydd. In terms of flowers, Hedgerow cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum), Shining cranesbill (Geranium lucidum), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), Red clover (Trifolium pratense), Large celendine (Chelidonium majus) and Common scurvy grass (Cochlearia officinalis) were in bloom between Bynea and Penclacwydd. 

Birder's Bonus 142

One of the high-lights of the trip to Rotterdam was seeing numbers of Great-crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus) on the canals in small towns around the area like Brielle.

Mini-Me Dogs

News that the first cloned UK dog has been produced to Seoul at a cost of £60k (http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/09/britains-first-cloned-dog-born). The dachsund 'copy' of Minnie was won in a competition but a) too many existing dogs are being mistreated; b) copying the genes does not mean copying the pet and c) many cloned dogs have developmental problems and die early. I do think the cost is ridiculous but I can't help thinking that there are people out there, willing to splash the cash for the  dubious pleasure.