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.

Seeing the Changes 852

In Bynea, the Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) was in bloom.

Train Drain

The proposed HS2 development is currently thought to be scheduled to pass through a string of parks and protected areas with important populations of rare bats, butterflies and flowers (http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/07/hs2-costs-countryside-environment-mps). The worry seems to be a current focus on cost and an apparently superficial evaluation of its impact on what remains of the natural world. If it goes ahead, of course it will disrupt and of course costs are a serious consideration but I am not wholly convinced that the planners really know how to weigh the importance of some of the areas likely to be effected or how to offer remedial work to offset the damage.

Seeing the Changes 651

Noted a predated Blackbird (Turdus merula) egg  and the Spanish bluebell (Endymion hispanicus) in flower in Loughor. There was a green moth caterpillar in Bynea.

Seeing the Changes 650

Shoots of Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) were much in evidence in Loughor. Lots of flower activity with Cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and Red campion (Silene dioica) in bloom or in bud in Penclacwydd. Lords and Ladies (Arum maculatum) was in flower in Bynea.