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In Bynea an under-sized (late?) Elephant hawk moth larva (Deilephila elpenor) was sprinting along the cycle path.

Makes a Change From a Moth!

The early morning in Loughor was punctuated by having an urban Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) gazing through my lounge window.

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Lots of Starling (Sternus vulgaris) roosting on telephone wires at Bynea. Also active ground beetles (Pterostichus nigrita), living dangerously as a Grass snake basked on the cycle path nearby.

Conkers to Conk Out?

It appears (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/sep/27/1) that the Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is doomed. A leaf miner from the continent has caused a bacterial infection that destroys the trees.

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At Oxwich there was an indian summer feel with the last grasshoppers being sought by the lizards in the dunes. There was also a ground beetle (Calosoma auropunctatum) active in the area.

Dorset Daze

Some of the more striking sightings on the Dorset field course included real Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and a meeting with a bogus badger (to advertise 'Autumn Watch' coming soon to Brownsea). Also saw 'underground mutton' (Oryctolagus cuniculus) coming in to feed at Weymouth Sealife Park. Also lots of late Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Comma (Polygonia c-album) butterflies basking in the maze at Abbotsbury.

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At Golden Grove (Carmarthenshire) things seemed a bit confused in the late sunshine (our 'indian summer'?). Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) and Lesser burdock (Arctium minus) were in flower. Chrysomela populi beetles were mating and a Large white (Pieris brassicae) was feeding from a bramble flower. Birch bracket (Piptoporus betulinus) fungus was much in evidence.