Birder's Bonus 53

A rather tame Song thrush (Turdus philomelos) is operating on the Swansea University campus.

Birder's Bonus 52

At the WWT Llanelli, the birds were mainly entering eclipse (non-breeding) plumage. This was certainly the case for the North American wood duck (Aix sponsa). Many birds, however, had offspring including Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus), Black swans (Cygnus atratus) and Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula).

Seeing the Changes 215

What appeared to be Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) in Penclacwydd. At the WWT Llanelli, Yellow corydalis (Corydalis lutea), Yellow bartsia (Parentucellia viscosa), Orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca), Majoram (Origanum vulgare) and Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) were in bloom. In that location, there was much mating activity by Common blue damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum) and the Rhagonycha fulva beetle. The Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) and the Herald moth (Scoliopterix libatrix) flitted about. Horse flies (Tabanus sudeticus) waited. In Loughor, the Traveller's joy (Clematis vitalba) was imminent. There, the Ringlet butterflies were joined by the Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) and the Large skipper (Ochlodes venatus). In the same vicinity, Large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba) and Silver Y (Autographa gamma) moths were also active. An Ichneumon fly (Amblyteles armatorius) lurked. There were lots of ladybird pupae on the Silver birch, giving rise to 2-spot (Adalia bipunctata), 10-spot (Adalia 10-punctata) and Cream-spot (Calvia 14-guttata) adults. There was also a strange orange fly with dark marks on its wings. Visited by a Common footman moth (Eilema lurideola).

Shrinking Sheep?

Yet another thing that has been blamed on 'global warming'! Scientists have concluded that a recorded decline in the average weights of the rare 'wild' Soay sheep on the island of Hirta in the St Kilda archipelago (Scotland) is likely to be linked to this environmental phenomenon (http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Scientists-say-theyve-solved-riddle.5425953.jp). They suggest that the average increase in winter temperatures has resulted in smaller animals surviving the harsh winters to their first birthday. This is said to have increased the gene pool elements that result in more relatively small lambs being born. A study that compared the weights of these feral animals from 1985 to 2004 found that average weight had declined by more than 80g per year. Of course, other factors like the numbers of sheep and the amount of forage per animal would have had to have remained constant.

Seeing the Changes 214

A Plume moth (Emmelina monodactyla) visited in Loughor. The larvae of the Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) were found munching Ragwort in Bynea where the Pineapple mayweed (Chamomilla suaveolens) and Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) put in an appearance. There was also a fungus after the heavy rain there. In Swansea, Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) was fully in bloom and Red goosefoot (Chenopodium rubrum) coming into flower.

Birder's Bonus 51

Perhaps it's the lack of available seeds but Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) have taken to messing about in the top of my aphid-infested birch tree.

Seeing the Changes 213

In Loughor, Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris) was in bloom. In Bynea, the Common sea lavender (Limonium vulgare) and Common centaury (Centaurium erythraea) were out. A Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) attempted to root out Ragwort and got some good shots of a hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) on Creeping thistle.