Coming Back

A report that one third of 'extinct' Mammalian species are eventually (sometimes 100 years later) should not raise too many hopes (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/29/plant-species-face-extinction ). It is also predicted that 1 in 5 plants face extinction and that will accelerate the rate of animal extinctions. Talking of extinctions, I retire from University on 30th September. I will continue to exist in the Blogosphere!

Seeing the Changes 333

In spite of the cooler weather, the Buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala) larvae had dissipated and were even larger.

Longleat Lingers

There was some interesting stuff at Longleat en route with Ostrich (Struthio camelus) chicks, Rothschild's giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) were checking out 'enrichment' and film makers. There were also close ups of a Lioness (Panthera leo) and a pacing Tiger (Panthera tigris).

Highlights of a Last Dorset Field Course?

Two days from retirement and I have just returned from the annual Swansea field course that takes in locations reached from the Island of Portland (with Chesil Beach). Saw Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) on Chesil Bank. At Abbotsbury Swannery got to hold a Mute swan (Cygnus olor) for the last time. Radipole RSPB reserve had massed cormorant on the little island. At Broadcroft Butterfly Quarry got a nice shot of a basking Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) and found a Slow worm (Anguis fragilis). In addition to the primates, there were masses of fungi at Monkey World including Fly agaric (Amantia muscaria) and Boletus edulis (guess which one should eat!). Brownsea Island was special with Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) and Redshank (Tringa totanus) in the lagoon with a massed flight of Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and other species above it. There were also Leccinium scabrum fungi there and a good show by the Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Seeing the Changes 332

In Loughor, the conkers of the Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) were ready for collection. There were also lots of Fairy-ring champignon (Marasmius oreades) on the lawn. In Bynea, the Buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala) larvae had grown and had gone up in the world (on to a higher branch).

Flights of Fancy?

The report of a Pembrokeshire swan (nicknamed by the press 'Hannibal') being 'hyperaggressive' and attacking (and sometimes killing) other birds raises a number of questions (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-11331964 ). Some of the commentators have even speculated that there must be some contamination in the water to 'cause' this 'abnormal' behaviour. Mute swans (Cygnus olor) are often highly territorial and intolerant of other waterbirds (especially their own species). A Google search will confirm that such behaviour is frequently recorded (see 'the ASBO swan and 'Hissing Sid'). Even atypically maintained swans such as those at Abbotsbury in Dorset are not free of 'swanecidal' behaviour. Territoriality is used by many species as a means of getting access to limited resources (in this case the grass and pondweed around a nesting site in order to breed successfully and to rear offspring. The species clearly shows variability in this characteristic which is actually highly beneficial to the individual, its mate and its progeny. It is humans that object to the bird doing these actions (it's not 'nice' for a 'peaceful' bird to behave this way).

Topsy-Turvey

One of the Flounders (Platichthys flesus) caught in Northumberland had dark colouration on both sides (not the usual white on the 'bottom' side after the eyes had migrated) . This abberration seems to be quite common in this area.