Seeing the Changes 482

At Bynea, Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Heath speedwell (Veronica montana) and the Wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana) had come into bloom.

Planet Earth Live?

It is always nice when a major TV Company such as BBC1 devotes a substantial part of its budget to a natural history project such as 'Planet Earth Live'  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00qj06z). I do, however, have a few reservations. Firstly, the obsession with giving the animals who are the foci of the 'wild life dramas' trendy names to try to get people to treat them anthropomorphically (as if they were 'little humans'). Secondly, it's amazing how the nature of the 'goodies' and the 'baddies' switches. An oddly-behaving lioness and her surviving cub are the heros in Kenya (in a world of uncooperative Warthog prey and thieving Hyaena who take the meat out of the babies mouth). Whereas, in California, mother Grey whales attempt to survive the attentions of the nasty Orca ('Killer whales') who want to drown and eat her calf. Obviously, all the participants in all the encounters are trying to do their best for themselves and their offspring. It could have been a little more balanced.

Seeing the Changes 481

It's so wet in Loughor, that we have snails (Cepaea nemoralis), rather than moths, congregating around the outdoor light.

Birder's Bonus 119

Domestic goose egg remains were found on Swansea University campus.

Mess on the Tyne is All Mine, All Mine

Down near the 'Flow' installation (opposite the Baltic Flour Mill), the human impact on the environment was very striking!

Seeing the Changes 480

Spent a few days in the far North-east of England. At Tynemouth, spotted a Small copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas). At that location, Apple (Malus domestica), Lucerne (Medicago sativa), Red valerian (Centranus ruber), White clover (Trifolium repens), White dead nettle (Lamium album) and Warty cabbage (Bunias orientalis) were all in bloom. Flowers spotted at Beadnell in Northumberland also included Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguinenum). The critters at Tynemouth included lots of Six-spot burnet moth larvae (Zygaena filipendulae) and marching columns of weevils. There was a hairy, ginger moth larva at Beadnell.

Seal non-Survivor

At Beadnell Beach in Northumberland, spotted a dead Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) amongst the dead seabirds.