Eager Beavers

Reports that a 'wild' (aka 'escaped') family of European beaver have been filmed on the river Otter in Devon (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/27/wild-beavers-england-devon-river). I am not certain if this is a 'good thing' because, although the beaver was certainly found in the UK several hundred years ago, things have changed dramatically since. They may well do interesting things with water meadows but I suspect that their activities are not necessarily linked to human considerations.

Seeing the Changes 637

In Loughor, Crab apple (Malus sylvestris) was coming into flower.

Birder's Bonus 139

Noted a small flock of Redshank (Tringa totanus) on Loughor estuary at Bynea.

Seeing the Changes 636

More signs of Spring with the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) coming into flower in Bynea.

Seeing the Changes 635

On a trip from Manchester through Hereford, I don't think I have seen so much Mistletoe (Viscum album) infesting the trees.

Seeing the Changes 634

The wetness is reflected in the masses of fruiting bodies generated by the Bynea mosses.

Carping

News that people are becoming very concerned that Asian carp (presumably deliberately released) might move from the Illinois river into the Great Lakes around Chicago (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26237863). This alien could certainly devastate the biota of these enormous freshwater bodies. The 'cure', however, could prove extremely costly.