Seeing the Changes 972

In Loughor, Bitterweet (Solanum dulcamara) was in bloom. In Bynea, Orange hawkweed (Hieracium auranticum) and Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) were flowering. Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus) was also making a great effort but its nemesis, the Mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci) larva, was upon it

Sharks and People

News that 2 US teenagers have lost limbs to shark attacks on the same North Carolina beach within hours of each other, has generated inevitable references to the film 'Jaws' (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/15/us-shark-attacks-two-teenagers-lose-limbs-on-same-north-carolina-beach). These events are obviously devastating for the individuals concerned but it might well lead to yet more pressure for elimination of the sharks. Sharks are an important top predator in many marine locations and are basically doing what they are designed to do (primates in the water would be a normal encounter for them). it is certainly true to say that humans currently do much more damage to sharks as a group than vice versa! Just think about shark's fin soup for a moment.

Georgia on my Mind?

The media have seemingly become very excited (to a greater extent than simple human tragedy?) by reports of devastating floods in the Republic of Georgia resulting in numbers of animals from Tbilisi zoo going 'on the run' (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/14/georgia-floods-deaths-feared-zoo-animals-on-loose). Escapees have included bears and lions but also numbers of hippopotamus that could apparently deal with the rising waters quite effectively. Surprisingly, the herbivorous hippo, is probably the most dangerous of the three (in terms of causing human deaths in their native locations). Perhaps the story indicates that the siting of zoos have to be considered in relation to extreme weather events if climate change is upon us?

Seeing the Changes 971

Just before the rains, noted in Bynea, Common figwort (Scrophularia nodosa) and Weld (Reseda luteola) both flowering.

Seeing the Changes 970

The alien Snowberry (Symphocampos albus) in Loughor and Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in Bynea were both in flower. The Lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii) was flying about in Loughor whilst a Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) was laying eggs on Ragwort in Bynea.

Birder's Bonus 153

Nice views of a Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) in the grounds of Swansea University!

Pigs Might...?

Great news! The G7 have reportedly pledged to end their use of fossil fuels to generate electricity 'by the end of the century' (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/08/g7-fossil-fuel-pledge-is-a-diplomatic-coup-for-germanys-climate-chancellor). The only troubles with such pledges (although the idea is eminently sensible) are a) the end of the century is a long way off in carbon dioxide emission terms (some authorities think we have gone too far to limit devastating changes already); b) methane produced by cows is even more potent as a 'greenhouse gas' in the global warming stakes (or steaks?); c) future politicians have a habit of wriggling out of pledges made by their predecessors; d) big, developing countries often argue that, although they are keen to get round to limiting the emission of climate-change linked gases, it is more important (especially to their re-election chances) that their populations are 'lifted out of poverty' and this, unfortunately, requires increased coal, oil and gas use; e) the multinational, hydrocarbon-prospecting companies are unlikely to go quietly and f) nuclear energy production would probably have to increase with its attendant risks.