Butterflies

Small Tortoiseshell-Aglais urticae

Speckled Wood-Pararge aegeria

Peacock-Inachis io

Holly Blue-Celastrina argiolus

Orange-tip-Anthocharis cardamines

Various butterflies around again today in the much improved weather from earlier in the week. My first Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria) of the year amongst them.

First Cuckoo of Spring

I heard and saw my first Cockoo of spring on Monday near a small abandoned church near Mynytho. I had speaking with a local resident (thanks Terry) when I was sitting at the church on Sunday admiring the views and tranquility of the place said to be the quietest place on the Penllyn. Terry had brought his daughter up to the area to see if they could hear a Cuckoo and he told me is was the best spot for the first Cuckoo of spring to be heard. Sure enough on Monday as I was cycling along the road to Nanhoron by the church I heard and spotted my first Cuckoo....thanks once again Terry for the friendly chat and tip off, much appreciated by this Saesneg incomer who has fallen in love with the Penllyn

Insects in the Sun

The recent warm dry sunny weather has started to encourage many insects to venture forth. Lots of solitary bees now around in the hedgrows and verges feeding on spring flowers. The bee shown in the photo is probably on of the Andrena family, most likely A.haemorrhoa which is possible utilised as a host by the Oil beetle larva of the previous post.

The beetle shown with the upturned tail looking almost scorpion like is a member of the Rove beetles (Staphylindae) called the Devils Coach Horse (S olens) which feeds on slugs and other soft bodied invertebrates.

Oil Beetles

The Llyn Peninsular is home to some of Britain's fast declining beetle Oil beetle population. Fortunately here on the Pen Llyn at least they seem to be about in some numbers with several individuals of Meloe proscarabeus (Black Oil Beetle) and Meloe violaceus (Violet Oil Beetle) recorded from scattered parts of the Pen Llyn whilst out cycling in April.

Meloe proscarabeus is the most common of the two but I have found both species in cop so both are confirmed as breeding in the area. Despite the common names of Black Oil beetle and Violet Oil beetle the colour is not confirmation of species as both species can occur in both colours ! The records I have from this year will be passed onto the Invertebrate Conservation Trust (Buglife) who are running an Oil beetle survey. Details can be found at

http://www.buglife.org.uk/conservation/projectsdev/oilbeetles.htm

The happy couple shown in cop are the less common Meloe violaceus (Violet Oil Beetle)

Badger Spring Clean

Latrine Pit

Entrance above sett

Excavation


Excavation & tracks

Main entrance

Side entrance

We discovered a large badger sett this week with an an extensive network of paths and holes spread over a large area with three main entrance areas some 100 mtrs apart. The sett we assume must be very old as it covers a very large area with numerous main and minor entrances with link paths between them. We found lots of signs of badger activity such as bedding been taking and and removed from the setts. There were also lots of signs in the surrounding area of badgers digging up grubs and bulb to eat, as well as numerous latrine pits.

As can be seen from the photos the badgers have been very busy with excavation and bedding changing. Judging by the number of latrine pits and there contents the badgers are not going short of food either !

I will not mention the exact location for obvious reasons, but talking with some locals reassured us as to the safety of the setts as they are under observation and protected by alarms.

Signs of Spring

A walk along the coast the other day was very pleasant in the almost spring like temperatures. Plenty of early signs of spring with various flies and honey bees seen feeding on the profusion of Gorse flowers out. Sue and I also spotted our first Primroses of 2009 in flower with lots more just needing a few more days to burst forth.

199 Psychoides verhuella

I just bagged this species (new lifer for me) here on the Llyn Peninsular this week on Hartstongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium).