Hedgehog

In 2009 we had at least 5 differant Hedgehogs coming to feed in out garden in Edern but last year we did not spot a single one. Saturday I spotted this little one feeding from the bowls of food we leave out for our part tamed feral cats. Nice to see them back again as we had wondered if the badgers in the area had eaten them all.

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens )

The walk along the coast path between Nefyn and Morfa Nefyn produced our first Banded Damoiselle (female) of the season sheltering on the path. Not the most likely spot to see a Banded Demoiselle resting be there she was in all her glory.

Coast Path Saturday 14th May 2011

Despite the very strong winds blowing on Saturday morning there were plenty of insects and wild flowers to attract the attention on our walk. We decided to walk along the coast path from Nefyn to Morfa Nefyn as this had some shelter from the stong winds and thus likely to enable us to see some insects. Its always a good choice of walk on this route if we have strong winds blowing in the from a westerly direction as you get some shelter along the path which leaves some areas practically wind free and thus attractive to butteflies and other flying insects.

The large Red Damsel Fly shown and the male Common Blue butterfly were just two of the more visually attractive insects we spotted.

Butterflies in 2011

15 species so far this year
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
Wall (Lasiommata megera)
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Red Admiral(Vanessa atalanta)
Small Tortoishell (Aglais urticae)
Peacock (Aglais io)
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Green Veined White (Pieris napi)
Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Small White (Pieris rapae)
Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Broad-Bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)

Second Odonata sp of the year this morning, a female of Broad Bodied chaser seen on Lon Cae Glas this morning. The three years I have lived on the Llyn I have bagged BB chaser first on Lon Cae Glas each spring. Not seen the spectacular blue male yet but will hopefully find them up the lane next week if the weather holds good

Bloody-Nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)

Lots of adults and the rather "tick" like larvae of Bloody Nosed beetle around on the Peninsula. The larva seem to be particularly fond of eating Goose Grass.

The Lackey (Malacosoma neustria)

We have spotted dozens of the larval webs of the Lackey all around the Penllyn in recent weeks. It almost seems like every Blackthorn and Bramble bush in some hedges is covered in the webs full of caterpillars this year !

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

We spotted this male Common Blue butterfly on on the golf course at Morfa Nefyn this morning, yet another early record for this year.

Unusual Badger Latrine

We found this badger latrine with a view right on top of a Clawdd on Lon Cae Glas today. Intitially we thought a badger had been digging out as bees nest but closer inspection showed it was a badger latrine pit. A toilet with a view !

Butterflies in 2011 update

Small Copper

Two new species added to our butterfly list for 2011 today. Both seen on the coastal path from Edern to the golf course.Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and
Wall (Lasiommata megera.

Thats 12 species so far not bad before the end of April !
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
Wall (Lasiommata megera)
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Red Admiral(Vanessa atalanta)
Small Tortoishell (Aglais urticae)
Peacock (Aglais io)
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Green Veined White (Pieris napi)
Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula )

The first Odonata of 2011 starting to appear on the Llyn this week around Edern.

Butterflies

Red Admiral on Blackthorn Blossom

Male Orange Tip

Female Holly Blue

Hundreds of Butterflies of 10 species now on the wing on the Llyn in the recent hot spell. Its could be a spectacular year this year if this weather continues. The migrant Painted Ladies around in some numbers earlier in the month seem to have moved on now.

Whitethroat

First Whitethroats of the year singing along Lon Cae Glas this morning.

Butterflies today on Lon Cae Glas

HOLLY BLUE

ORANGE TIP (MALE)

COMMA

A very good morning for butterflies along Lon Cae Glas this morning with a total of nine species recorded and Holy Blue being my first ever record for the Llyn. Ten species recorded so far in 2011, not bad for early April.

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Red Admiral(Vanessa atalanta)
Small Tortoishell (Aglais urticae)
Peacock (Aglais io)
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Green Veined White (Pieris napi)
Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Butterflies so far in 2011

ORANGE TIP male

SPECKLED WOOD

SMALL COPPER

Species seen so far in 2011 are
Red Admiral(Vanessa atalanta)
Small Tortoishell (Aglais urticae)
Peacock (Aglais io)
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Green Veined White (Pieris napi)
Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

The Small Copper found yesterday on Lon Cae Glas was a very early record for this species which does not usually appear until May most years. This one was probably an early emergence due to the unusally hot spell last week.

Grasshopper Warbler

We heard rather than saw our first "gropper" of the year this morning just off Lon Cae Glas on way down to the coast path. The distinctive trilling call was the only clue we had as the bird itself remained invisible in the thick gorse. The photo shows the patch of Gorse the bird was in. The link below is to the RSPS website which has the call of this elusive warbler.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/grasshopperwarbler/index.aspx

Red-Tailed Bumblebee ( Bombus lapidarius)

Third Bumblebee species of the year now with this Red Tailed seen on the golf course at Morfa Nefyn this afternoon.

Grass Snake on the hunt.

I found this large Grass Snake hunting along a Clawdd on Lon Cae Glas this afternoon. She spotted me but tried to keep still hoping I would not spot here. Not much chance of missing her as she was around 30/36 inches in length I estimate. An absolutely stunning creature and a real privilage to see in the wild at close range. Never mind wildlife on TV when we have such magnificent creatures roaming wild on our own doorsteps

Slow Worm, first of 2011

I spotted this large female Slow Worm basking in the grass on Lon Cae Glas this afternoon. She was very approachable and let me get within inches of her. After takimg the photos I gently moved her to the other side of the Clawdd to make sure she was not disturbed or run over trying to cross the lane.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Peacock (Inachis io)

First sightings of Red Admiral and Peacock butterflies today. With Painted Lady and Small Tortoisehell also seen on my walk this afternoon it makes it the best butterfly day of spring so far.

Painted Lady Update

Three more records of Painted Lady this afternoon from three well spread sites. One in Edern village and two along the coast towards Morfa Nefyn golf course. The rather poor shot is the only one I managed to get on film.

Buzzard Feeding Station

Plucking a Carrion Crow

Magpies on the menu

Carrion crow and white bread which surprisingly Buzzards are also happy to eat

Some or shots of Buzzards at out "Buzzard Feeding Station" behind the garden here in Edern. We put out poultry carcasses from our meals as well as dead crows and magpies given to us by people who shoot. Most Crows and Magpies seem to be fair game around the Peninsula with all guns turned on them give the chance. At least the corpses are recycled via Buzzard scavenging.

Feeding Station

Our feeding station here in the garden at Edern is running all year round and at the moment is heavily used by Goldfinches. Its not unusual for us to have 20+ on the feeders and ground below feeding on spillage from the Nyjer feeders. Busiest time of the year is late summer when the various tits and finches bring in the years youngsters. Last year we had 72 Chaffinches at the station all feeding togther at one time.

Buzzard Feeding Station

Bertie our regular Buzzard at the feeding station in the field behind our garden this evening looking at the Pheasant carcass from last nights meal I put out for the buzzards. We regularly put our left over meat carcases out for the buzzards in this spot we often see one at close range at around 20 feet.

Bloody Nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)

There has obviously been a large emergence of Bloody Nosed beetles in recent days as we found dozens on the coast path above Nefyn this afternoon including several pairs in "cop".