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 !