11 Saturday Dec 2021
Tags
Though often more common than we realise, especially in urban locations, the fox is still quite an elusive creature, and I’m seldom lucky enough to see one – or, if I do, it’s often just a fleeting glimpse as one crosses my path in the distance (as happened back in July). Better those fleeting glimpses though, than the sight of a dead fox lying beside a busy road (as happened very recently), which is very upsetting to see.
10 Friday Dec 2021
Posted in insects
Seeing this Emerald damselfly was the highlight of my odonata year. I think I need to broaden my horizons to see some new species in 2022.
09 Thursday Dec 2021
Posted in birds
Seeing this Dunlin was a delightful surprise back in May (a fellow birder had spotted it and put the word out), as these shorebirds rarely stop over in Cardiff Bay. Sadly, the chances of seeing Dunlins at all have declined dramatically in recent years, as their population has plummeted, and, according to British Birds recently published report of ‘The status of our bird populations’, these birds have recently been added to the IUCN Red List, meaning they are now at extreme risk of extinction in Britain.
08 Wednesday Dec 2021
Posted in insects
The cranefly family of insects is another I have often overlooked as I mostly see the same species in my local areas. But, with some more thorough investigation of different habitats, I think I should be able to expand my list.
I thought craneflies would long since have disappeared so this little beauty, possibly Tipula oleracea, was a surprise find during last Saturday’s (4 December) walk. But, as a spokesperson for the Cranefly Recording Scheme kindly explained: ‘Potentially you can see Craneflies during any month of the year. Last Christmas I was doing the washing up and one flew by the window. Climate change has extended and altered the seasons for these flies.’ So, do please let me know if you too have a cranefly Christmas!
07 Tuesday Dec 2021
Posted in insects
Tags
Brimstone, Brimstone butterfly, Brimstone caterpillars, Brimstone eggs, British butterflies, butterfly
Of course, my end-of-year countdown has to include butterflies. Today it’s the Brimstone – there may be others.
I was thrilled this year to discover more about the life cycle of this exquisite butterfly. In May, after watching a female laying on the leaves of Buckthorn saplings, I found my first Brimstone eggs and, after that, knowing what Buckthorn looked like, found many more and, of course, lots of lovely caterpillars in various stages of development. I’ve yet to find a chrysalis though – maybe next year.
06 Monday Dec 2021
Posted in insects
This year I thought I’d finish 2021 with something different, an A-to-Z 26-day countdown to the end of the year. So, first up, A is for aphids, a family I intend to look closer at in the coming year. Many species look very similar to each other and so are hard to identify, like these.
But there are other species that are specific to particular plants, like the one shown below. Though my finds haven’t yet been confirmed, from their relatively large size, the fact that I’ve found them twice now on Grey willow, and their markings and the distinctive horny bumps on their rear ends, I’m fairly sure these are Giant willow aphids (Tuberolachnus salignus).
05 Sunday Dec 2021
Posted in flowers, plants, wildflowers, winter
It may be the first week of winter but there are still plenty of wildflowers in bloom. I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I enjoyed finding them.
04 Saturday Dec 2021
Posted in birds
These are not recent photos but I love how acrobatic these Song thrushes are when reaching for their delicious berry treats.
03 Friday Dec 2021
Posted in fungi
Happy Fungi Friday!
I’m fairly sure these are Grey knights (Tricholoma terreum), though, as with many fungi, I’m not exactly sure of my identification and it can be difficult to separate the grey Tricholoma species. According to the First Nature website, Grey Knights are usually found in coniferous forests – mine were in a cemetery but there were several conifers growing nearby, and I know these fungi have been found at this cemetery previously.
02 Thursday Dec 2021
Posted in plants
From its nectar-and-pollen-providing flowers to its luscious juicy berries for birds, Ivy is a wonder plant, and I read somewhere recently that it also hosts over 100 species of insect larvae. Amazing!
earthstar 
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