Seasonal Splash (8): Tadpole Time

We went to North Gower, and watched the Starlings cadging a ride over the saltmarsh ...

We were delighted to find our first Tadpoles of the season. We have since seen more in Carmarthenshire.

Beside the Sea (2): Shells at Llangennith

I mentioned in my previous post that I would add the shells we saw in a separate entry, so here they are. I saw them all as I walked along towards the high-tide island of Burry Holms at the north-western extremity of the Gower Peninsula.

You can just see Worm's Head, Rhossili, below the cloud in the centre.

Limpet, (Patella vulgata)

The Pink Cockle, I think

Slipper Limpet?

Rayed Trough-shell (Mactra stultorum), I think

Razor Shell, possibly an Eggshell Razor

Oyster

Mussel

The mist lifted a bit as we turned to go.

We passed this Iron Age hill fort mound at Harding's Down as we left the village of Llangennith.

Postcsript 2014: please read comment below by Craig Howells for a further (corrective) note concerning the mention of a 'hill fort' at Harding's Down in this post.

Islands and Islets (1): Burry Holms, Gower

We took a stroll along Rhossili Beach at the western end of the Gower Peninsula from Llangennith towards the promontory-cum-island of Burry Holms on the north-western tip. There was a terrific surf and a lot of foam along the edge of the sea.

I took this photo below as I looked back towards Worm's Head. I was shooting into the sun, hence the grayscale appearance.

There was a strange mist sweeping in and out.

 
There were not many birds in evidence, but judging from the cracked shells, they frequent this huge expanse of sand in large numbers.

I found this stash of rather unsightly left-overs from a bird's meal (see below). Perhaps you know whether these are bits of Starfish or Sea Cucumber (Thyone fusus) . . .

I am wondering if they match the images here against the entry for 16 March 2008? In any case, it may interest you to know that there is a book of haiku on the subject of sea cucumbers (and other creatures) called 'Rise, Ye Sea Slugs: 1,000 holothurian haiku', compiled and translated by Robin. D Gill (Paraverse Press, Key Biscayne, Florida: 2003, reviewed here, lower right).

 

Burry Holms becomes an island twice a day as the tide comes in. The promontory boasts an Iron Age fort and the remains of a hermitage or chapel, supposedly built by Caradog in the 11th century. The site is dedicated to St Cenydd (as in 'Llangennith'), who lived during the 6th century.

 On our way back to the car, I was amused to find this official yellow sign pointing to a rather watery public footpath ...

I will add my shell photos in a future post.

• Walk from Llangennith to Burry Holmes (visitswanseabay.com)

Beautiful Birds (17): Ducks at Oxwich

This is the stunning view from the Oxwich hide, looking up towards Penrice Church on Gower in South Wales.

There were a few Ducks and Moorhens about.

Left: Moorhen, front: Shoveler

I think this is a male Teal, though the green eye-patch is barely visible.

I believe these are female Teal.

You can see the Teal's green eye-patch here quite clearly (front left).

P.S. Posting these duck photos was something of an afterthought, as they were somewhat 'incidental': I was really homing in on Swans and Snipe, and just took a few extra pictures as the ducks sailed by. Ducks, however, make good subjects in their own right, so I shall look out for future opportunities. Meanwhile, here is a particularly good duck photo tip from Austin Thomas.

Beautiful Birds (16): Oystercatchers at Oxwich

Photo: © David Gill 2011

We left the Oxwich hide at about 4pm on Saturday afternoon and wandered on to the beach in search of Oystercatchers. At first there hardly seemed to be any about, but as we walked over the sand, they came into view. My thanks to David who was quick enough to photograph these birds as they did a rapid fly-past.

Photo: © David Gill 2011

It's not often that you see see the outstretched wings from above like this.

Photo: © David Gill 2011

Some birds preferred to test the breakers. I wondered what would happen when the waves broke over them ...

It was not only the Oystercatchers who were out enjoying the early Spring sunshine ... You might also enjoy these '♥alentine couples' on Mary's blog!

Beautiful Birds (14): Looking for the Little Egret in a Gower Gale

We found ourselves out on the saltmarsh at Penclawdd, Crofty and Llanrhidian . . .

It was very blustery today in South Wales, but there were some Black-headed Gulls about ...

... at least, I think this is what they are, in winter plumage.

This horse was quite sedentary, but some were scampering about in the gale.

Most of the Lapwing were keeping their heads down.

We were fearful that the Little Egrets were finding it a very taxing winter ...

... but were glad to see two. The wind made photography (even with monopod) extremely tricky!

Beautiful Birds (11): Oystercatchers at Oxwich

We enjoyed photographing Oystercatchers, using our monopods. This was my only 'in-flight' photo.

Ugly Duckling or Belle of the Ball?

'Ugly Duckling' apart, did you know that this group is apparently a 'parcel', a 'Rockerfeller' or a 'stew'? I love collective nouns . . . (though I'm not sure about the stew!).

• Oxwich Bay, Gower, Wales, UK

Sunsets (1): Llanrhidian, Gower

We had had a lovely day at Laugharne, and came back to find a relatively cloudless sunset over the saltmarsh at Llanrhidian on Gower. There were a few birds and bats - and plenty of gnats - flying about. I hope you had an enjoyable Bank Holiday, too.

Butterflies and Moths (7): Caterpillars - fur, hair and bristles!

The Peacock (or possibly Small Tortoiseshell?) caterpillars above
were spotted on nettles
beside the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path in August 2009.

These furry things above are the barbed hairs of the caterpillars
of the native Brown-Tail Moth (Euproctis Chrysorrhoea).
We saw them at Spurn Point, Yorkshire, in April 2009.

Our car park ticket informed us that the adults
emerge in spring from their white webs
to feed on Sea Buckthorn.
Apparently they shed their skins,
releasing the hairs before pupating and taking wing.

Early September 2009:
we watched this Fox Moth caterpillar crawling about on Raasay,
the small island between Skye and Applecross
on which Calum built his road.

You can see another furry caterpillar on the island
if you follow this link and scroll down.

I spotted this Fox Moth caterpillar (above)
at Hartland Point in Devon,
on 16 April 2010.

You might like to look at the Marsland Moth blog,
since Marsland is closeby,
on the Devon-Cornish border.

This caterpillar
(below, with detail above)
was much close to home,
at Oxwich on Gower.

I noticed it on 22 August 2009.
It is as yet unidentified!

P.S. 2012 ... a Fox Moth caterpillar?

The yellow and black creature below
only just qualifies for this post of hairy crawlers!
It is a Burnet Moth caterpillar
(and I plan to do a post on this moth soon).

I photographed the caterpillar
at Mwnt in Cardiganshire back in late May 2010.

A Knot Grass caterpillar (above and below)
on St Columba's fascinating inland island (photo here),
situated in the Snizort River on Skye.
The adult looks like this.

The caterpillar below was spotted way back on 5 August 2006
at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

Do take a look at Rosie's Vapourer moth over at Leaves 'n Bloom here.