Portuguese man o' war found in.....

.... Pembrokeshire! 

29/10/2021

It was found by my eldest Grandson in a rock pool on Wiseman's Bridge beach! An amazing jellyfish, so colourful and yet so deadly! A first sighting for me of this particular jellyfish!

It had been in the news that these Jellyfish had been seen on beaches in Pembrokeshire areas.

It is also known as a Blue Bottle and not actually a jellyfish but a close cousin of the species.

'It is a Siphonophore, which is a colony of very small organisms of the same species that attach to one another to survive.'

The Portuguese Man O' War are normally found in the Atlantic, and are often found in groups floating in the Atlantic ocean with their gas-filled clear float. These "jellyfish" use their venomous tentacles which can reach immense lengths, up to 160 feet, to paralyse and catch fish and other small prey.'

I have read today that they have been landing much further North than usual in Lancashire and Southport over the last few days.

Keep your eyes peeled if out and about on the coast!

How time flies!

I reckon it is about time I 'played catch up' and posted a few images of what I have seen and a mention of where I have been the last few weeks. At the very least I will enjoy looking back on my sightings in Autumn &Winter. 

The heat we are enduring at present will be just a memory by then! lol For the record it is today 22c (24th) and with a light breeze it is feeling much more pleasant than it had been feeling the last few days! Phew!!!

Sightings during April, May and June.

Warks Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh . April 2021

Bird sightings were sparse on this visit as the hides were closed, plenty of singing birds to make up for it. Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Cetti's etc etc! It is always a pleasure to have a walk around this reserve.

                                           A few images of carvings to make up for the lack of wildlife images.

                                                              

                                       A delightful reflection at the right time of day and day

                               

A weekend in the Forest of Dean. May 2021

                                                                  

The weekend was a mixture of heavy downpours and sunny spells! 

The fast flowing River Lyd at Parkend was a sight to see. Not much hope was held out to see a Dipper though after a walk further down the river one was sighted. I have to say I felt sorry for the little bird having to endure such a fast flowing river! 

 

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Cannop Ponds.

It was a surprise to see a Mandarin Duck on a bird table!

Such colourful Ducks!

A Nuthatch was on the bird table more than it was off it!

I did manage one photo of it in a natural pose!

RSPB Nagshead was in all honesty a washout...literally! It absolutely threw it down!

The highlight was a lone Mandarin Duck and a Carrion Crow that took advantage of the wet weather and enjoyed a good old splash around. A |Cetti's Warbler was heard and a brief sighting of a Wren!

Nagshead in the rain!

Nagshead in sunshine approximately 30 minutes later!

It was too slippery underfoot to walk around the reserve. Better luck next time maybe!

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Kinver Edge. May 2021 On the border of Worcestershire and Staffordshire.

A pleasant morning in sunshine was spent listening for and sighting birds on Kinver Edge.

A Spotted Flycatcher was a joy to see and quite active it was too.

                       

                                              A Common Redstart atop a tree...a very tall tree!

Cuckoo, Tree Pipit and  Wood Warbler were heard only and a Common Buzzard circled overhead.!

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre. June 2021

A few images taken on the visit!

Barnacle Geese

A distant Common Crane

A closer view of the Common Crane. The only one sighted on this visit.

All of the hides except one were open on the reserve with limited capacity and socially distanced seating as you would expect during the present pandemic. The one hide that was closed was the Martin Smith Hide, the reason being that Common Cranes had been checking the area out for possibly a nesting site.

Lots of young around the reserve. This Coot and chick were delightful to see as the chick was being fed!

A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker gave good views as it perched on the dead branch for a good 5 minutes! Kingfishers were the target here but no luck seeing one so the GSW was a bonus!

                       Greylag young were out and about around the reserve in good numbers!

A Jackdaw came close to a Little Ringed Plovers nesting cage.

                                      One of the LRP's feigned injury to distract the Jackdaw!

                                                       All was well when the Jackdaw took flight!

A Woodpigeon nesting in the spoke area of a large umbrella on the patio area of the cafe. A bit risky eating underneath that brolly!

                                                  Shelduck are always pleasing to see.

Mmmmm...any idea as to what species this is?

The species above was sighted on the 'Worzel Gummidge' tree, well that is who the tree reminded me of!! Can you spot where  the species is?

Sedge Warbler.

Rooks were around in good numbers around the reserve and very noticeable where food was being consumed!

Mute Swan of which there were plenty of around the lakes.

Common Spotted Orchid

                                                                 Southern Marsh Orchid

Teasel plant, amazing to see it growing in an old tree trunk. Like Buddleias it appears Teasel will also   grow almost anywhere!

                                           

                           A Wasp Beetle on an Ox Eye Daisy. They are excellent pollinators, or so I have read!

A wildflower walk was a peaceful area and a delight to see the colourful wildflowers of which my images do not do them justice! There were numerous Pyramidal Orchids in amongst the flowers.

I will have to make a return visit sometime as the only bird I did not get an ID for was the one in the image below!

All for now! 

                                                                       

                                           

A Robin's Bath.

by Evaleen Stein

A flash and flicker of dripping wings, 

 A wet red breast that glows 

 Bright as the newly opened bud 

The first red poppy shows, 

 A sparkle of flying rainbow drops, 

 A glint of golden sun 

 On ruffled feathers, a snatch of song, 

 And the robin's bath is done.