Recent Sightings

Been out and about recently photographing Snakes Head Fritillary in Wiltshire, Early Purple Orchids at Kenfig (plus a Small Blue Butterfly), and today Green Winged Orchids at Llantrisant, (see left). The latter were flowering amongst a mass of Cowslips.

Locally we have recorded many Orange Tips,Small Tortoishells, Green Veined Whites, Speckled Woods and Brimstones.

A Whole Summer of Wildlife Fun Coming up

Now is a good time to be checking the website for the updates to the programme that have been made and making sure that all of our events are in your diary

Once again Bruce Mcdonald is doing a massively good job in arranging a whole summer of wildlife orientated entertainment with a host of events that are suitable for all ages and levels of experience

To make things easier the recent updates are given here, but to make sure it's all in your diary we really do suggest taking a look at the programme, or event better print out a copy of the programme and share it with your friends or print out a copy of the membership form and send us a an application so you make sure you are kept up to date with our programme
  

Sat	16	July	10:00	F	Parc Bryn Bach	340 acres of mixed grass, woodland and lake near Tredegar in the company of a local ranger	Rangers
Thur	28	July	18:30	F	Hailey Park	An evening walk with some sweep nets to see what insects we can find along with flowers and trees	Members
Wed/Thu	10 or 11	August	18:30	F	Cardiff Bay Building Stones	An evening stroll around Cardiff Bay looking at building stones and their geology. Date still to be finalised - please check the blog for details	Lynda Garfield and Dave Wellings

if you are interested in any of the events, but not already a member we are happy to have you join us for a trial.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via the details given on the website

Pond Life - an almost alien beauty

It's nice this time of year to get up close and personal with the damp patch in the back garden we call the pond. This little beauty of a flower, oft overlooked, is a Bogbean.

RHS Show

I thought this year’s RHS Show in Cardiff (8-10 April) was the best yet, after my visit on Friday. It had expanded to include two floral marquees, the show gardens and farmers’ market area, bandstand and “café quarter”. Among the show gardens was Cardiff Council Ranger Service’s lovingly recreated road side verge (below) complete with tyre tracks and some litter to highlight the biodiversity of such habitats. The National Museum Wales stall featured a pot of 7 dandelion species – all found in the same Cardiff garden. There are well over 200 species of dandelion in the UK and, if the diagram showing the characteristics to look for is anything to go by they are not easily distinguished. The National Botanic Garden of Wales had information on Barcode Wales, a biodiversity project to identify unique DNA sequences for the entire native flora of Wales, which was the subject of a recent Cardiff Naturalists Society talk.

Butterfly Sighting

Last Saturday, (2.4.11), whilst excavating a new vejetable plot, I was delighted to see a Male Brimstone gently floating across the garden. This was the first Brimstone we've recorded in Morganstown since we moved into the area in 2008, so a first for us.

Compensation for the backache from digging out all the rubble 'kindly' left by the house builder.Now I've just got to get rid of it!

Phill Blanning

Shaping our City - Is there Room for Wildlife ?

As many of you will know the Cardiff City Council Local Development Plan (LDP) was withdrawn last year with accusations both sides on the reasons for that (I will not go into those this is not a political Blog Site)

What is of interest to all of us as Naturalists is the fact that the process is running again and the LDP Candidate Site Register has now been placed on-line by Cardiff City Council. at http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2870,3139,3154,5845,6189&parent_directory_id=2865

I would encourage you all to take a look at the document (it is a large document) but it is well broken down into sections where you can see the areas of the city you know well

A cursory look indicates that there are development proposals for an awful lot of open spaces within the city and whilst many of these will no doubt be ruled out as the process runs it will be important that the decision makers have access to as much information about the environmental values of the sites as possible

That is where people like us come in, we can ensure that they know of the value of valuable sites and therefore can make their decisions based on practical and factual information

As the process develops there will be an on-line system as well as a paper based system for responses and comments on different sites and a full consultation process

All I can say is if you plan to enjoy open areas within and around the city for the next 15 years you should take an interest and perform an active part in making sure that the best sites are protected and that development is directed towards the rest

Regards
Andy

Buzzards and Butterflies

Glorious weather today enticed me to find the cross country route to Pentyrch from home.

Accompanied by soaring Buzzards and constant birdsong.I had glimpses of two Butterflies, the first I've seen this year, but the brief glimpse was not enough to identify them.

Passed large clumps of Primroses, abundant Celandines and a few Violets.

Crossed a large field with gambling newborn Lambs and wonderful views of the Garth across the valley and eventually entered Pentyrch.

I headed for the Lewis Arms to quench my thirst which was when the realization hit me that my pockets were empty!

A great walk which I intend repeating, but next time with some cash in my pocket!

Phill Blanning