On september 9th this year Paul Parson's and myself went to dunraven in ogmore for a morning stroll when i came across this dead fly (which looks like a phaonia tuguriorum) on a tree leaf. After recently reading about fungi it dawned on me that the fly that we found probably died from this type of fungi which is called entomophthora muscae. This is a pathogenic fungus which causes fatal diseases in many species of flies. Outbreaks of this fungi tend to occur in spring and autumn. Once infected the flies die in 5 - 7 days, when it is critically ill it tends to crawl to a high point and straighten their hind legs and open their wings. This behaviour ensures that the fungal spores are spread as widely as possible. Some three hours later conidiophores start to develop and a new shower of conidia is initiated.
Welcome to the Llynfi valley nature blog, which will feature all aspects of wildlife found in the valley and surrounding areas. Sightings from further afield will also be included, along with postings of highlights from the past.
Monday, 28 October 2013
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Thursday, 24 October 2013
More from Kenfig today.
CF+CG
Greenfinch
Reed bunting
Magpies.
Fair bit of vismig with Skylark 30+, Meadow pipit 40+,
Starling 100+, Fieldfare 4, Great spotted woodpecker
and Snipe.
Greenfinch
Reed bunting
Magpies.
Fair bit of vismig with Skylark 30+, Meadow pipit 40+,
Starling 100+, Fieldfare 4, Great spotted woodpecker
and Snipe.
Knnr
Nice few hours down Kenfig.. A first for me cetti warblers so happy there...
No Bittern plenty of others species.. highlight was the warbler.. but its so easy just to forget everything and just enjoy beauty of kenfig.. Thanks Lads
Blue tit...
Long tailed Tit
Mute swans enjoying the sun
No Bittern plenty of others species.. highlight was the warbler.. but its so easy just to forget everything and just enjoy beauty of kenfig.. Thanks Lads
Blue tit...
Long tailed Tit
Mute swans enjoying the sun
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Monday, 21 October 2013
Llangynwyd upper
First fieldfare of the winter approx 180-200 birds flying around waun y gilfach also 1 red kite, mynydd ty talwyn - 1 jacksnipe flew up from boggy grass next to layby above cwm nant gwyn and a single wheatear on motorbike scramble track
These fieldfare were part of the small group in the village
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Pwll yr lwrch
Very quiet up the pwll today 2 mistle thrushes a couple of song thrush and black birds, 6 buzzard on the slopes with 1 kestrel and 3 ravens in the sky, a couple of bullfinch feeding on the rowan.
Collard dove in garden
Kestrel
Raven with bone
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Mynydd bach.
Juv Carrion crow
Juv Carrion crow
Peregrine
Red kite.
Also Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Jay,
Green woodpecker, Firecrest (heard), Redpoll pr
Bullfinch 5 and a Swallow heading south.
Juv Carrion crow
Peregrine
Red kite.
Also Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Jay,
Green woodpecker, Firecrest (heard), Redpoll pr
Bullfinch 5 and a Swallow heading south.
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Harlequin Lady Birds
These Harlequin Lady birds were found in garden today
Harmonia axyridis species of ladybird (conspicua)
(succinea)
This lady bird is an alien species to the uk which first appeared in the uk in 2004. There are numerous colour and pattern forms (above) but it is generally larger than our native species approx 8mm long with a dome shape. There are 3 main forms of harlequin species succinea - spectabilis and conspicua. Also i thought i had a freshly hattched lady bird because of the colour and lack of spots but after looking it up it looked like a rhyzobius litura species.
Monday, 14 October 2013
Sunday, 13 October 2013
Kenfig pool.
Gulls n' Swans
Magpie
Dunlin
Dunlin.
On the east shore one Snipe, a wigeon pair and a
small flock of Teal. The west pool bushes were very
quiet with just 4 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff and 2 flyover
Fieldfare.
Magpie
Dunlin
Dunlin.
On the east shore one Snipe, a wigeon pair and a
small flock of Teal. The west pool bushes were very
quiet with just 4 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff and 2 flyover
Fieldfare.
pwll yr lwrch
A few small flocks of redwing (biggest 26) flying between the cemetery and cwrt y mwnws farm, along with song thrush blackbird's and a dozen mistle thrush, a few bullfinch also competing for the berries on the rowan trees, highlight were 3 snipe on the slopes nanty side. Green woodpecker and greater spotted and 25 linnets were also in the grounds of the cemetery, with 1 kestrel hunting along the lower slopes.
mistle thrush
redwing
snipe
Friday, 11 October 2013
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Crumlyn burrows today. PP, CG.
Ringed plover
Sanderling.
Also 65 Curlew, 50 Oystercatcher, 34 Dunlin, 1 Knot,
2 Wheatear inc one Greenland race bird, kestrel pair and
2 imm Med gull.
Sanderling.
Also 65 Curlew, 50 Oystercatcher, 34 Dunlin, 1 Knot,
2 Wheatear inc one Greenland race bird, kestrel pair and
2 imm Med gull.
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Garden Slug
I noticed this huge slug in my garden that had a large hole in it's side so i decided to look it up
Could this be the Red slug (arion rufus) or the Black slug (arion ater)
The colour of the black slug is generally black, but the colour can vary. The general trend is for a darker pigmentation the further north the species is found. The classification of brown coloured and rust coloured "black slugs" is some what disputed. The brown variation is sometimes considered to be a seperate species (arion rufus) the red slug, Young specimen's of black slug do have a brown colour which is later lost if and when the slug changes colour to the mature state.
The hole in the side is called a pneumostome a breathing hole on the right side of it's mantle.
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Long billed dowitcher.
Martyn and I went up to Rhaslas pond, Merthyr today
to see this American vagrant, a great find by Mike Hogan.
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Mynydd ty Talwyn - Kenfig rivermouth
Mynydd ty Talwyn
2 wheatear along the road
Wheatear
Kenfig Rivermouth
A couple of sand martin passing through with a slow passage of swallow and house martins. 2 water rail, 1 heard and 1 seen (flew up from flooded footpath), just a couple of chiffchaff, 2 sparrow hawks, 1 kestrel, a couple of pipits and skylarks over, comma, red admiral and small white on the wing, southern and migrant hawker,s, also with plenty of common darters
Comma
Red Admiral
Sawfly? macrophya annulata not sure on this one any idea Martyn?
Rush veneer moth
Common field Grasshopper (chorthippus brunneus)
Phalangium opilio (harvestman) spider
Meadow Grasshopper (chorthippus parallelus)
Diamond back moth
Southern Hawker
Common Darter
Angle shades moth
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