Autumn Lady's-tresses at Mumbles

Today we counted 353 flowering spikes of Autumn Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) in the tightly mown sward of the grassy banks behind Bracelet Bay, Mumbles (SS627872). I'm not sure if the mowing regime is relaxed to allow these plants to flower, but hopefully they'll have sufficient time to set seed before the mowing is resumed. 

Another interesting plant we noted was this clover, which keys out as Hungarian Clover (Trifolium pannonicum) [but possibly just a white form of Red Clover T. pratense], although the illustrations in Stace aren't quite correct, so we're seeking more expert advice (click here for more images of this plant).

Seawatching from Bracelet Bay car park.

Kittiwakes on Mumbles Pier

This photograph, taken by Gemma Crutchley a couple of weeks ago, shows the shelving you can only see from the pier itself. Although very few Kittiwakes have attempted to breed on the new shelving this year, they have gradually becoming more interested. Perhaps not the resounding success we were all hoping for, but the future does look bright. More importantly perhaps, the future looks more secure for these attractive seabirds at this site.

Storms Petrels around Mumbles Head

Storm Petrel watched from Bracelet Bay carpark

The summer storm which brought all that wind and rain going into the weekend also brought a number of seabirds into the Bristol Channel area. Great Skua, Arctic Skua and Pomarime Skua were seen in small numbers along the Glamorgan coastline on Friday and Saturday. The Storm Petrel, a bird frequently caught up in storms at this time of year, were found in good numbers along the coastline and I was able to watch some at close range on Friday afternoon from Bracelet Bay carpark. The bird in the photo above came right into the bay and I was able to get some video of it as it passed by.

Storm Petrel Video

Kittiwake update 12th May 2012

Following up on Jeremy Douglas-Jones' report that more birds were starting to use artificial ledges on the lifeboat house, we were pleased to count 52 birds on the north side of the lifeboat house with 33 on the shelving itself. Even more promising was that there appeared to be some evidence that rudimentary nests were being constructed. There were another 198+ birds still attempting to use the netted off section of pier, so still a long way to go!
To see some of the action click here

Kittiwakes on Mumbles Pier update

Last week Mark Newton reported seeing the Kittiwakes showing a bit more interest in the artificial ledges on Mumbles Lifeboat house. By Saturday afternoon the main flock was still hanging around the pier, indicating their strong fidelity to the original site, but we did see up to 10 Kittiwakes sitting on the new shelving, providing a little more optimism that birds might eventually start showing signs of nesting. Fingers crossed!

Colour-ringed Brent

Alun John photographed this colour-ringed Pale-bellied Brent at Mumbles today, the details of which I'll post here when we get a response from the scheme organiser. Brent Geese of any race aren't particularly frequent in Swansea Bay, especially so at the Mumbles end, so well done Alun.

(c) A. John

Thanks to Graham McElwaine of The Irish Brent Goose Research Group for getting back so quickly. He informs us that the bird has lost the ring from it's left leg, so is unable to provide the original ringing details [I presume this will have been somewhere in Ireland?]. However, he was able to say that this bird was seen with an unringed mate and 2 juveniles on 24th September 2011 in Iceland and was then noted several times at Havre de Regnéville, on the French coast just east of Jersey during November and December 2011. He also said that this is the first of their birds to be seen in Swansea Bay. 

Kittiwake ledges at Mumbles

The Kittiwake nesting shelves have now been erected on The Mumbles Lifeboat House. Their purpose is to provide alternative nest sites, as the birds are to be excluded from their former nest ledges on the pier whilst extensive renovation work is carried out there this summer. Fingers will be crossed that the birds take to these artificial ledges.

Personally I don't expect that the entire population will move location in the first year, but hopefully some birds will to provide the foundation upon which the colony can regrow. There should be sufficient capacity for around 200 pairs, but whatever the outcome the developers and others involved should be applauded for their commitment in accommodating this very special population.

Returning Blackcap

Owain Gabb wrote: 'Just a quick note to say that I caught a female blackcap a couple of weeks ago in my mother’s garden in Mumbles that I had previously caught there (in the same net ride) in winter 2007/08. The record is of interest in that if, as contemporary wisdom suggests, this blackcap breeds in Germany or the Low Countries, then it is returning to exactly the same area to winter.'

Harbour Porpoise off Mumbles

I saw at least 4 porpoise in the race off Mumbles Head last week. Not sure how regular this occurs at this time of year as I've always thought they were more frequent in summer? On a related matter, I found out from a chance meeting with Prof. Paul Brain from Swansea Uni that there are proposals to drill and gasify coal deposits in Swansea Bay. Clearly the potential risks to Porpoise and other marine life are likely to be significant. For more info check out Paul's blog http://professorpbrainsblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/jumping-jack-flash-its-gas-gas-gas.html

For other info on cetacean sightings in South Wales check out http://whaleswales.blogspot.com/

Redwing bonanza

Good to see lots of Redwings feeding in more typical situations today in milder conditions. I have noted quite a range of variation amongst these birds and some of the darker individuals may be of the Icelandic race coburni, though not checked on the status of this race yet. These two birds were feeding together at Mumbles Hill today...

[...the description in BWP of the Icelandic and Faroe Islands race coburni certainly fits the darker bird above. These birds are said to winter in Scotland, Ireland, western France, Spain & Portugal, though no population estimates are given. The best distinguishing features are the larger size (only a supplementary character) but more especially the extensive dark streaking beneath as shown above.]

Kittiwakes galore!

There are large numbers of Kittiwakes along the coast at present with 463 Kittiwakes counted flying west past Mumbles Lighthouse in a 1 hour seawatch this morning. There were also another 93+ Kittiwakes resting on the water in Swansea Bay. The Surf Scoter was still in Bracelet Bay with its 9 Common companions.

Turnstones under Mumbles Pier

At least 60 Turnstones around Mumbles Pier this afternoon at low water. No Purple Sandpipers as yet, but no doubt they will show themselves soon. Mediterranean Gulls outnumbered Black-headeds feeding on bread being thrown out from a car in Bracelet Bay.