April 21st 2015. The recent sunny weather has enabled us to ‘collect’ the first Moths of the year – not many but always interesting. One Moth was particularly agitated and it took a couple of hours in the fridge before it calmed down enough for Marigold to identify it – a Lunar Marbled Brown.
Moth Count
March Moth, Clouded Drab, Early Grey, Lunar Marbled Brown, 5 Hebrew Character, 5 Brindled Beauty.
As the main purpose today was the pollinators meeting in the Science block at 11.30 so we split up and Michael, myself and Howard went to collect the remaining Refugia and put them in place. We had made a mistake with the numbers so there are now 2 9’s, 10’s and 11’s but Howard has done GPS settings on them – and eventually all of them, so no problems there.
We placed one near the gravel section alongside the road to the Library and looked at the 3 on the grassy section near the back entrance. There was a little grass nest under one, possibly a Wood Mouse. The remaining 2 were placed behind the Dipping Ponds.
Back at the Science block we all assembled to hear about the Pollinator project and how we are to monitor what the Honey Bees are doing. An interesting discussion about how they were to collect the Pollen, what we were to do and so on. And the following week it was continued!
Anne’s notes. 21 April 2015 Sun all day
Millennium Square – 15 Canada Geese wheeled high over Gardens.
Trawscoed Meadow: No further evidence of badgers in meadow. Male Orange Tip Butterfly. Singing Whitethroat and Blackcap, Pr Goldfinches feeding on Dandelion seeds
Lakes: 4 Canada Geese, Pr Teal, Moorhen, Mallard
April 28th 2015: This time we all met at the Science block for Natasha to described in more detail what the project was about, and to decide which sections each of us were to monitor. Although the weather was dry and mainly sunny, there was a vicious wind which caused a lot of problems, not least the fact that only the bravest of Bees ventured out of the hives.
As with any new project there are some teething problems. Those which concerned us mainly involved the size and complexity of the sections we were allocated, some were too large and complicated, and how best to identify the plants. But an interesting morning, and in some cases, day, for all of us.
Many thanks as always to John and Peter for their splendid photos and Anne for her notes. If any volunteer or member wants to join us please send an email to
Jane Down– you DON’T have to be an expert in anything, just interested. If you find an injured bird, hedgehog or other wild animal and want help and advice then phone the Gower Bird hospital. on 01792 371630.