Grisly nature

Folklore had these parasitoid worms forming from the dropped hairs of horses when they were frequently found in horse troughs.

The Gordian knot is an illustration of a problem without a solution. An ox-cart which delivered a peasant named Gordias into Phrygia who became its king, was tied up with a knot so intricate that is was not possible to undo it, but whoever did would rule the whole of Asia  Alexander the Great tried and failed so sliced it in half with a stroke of his sword hence the Gordian knot/

A phylum of parasitoid invertebrates comprising the marine Nectonema and freshwater Gordioida. There are 350 different known species throughout the world.

Adults can reach a length of between  50 and 100mm and in extreme cases 2m but only up to 1mm in diameter.

They have an external dark brown cuticle, which is almost all muscle which gives them a hard and wiry feel. This muscle arrangement results in them  twisting into intricate knots - hence the genus name Gordius resembling the classical Gordian Knot. 

Nematomorpha showing the eponymous knotting behaviou

They lack any excretory, respiratory or circulatory system.  The eyeless head may have a darker band below the paler tip.

The tail end of females is rounded but males of most genera genital papillae showing as a cleft tail.  Males of Gordius genus have a crescent-shaped fold above the two lobes.

Male nematomorpha with bifuricated anterior.

They exist in their external adult form purely to reproduce.

The life cycle is complex and almost wholly parasitic.

Long strings of gelatinous eggs are laid in freshwater.

From these develop planktonic larvae which have a boring apparatus with which to enter its first host, aquatic invertebrates typically diptera or trichoptera larvae.  Once inside this host, they encyst in the gut of the invertebrate.

In turn, these invertebrates are predated upon by freshwater or terrestrial invertebrates, typically Coleoptera or Orthoptera with Carabidae being a common host.

Once inside this host, the larvae develop into the adult worm-like form.  They grow to fill the internal cavity of the host but also influence it to seek out and enter water where the host drowns.  Once this is achieved, the adult Nematomorpha will abandon the host and seek a mate to reproduce in freshwater where the next season’s eggs are laid and the adults die.

 The National Biodiversity Network shows 251 records, the majority of which were recorded in Wales and a few in Scotland.  The South West has no records at present.  However over the last three years specimens have been increasingly recorded in Cornwall and on Lundy. 

Although reportedly adults emerge from their host in late summer or early autumn, on Lundy adults are typically found in shallow temporary puddles on the island road in November and December.  In Cornwall, they have been recorded during Riverfly surveys in small streams in April, August, September and November.

I always search shallow puddles of the picture that eludes me, that of an adult emerging from its host.

Blogs I follow

https://downgatebatman.blogspot.com/

https://maryatkinsonwildonline.blogspot.com/

House Guest - House Pest?

With apologies to Richard Jones for borrowing the title of his book (ISBN 9781472906236).

I recently stayed in Big St Johns, one of the Lundy properties, while enjoying two week's holiday. Most of the time was spent out of doors, observing and recording nature. There were a couple of days when the weather was not very good when we had short walks and spent more time in doors.

We found durng the current pandemic that you can enjoy nature in your own garden or by venturing only quite locally from home. Bur, how many of us have had a good look around indoors? I'd like to persuade you that you don't necessarily need to go out to observe nature.

The first species I found in Little St Johns was under the box of groceries we had delivered from the Lundy Shop - a Banded Centipede (Lithobius variegatus). We usually manage to see some of these, but I've not often found them indoors. It is easy to determine this species with their diagnostice purple-striped legs. They are predators feeding on other insects, perhaps those detailed below.

Banded Centipede Lithobius variegatus

One of the most frequent species found most mornings when we began making breakfast is the Pill Woodlouse (Armadillidium vulgare) . These were easily the most common and two or three could be found during each day. We don't make much mess, but any crumbs were no doubt being hoovered up by them as they feed on organic matter.

Pill Woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare

Another myriapod we recorded, but only once, was the Common Shiny Woodlouse (Oniscus asellus) with its attractive yellow markings on each segment.

Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus

In the corner of each room you could guarantee to find at least one Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangioides). Their characteristic very long legs earns them their other name, Daddy Long-legs Spider. These are good guests to have as they prey on other spiders. So tolerate these and you might not see any other spiders in your accommodation.

Cellar Spider with egg sac Pholcus phaliongioides

We must have made some crumbs as we did find a couple of Silverfish, Lepisma saccharina. They feed on sugars and starches as their scientific name suggests. They are fast though and were a little challenging to photograph.

Silverfish Lepisma saccharina

I observed a solitary wasp continually flying against the window in the bathroom. I manage to persuade it out through the open window, but each morningh, it was back again. Eventually I identified it as Ancistrocerus sp. a Potter Wasp. When I read up on the species I found that they lay eggs in holes in wood then provision each egg with grubs which it paralyses so its developing larvae can feed on them. This wasp was seen one day head first in a redundant window fitting hole. Once it had completed this task it did not reappear. This is the second year I have seen this performance and now look forward to next year's sighting.

A Potter Wasp, Ancistrocerus sp.

The final species was an appearance late in the evening of a Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus). An insectivore, the previous listing, particularly of the Woodlice might explain what it was doing there. These are tiny and extremely active zooming around the skirting boards like a clockwork toy. It certainly had plenty of invertebrates to feed its high metabolic life-style. I was not quick enough to grab a picture so have used an early photograph taken outside on Lundy.

A Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus

Seven species without venturing outside is a lockdown triumph.

Hunting for Hornets

I was fortunate to be invited on a Hornet Hunt by the Lundy Warden when I was over there last week.

Dean Jones, the Warden, had found some empty chrysalis cases on old Willow trees in the Quarries on Lundy.  He identified them as potentially Lunar Hornet Moth (Sesia bembeciformis) cases and ordered the newly released Pheronome for that species.   

Two of the empty chrysalis cases in Willow

Eggs are laid in the bark of Willow trees which hatch, and the larvae burrow deep into the wood.  In early June or July the white grub like caterpillars, and emerge from the chrysalis which are left half in the hole they bored.  The usually takes place around 8:30am early in June so we were probably a month and 5 hours too late. The cycle of mating and egg-laying then repeats.

We had hoped for a quick response to the pheronome order and, within the limitations of thrice-weekly sailings of the island's transport, MS Oldenburg it arrived before I left.  But, only just.  The day before I was due to leave, Dean asked if I was up for a visit with the lure to the site.

Dean and Rosie waiting expectantly

Dean, Rosie the Ranger and I duly set off north from the village to the 1860s quarry workings and to the site of the emergent moths.  Pheronomes are detected by male moths from at least 100 metres distant so we gave it half-an-hour but with no response.

Empty chrysalis extracted from Willow (0.5cm squares)

A few hundred metres south was another stand of Willow, but there were no chrysalises there.  We tried again but still with no success.

Nevertheless, we had tried and we did find at least half-a-dozen emergent cases at the original site but probably had missed the adult moths by a few days.  

Maybe next year when a picture of the spectacular adult might be available.

Recommended blogs

Lundy Birds

Mary Atkinson Wild

Two Transects

For the first two weeks in July I was on Lundy.  While I was there I undertook two weekly butterfly transects for UKBMS.  I established this transect in 2019 to cover as diverse a selection of habitats as possible on the island.  

From the pond in Millcombe, the route ascends under trees and shrubs to Millcombe House then loops around the gorse covered slopes of Hangman's Hill and back under the trees to the head of the valley.  From here is follows a level route along the edge of the arable farm fields above the bracken covered sea cliffs to the beginning of the Quarries.

Towards the end of the Lundy Transect near Quarry Cottages

By contrast on Tuesday, I completed week 16 of my local butterfly transect - the Tidna Transet.  It begins and ends conveniently at my local, the Bush Inn and continues for half its length following the Tidna through its wooded valley and emerges at the edge of the Atlantic before climbing flowered covered cliff and returns along a Cornish hedged lane to complete the circuit.

Tidna Valley look inland from the Atlantic Clifftop

Both transects are within 20 miles of each other separated only by the Atlantic Ocean and Bristol Channel and cover broadly similar habitats.

I did my first Lundy transect on the 10th July on a really hot day only affected by a stiff North-west breeze although we were shielded from it by the field walls on the eastern side of the island.  Butterflies were recorded in each of the nine sectors with a total of 71 butterflies of seven species seen.  These were Small and Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Grayling, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath.  On the second transect on the 15th, the weather was poorer resulting in fewer butterflies and only five species.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Tidna Transect

By contrast, my local transect, on the 21st July was in very hot weather with clear skies and hardly any wind.  Here also, butterflies were recorded in all ten sectors with a total of 155 butterflies of 14 species.  The species recorded were; Large, Small and Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Small Pearl-bordered and Silver-washed Fritillaries, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath.

Silver-washed Fritillary - Tidna Transect

With a few exceptions, both transects resulted in very similar species.  It was a little early for Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood is rare on Lundy and the Fritillaries have never been recorded.

A Lundy Grayling

I am jealous of the sighting of the Grayling though.  I have not yet seen one here on the mainland, but continue to be hopeful.

Recommended blogs

Lundy Birds

Mary Atkinson Wild

Bring a sense of adventure.

Despite staying on Lundy many times over the last 25 years, we had never been for Christmas.  In the week up to our planned flight day, we were seriously wondering if we would manage it this time.  Helicopters can fly in just about anything, but fog and the forecast was mist, low cloud and fog!

We had been watching the weather all week. It was getting warmer but we all knew that promised mist for days to come. Late on the evening of Wednesday 20^th, I received a Facebook PM from Derek asking if we could be at Hartland International Airport by 6:45 on Friday. This was soon followed by further exchanges of messages with cryptic comments from him and Shelley warning us to be prepared for an unusual trip. “Don’t wear your best clothes and bring a sense of adventure.” was the message.

We duly arrived at HIA at 06:30 to find a large queue of vehicles lit by headlights with “Auntie Wainwright” causing chaos, dodging between cars and refusing to open the car park gates until everyone had paid her charges, given registration numbers and names. She did miss out her usual refrain of “Have you been here before?” though.

Waiting at Clovelly quay

Thirty-six people left our luggage and boarded the waiting coach bound for Clovelly. At the coach park we transferred to 3 landrovers to be ferried down the back road to wait for our next transfer in the Red Lion. This had been opened specially for us and offered toilets and hot drinks while we waited.  

Our boat the Carrick Lee

Shelley N

Blue Fin

We were the first wave of 60-odd passengers to be taken by small boat to Lundy. A little later than expected, the 3 boats arrived and we climbed down the slippery quay steps helped by Derek, Graham, Dean and Zoe. With 12 people in each of the Shelley N, Carrick Lee and Blue Fin we were slightly delayed by Blue Fin developing an engine fault en route from Ilfracombe that meant she was much slower and less maneouverable than the other two boats.

After a much less bumpy ride that we normally get in the Oldenburg, we arrived at the jetty around 10:00. Those leaving the island were waiting with their luggage and we swapped places with them and said bon voyage to them and Rob and Sue who were going to the mainland for a short break. We then headed up the hill for our complimentary breakfast and got to know our fellow travellers in the much quieter atmosphere of the Marisco Tavern.

Leaving misty Clovelly

The delays meant that the tided was out when the 3 boats returned to Clovelly. What was planned as a quick and simple transfer for both sets of passengers turned into a Herculean effort to complete the task. Low tide meant the Oldenburg was way off shore and the 3 small boats could not get into the quay. Passengers and luggage had to be transferred from the shingle beach into small boats, then to RIBs then to the bigger boats. This all took time and effort as not everyone was as agile as the patient staff who got soaked.

The job was completed when the last boat, Blue Fin arrived at the same time as the Oldenburg at the jetty. The tide was now so low at 16:30 that the Oldenbug tied up and the Blue Fin tied up alongside her. Passengers climbed from Blue Fin into the Oldenburg’s passenger hatch, through and up the stairs to cross the gangway onto the jetty thus avoiding the vertical ladder climb.

Oldenburg and Blue Fin - 16:30 final load

Lundy staff finally finished work after 13 hours non-stop at 19:00 when they delivered out luggage and pre-ordered shopping.

I had always wanted to travel from Clovelly to Lundy.

This was the best Christmas present ever.

Christmas Day lunch in the Marisco Tavern

A Wonderful Wildlife Week

Every now and then there is a week that is day after day of natural history. 


This last week was just such a one. There was an event planned for every day and the weather was kind.

Great Crested Grebe on her nest

Monday The monthly BTO Wetland Bird Survey was due, and as usual we deferred it for a day to avoid the busy weekend at Tamar Lakes. It is April so the winter visitors had gone and there was only a chance of spring or summer visitors being present. We did hear a single Sedge Warbler staking out his territory and spotted a Great Crested Grebe sitting on a newly constructed nest. There was also one or two Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and a lone Swallow.

Peacock butterfly

After lunch the weather was warm and sunny with hardly any wind. It was the ideal time to walk our newly registered UKBMS butterfly transect. This starts at the Bush Inn at Crosstown in Morwenstow, descends to the Tidna Valley and follows the river to the coast then up the cliff before heading inland along a green lane to Crosstown Green. It was a good decision with butterflies of four species – Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Peacock.

Sunset over the south end of Lundy

Tuesday We had an early start, leaving Bideford quay at 9am for Lundy. The sea was like a mill pond but we saw no cetaceans and few birds. The island was alive with spring birds though – Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. I spotted a Sparrowhawk at Quarter Wall Pond after a long meeting inside. The return trip was spectacular with a brilliant orange sunset over the island as we returned at 7pm.

Piscicola geometra

Wednesday The first Riverfly survey of the year on the Torridge near Bradford Mill and the first since the July 2015 was planned. In August and September last year, the river was in spate and two metres higher than normal. In the event, the river was slightly higher and faster than normal, but it turned up plenty of invertebrates. It was interesting to record the difference in abundance of the eight indicator species. Stoneflies were particularly abundant with a few extremely large specimens almost ready to become flying insects. The normal Perlodidae were joined by two specimens of Taeniopterygidae. Another unusual species, not part of the survey set, was a fish leech, Piscicola geometra.

Planting Marram Grass

Thursday This was a Bude Valley Volunteers working party day. Following the “planting” of retired Christmas Trees after 12^th night in January at Widemouth Bay the plan was to supplement this with the planting of Marram Grass. The trees were already doing their job of accumulating sand around themselves. We were allowed to dig up randomly selected Marram plants and transplant them between two rows of the trees. The expectation is that the Marram will further stabilise the sand allowing and embryo dune to form.

 This will in future plug a gap where the dunes had “blown out” and reduce the chance of sand blowing onto the adjacent coast road.

Picnic at Dexbeer Bridge

Friday The culmination of a busy week – to walk the whole length of Bude Aqueduct. Four of us started from Lower Tamar Lake and walked the whole 5 miles to Vealand Reserve where we then followed the permissive path for a final 700 yards. The weather was again kind allowing us to have our first picnic of the year at Dexbeer Bridge on Councillors Shadrick's memorial table. We shared the area with a pair of Willow tits – confirmed as they responded strongly with identical calls to those Willow Tit lure. We recorded a total of 34 species of birds on our walk including all 5 tits – Great, Blue, Coal, Long-tailed, Marsh and Willow and 4 finches – Gold, Green, Chaff and Bull. We also noted 4 spring plants – Wood Anenome, Wood Sorrel, Cuckoo flower and Lesser Periwinkle together with all 3 mammals so far seen on this walk – Roe Deer, Grey Squirrel and Rabbit.

The only let down was Friday night's Garden Moth Survey which due to the cold and wet attracted not a single moth.

Riverfly - Riverflow

Torridge in flood - note the line of
vegetation showing the submerged bank

Today was our last attempt at the August Riverfly survey.  A friend and I volunteer to survey 8 species of invertebrates in the River Torridge near Bradford Mill.  This takes place once a month between April and September.  We usually plan to survey mid-month so as to allow us an alternative date, if the weather is too bad, later in the month.

Last week the it rained heavily all of the day we had planned to survey so we postponed until our alternative on the 26th August.  I drove across the Tamar to get to the site and noted flooded fields either side of the border on the Holsworthy road which did not bode well.

Surveying on the lower river bank

Nonetheless, Barrie and I set out to our survey site which is half an hour walk from where we park the car at Bradford Church. It was wet and heavy going towards the last field where the river flows.  Going through the final wet and muddy gateway we could see what is usually a strip of Juncus in a damp hollow had become a deep tributary to the Torridge. This was too deep to pass, so we walked parallel with it to where it flowed into the main river.

What a deep raging torrent! We could see the tips of Himalayan Balsam that group on top of the river bank just breaking the flood. Our survey site was under 2 meters of fast flowing turbid water carrying large branches along with the flood.

Small Copper 

Discretion took over, a couple of pictures and we trudged back home. No chance of the waters subsiding before the end of the month meant a nil return for August. It will be interested to see how quickly the invertebrates re-colonise the river after this flood event.

The silver lining to this cloud was an early return home to find my wife excited by a new species of butterfly in the garden.  A beautifully marked Small Copper adds to our species total making it 11 for our garden this year.

Freshwater Pearl Mussels

Initial training on the Torridge

 The Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera ) is in severe decline, under both habitat and exploitation threats despite being heavily protected! There are still large (1000s) numbers in Scotland and Yorkshire but here in the only other area of the UK with any populations the numbers are much less (100s). Those that are know about are literally clinging on in the Torridge and its tributaries.

Last Wednesday (11^th March) I undertook a day's training hosted by North Devon Nature Improvement Area/Biosphere staff to learn how to survey for potential breeding sites. We ten volunteers, from a variety of backgrounds, met with five experts representing the Environment Agency, Devon Wildlife Trust and North Devon Biosphere, on a secluded stretch of the River Torridge.

Old, dead Freshwater Pearl Mussel

During the morning we were shown how to record along a stretch river noting various parameters – Habitat type – which describes the state of the river channel; Bankside features and Special feature points. This last covers things like the presence of macrophyte beds, river width, water quality, extraction, exposed bedrock, bars and evidence of key species – Kingfisher, Otter and Dipper, and of course Mussels themselves all of which was done from the bank accompanied by our tutors.

This was followed by us practising what we had learned in groups of 2 or 3. We retraced the same stretch of water making our own observations on the recording sheet. This stretch does have an existing colony of Freshwater Pearl Mussels so we were recording parameters that were relevant to the species' existence. We all met up and compared, and where necessary, amended our surveys.

After lunch, each group was allocated a new stretch of river to survey in earnest. We did hear a Dipper and saw Kingfishers as well as tracks and spraints of Otter. Most excitingly, two keen-eyed surveyors found old, dead Mussels from the strand line on a couple of the river bars. They are surprisingly large.

We now await the call to spread out further along the river and begin using our new survey skills for real.

Individual teams surveying

Freshwater Pearl Mussels live for around 100 years and breed, in suitable habitats at 12-20 years of age. The population in the UK is described as moribund with no proven breeding having taken place in the last 40 years. Time is running out so we are helping to prove that the survey methods can correctly describe and identify the essential features of Mussel beds so that measure to prevent silt accumulation, overshading, flooding or damage which can prevent recruitment or breeding or kill them can be developed. A 3-year project officer post is expected to move this vital work forward before it is too late.

As well as helping in this critical work it was an opportunity to walk along and enjoy a beautiful stretch of one of Devon's enigmatic rivers.

Here Be Dragons

Beautiful Demoiselle

Four-spot Hawker

This summer has been a fantastic season for all sorts of invertebrates.

In particular, and following a Dragonfly workshop organised by ERCCIS in June at Wheal Seaton and Red River Valley, my recognition skills have  improved somewhat and have helped me identify some of the large numbers of odonata that I have come across this year.  

LFS on Lundy

Bideford's Mermaid

A long planned Lundy Field Society visit to Lundy took place from 17^th to 20^th May when most of the Committee held their first meeting on the Island for 20 years.  Derek Green, the Lundy Manager and Beccy MacDonald the warden and her seasonal assistant Chloe were also invited to attend.

17^th Saturday – we left our cars at Bideford and assembled on the quay for an early 8am sailing when the conditions were described as winds 2-3 lights to variable which lead to an uneventful crossing.  It was so smooth that almost all the 210 passengers kept the galley busy making bacon sandwiches.

Black Guillemot

Sedge Warbler

We were met on arrival in the Landing Bay by the single Black Guillemot that had returned to Lundy for the third consecutive year.  We were welcomed by a rapturously singing Sedge Warbler at the top of Millcombe steps and after lunch in the Tavern were soon safely ensconced in our allocated rooms in Millcombe.

A quick tour of the island to Middle Park showed most of what we wanted to check out.  The deer were around Middle Park Pond and a multitude of Dwarf Adder’s Tongue fern had emerged.

A communal evening meal in the Marisco rounded off the day which had been very long for those travelling from up country since dawn.

Twitching for Golden Oriole

Turtle Dove

18^th Sunday – this was the day of the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society’s annual trip to the island.  I had promised a south end tour to those who wanted it, but this had to be heavily curtailed due to the excellent weather.  The charterers decided to take their round the island trip before disembarking so it was creeping up to midday when they had all disembarked.  Many dashed off to look for the Black Guillemot and Turtle Doves that had been reported as well as an elusive Golden Oriole.  We had seen two Turtle Doves on Saturday and Sunday morning as well as the Guillemot in the bay.  Breeding birds confirmed were a pair of Crows in the trees near Millcombe gardens and Blackbirds above the wall to the east of Millcombe House.

Diving Beetle in Ackland's Moor Pond

19^th Monday – the day of the committee meeting where we took advantage of Lundy manager and warden directly to discuss all issues affecting the island with them.  We just about managed to fit into the dining room of Millcombe House and completed the agenda around the agreed time to have lunch in the Marisco Tavern.

In the afternoon, I surveyed Ackland’s Moor Pond which was gin clear to the bottom, a unique view I have not seen before.

Pizza night at Old House South

20^th Tuesday – today most of the committee were returning home and we were homeless while Old House South was being prepared for us.  Before we left Millcombe, we were able to add a Spotted Flycatcher and Blackcap to our bird total.  Ever busy, Andrew showed the moths caught the previous night to visitors in the tavern and led a wild flower walk around the south end.

That evening we enjoyed the comforts of Old House South with a pizza evening provided by Sandra.

Painted Lady

21^st Wednesday – a beautiful day for a walk northwards.  We aimed for Jenny’s cove and watched Puffins on land and sea for quite a while.  There were pods of cetaceans moving north a couple or three miles out in the Atlantic too

We decided to continue north and in Middle Park found lots more Dwarf Adder’s tongue Fern in a new location west of the west side path slightly north of the Black House.  It is doing very well this year.

We counted yet more puffins and offshore cetaceans at St Phillip’s stone and saw the first Painted Lady butterfly of the year near Squire’s View.

Long Roost Pond

Sea King at North End

We had traveled so far north on the west side, we decided to go to the north end.  On the way André showed me a pond he had found in November of last year.  It took a little searching out, but is definitely new to us freshwater biologists.  It is a natural hollow in the granite almost on the west cliff edge with a granite gravel bottom and brown tinged water.  How permanent it is, only summer visits will determine, but Long Roost Pond will certainly be surveyed some time soon.

As we returned we observed a circling Sea King helicopter which eventually touched down right at the north end, a crew member chatted with a visitor then it roared off south.  The story was that the pilot’s daughter from Georgeham School was on a school visit to the island and he had called in on his way south to drop her off a small gift.  How big is her street credibility?

Joint meal in Millcombe

22^nd Thursday - our first very wet day.  We had hoped to at least walk along the quarries but by the time we reached them, the heavens opened and we spent a convivial hour talking to various walkers who also took shelter in Gade’s hut until we made a very wet way home. We were heartened by being invited by bellringing friends of Michael to share our evening meals in Millcombe.

Mirror Carp and Golden Orfe 

Horse Leech

23^rd Friday – a damp day but not enough to prevent us walking.  The slight rain seems to bring out the Horse Leech – we saw four in the pools on the path near to Quarter Wall.  Our route took us over the top of the quarries east of the Hospital where we were surprised to count around 50 Rhododendron seedlings there.  No were flowering, unlike the one that had been secretly growing in a thicket near the Heligoland trap and was instantly cut down by the ranger, but all have been reported for treatment.

In the afternoon, we visited Rocket Pole Pond at the request of Jenny George who had seen fish there the previous week.  Our stale bread brought a flurry of activity when we were able to count at least two Mirror Carp and up to 20 immature blue Golden Orfe.

24^th Saturday – a sad day as it was our last, but I had arranged with Simon Dell to help lead a group of TARS (The Arthur Ransome Society) members to Jenny’s Cove.  The small clump of Wood Vetch was had begun to bloom and Lundy Cabbage was displaying its attendant Flea Beetle. 

Lundy Cabbage and Flea Beetles

Moon Jellyfish

Whilst waiting for the Oldenburg, I was able to photograph three different types of jellyfish from the jetty Moon Jelly Aurelia aurata, Comb Jelly Ctenophore sp and Predatory Comb Jelly Beroe cucumis.  The walk was most successful; around 20 people were route marched to Jenny’s in 1 hour, spent their lunch hour observing puffins and then back via Punchbowl Valley, Earthquake, Battery and Old Light for a welcome pint in the Marisco Tavern.