In the summer months you may see newts in your pond. If your frog tadpoles are disappearing, they may be to blame! There are three species of newts native to the UK. Palmate Newts Lissotriton Helvetica (pictured) are the most common species found locally. Smooth Newts are less common here, and the larger, protected, Great Crested Newt is not normally found in Carmarthenshire. The Palmate is 9 cm long and has no spots under its chin, unlike the Smooth Newt. Great Crested Newts are much larger and have blotched orange bellies. Male Palmates sport webbed hind feet in the breeding season. In the winter months our newts hide away under logs and stones.
If you see a fast-moving scaly newt, it’s a lizard! Our Common Lizards (Lacerta vivipara) also have five front toes whereas newts have four.
Our latest news – our annual NEWSLETTER is out! Forty-four pages of local nature, distributed free to members. Join us if you want one.
At the end of April we had a lovely walk up through the woods above New Lodge in Burry Port (by the lighthouse roundabout) and saw the spectacular display of bluebells. We had perfect weather, and all twenty of us managed the climb to the top for the view across to Swansea. Those who wanted more did a circuit of Ashpits Pond, watching Sand Martins skimming over the water, and listening to several different warblers. Notable plants were Cowslips and Abraham-Isaac-Jacob (Trachystemon orientalis).
The Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator), one of our biggest at 8 cm long, is around now, busily dipping its abdomen in the water to lay eggs. The male is brilliant blue and the female has a green thorax. Another blue dragonfly is the male Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) which emerges in May and is often the first to colonise new ponds. The female is golden brown.
The easiest way to tell the difference between damselflies and dragonflies is that damselflies usually hold their wings pressed along their abdomen when resting, and their eyes are always separated, whereas dragonflies hold their wings out from the body and their large eyes often touch.
Tip of the month: Keep your binoculars and cameras at the ready! With so much going on at this time of year, keep them within reach of your best viewing window, and take them with you on walks, so you can confirm what you see and record anything interesting.
A lot on this month!:
1st June-31st August: Big Meadow Search – see their Facebook to find out how to survey species-rich grassland near you, and join their group for a huge amount of relevant information.
1st-30th June: 30 Days Wild – the Wildlife Trusts challenge you to do one wild thing every day. Free goodies if you sign up.
4th-12th June: Love Your Burial Ground Week, part of Churches Count on Nature, get involved with activities.
4th June: we have a chance to look behind the scenes at the National Botanic Garden of Wales with Dr. Kevin McGinn, following the talk he gave us in October on the National Seed Bank of Wales; afterwards a visit to the flower-rich meadows and Regency Restoration Project. Meet outside main entrance at 11.00am. Admission charge applies.
5th June: World Environment Day (UN). What are you doing to help our environment? Lots of food for thought online – look it up!
8th June: World Ocean Day. Again, look it up for info and events. This year’s focus is protecting 30% of the planet by 2030.
12th June: Open Farm Sunday, managed by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming). Free event at Gelli Aur Farm Campus, Llandeilo, 12.00-4.00pm.
18th June: Carmarthenshire Bird Club visit to Pembrey Burrows 9.30am, counting Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, and looking at the abundance of orchids and invertebrates. Meet at the bottom car park 9.15-9.20am.
18th June: Llanelli Wetland Centre – Walk with a Warden, concentrating on different types of bees and wetland pollinators and the flowers they visit.
Suitable for all. Meet at the info desk at 11.30am. More details on their website.
19th & 20th June: Bee safari at the National Botanic Garden of Wales 12.00-4.00pm
20th-26th June: National Insect Week – look it up for resources. Organised by the Royal Entomological Society.
25th June: we are walking from Garnant to Glanamman with Dr. Lizzie Wilberforce, looking at a restored colliery tip, the river bank, and urban streets. Meet Folland Road car park (SN685134) 2.00pm. (more details on website and Facebook)
25th June is World Sand Dune Day, designed to highlight the importance and beauty of sand dunes. Look out for events on the website, including at Pembrey Burrows.
Coming up in July:
2nd July: National Meadows Day
2nd-10th July: Swift Awareness Week
2nd-10th July: Wales Nature WeekMembership info: hainesveronica@hotmail.com. Website: www.llanellinaturalists.org.uk, Facebook: www.facebook.com/llanellinaturalists.
