June 2018

26th. Large flight of scarlet tiger moths in the garden - 5 entered the house in a few minutes, while at least 20 swarmed outside. We are experiencing a heatwave at present.

25th. The wild flower meadows in Royal Fort Gardens are looking good.

21st. London - live on 'In Our Time' interviewed by Melvyn Bragg about echolocation. We then visited the Courtauld Gallery to see some incredible impressionist paintings. I only spotted the man lying down taking a photo at the bottom of the staircase later!

Then to The National Gallery to see some great paintings including Van Gogh's crabs, and another fabulous Renoir. We also visited the first Monet exhibition in Britain for 20 years - Monet and Architecture.

16th-17th. Cornwall - Marazion and Mousehole. Manx shearwaters moving off shore, and a shag flying past.

11th. A gorgeous bee orchid alongside my cycle route through Ashton Court.

9th. Old Sneed Park Reserve in Bristol - a hidden gem with lovely meadows containing southern marsh orchids.

4th-8th. The annual Orielton field course. 2 red kites on the way, one on return in Carmarthen area. We enjoyed wonderful weather, and made the crossing to Skomer on 6th.

Orielton FSC. Beautiful demoiselle, azure damselflies, male golden-ringed dragonfly and male broad-bodied chaser. The students caught a marsh fritillary on site - only the second record. Tree bees are present too.

Bosherston white water lilies, and a panorama from Broad Haven back to the lakes.

Stackpole Head - chough, feral pigeon that has reverted to rock dove wildtype, fulmars, kittiwake, grey fish, jellyfish and sperm competition in common blue butterflies. Pyramidal and southern marsh orchids.

Skomer - razorbills, puffins, whitethroat and a herring gull with an out-of-focus dinghy. We also saw 2 harbour porpoises. Best display of wild flowers I can remember there.