NorthWalesNature

Australian Black Swan.

2011-12-20T06:51:00.001-08:00

This bird, The Australian Black Swan, was seen swimming in Llyn Padarn (Lake Padarn) on tuesday 20/12/2011. A strange visitor, I am thinking it's probably an escapee rather than a migrating bird.

Blog Resurrection.

2011-07-30T05:01:00.000-07:00

After a while in the blogging wasteland this site is now active again. It will take on a slightly different form where there will be pictorial walks, landscapes and recordings of natural life seen on these walks.

Here's a flower from the Sea Holly plant which can be found around the North Wales coast.

Check out the Butterfly Blog for recent sightings.

Wild Weather, a walk on the bogs, Cave life

2009-05-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

Bird blog, Flower blog, butterfly blog, All updated click the links.

Landscapes and moody skyscapes, click Other Photo's

Area of low pressure sits off the west of the UK, rain and winds, thats Wales. Took a walk around a few of the bird nesting sites there's hatching and activity, see the Bird link. Not many butterflies about, they stay down in the rain. Photo below shows view of the Llanberis Pass from Clegir, a sun burst lights up the hillock, the rain moves in behind. Was getting shots of the bog plants and went into an old quarry cave to escape the rain. Well, was amazed by what I saw, see the Flower link and the Butterfly link.

New site News

2009-05-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hi letting you know that there is a new link OTHER PHOTOS, it's got scenes from my wanderings etc.

Also Look at Jim Pattersons Blog, in blogs I follow, in personal profile, go into his personal profile and click on his web page. Got to be some of the best underwater photos on the planet.

Below the kitten that is

SPECIAL AGENT ORANGE

Bog Life

2009-05-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hi, been bog walking with hound, found a bit more stuff, check out the flower link.

You may only sink up to your ankles, then again? Bog life! Take the plunge.

BOG LIFE, THE STUFF OF LIFE.

The tree of life

2009-05-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hi, there's this tree, a silver birch, that lays dead on the bank of Lake Padarn. Many years ago it supplied me with logs, bringing warmth in a cold winter.

Over the years it has rotted, the bark becoming brittle and broken, the core becoming soft. In the sun the silver sheen still glistens, a beacon.

The tree may have died but now it gives life.

Moss now spreads over the trunk and plants grow in the crevases.

Today one of the dead trees many residents lay out on the bark, on the sun terrace, to soak up the rays.

Notice the flattened body, more area to absorb energy.

There's usually plenty to eat on the many dining areas provided by the birch.

The birch not only provides safety, shelter and sun lounging areas.

The decaying stumps also provide material for fungi to feed on.

Here a bracket fungus has taken hold.

Different fungi reveal themselves on the birch at different times of the year.

Here the remains of a birch polypore from last year.

Then the birch provides for another fungi, a mushroom that bursts out in the winter, January to be precise. About four 'bunches' appear, at first very small, then growing larger over the weeks. Smaller mushrooms follow, growing larger, the tree provides. Just like the logs many years ago the tree provides for me, yes, provides for me. Like a conveyor belt, take the larger ones, leave the small ones come through. Two meals a week for six weeks.

OYSTER MUSHROOMS, YUM YUM.

New site news

2009-05-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hi letting you know that a new site has been added for amphibians and reptiles, just click the link photo.

Below is a little bit of the US (in name) here in North wales. It's an old slate quarry hole named California by the quarrymen in times past. A view for Kenna. There really are bits of the US here in North Wales. The slate from these quarries was shipped to the US and stone was used as ballast for the return journey. This in turn was used to build houses etc.

Now these quarries are used by climbers, check out, North Wales climbing, Llanberis slate etc

View of the second entrance cave to California

Folklore - The nature of rain

2009-05-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

I was always told never step on a beetle unless you want it to rain. Have you heard of this?

BEETLE on assault course

Check out the new posts on the flower link, poppies and names

Looks like snake country to me.

2009-05-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

Was walking along the top of an old quarry hole. The sun was beating down and the bracken dried out. The patterns on the dried stalks reminded me of scales. I thought 'looks like snake country to me'. The dog picked his way up the bank side to the top of a rise. I followed and almost immediately saw a shed snake skin, things happen like that sometimes. I picked it up, inches away a sound then movement, a grass snake slithered, hurriedly under some slate.

Shed snake skin

Later that day I came across a mushroom that's become a bit of a mystery. Check out the mushroom link.

Spring Glut of Common Wild Flowers

2009-04-29T03:50:00.000-07:00

Good growing weather, showers and sun, brings out a glut of wild flowers. Some, dandelion-like, are early and difficult to distinguish (help). Take a look at the first flowering orchid of the year.

Below a THANKS to MISS MAPP you are the first. The photo PURE BLISS a little pressy for you.

PURE BLISS HONEY BEE

Spring butterflies and fungi

2009-04-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

April showers, a proper spring following a proper winter. Butterflies seem to be on time, spring flights underway, see butterfly link. Also see the mushroom link for an occasional fruiting body.

Below, the sun breaks through an overcast sky at Cwm Ystrad-Llyn. Good place for a short walk, the view is from below the quarry workings under Moel Hebog.

New uploads for wild flowers and butterflies

2009-04-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Spring, slowly but surely, brings us the glory of NorthWalesNature. Check out butterflies and wild flowers links.

The photos below are of an albino newt. Taken and donated by 'Ginger Cain'
Check out Ginge at cain@mountainart.co.uk Thanks for the photos. Will start up a reptile and amphibian blog soon.

Albino Newt. Photos by Ginger Cain

Bird Update

2009-04-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

PEREGRINE FALCON photo, check out the bird link.

A selection of other birds to see also, taken over the last couple of months.

LITTLE EGRET

Personal

2009-04-21T03:17:00.000-07:00

How d'you like the Blue'Belles' Belle

Welcome

2009-04-21T02:59:00.000-07:00

Hi welcome to this site, still very much under construction. Follow and keep up to date with the changing events of NorthWalesNature as the year progresses. Posts will mostly be photos (less waffle and tosh). Click on the sub-sites for different subjects.