Since 2001, the Born Free Foundation has been sponsoring the work of basking shark expert, Colin Speedie, and his volunteer research team, as they identify sites of high importance to basking sharks in UK waters and gather essential information about basking shark behaviour and ecology. This will provide vital information on shark distribution, population size, site fidelity and migration.

The basking shark can grow to over 10m in length and seven tonnes in weight. Harmless and slow-moving, the far-ranging basking shark feeds exclusively on zooplankton, cruising slowly with its mouth wide open filtering water through gill rakers. It is estimated that it takes in around 1,482,000 litres of water an hour.

Basking sharks are very vulnerable to over-exploitation in fisheries due to their late sexual maturity (18 years), low fecundity (4-5 ‘pups’ every 3-4 years) and long lives (50 years). The species has been exploited for centuries for their flesh, skin and liver oil, but the driving force behind current fisheries is the high value placed on their dorsal fins, cartilage and meat primarily in the Far East.

Despite protection in British waters, internationally their numbers have drastically declined due to unmonitored commercial exploitation. 2002 proved to be a pivotal year for the UK’s largest regular wild visitor following the UK Government’s successful proposal to place the basking shark on CITES* Appendix II, at the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in November. This listing ensured that international trade and fisheries must now be monitored and regulated, and that depleted stocks are allowed to recover. All countries trading in basking shark parts will now be obliged to keep proper records of the level of trade they are involved in.

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December Twilight at Plas Farm

This picture shows a stunning December sky at Plas Farm, some minutes after sunset. It was taken at the bottom of the farm drive, just outside Bwthyn Y Saer holiday cottage. There are a number of different types of cloud in the sky and varying shades from gray to salmon. The silhouette of the trees stands out - the tall scotch pines and the shorter Welsh oaks.

December Twilight at Plas Farm

Dry Stone Wall and Holly [Ilex acquifolium]

This picture was taken on the grassy slopes that lead to the summit of the mountain, directly behind the holiday cottages. This dry stone wall must be over a hundred years old and is as good as the day it was built. The only difference now is that there are a row of holly trees growing out of it.

Dry Stone Wall and Holly [Ilex acquifolium]

Holly Ilex acquifolium

There are lots of holly trees dotted around the farm and they seem to take it in turns to produce a bumper crop of berries. One of our favourite December pastimes is walking the farm, trying to find which one it is! It is a Christmas tradition to bring Holly into the house. Its sharp edges are symbolic of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus at his crucifixion and the red berries represent blood. Holly is also popular with birds at this time of year, as they love to eat the berries.

Holly Ilex acquifolium

Cascading Mountain Stream

This stream is a tributary of the River Clydach. It enters the river some fifty yards downstream of the holiday cottages and marks the southern boundary of Plas Farm. There are lots of small cascades along the stream and it is great for a spot of river walking! The long boughs that overhang the stream are mainly rhododendron that thrive along its banks. The source of the stream is on the boggy flanks of Mynydd Marchywel

Cascading Mountain Stream

Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus

This deciduous shrub grows along the river bank, upstream of the holiday cottages. Snowberry, a member of the honeysuckle family, was introduced from North America in 1817 and used as cover for game. It produces small pink flowers between June and September followed by fleshy round white berries. The berries are not very attractive to birds but are sometimes eaten by pheasant in very hard winters. As a child I used to feed the odd snowberry to our chickens and they seemed to quite like them! The leaves of the shrub are a food plant for the caterpillars of Death's-head hawk moth.

Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus

Great Tits [Parus Major] on Beech Tree

The Great Tit is the largest UK tit - green and yellow with a striking glossy black head with white cheeks and a distinctive two-syllable song. It is a woodland bird which has readily adapted to man-made habitats to become a familiar garden visitor. It can be quite aggressive at a bird table, fighting off smaller tits. In winter it joins with blue tits and others to form roaming flocks which scour gardens and countryside for food. This picture was taken on the lawn outside the holiday cottages at Plas Farm - a great place for spotting these gangs of tits during the winter months as tits are particularly fond of beech tree seeds.

Great Tits [Parus Major] on Beech Tree

Welsh Oak on Earth Bank

These Welsh oaks have donned their fetching winter coats of green moss and orange lichen. The Atlantic oakwoods of western Britain are one of the world’s most important habitats for lichens, mosses and liverworts. Indeed, Britain’s warm, damp climate has blessed it with about 10% of the world’s known species. Many of these live at Plas Farm, whose upland oakwoods (sometimes referred to as temperate rainforests) are a great place to find many weird and wonderful varieties. At this time of year they are very prominent and give the woods a mystical ‘Lord of the Rings’ atmosphere. Lichens are very sensitive to air quality and the clean mountain air at Plas Farm is very much to their liking.

Welsh Oak on Earth Bank

December Landscape at Plas Farm

This picture was taken on a fresh and sunny December morning. The summit of Mynydd Marchywel can be seen on the horizon and Welsh Mountain Sheep graze the pastures in the middle distance.

December Landscape at Plas Farm

Robin Erithacus rubecula

The robin is the UK's favourite bird - with its bright red breast it is familiar throughout the year and especially at Christmas! Robins are very prominent during the winter and will come to within a few feet of you - cocky, confident and looking for food. There are over four million pairs in Britain and the great majority hold territory all the year round, doing almost all their feeding, courtship and breeding within a prescribed patch. The robin's association with the Christmas season seems to have started in Victorian times when the livery of the postmen included a bright red jacket. Nicknamed 'robins', their red-breasted namesakes were portrayed on traditional Christmas cards with an envelope in their beak, posting greetings into the letter box, which was invariably covered with snow and a sprig of holly.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

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Bridge over the River Clydach at Plas Farm

This picture was taken in the river, just downstream from the holiday cottages. In fact, the corner of Ty Cerbyd can be seen in the background on the left. The bridge is well over a hundred years old and seen everything from a horse and cart to milk tankers to readymix concrete lorries

Bridge over the River Clydach at Plas Farm

Plas Farm Drive

The farm drive is very attractive during the month of November as the many different types of tree change colour and loose their leaves. Some trees are evergreen which adds to the array of colours. The beech trees are particularly attractive - they are the bright yellow leaves in the picture.

Plas Farm Drive

Welsh Mountain Ram Rests by Stone Wall

We have some beautiful dry stone walls at Plas Farm - the one in this picture is in the river field, alongside the farm drive. The sandstone building stones have been placed vertically in the earth bank. At this time of year, mosses and lichens thrive, giving the wall a blanket for winter. The sheep in the picture is a Welsh Mountain Ram, taking a quiet five minutes to do some cudding - that is enjoying a mouthful of previously swallowed food which he has regurgitated and is chewing slowly for a second time!

Welsh Mountain Ram Rests by Stone Wall

Warm Colours in Early November

The original inhabitants of what is now Plas Farm planted its fields and woodlands with a wide variety of ornamental and indigenous trees to create a parkland atmosphere. This means that, come autumn, the countryside around the holiday cottages is a dazzling show of breathtaking colour. This picture was taken on the Lodge Field in front of the holiday cottages.

Warm Colours in Early November

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna

This picture shows a hawthorn tree laden with red berries, set against the backdrop of the Swansea Valley. Hawthorn berries are extremely popular with birds and this tree is a great place to spot Fieldfares and Redwings, winter migrants to Wales. The rush pasture upon which it grows is a five minute walk from our holiday cottages.

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna

Autumn Colours on the Plas Farm Trail

A view of the Swansea Valley taken from the grassy slopes behind the holiday cottages. The towns of Pontardawe and Clydach are in view.

Autumn Colours on the Plas Farm Trail

Winding Lane at Plas Farm

Another view at Plas Farm. This was taken on the lane which runs from our holiday cottages up to Blaenant farm. You will notice that the hawthorn tree in picture 2 of this gallery has now lost all its berries to hungry birds. The hills in the background are the western slopes of the Swansea Valley.

Winding Lane at Plas Farm

An Ivy Curtain on the River Clydach Hedera Helix

This picture was taken some 50 yards downstream of the holiday cottages at a place where the River Clydach is undercutting the bank. The ivy grows on the ground amongst the oak trees that line the river bank has formed a curtain which overhangs the bank and touches the rushing water. At Christmas ivy is traditionally brought inside to create attractive Christmas decorations and for use in festive wreaths.

An Ivy Curtain on the River Clydach Hedera Helix

Grey Heron [Ardea cinerea] in Beech Tree

The grey heron (Europe's largest heron) is a common visitor to Plas Farm and may be seen at various times throughout the year - occasionally from your holiday cottage window. The heron in this picture was standing atop one of the huge beech trees on the lawn in front of the holiday cottages. Herons suffer greatly during severe weather although the longest living individuals have attained 25 years. It is usually a solitary bird and is sometimes seen, standing in a large puddle on the paddock in front of the holiday cottages or sometimes fishing in the river behind the cottages.

Grey Heron [Ardea cinerea] in Beech Tree

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The Weir on the River Clydach at Plas Farm

This was built to raise the level of the River Clydach such that it could be channelled off (see the hole in the bank on the opposite side of the river) onto a tar lined wooden trough (which has rotted away) which ran through the walled garden, past the back of the holiday cottages and out onto the water-wheel that was once part of Bwthyn Y Saer holiday cottage. You can still see some of the tar on the walls.

The Weir on the River Clydach at Plas Farm

Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

October is a great time to see grey squirrels around the farm, stocking up for winter. Their winter fur is dense and silvery grey with a brown tinge along the middle of the back. Lots of them live in the trees that surround the holiday cottages. The grey squirrel was introduced to Great Britain in the mid-19th century and after many releases it began to increase dramatically at the beginning of this century.

Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

Mynnydd Allt-y-grug from the Lodge Field

This October landscape was taken from the 'lodge field' in front of the holiday cottages. The foreground is dominated by a patch of withering thistles. In the middle distance, the Welsh Oaks are starting to take on their autumn colours. In the distance, the dramatic ice-carved western side of the Swansea Valley enjoys the autumn sun. This barren rocky mountain is Allt-y-grug, which translates as The Hillside of Heather.

Mynnydd Allt-y-grug from the Lodge Field

Robin Erithacus rubecula

The robin is the UK's favourite bird - with its bright red breast it is familar throughout the year and especially as the leaves start to fall off the trees. Males and females look identical, and young birds have no red breast and are spotted with golden brown. Robins sing nearly all year round and despite their cute appearance, they are aggressively territorial and are quick to drive away intruders. The robin in this picture had some fairly strong words to say after I had taken its picture.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Rams Fighting on the River Field

This picture was taken on the River Field, which is alongside the farm drive, and visible from the holiday cottages. It shows two young rams fighting by way of head butting, with a referree looking on. The rival rams back off, then charge, meeting head to head with a loud and slightly sickening thud. Whilst it is a shocking spectacle, it is a natural behaviour which has carried over from when sheep ran wild. It helps to sort out the social order within the flock i.e. which ram gets all the ewes. They head butt, poke with horns, shoulder push, block, and mount eachother until one of them decides enough is enough. The fights can be ferocious and according researchers, most male skeletons have fractured neck vertebrae, broken while butting other males. Larger males with bigger horns win these battles more often, and therefore mate more frequently. Head butting among rams is highest during the rutting season (Autumn) which preceeds the onset of heat in ewes.

Rams Fighting on the River Field

Cow in Rush Pasture

This was taken on the rush pasture on the mountain behind the holiday cottages. The leaves of the Welsh Oaks that line the field have started to turn brown.

Cow in Rush Pasture

'Red Sky at Night' Sunset at Plas Farm

This picture was taken from the bottom of the farm drive, looking westwards. It is possible to see the silhouette of a Scotch Pine towering above the broadleaved oaks. Does "red sky at night" really mean "shepherds delight"? The hues we see in the sky are due to the rays of sunlight being split into colors of the spectrum as they pass through the atmosphere and ricochet off the water vapor and particles in the atmosphere. The amounts of water vapor and dust particles in the atmosphere are good indicators of weather conditions. They also determine which colors we will see in the sky. During sunset the sun is low in the sky, and it transmits light through the thickest part of the atmosphere. A red sky suggests an atmosphere loaded with dust and moisture particles. We see the red, because red wavelengths (the longest in the color spectrum) are breaking through the atmosphere. The shorter wavelengths, such as blue, are scattered and broken up. When we see a red sky at night, this means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Basically good weather will follow.

'Red Sky at Night' Sunset at Plas Farm

Badger Faced Welsh Mountain Ewe

The Welsh Mountain Badger Face is a color variation of the Welsh Mountain. It is an ancient Welsh breed which was once common in the Welsh Mountains. Number so this breed fell during the Middle Ages when the cloth trade demanded a white wool. Numbers are now on the increase. The main type is known by Torddu which means blackbelly but there is also a rarer Torwen which is the reverse coloration, black with a white belly. The Torddu variation have a distinctive broad striped face with a black band from jaw to belly and extending to the underside of the tail. The main fleece varies from pure white to light tan. Rams have dark spiral horns and the ewes are polled (hornless). They lamb easily, produce plenty of milk and strong lambs with plenty of "get up and go". Ewes fed mainly on grass produce high quality lamb, offering flavour, taste, succulence and unbeatable eating quality.

Badger Faced Welsh Mountain Ewe

Moonlit Mynydd Marchywel

This picture was taken from Plas Road, which runs past Plas Farm. The trail from an aeroplane can be seen next to the moon. The main flight path between London Heathrow and the United States crosses this mountain. It is possible to watch them taking off on teletext in your holiday cottage and then nip outside twnety minutes later, look at the mountain and see the plane - on route to New York perhaps. The summit of the mountain is marked by three prehistoric funerary and ritual stone circles. Walking on a moonlit night in October is magical - mist rising from the fields, owls hooting and your cosy cottage awaiting your return. Your holiday cottage is 492 feet above sea level, the summit of the mountain is at 1,371 feet, the aeroplane probably at around 20,000 feet and the moon is 1,263,123,362 feet away!

Moonlit Mynydd Marchywel

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Blackberries Rubus fruticosus

These prickly stemmed plants, sometimes called brambles, grow in abundance at Plas Farm. They are perhaps the best known of all the hedgerow's autumn fruits. 'Brambling' has been a favourite countryside pursuit for generations and everyone has their own 'secret' spot where the blackberries grow thrice the size and are ten times as juicy as anywhere else on the farm. Perhaps this isn't so surprising considering experts believe there are around 400 micro-species in Britain, each one slightly different in its flowering and fruiting schedule and in the size, shape and texture of its berries. For six weeks or more, these stalwarts of the hedgerow provide a feast for wildlife, all of which raid the brambles for the sweet, energy-rich flesh of the berries. The benefit to the bramble bush is that its seed pass undigested through the wildlife diners and are shed elsewhere in ready-manured seed packets. The fruits ripen towards the end of August and are probably at their best come the beginning of September. According to a nature book I have just referred to, their fruit, called bramble fruit, is an aggregate of drupelets. All I know is that an "Aggregate of Drupelets Crumble" tastes beautiful, especially when served with fresh cream and ice cream.

Blackberries Rubus fruticosus

Mynydd Allt-y-grug from Plas Farm

This September landscape was taken from the sheltered slopes behind the holiday cottages. The light and colours in the landscape betray the onset of autumn. The foreground is dominated by striking mountain ash trees, laden with red berries. In the middle distance, Welsh mountain sheep graze on grassy slopes and in the far distance, the dramatic ice-carved western side of the Swansea Valley is coloured shades of yellow by the autumn sun. This barren rocky mountain is Allt-y-grug, which translates as The Hillside of Heather.

Mynydd Allt-y-grug from Plas Farm

Beech Leaves Fagus sylvatica

There are a number of specimen beech trees at Plas Farm, including three giants on the lawn in front of the self catering cottages. As the days shorten, photosynthesis grinds to a halt and the resting trees live off the food they stored during the summer. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves and we begin to see the colours that were hidden behind the green chlorophyll - yellows, oranges, reds and purples appear to beautify the countryside. The red colouring of some leaves is caused by glucose getting trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn turns the glucose into a red color. The brown colour of trees like oaks is caused by the wastes left in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. In September at Plas Farm, we see the first signs of the trees getting ready for bed, as this picture shows.

Beech Leaves Fagus sylvatica

Rhododendron Pyramid in Mixed Woodland

As you walk through the woodlands around your self catering cottage, you may happen across pyramids of wood which are evidence of our attempts to keep the invasive Rhododendron under control. Some of the pyramids are harvested for firewood to use in the holiday cottages, others are left as habitats for wild animals. The moss that now feeds on the decaying wood thrives in the same mild humid conditions that the rhododendron so loves. This picture has a 'Lord of the Rings' feel to it.

Rhododendron Pyramid in Mixed Woodland

Foraging for Wild Mushrooms

Few activities bring out the latent hunter-gatherer in us more than foraging for wild mushrooms. After some autumn showers and evening chills, hundreds of types of wild fungus can be found pushing their way through the grassy hillsides and leaf-strewn forest floors. The classic field mushroom is normally found growing in clusters or rings in grazed grassland and they are about ten times as tasty as the shop-bought variety. Remember that if you collect any mushrooms, make sure that your identification checks out in every detail.

Foraging for Wild Mushrooms

Devil's Bit Scabious Succisa pratensis

Plas Farm is managed under an environmental programme that controls the stocking rates in different areas of the farm. This helps to promote natural biodiversity and ensures that wild flowers such as Devil's Bit Scabious can thrive in their preferred habitat. This picture is evidence of the scheme's success. We are now keeping our eyes peeled for the Marsh Fritillary Butterfly to make an appearance, as Devil's Bit is their favourite food plant.

Devil's Bit Scabious Succisa pratensis

A Moment in Time

Many beautiful mosses and lichens may be found at Plas Farm, particularly in the woods through which the River Clydach flows. This picture captures the moment a bead of spring water falls down the moss covered sandstone that forms the bank of the River Clydach.

A Moment in Time

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Jacq

A spectacular sight in May when it is covered in white or palest pink blossom, the red 'haws' of hawthorn are one of September's finest sights. Many ancient trees exist in the Welsh countryside (some may be 500 years old) and it is said that the survivors are largely because of folklore and superstition which obliged country people to respect the tree.

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Jacq

Welsh Mountain Sheep

This picture shows shorn Welsh Moutain sheep grazing the uppermost slopes at Plas Farm. Isolated berry ladden hawthorns are dotted along the field boundaries. A fence meanders it's way along an earth bank that runs along the hillside.

Welsh Mountain Sheep

The post September Wildlife Gallery appeared first on Welsh Holiday Cottages.

Mountain Ash (or Rowan) Sorbus aucuparia

Nothing characterises the Welsh hills better than a mountain ash, laden with bright red berries, set against a backdrop of sheep grazed hills. The ancient Celtic clans called her affectionately “The Lady of the Mountain”. Many legends and myths are associated with tree and many churchyards in Wales still include the tree, not unlike the Yew tree in English churchyards. The berries were much used by the Celts for brewing wine, spirit, flavouring mead, ale, perry and cider. Today, they are used mostly in Rowan Jelly. The mountain ash is a relative of fruit-bearing trees like the pear, crab-apple and whitebeam, all members of the order Rosaceae. It has a reputation as one of the most potent magical trees with a history that would leave many a larger tree in its shadow. This is the species that the ancient Celts called Fid nan druad, the wizard’s tree......

Mountain Ash (or Rowan) Sorbus aucuparia

Charm of Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis

Undoubtedly one of the most delightful sights at Plas Farm during August is that of a charm of goldfinches, flitting through the swaying thistleheads, filling the air with liquid twittering. These beautiful birds are one of the most colourful native British birds. They love the sheltered mountain slopes behind the holiday cottages and may be located easily at this time of year.

Charm of Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis

Knapweed Centaurea nigra

It has been said that if the month of August has a natural colour, it is purple. Certainly, many of the mountains around the farm become a blaze of purple as the heather begins to flower. Not wanting to be left out, the delightful Knapweed appears in the grazed meadows on the hillside behind the holiday cottages. Knapweed is important as it is a favourite foodplant of many types of butterfly.

Knapweed Centaurea nigra

Hazelnuts Corylus avellana

Hazel trees can be found almost everywhere in Wales. There is one tree on the river bank outside Y Stabl holiday cottage and many others dotted about the farm. The nuts can be harvested and are delicious eaten fresh. You will need some stones to break into them though!

Hazelnuts Corylus avellana

The Swansea Valley from Plas Farm

This picture shows a berry laden mountain ash in the foreground set against a backdrop of the western slopes of the Swansea Valley, between Pontardawe (Bridge over the quiet river) and Ynysmeudwy (Water meadow of the hermit).

The Swansea Valley from Plas Farm

Hen of the Woods Grifola Fondosa

According to one 'mushrooming' website ".....one last treat awaits the forager. One last BIG treat because, if you're lucky, you may find a fruiting of Hen of the Woods as big as forty or fifty pounds." Well, this was taken outside Bwthyn Y Saer holiday cottage, at the foot of the huge beech tree. Nobody has dared to eat it yet but it seems that some people do. There are recipes out there!

Hen of the Woods Grifola Fondosa

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) on Red Clover

I chose this picture for the gallery because it had so much in it. Firstly, there is the small copper butterfly. The small copper is usually seen in ones and twos. Males are territorial, often choosing a piece of bare ground or a stone on which to bask and await passing females. They behave aggressively towards any passing insects, returning to the same spot when the chase is over. Though it remains a widespread species, the small copper has declined throughout its range during the twentieth century. In the picture, it is feeding from red clover alongside which a magpie's feather lies.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) on Red Clover

Crab Apples Malus sylvestris

The crab apple, like the hazel and rowan, is a typical feature of the south Walian countryside. The attractive small fruit are extremely sour but make good jelly by themselves or with blackberries or rowan berries. Crab Apple wine is also very good albeit thunderously potent. In former times they were cultivated for animal fodder, especially for pigs, and some extant trees may have originated from this practice. It may be that before orchard apples were perfected, wild crab apples were grown for food or cider making.

Crab Apples Malus sylvestris

August Sunset

Although the warmest days of the year are most likely to happen during August at Plas Farm, it also has a history of being a bit wetter than other summer months. This does have its good points though - the sunsets can be very dramatic with varying shades of grey, orange and salmon filling the skies above the holiday cottages. The waterfalls are always good after a drop of liquid sunshine too!

August Sunset

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Sheep Shearing at Plas Farm

On a sunny day in July, the sheep are brought into the farmyard for clipping and shearing. Welsh hill sheep have a coarse, rough wool that is mainly used in the carpet industry, because of its strength and thickness. The shearer holds the sheep gently between his or her knees and clips with the shears, as close as he can to the sheep's body, taking off the wool in a complete fleece. A skilled person working with a machine can shear one sheep in less than two minutes - 250 sheep in one day. Fleeces must be kept clean and dry after shearing. Each one is rolled and then packed into a big sack called a 'wool sheet' ready for delivery to the British Wool Marketing Board for grading. Wales produces around 10 million kgs of wool every year.

Sheep Shearing at Plas Farm

Painted Lady Cynthia cardui

The spectacular painted lady butterfly migrates to Wales from north Africa every year. It may be seen basking in sunshine and feeding on the nectar of thistles in the fields around the holiday cottages throughout the summer months.

Painted Lady Cynthia cardui

Cumulus Clouds

If the average person were to close their eyes and think of a cloud, chances are they would picture this little fellow, sometimes known as a cauliflower cloud. On sunny July days, the sky above your holiday cottage may well look like this picture - gentle tufts of cotton wool, born on the invisible thermals of air that rise from the Welsh countryside.

Cumulus Clouds

Rosebay Willowherb Epilobium angustifolium

You should notice this wild flower at some point during your holiday in South Wales. Once used as a garden plant, rosebay willowherb is now a common feature of the Welsh countryside. The leaves have been used by indigenous North American tribes as a fresh or cooked vegetable, a tobacco substitute and as a poultice to draw out infections. Recent studies have shown it to be anti-inflammatory with uses for nappy rash, sunburn and as a mouthwash. Even the pollen is claimed to produce good quality honey. It tends to grow at Plas Farm wherever we have had a bonfire which may explain why it is sometimes referred to as Fireweed.

Rosebay Willowherb Epilobium angustifolium

Whinberries Vaccinium Myrtillus

One of the delights of a July holiday in Wales at our holiday cottages is the abundance of whinberries that grow on the mountain. Prized over the centuries for their medicinal properties, whinberries are today considered to be a precious wild delicacy. Also known as European blueberry, huckleberry, whortleberry, or blueberry, whinberries grow on a shrubby perennial plant, one to two feet in height. It differs from the American blueberry in that the meat of the fruit is purple, rather than cream or white. My grandmother once told me that they "taste of the mountain" and they are delicious eaten fresh with cream or in a pie. It is also possible to make country wine from them. If you are interested in picking some during your holiday, we can point you to the best places.

Whinberries Vaccinium Myrtillus

A stand of Scots Pine and Welsh Oak Pinus sylvestris and Quercus petraea

This picture was taken in the Lodge field, alongside the lane to Cilybebyll. Rumour has it, that it is a section of Roman Road. I am not sure about this. Perhaps it is an ancient cattle drovers route. Whatever it is, it is now a picturesque corridor at the field margin, where sheep graze among Welsh Oak and Scots Pine.

A stand of Scots Pine and Welsh Oak Pinus sylvestris and Quercus petraea

Comma Oryctolagus coniculus

Once on the verge of extinction in Britain, the Comma butterfly (so called because of a comma shaped mark on its underwing) now thrives in South Wales. Our July guests can count themselves unlucky if they fail to spot one of these remarkable butterflies at Plas Farm during their cottage holiday in Wales.

Comma Oryctolagus coniculus

The Lower Swansea Valley

This picture was taken from the top field of Plas Farm and shows a view of the lower Swansea Valley which includes the towns of Morriston (home of the DVLA), Clydach and Trebanws.

The Lower Swansea Valley

Golden Ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii

During July, you should be lucky enough to spot one of Britain's largest dragonflies. The Golden Ringed Dragonfly restlessly patrols the skies above thistle patches in some of the fields, attacking any unfortunate insects that fall within its sights. The longest bodied of all British dragonflies, it's black and yellow bands are the universal warning colours which serve to deter birds. Up close, its prominent eyes and fearsome mouthparts are a sight to behold. This insect is found principally on the western side of Britain and it is absent from much of England.

Golden Ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii

The post July Wildlife Gallery appeared first on Welsh Holiday Cottages.

Meadow Brown Butterfly Maniola jurtina

The Brown butterflies of Wales all have false eyes on the upper and lower surface of their wings to confuse predatory birds or lizards about the position of the body. The Meadow Brown is Wales's commonest butterfly and may be seen on the wing in the meadows of Plas Farm on sunny days in June.

Meadow Brown Butterfly Maniola jurtina

Welsh Poppy Meconopsis cambrica

Native to Wales, the Welsh Poppy is western Europe’s only species of poppy. It grows in abundance around the holiday cottages at Plas Farm, producing dazzling shows of yellow and orange in the summer months.

Welsh Poppy Meconopsis cambrica

Brown Trout Salmo trutta

The native trout of Wales may be seen from outside your holiday cottage, jumping for insects that fly low over the mountain stream. The trout have returned to the clean river gravels in which they were born to spawn once more and complete the circle of life. Spawning tends to take place in September and October as water temperatures begin to fall for the winter. The female digs a shallow redd into which the eggs are deposited. The eggs take approximately 150 days to hatch, the longest time of any Welsh freshwater fish. The young fish spend at least a year in the natal stream before moving downstream to the sea. The growth of trout is very dependant upon the environment and the trout at Plas Farm rarely grow bigger than eight inches in length and weigh less than a pound. Staying small helps them to avoid predators like the dreaded heron which occasionally makes an appearance in the stream outside the holiday cottages.

Brown Trout Salmo trutta

Welsh Mountain Lamb Ovis aries

There are more sheep per square kilometer in Wales than any other country in the world. Plas Farm is mainly grazed by the hardy Welsh Mountain breed - world famous for its succulent taste and texture. A study published in National Geographic (December 8) showed a sheep can remember the faces of fifty other sheep for over two years. We are not sure if they can remember our holiday makers though.

Welsh Mountain Lamb Ovis aries

Juvenile Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

The wren is Wales's second smallest bird. I took this picture in the woods, next to the river bank. It was with its parents and siblings and was learning to fly which is why it looks so vulnerable.

Juvenile Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

Rabbit Oryctolagus coniculus

So much part of the landscape at Plas Farm but rabbits have only been in Wales for less than 1000 years, having been introduced by the Normans. You will see many active burrows in the woods. June is a great month to see families of rabbits munching buttercup stalks in the countryside around your holiday cottages.

Rabbit Oryctolagus coniculus

The Welsh Oak (aka Sessile Oak) Quercus petraea

Welsh Mountain sheep shelter from the June sunshine in the shade cast by a large, solitary Welsh Oak tree in the River Field outside the holiday cottages. Significant botanical differences with the English oak include the stalked leaves, and the stalkless (sessile) acorns.

The Welsh Oak (aka Sessile Oak) Quercus petraea

Pied Wagtail Montacilla alba yarrellii

Birds don't sweat so they pant like dogs to cool themselves down. This pied wagtail was trying to cool off on the cowshed roof on a particularly hot June day. The roof nail gives some idea of scale. Pied wagtails have been known to nest in the wall of Ty Cerbyd holiday cottage.

Pied Wagtail Montacilla alba yarrellii

Idwal's Paddock at Plas Farm

This is a June landscape at Plas Farm - the view across a marshy field from under the boughs of a Welsh Oak tree.

Idwal's Paddock at Plas Farm

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Swallow Hirundo rustica

Swallows are the very epitome of summer in Wales. The most celebrated of all out summer migrants, the swallow is a truly remarkable creature. Look out for them catching flies above the fields and in the farmyard. The swallow in this picture spent the winter in South Africa. He then flew over 6,000 miles to build a nest in the cowshed at Plas Farm. He managed to cross the Sahara within three days, avoid dehydration and pass the Mediterranean and North African high nets of the humans who eat them as delicacies. All he has to do now is finish building the nest and wait for his wife to arrive in a fortnight. She will inspect the nest and add the finishing touches (internal decor). In 2003, we became part of a swallow monitoring program that resulted in 4 chicks born in the old dairy being ringed prior to their maiden voyage to southern Africa with the intention of tracking their progress. At the time of writing, no Plas Farm swallows have been recaptured.

Swallow Hirundo rustica

Beef Cattle at Plas Farm

Plas Farm is a working sheep and beef farm. If you want to see lots of cute claves, then May is a good month. A beef cow is dry all winter, calves in the spring and rears its offspring over the summer months.

Beef Cattle at Plas Farm

Rhododendron Rhododendton ponticum

Rhododendron ponticum is an evergreen shrub native to northern Turkey, but also occurs in parts of Spain, Portugal and Bulgaria. It was introduced to Britain in about 1763, probably from Mediterranean regions as an ornamental shrub and was planted extensively by the Victorians in the gardens of many large houses where it grew very successfully. The Plas Cilybebyll estate was no exception. Rhododendrons were used to beautify the grounds of the estate and were planted along footpaths through the woods and along the old entrance driveway to the main house. They thrived in the mild conditions of high rainfall and humidity, together with acidic soil. Indeed, when they got planted in the Swansea Valley they probably thought that they’d been planted in heaven. A wide range of rare and exotic varieties were planted as an expression of wealth, social prominence and extravagant lifestyle. The deep shades of red, varying hues of mauve, pink and white are a sight to behold in the summer and it is said that cuttings were taken from the Plas Cilybebyll estate to stock Clyne Gardens, Swansea which now boasts an internationally recognised collection of Rhododendrons.

Rhododendron Rhododendton ponticum

Sheep Grazed Woodland

This picture was taken on The Plas Farm Trail. You can spot the waymarker on the fence post and a stile between the trees in the distance. It is a magical part of the trail and a lovely place to stop for a picnic. The trees are mainly silver birch and willow. Carpets of unusual mosses join the trees and small native bluebells sprout through the green grazed grass.

Sheep Grazed Woodland

Hawthorn Crataegus mongyna

The name 'Hawthorn' comes from the Anglo-Saksen 'Hagathorn'. Haga means hedge. The scientific name 'Crataegus' comes from the Greek 'kratos' meaning 'strong', which refers to the hardness of the wood. Monogyna means 'one-pistil! Some of its many common names are: Bread and Cheese Tree, Hagthorn, Haw, May, Mayblossom, Mayflower, Maythorn, Maybush, Whitethorn, Quickset and Quickthorn. Some even call it the Faerie Tree as it is one of our most wild, enchanted and sacred native trees. This picture was taken in the fields on the mountain slopes behind the holiday cottages. It shows three hawthorn trees alongside a silver birch. Hawthorn is very valuable to local wildlife. It supports over 200 insect species alone, not to mention providing berries for birds later in the season.

Hawthorn Crataegus mongyna

Bumble Bee Bombus lucorum

Britain has 18 species of bumble-bee. Bumble bees have much thicker, hairier bodies than honey-bees, usually about the same length. They forage for food, pollinate flowers and sting predators just like honey bees. They also have three castes - workers, drones and a queen which live in a social group. However, their colonies are much smaller than the complex colonies of honey-bees - up to 150 bumble-bees compared to 50,000 honey bees. Bumbles do not make enough honey for their colonies to survive the winter. In autumn, the workers, the drones and the old queen all die as the cold weather arrives. Fertilized young queens fly off and hibernate until the spring sun wakens them to found new colonies. The species in the picture has two yellow bands across its body and a distinctive white tail. It is busy collecting pollen from a Rhododendron ponticum bush and storing it in baskets on its legs.

Bumble Bee Bombus lucorum

The Welsh Poppy Meconopsis cambrica

The Welsh Poppy is north-west Europe's only native species of poppy. It grows in abundance around the holiday cottages where it contrasts beautifully with the blue grey sandstone from which the cottages are built. The flower has recently been adopted as the logo of Plaid Cymru, the Welsh National Party.

The Welsh Poppy Meconopsis cambrica

May Landscape

This picture was taken on the slopes of Mynydd Marchywel Mountain, a ten minute walk from the holiday cottages. It shows the upper Swansea Valley. The barren rocky mountain is Allt-y-grug, which translates as The Hillside of Heather.

May Landscape

Red Kite

Red Kites are thought by many to be the UK's most beautiful bird of prey. Red Kites are distinctive because of their forked tail and striking colour - predominantly chestnut red with white patches under the wings and a pale grey head. Every now and then, one is seen flying acrobatically above the farm. Persecution meant that the bird was exterminated in England, Scotland and most of Wales by the end of the last century. Only in rural Mid Wales did Red Kites hang on, their numbers down to just a few pairs. Scientific research at Nottingham University claims that the entire population of kites in 1977 emanated from just one female bird. Thanks to the work of conservationists, Wales now has around 600 breeding pairs, (data courtesy of The Welsh Kite Trust) and they are being reintroduced to other parts of Britain. Red Kites are neither particularly strong nor aggressive despite being large birds. Primarily a scavenger and an opportunist; it profits from sheep carrion but is not capable of opening up sheep or lamb carcasses by itself and has to wait until more powerful birds such as ravens or buzzards have made the first inroads before it will attempt to feed. Red Kites are however predators and take a wide variety of live prey, ranging from earthworms to small mammals, amphibians and birds. If you not lucky enough to spot one at the farm, our holiday cottages are in a convenient location for a day trip to the Red Kite Feeding Station in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Red Kite

The post May Wildlife Gallery appeared first on Welsh Holiday Cottages.

Common Dog Violet Viola riviniana

There are around 500 species of violet in the world. They are typically found in moist and slightly shaded conditions such as hedgerows. Common Dog Violets may be found in abundance in the hedgerows around Cilybebyll as well as in a few spots at Plas Farm. They are a favourite food plant of many butterlfies.

Common Dog Violet Viola riviniana

Welsh Mountain Lamb Ovis aries

In the Welsh hills, lambing is often not complete until the end of the month, which means there are still plenty of cute new born lambs to see as you walk around the farm. Hill farmers put their ewes to ram later than in lowland regions as the five-month gestation period is timed to ensure the lambs are born when the weather is warmer. Although temperatures are steadily rising, the grass does not begin to grow until the soil reaches the critical temperature of 6 degrees centigrade. A cold snap in April can mean a shortage of grass. The field in front of the holiday cottages are filled with lambs and their mothers at this time of year.

Welsh Mountain Lamb Ovis aries

Orange Tip Butterfly Anthocharis cardamines

The orange tip butterfly is a colourful symbol of spring time. It appears late in April and may be spotted about the farm, never far from it's favourite food plant - the cuckoo flower. The butterflies each live for about 18 days. The bright orange tips to the males' forewings (the females lack the orange) are believed to be aposematic, acting as a warning to birds that the butterflies contain toxins derived from the larval foodplants. It is notable that many other butterfly species also have very brightly coloured males, but plain females. One reason for this is that males are far more active, constantly flying in search of mates, and in constant danger of being attacked, so they need to advertise their toxic nature. The beautiful mottled green markings on the underside hindwings are an extremely effective camouflage. The colour is not caused by green pigment, which is rare amongst butterflies, but is an optical illusion caused by a mottling of black and yellow scales. As with many other butterfly species, female Orange-tips must mate within a couple of days of emergence, after which they appear to lose their attraction to the males, so the staggered emergence is nature's way of ensuring that there are plenty of males available when the females emerge. The pair in the picture were mating on a cuckoo flower in the rush pasture on the mountain behind the holiday cottages.

Orange Tip Butterfly Anthocharis cardamines

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

A wide variety of birds may be seen at Plas Farm due to the varying habitats that exist at the farm. At the top of the farm, grassland turns into open mountain heathland. One of the birds seen here, sometimes resting atop a fence post, is the Wheatear. It spends most of its time on the ground - hopping or running around. It eats insects and nests in rock crevices and rabbit burrows. It it blue-grey above with black wings and white below with an orange flush to the breast. It has a black cheek. In flight it shows a white rump and a black 'T' shape on its tail. It is a summer visitor and passage migrant having spent the winter in central Africa. Its English name has nothing to do with wheat or ears, but is a bowdlerised form of white-arse, which refers to its prominent white rump!

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

April Landscape at Plas Farm

April is when the countryside becomes green as the leaves come out on the trees. Some species are earlier than others. This picture shows Welsh oak (already in leaf) alongside a bare Mountain Ash. There is an old country saying "Ash before oak expect a soak, oak before ash expect a splash." In 2007, the oak came before the ash so we are in for a fine summer!

April Landscape at Plas Farm

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

April is a great time to watch the tremendously bold colony of Jackdaws that live at Plas Farm, nesting in the old farm buildings. The Jackdaw is Wales's smallest crow - smaller than a Carrion Crow or Rook, but about the same size as a Jay. Like all the crows, Jackdaws are inquisitive and intelligent birds. Adult Jackdaws are all black apart from their grey nape, shoulders and ear-coverts and light grey (almost white) eyes. The bill and legs are black. Their call is an unmistakable high-pitched metallic sounding "kyow" or "tchack", after which it is named.

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Crab Apple Blossom Malus sylvestris

The Crab Apple is native to Wales and is an ancestor to the many varieties of edible apples that we eat today. Towards the end of April, the Crab Apple trees at Plas Farm display a beautiful fragrant blossom that is a sight to behold. It is also highly fragrant. The name ‘Crab’ is probably derived from the amazing shapes the wild apple tree is able to create. Its low trunk, hanging branches and vivid aura can give the impression of a giant crab-like creature. The scientific name of the species “Malus”, is derived from the Latin root word ‘mal’, meaning bad or evil, because it refers to the association of the Apple with the fall from paradise. The other scientific Latin descriptor is ‘sylvestris’ which means 'of the forest or the woods’.

Crab Apple Blossom Malus sylvestris

Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Of all the spring flowers, bluebells capture the character of the season, when warmth has returned but the canopy of leaves has not yet closed. They grow so closely together that they appear to blend together like a carpet – one of nature’s most stunning displays – under a canopy of green woodland trees. Wales's bluebell woodlands are of international importance - the British bluebell represents over 50 per cent of the world population of the flower. However, interbreeding with Spanish bluebells and the resulting hybrids is posing a threat to our native variety. The Spanish bluebells were introduced to British gardens in the 17th century, but it wasn't until the 20th century that they escaped into the wild. As a result, a third of bluebells are either a Spanish or hybrid variety, and one in six bluebell woods contains a mixture of all three species. The bluebell woodlands at Plas Farm contain only native British bluebells, as you will be able to tell by the deep violet colour, drooping bells and strong sweet scent that fills the air as you stroll through the woods near our holiday cottages.

Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara

The common lizard is one of only six types of British reptile. They hibernate from October to March. The lizard in this picture was spotted sunning itself on the metal of a calf feeding trough in rush pasture on the hillside behind the holiday cottages. Lizards are active during the day and spend the morning and afternoon (but not the intense heat of midday) basking in the sun either alone or in groups, going to find food when their body temperature reaches 30 degrees Celsius. They hunt insects, spiders, snails and earthworms. They stun their prey by shaking it, and then swallow it whole. They lizards can grow to 18cm in length, although they are usually between 10 and 16cm long. After emerging from hibernation, the males defend breeding territories from other males. The young develop over 3 months within egg membranes inside the female's body, which they usually break out of as she gives birth. They may however remain inside the egg membrane for several days before breaking out (using their heads rather than an egg-tooth to rupture the membrane). Litters of 3-12 young are born from June to September, after which time the mother shows no parental care. The young feed actively from birth and quickly disperse.

Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara

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