Roaming Nature Blog

Based in Aberystwyth, West Wales, and roaming whenever I get the chance. Blogging nature - beautiful or strange. All photos are my own: taken on a Samsung Galaxy phone.

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Crazy orange slime mould, found on woodchip in a forest in West Wales.

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Wentletrap shell (Epitonium clathrus) - Wentletrap is the Dutch word for spiral staircase.  Found on Poppet Sands, Cardigan, 20th January 2013.

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Bramble leaf (Rubus sp.)  in the snow, on a mossy back ground.  Seen at Cwm Rheidol today. 

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Grumpy Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) from the ruins of Aberystwyth's Victorian Swimming Pool.  Found on the 8th March 2012. 

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A very young Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus), found on 14th March 2012 during a pond dip at Coed Phoenix Nature Reserve in Bronant, West Wales.  My favourite newt. 

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I was hoping to see this butterfly for the first time whilst in Central Finland in August 2012, and it landed on my hair!  It's a Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa), very rare in the UK, but more common in Finland.

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The citron yellow gorse flowers (Ulex europaeus) stood out vividly against the drabs of Aberystwyth today.  Found on Nanny Goat's Walk. 

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Kew Gardens rainbow.  Taken on the 21st March 2012. 

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These beautiful dancing marine worms were found in Falmouth's wonderful Aquarium.

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Bubblicious.  Foam on Ynyslas beach. 

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 This tree has literally tied a knot in itself!  I think a human hand has been "helping", and the effect is bizarre!  This tree can be found in Brynafan Forestry Commission land, a site which is also an ancient Hill Fort. 

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It may be Christmas Eve, but to remind us of summer, here is a wildflower meadow with plenty of Knapweed in flower (Centaurea nigra) from the 12th July 2012. 

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My favourite trees, Birch (Betula sp.) this time in Joroinen, Central Finland.  On 22nd August 2012.

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Ynyslas beach produced a beautiful and unusually pink-toned Common Whelk (Buccinum undatum) today.  It has been well colonised with barnacles and Sea Mat.

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I found this beautiful, rare plant on the 21st May 2012, on the Gower.  It is called the Sea Stock (Matthiola sinuata) and the Gower is one of the last refuges of this Nationally Rare and Vulnerable plant.

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I found this Common Prawn (Palaemon serratus) on the 8th of March 2012, in the remains of the Victorian Bathing Pool off Aberystwyth South Beach.  He was in the company of several hermit crabs.

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A Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) paying us a rare visit.  It was found in Borth on the 11th February 2012, looking a bit lost in a flooded field.  Most of the European birds overwinter in Africa, so this one must have got blown off course.  It caused quite a stir in our friend's back yard!