Storm Amy really came into effect and it was a horrible day with near constant rain and the wind stretching up to an F10 southerly, gusting up to F12 and preventing guests from leaving the island. With such conditions, it was rather fruitless for the birds with totals including 33 Goldcrests, 14 Robins, 7 Chiffchaffs and singles of Firecrest and Spotted Flycatcher.
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A very foreboding sky as the storm ramped up during the night (C) Greg Lee |
The main event of the day was the unveiling of the spectacular new glass map of the island in the Boathouse. The whole island community braved the rain for the event.
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The new map! (C) Greg Lee |
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The appearance of House Spiders during the autumn is perhaps not everyone's favourite as several species of the Eratigena/Tegenaria genus, usually males, appear in desperation to find a reclusive female, often scuttling behind various household objects and occasionally inadvertently surprising (or terrifying) people when they move said object. A few have been around so far but this is by far the most sizeable creature yet that needed escorting from the LSA Hut, presumably E. Atrica (Giant House Spider) or possibly E. Saeva, which has a heavier distribution in Wales and the west of the UK. Whatever it was, it was almost too large for the pot! |
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