Steve Andrews's Blog, page 7
January 29, 2017
My Vanishing World
Endangered Species in a Vanishing World
Llandaff Weir (Photo: Steve Andrews)
Throughout my life I have been very sadly watching the natural world being destroyed bit by bit, pond by pond, forest by forest, field by field, habitat by habitat. Most of this is done in the name of ‘development’ and ‘progress’ and even in the name of safety, e.g. when trees are felled for being potentially
Llandaff Weir (Photo: Steve Andrews)
Throughout my life I have been very sadly watching the natural world being destroyed bit by bit, pond by pond, forest by forest, field by field, habitat by habitat. Most of this is done in the name of ‘development’ and ‘progress’ and even in the name of safety, e.g. when trees are felled for being potentially
November 24, 2016
Monarch Butterfly Monitoring in Portugal and Spain
Monarch Butterfly Colonies in Portugal and Spain
Monarch (Photo: Public Domain)
I have been wondering what happens to monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) that emerge from their chrysalises in the late autumn in Portugal and Spain. I am wondering if there are any organisations or individuals out there that know or are monitoring the colonies and populations of these insects.
Migratory
Monarch (Photo: Public Domain)
I have been wondering what happens to monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) that emerge from their chrysalises in the late autumn in Portugal and Spain. I am wondering if there are any organisations or individuals out there that know or are monitoring the colonies and populations of these insects.
Migratory
November 21, 2016
Forest Farm and Glamorganshire Canal are Great Places for Nature
Forest Farm Reserve and the Glamorganshire Canal
Photo: Steve Andrews
Just on the outskirts of Cardiff lies a wonderful area for nature that I have been visiting since I was a boy. I am talking about Glamorganshire Canal and the Forest Farm Nature Reserve, which offer long stretches of freshwater, pools and wetland habitats, forests and fields.
Photo: Steve Andrews
There are
Photo: Steve Andrews
Just on the outskirts of Cardiff lies a wonderful area for nature that I have been visiting since I was a boy. I am talking about Glamorganshire Canal and the Forest Farm Nature Reserve, which offer long stretches of freshwater, pools and wetland habitats, forests and fields.
Photo: Steve Andrews
There are
September 28, 2016
Where have all the British butterflies gone?
British Butterflies conspicuous by their absence
Small Tortoiseshell (Photo: Public Domain)
I have been in the UK since the end of August and have been sad to find that many once common British butterflies are conspicuous by their absence. It needs to be asked: where have all the British butterflies gone?
I remember a time when buddleia (Buddleia davidii) bushes were rightly also known as
Small Tortoiseshell (Photo: Public Domain)
I have been in the UK since the end of August and have been sad to find that many once common British butterflies are conspicuous by their absence. It needs to be asked: where have all the British butterflies gone?
I remember a time when buddleia (Buddleia davidii) bushes were rightly also known as
July 28, 2016
The Swallowtails of Portugal
The Southern Scarce Swallowtail
Southern Scarce Swallowtail (Photo: Steve Andrews)
There are two types of swallowtail butterfly seen flying in Portugal, and one of these is known as the Southern Swallowtail or Southern Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii). A large and very beautiful insect it is often regarded as a subspecies of the very similar Scarce Swallowtail (I. podalirius).
Southern Scarce Swallowtail (Photo: Steve Andrews)
There are two types of swallowtail butterfly seen flying in Portugal, and one of these is known as the Southern Swallowtail or Southern Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii). A large and very beautiful insect it is often regarded as a subspecies of the very similar Scarce Swallowtail (I. podalirius).
June 29, 2016
Environmentally friendly bicycle trends
Environmentally friendly bicycle trends
A row of rental bikes in the center of Amsterdam (Photo: Michael Renner)
Bicycles are an environmentally friendly way of getting around because they do not burn fuel to do so. Bicycles rely on human energy to power them. They do not pollute the air with exhaust fumes like cars and other motorised vehicles do at present. Going by bike is one greener
A row of rental bikes in the center of Amsterdam (Photo: Michael Renner)
Bicycles are an environmentally friendly way of getting around because they do not burn fuel to do so. Bicycles rely on human energy to power them. They do not pollute the air with exhaust fumes like cars and other motorised vehicles do at present. Going by bike is one greener
June 27, 2016
Birdwatching in Tenerife
Tenerife Birds
Blue Chaffinch (Photo: Public Domain)
Tenerife in the Canary Islands is a very popular destination for sun-seeking holidaymakers but it is also a great place for birdwatchers because of the variety of habitats and variety of birds. Some species are very rare ones too. Amongst the birds that are in that category is the Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea), and endemic
Blue Chaffinch (Photo: Public Domain)
Tenerife in the Canary Islands is a very popular destination for sun-seeking holidaymakers but it is also a great place for birdwatchers because of the variety of habitats and variety of birds. Some species are very rare ones too. Amongst the birds that are in that category is the Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea), and endemic
May 25, 2016
Why Tenerife is a paradise for naturalists
Tenerife is a naturalist’s dream
Tenerife forested mountains
Tenerife is a popular island in the Canary Islands for tourists who spend their holidays there but it is also every naturalist’s dream. With its forests, mountains, semi-desert areas, cliffs, sand dunes and range of beaches there is a real diversity of habitats. There are so many types of countryside on the island, and also a range
Tenerife forested mountains
Tenerife is a popular island in the Canary Islands for tourists who spend their holidays there but it is also every naturalist’s dream. With its forests, mountains, semi-desert areas, cliffs, sand dunes and range of beaches there is a real diversity of habitats. There are so many types of countryside on the island, and also a range
April 23, 2016
Goats of Es Vedra culled
Es Vedra's goats culled
Mountain Goat (Photo: Public Domain)
The mysterious rocky island of Es Vedra, off the southern coast of Ibiza in the Balearic Islands, has lost its goat population. The goats were rather cruelly culled, or killed being a more accurate description, and animal-lovers that knew about the proposed cull were disgusted to find that the killing of the goats went ahead
Mountain Goat (Photo: Public Domain)
The mysterious rocky island of Es Vedra, off the southern coast of Ibiza in the Balearic Islands, has lost its goat population. The goats were rather cruelly culled, or killed being a more accurate description, and animal-lovers that knew about the proposed cull were disgusted to find that the killing of the goats went ahead
April 10, 2016
Is the Chupacabra just a Kinkajou?
What is a Chupacabra?
The chupacabra is a creature that is the subject of an ongoing myth. Its name translates from the Spanish as "goat-sucker," and, indeed, the animal is reported to be carnivorous and to act like a vampire in sucking the blood from its prey. It is said to be like a small bear with spines on its back and it has claws and fangs. Other descriptions liken it to some sort of
The chupacabra is a creature that is the subject of an ongoing myth. Its name translates from the Spanish as "goat-sucker," and, indeed, the animal is reported to be carnivorous and to act like a vampire in sucking the blood from its prey. It is said to be like a small bear with spines on its back and it has claws and fangs. Other descriptions liken it to some sort of
