Saturday 31st December 2016

A look back..............

2016 is almost gone, but what an interesting year its been, with several foreign trips, not all wildlife focussed but you just can't avoid the wildlife can you, and lots going on at home.

A year ago saw me on my way to the Malaga area of Spain, with low hopes of finding any wildlife but the reality was very different with the highlight being a new bird for me, White-headed Duck.

White-headed Duck

Then there was my annual visit to the magical island of Lesbos, this year with a twist as I spent a good deal of the time ringing, although it was a slow spring I still found the experience rewarding with Marsh Warbler a highlight as well as a few Great Reed Warbler and of course the stunning European Bee-eater.

European Bee-eater

Another impromptu trip to Spain, this time Majorca saw another new bird in the form of Thekla Lark, but perhaps even better were stunning views of Audouins Gull.

Audouins Gull

On the home front, plenty was going on with some good strandline finds, such as Trigger Fish, a decomposed Striped Dolphin, Comb Jellies and much more.

On the bird front 142 species recorded on the Pembrey Reserve included some exciting migrants, including Spoonbill, Garganey, Pied Flycatcher and of course Yellow-browed Warbler.

Yellow-browed Warbler

For me though there is one record that really be THE record of the year, but no photograph of THE LIZARD...I'm 99% certain which one it was, and those "in the know" have not discounted it, so in 2017 my camera will be with me at all times............

Happy New Year to all my readers.

Tuesday 27th December 2016

Sorry, too late, fully booked.....................

Although the deadline was 29th December, the trip to Lesbos is now fully booked as I just managed to get one last seat on the flight I'm taking to Athens.

If anyone is still interested in joining me on one of my trips to Lesbos get in touch as there may be an opportunity later in the year.

Little Owl

In the meantime happy wildlife watching in 2017............

Balkan Green Lizard

Friday 23rd December 2016

Barbara is on her way, chance of a lie in...... no chance......

I thought a lie in would be in order today, then the ringing tones of the mobile and that was my lie in done with.

Some of the "boys" had escaped, what was I to do? well since they were last seen on the edge of the estuary I thought it wise to see what was going on.

As I drove along looking for them I noticed that the Hereford bullock was missing from F3, but the Welsh Blacks were still there although very agitated, I drove to the end of the track and passed the shelter, thinking here comes a bit of off roading, when I saw the "boys" coming over the fore-dunes, a few shouts of C'mon, and D' Yma had them interested, and they started trotting nicely to ward the van. (they know the difference between a bin bag being rattled and a feed bag!)

I wish I had a photo but the priority was to get them back in a field, sure enough they followed the van and I managed to hold them up until the grazier and team arrived, with a bit of pushing and shoving we got them back into  F3.

I thought I had better check field 1, which is where five had escaped and walked three quarters of the way around before finding where they had broken the fence, the NEW fence, it looked like something had upset them and they had just pushed through. Oh well another job.....

As I type Barbara has started to say hello with gusty winds and, for now, light rain.

Not the escapees, but some of the other boys

Tuesday 20th December 2016

Net rides cleared...............aargh........

The clearance of the Sea Buckthorn continues, also the long overdue "tickling" back of the bushes along the track to the information shelter.

This track is also one of my ringing rides.

I think that's wide enough!

The area around the information shelter has not escaped the monster on tracks, and we can now enjoy wider views of the salt marsh. The refugia is still intact in not a little flatter!

It'll grow back, well the bits we want!

Like any work with vegetation the initial result can look severe but with time the Gorse will recover and provide a nice mosaic of mixed age cover.

There's a refugia there somewhere!

Monday 19th December 2016

Last chance....

View from Palia Vigla high above the village of Vatera,

a great raptor view point in autumn as birds head south

I am finalising plans for a spring trip to Lesbos, three people are already confirmed if anyone else is interested then get in touch, by 29th December, to secure a seat on the flight.

Greater Flamingo, and Little Egret  flock Kallonis Salt Pans

Saturday 17th December 2016

All in a good cause........

Visitors to the reserve over the past week will have seen quite a few large tractors around, as we have contractors on site clearing invasive Sea Buckthorn.







This morning an even bigger machine made an appearance, and whilst it looks very destructive the ultimate end result will make it all worth it.

Sea Buckthorn, a native of the east coat of the UK was extensively planted on sand dunes all over the UK in the belief that stable unmoving dunes were best. More recent thinking shows that sand dunes are by nature intended to be mobile and changing, especially in the areas close to the sea, the "fore-dunes".

Many invertebrates and reptiles need areas of bare sand for their continued survival, its been suggested that any dune system should have at least 5% bare and, on that basis there should be around 20acres of bare sand at Pembrey Burrows, even on this very rough estimate its easy to see that there is nowhere near enough bare sand, although the current work is not designed to create bare sand the removal of the invasive Sea Buckthorn will open areas to the action of the elements, especially the wind.

The work should be finished by the New Year.

On the wildlife front the best sighting this week has been over 300 Golden Plover flying in from the NW over the marsh.

Friday 9th December 2016

Fancy a nature holiday to the Greek island of Lesbos?

I am planning a trip to the Greek island of Lesbos in spring 2017, dates will be 25th April to 2nd May.

Flying from London Heathrow via Athens to the island airport at Mytilini, we will have six full days of wildlife adventure, staying at the 2* PELA HOTEL,  www.pelahotel.gr  in the village of Skala Kalloni on a half board basis.

A minimum of two and maximum of five guests with all transport and guiding costs included; this is a private event where I am merely offering interested individuals the opportunity to join me whilst I am on the island, I will do all the organising of the flights etc. This will be my 10th year of visiting the Lesbos, (Lesbos is the official title, or Lesvos is the more commonly used name)

Based on current exchange rates etc the  FULL costs are approximately £630 for a single traveller in a room, or approximately £580pp for a couple or those willing to share with another guest.

In a good spring expect a bird list around 160 species plus a few subspecies, there are usually good numbers of butterflies, dragonflies and of course orchids

If you are interested get in touch asap as bookings need to be made.

paulnwrg@outlook.com or call 07984788218

Tuesday 6th December 2016

Starlings...love 'em...........

This is one of the flocks from Monday's roost, there are  c4680 birds in this one flock...honest I've counted them..............

incoming.............

And here's a video

Sunday 4th December 2016

Stunning...........

The afternoon has been bright and quite brisk but it was worth getting chilled to the bone to see what may turn into quite a spectacle in the coming days or weeks, maybe mind no guarantees!

The Male Hen Harrier put on a bit of a show, it was nice to see some new faces out looking for the bird, including a lady photographer who had driven from Pembrokeshire.

Don't for the sake of your eyes make the video image larger!!!!
There were some great cloud formations this evening, my photo doesn't do them justice you needed to be there....

Looking south towards the Gower peninsula

The Starlings seemed a little tardy in arriving this evening with just a few small groups of 10's of individuals to begin with, but gradually the size of the groups built up to very large flocks of 100's of birds, the roost tonight was much bigger than Friday evening I estimate between 7000 to 9000, but only a half hearted attempt at a murmuration.

I've thawed out enough to look up the manual for the camera, the next video will have sound you have been warned...........

Saturday 3rd December 2016

Hungry Gannets...

I arrived at Pembrey LNR around 08:30hrs, a different day indeed with overcast skies and a steady easterly breeze blowing, after checking the cattle, all 37 present and correct, I wandered over to the beach.

With a choppy sea it looked fairly quiet in the estuary, then I turned to look out towards the west, WOW all I could see were a mass of Gannets.

I couldn't get a decent count from where I was standing so I jogged, well walked very fast, along the edge of the dunes to a better vantage point.

I could see good numbers of Gannets sat on the sea, with many still diving to feed, a accurate count of the first 180, still left many uncounted, there were in excess of 250 birds in the flock including a good percentage of 1st year birds. I attempted a couple of videos but they were a bit too far away, I was going to delete the video but decided that with some imagination you get a few seconds of Gannets:-)

Walking back to the van The ♂ Hen Harrier showed well, with a very swift flight into the headwind and lots of twists and turns as it looked for prey.

Another attempt at a video was a Grey Heron, the sound is switched off on my camera, no idea how to switch it back on!!

A good mammal record this morning came in the form of a Pygmy Shrew, with its smaller size, (90mm max), darker fur, and lack of chestnut tones distinguishing it from the Common Shrew.

Pygmy Shrew

Even on a grey morning plenty to see, just get out there no matter where you live.

Friday 2nd December 2016

December already............

Its hard to believe that it's already December and 2016 is drawing to a close.

The weather has generally, been, quite benign and the recent run of cold frosty days has made for pleasant times in the countryside.

I thought I would try a ringing session just before sunset as today looks like being the last of the "windless" days for a while. My aim was to capture Pied Wagtails, there has been a decent sized roost in the reed-beds.. but not tonight... just two were caught along with a Blue Tit, still three birds for 20 minutes work not bad.

Wagtail, Pied or White?

I noticed a small "murmuration" of Starlings in the distance and thought they may be on their way to the roost at Ashpits LNR, they were not so I scrambled to get the net down before the now growing flock descended into the reeds.

There's a Hen Harrier somewhere?

In the end there was a sizeable flock of c3500 birds in the reeds when suddenly they all flew towards the water treatment plant, followed closely by the male Hen Harrier.

It was getting very dark when the birds returned to the reeds, the sound of their wings,

then their chattering must be one of natures spectacles

The harrier decided better of his chances and carried on across the reserve finally going down to roost.

A flock of c400 Jackdaws built up over the reserve before heading off towards Pembrey Forest.

This is the first evening I have seen the Starling roost, they may just be "mobile" birds with no fixed abode, or they may use the reserve for a while, worth getting out about an hour before sunset to see.

Monday 28th November 2016

What a load of old rubbish.............


This morning a group of dedicated litter pickers came along to clear a small stretch of beach at Pembrey Burrows LNR.

It is bit of a hike to this part of the reserve, but a pleasant one, and with the crisp conditions it wasn't long before we were getting stuck in to the pile of plastic containers, fishing nets and glass bottles washed up above the high water mark.

Here we go...

Much of the plastic is sent for recycling, provided it is "clean" the glass is recycled but everything else is destined for landfill.

No messages in these bottles

Some of the group getting stuck in..

One of the important aspects of litter picking on the reserve and adjoining SSSI is to leave all wood and large sheets of plastic in situ, this debris provides shelter during spring, summer and autumn for the endangered Strandline Beetle, at this time of year the beetle will have made its way up off the HWM and into the dunes to spend the winter months.

In only two hours around 15 bags of rubbish and recyclables had been collected, and deposited ready for pick up with a vehicle later this week.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Sunday 27th November 2016

Getting colder....

This morning saw the first real ice on the reserve this morning, not enough to skate on of course but enough to freeze the puddles on the tracks and the marsh.

There were few signs of wildlife this morning but with a bit of effort some choice birds were seen.

Jack Snipe (1), Common Snipe (17), Water Rail (3), the three Water Rails were all within a few metres of each other which is so unusual for such a territorial bird.

I was hoping that the male Hen Harrier would still be around and sure enough it was hunting the dunes and marsh, eventually making a kill in the inlet, (which I think is actually called - Swan Pool Drain - on old maps).

A map from 1831

This afternoon I bumped into Veronica and Chris, they had good views of the Hen Harrier again as well as a Sparrowhawk, I saw the bird very well after I left Veronica and Chris, it's a big female, it could well be the same bird that has been seen off and on for almost a year.

A distant shot but gives an idea of the size of the bird

Thursday 24th November 2016

Almost winter, and a bird to savour.....

With the start of winter a few days away, life at Pembrey Burrows LNR is slowing down, the rush of the autumn seems to be over and there are fewer birds to be seen, a few hardier flowers are still in bloom, such as Ragwort and of course Western Furze.

But going back a day, the best bird seen yesterday was a male Hen Harrier, seen only for barely a minute but a stunner, so this today when I decided to have a stroll for the late afternoon high water I was delighted to see the same bird again.... or was it?

Yesterday I was happy to say that the bird was an adult male, today with better views the bird showed distinct barring to the innermost primaries and outermost secondaries, and a diffuse wing band on the upper wing due to the darker tips of inner greater and median coverts,making it a 2nd calendar year male, not a full adult, I guess its more likely I overaged the bird yesterday rather than there being two HH around. Comments welcome, as this  is the first adult(ish) male I have seen in the UK, although I've seen them in France.

I've not tried to upload a video before, I'm disappointed with the image on here, on my camera and laptop it is a lot nicer, but eh its only a bridge camera, and I dropped it again today!!!

Sunday 20th November 2016

Wildlife crime comes to Pembrey Burrows LNR...

Whilst on duty this afternoon two members of the public approached me and proceeded to show me an illegally set mist net which they had found set in Sea Buckthorn bushes on the reserve.

They had removed the two birds, a Great Tit and a Bullfinch, that were trapped and released them, although it sounded like only one was going to survive.

Needless to say I'm pretty pissed off by this discovery, luckily or unluckily I'm also very observant and clocked a suspicious vehicle and occupant in one of the car parks, I can't go into anymore detail at the moment, I may not get paid but I've been at this ranger game a very long time!!!... over to the local Police to deal with.

Not much else to report.........................

Friday 18th November 2016

140............

This morning started much calmer than yesterdays eventful weather, there was little breeze when I got to the eastern end of the reserve at Old Pembrey Harbour, it didn't last too long, and soon a steady breeze built up, it was noticeably colder, not cooler, colder!

The tide was starting to fall and the waders seemed more relaxed, yesterday they were being buffeted by the strong wind. Species and numbers were similar to yesterday, although the Bar-tailed Godwits had reached a grand total of three, actually a good number for the site at this time of year. An Atlantic Grey Seal was "bottling" in the estuary.

There was one red-breasted Merganser present and he didn't want his photo taken, so a rushed and heavily cropped photo is all you are getting today!

Red-breasted Merganser

After chatting with the sea watch king, Adam, I drove around to the reserve entrance and made my way to the beach at CE51, plenty going on here with a massive 161 Great Cormorants and 63 Ringed Plover.

Most of the 161 Great Cormorants

On the beach I was sheltered to a great extent from the breeze and it was quite pleasant, I walked to the end of the reserve bit of the beach scanning the estuary, I spent a good 45mins looking and looking when a "duck" flew across my line of sight, at last a LONG-TAILED DUCK, with only brief but conclusive views species 140 was in the bag phew!!!

Most of the 600+ Sanderling with Ringed Plover behind

Thursday 17th November 2016

The state of things today....

Yesterday, being a Wednesday was volunteer day for the Local nature Reserves volunteers, so we met at our newest reserve at Morfa Berwig, to find out more about the reserve you will have to go back through the blog.....

We were joined by a couple of people who had  seen the "Keep Wales Tidy", Facebook page and saw that they could come along and help with a litter pick... many thanks.

With the usual array of empty cans, bottles, sweet wrappers, crisp packets and general litter dumped from a house we found this little lot...

Used syringes, and a couple of "bongs" used for smoking drugs

Its sad to say that Llanelli like most provincial towns has a significant drug addiction problem, a whole generation seems to be "lost" with those involved oblivious to little else other than the difficult life they find themselves in, its not for me to judge but I object to their life style having a negative impact on others, in whatever form that may be.

On a cheerier note today, Thursday, one of the last of the Super Moon high tides was due at around 08:25hrs, so I decided to visit the eastern boundary of the Pembrey LNR where a great sea watching point is located , the Old Pembrey Harbour. The weather has certainly become more seasonal with leaden skies and a stiff breeze blowing.

Despite the tough conditions there were birds to be seen including: Oystercatchers (3000+), Sanderling (600+), Ringed Plover (30+), Curlew (46),  Shelduck (8), Red-breasted Merganser (2)Peregrine (1) and Bar-tailed Godwit (1)

With significant winds forecast for the next few hours (10:00 - 16:00), tomorrow may be a good day to get out sea watching again as sea birds may well be blown into the estuary

A bit blowy

Sunday 13th November 2016

Effort pays off, up with the Larks....

Being a sand dune reserve, there are good numbers of Skylark wintering, probably joining the already strong breeding population.

I have toyed with the idea of trying to catch and ring Skylarks for a few months, finally I bit the bullet and having found what looked like the perfect spot, a disused car park which is now very weedy surrounded by sand dunes, I put thought in to action.

So it was yesterday evening that I set out the positions of the nets for an early morning session today.

On site at 05:30hrs, to put up the nets, the poles and guys were where I had left them!, when all was set  some very loud Skylark song was played and I retired to the van.

I checked the nets carefully and was amazed to find a Wren in the bottom pocket and a few metres away a SKYLARK. Relatively few Skylark are ringed each year so it was good to be able to handle this iconic bird.

Skylark

Skylark (VH)

I was joined by my able "scribe" Veronica and after a busy net round with mainly Goldfinches, and a deserved cup of coffee we went back to the nets to find another Skylark, this time nearer the top of the net, I'm guessing that due to the cunning set of the net it hadn't time to lift over and evade the net, so TWO SKYLARKS in one session, I'm well pleased.

In 2015, a total of 582 Skylark were ringed in the UK, of these 345 were pullus, (nestlings), in the same year 99 were ringed in Wales 16  were pullus

I have to thank Matt Prior, or as some ringers know him "trapper" Prior, he  is a first class ringer, and has an incredible talent for working out the best way to catch most species, and gave useful advice prior to the session and yes, there was a "dogleg" in my net set........

The morning panned out with the following birds caught and ringed, Goldfinch (14), Linnet (11),  Chaffinch (4), three each of Wren, Meadow Pipit and Greenfinch with a Blue Tit and a Dunnock completing a nice session of 42 birds.

What next?

Tuesday 8th November 2016

Pembrokeshire Dangler nearly spoils the morning...

Yesterday evening I gave a talk to the Llanelli Naturalists Society, on 102 years of ringing the audience was average for the society, about 10 souls who had nothing better to do, but I think the talk was well received.

This morning was forecast to be still and overcast with no sign of rain until lunchtime, so when I had finished opening the one net that I had planned at a new location on the reserve, I was a bit surprised to hear rain tapping on the van roof, luckily it didn't come to much and a small but interesting session was had.

At dawn the first two birds were singles of Redwing and Fieldfare, always great to trap but I had the feeling that they were the only Redwing and Fieldfare in the area!!

Fieldfare

Things picked up as the finch flocks started to appear, so I switched to playing Linnet and Greenfinch on the tape lures. In the end eight Greenfinch and two Linnet were caught whilst observations revealed around 45 Greenfinch (including a flock of 32) and maybe 30+ Linnet, and the same of Goldfinch.

Linnet

Greenfinches are always great to trap, not only are they a really smart bird but they have been through some rough times across the UK and these are the first I have seen for several months.

Greenfinch ♂,  (VH)

the "mess" around the upper mandible

is the sticky remains of Sea Buckthorn berries

Greenfinch ♂, note the yellow of the primaries reaches the shaft of the feather,

females do not show this obvious feature

After packing up I had a quick look around the reserve, flushing a Jack Snipe from the edge of one of the ponds.

The change in the weather has arrived as forecast with some welcome rain to freshen the ponds and dampen the marsh which is very dry.

Saturday 5th Novemebr 2016

Frost.......

A crisp morning with actual ice on the windscreen of the van, and frost on the ground on the reserve must mean its winter?

Arriving at just before 07:30hrs, to the sun just peeking over the horizon the first bird I saw as I drove across the reserve was the ♂ Merlin, typically the light was all wrong and despite the bird being very obliging it didn't wait for me to position the van properly.
This was the best of an in car photo I could muster.

Merlin ♂

The bird then flew and landed on the far side of the field sat on what is becoming a favourite post.

A quite uneventful walk out to the beach was followed by an equally uneventful walk east along the beach, although finding a James Bond style speed boat, albeit old battered and without an engine, was a surprise.

I guess it can't be allowed to stay there, or to float away on the next high tides, (its safe for now) so it becomes another job!!


For those of you with absolutely nothing better to do on Monday night (7th Nov), I'm giving a talk on Bird Ringing, at the Llanelli Naturalists Society meeting in Llanerch Community Hall, at 7:30pm, see Llanelli naturalists society website for directions.

Wednesday 2nd November

Winter is here, meteorologically speaking anyway..

A cool dawn with an  overcast sky saw me setting up a few nets in the Willow and Reed areas, after a quiet start the pace picked up with 13 Reed Buntings in the Reed net, along with last weeks Cetti's Warbler. The Willow bush net produced a single Chaffinch and a lonely Blue Tit.

There were several Water Rail calling in the reeds but none would react to the tape lure.

Three Red-breasted Mergansers flew over heading West

Its good to get a few reed Buntings ringed as there are a lot on site and they do move about the area.

Reed Bunting ♂

With today being volunteer day we set off on a few tasks, pot hole filling and putting up a few signs, well nothing is straight forward but suffice to say pot holes filled and a sign up before lunch, but not before being pleased to see a HEN HARRIER , quartering the lower and middle marsh, it was a "ringtail" which means it was either a female or an immature. species 138 for the year.

Of course the camera was in the car............................

Over lunch a ♂ Merlin came and sat on a fence post in very close range, then I noticed two large white birds heading from the NNW they were swans and as I said a quiet prayer they were indeed WHOOPER SWANS species 139 for the year.

Whooper Swans

(not todays photo, they were flying in the other direction!!)

This week is turning into something of a purple patch in terms of new birds appearing on or over the recording area, what will be number 140..???

Tuesday 1st November

Ups and downs, disappointments and surprises....

Every day that I turn up at Pembrey Burrows reserve, I wonder what I am going to find, something unusual, a surprise maybe a new bird or insect; in the back of my  mind is always the thought "what have the humans been up to...".

Yesterday was no exception so when I got to the information shelter and noticed the tide tables had been moved and the leaflet dispensers were mixed up I knew something odd had happened.

This thought was confirmed when I found some of the information signs had holes in them, made by air rifle pellets, then the bits of chipped wood lying on the floor confirmed that some git had been using the shelter for target practise......

Despite being disappointed I guess that I should be grateful that its the first incident in nearly twelve months, so I replaced the damaged signs and wait with anticipation.

Today a new day and a new month, a cooler feel and a light Easterly breeze soon found the reserve to be raptor heaven.

I noticed that the flocks of Starlings, & Goldfinches, along with the other birds on the marsh were "on edge", it soon became apparent as a male Peregrine swept over the top of the reeds, a Kestrel watching from a dead tree and a Buzzard floating by.

Within a few minutes order was restored, but not for long as a very large very dark raptor appeared to the alarm calls of the Magpies and Carrion Crows, a look at the bird confirmed a long overdue MARSH HARRIER, judging by the very dark plumage an immature bird which  quickly disappeared into the reeds. Of course I didn't have my camera to hand, so an interent photo for those of you unfamiliar with this great bird.

Marsh harrier, the bird seen today was darker than this individual with a smart cream crown

(photo,  internet unnamed source )

As if that wasn't enough four Red Kites drifted in from the estuary and after a few minutes continued inland to the North.

A real raptor fest!!!!