Monday 28th March 2016

Storm Katie blows through.....

Storm Katie didn't affect this part of the world too much, although it did rain a lot last night.

This morning consisted of an early call at WWT with the CES team of Gower Ringing Group to set up for the new CES season as we have had four new nets given to the group.

With that task sorted in double quick time I set off to meet Veronica, who donated the camera trap last week, to set the camera in the reed beds at the reserve. With that task done and dusted we had a walk along the beach and over the dunes, spending time searching for our special beetle the "Strandline Beetle", alas we didn't find any but did come across another "black" beetle, the Strand-line beetle, and what we think is its larval form.

Strand-line beetle and larva

Last year, Common Ringed Plover nested on the upper beach so it was great to see one bird stubbornly refusing to move until we got a bit too close, fingers crossed lets see what this year brings.

Common Ringed Plover with obligatory ocean debris

A late evening walk around Sandy Water Park was accompanied by this male Blackbird with the softest of song......

champion songster