Saturday, 22 October 2016

Wednesday 19th - Saturday 22nd October

Catching up.....

For most of my adult life I've managed perfectly well with out "internet", so why is it that four days without "broadband" and I feel in disarray?

Well it seems that all is working again so time for a catch up.

Wednesday is volunteer day and this week we were at Morfa Berwig LNR, our mission to put some metal gates up to replace the wooden structures presently leading to the grazing fields.

Having completed a small task clearing some rank vegetation we proceeded to the grazing field to be met by these!

Gently does it....., a nifty pincer and we've got them

At first I thought someone was taking the Donkeys for a walk, then realised they were escapees!!!
An interesting few minutes ensued while we rounded the way ward Donkeys up and put them back in the field, ultimately we never actually completed the main task of putting a gate up, but that's another story.....

On Friday I had a ringing session and was pleased to catch the first CETTIS WARBLER for the site, I had only first heard them a few days previously so to find one in the net was a surprise, more expected though where the first Redwing of the season....

Redwing

Cettis Warbler, a juvenile of this year


I caught a couple of Robins, one had a much greyer forehead than usual, it is likely to be a "continental" bird, but I didn't take a photograph! It is noticeable that there are quite a few Robins around this week

Saturday was another guided walk, "Beach Wildlife", despite the late start 10:30, I arrived at 08:45 and met up with Bernie Beck who had walked in for the walk, he went off to do a sea watch and I had a quick look at the route of the walk. I joined Bernie at about 09:45, by which time he had already seen a Bonxie, A Harbour Porpoise and a Grey Seal!!!!

Of course by the time everyone had arrived there was little to see, undaunted we had a nice walk and managed to pick up Teal, Common Snipe and a couple of Pintail....its all in the timing.

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

Tuesday 18th October 2016

Guided Event....High tide sea watch


This morning at 07:30 a group of nine joined me for our first "guided" Sea Watch event, Including sea watch legend Adam who made sure we didn't miss any of the action.

With high tide due for 08:24hrs we were in position at first light and immediately the birds began to appear.

Sanderling, just dropping in in front of the group, (credit Veronica Haines VH)


Flocks of Sanderling landed feet away to be scared away by a piece of plastic blowing along the beach in the stiff WSW breeze

After a long spell of settled weather the change in conditions were perfect and soon rafts of Common Scoter were visible off shore with many more flying out to sea.

Our marker points on the opposite side of the Burry Inlet (the Gower) (VH)

Gannets numbered 100+, a good count for the estuary, the pick of the morning came with Peregrine, the first great Northern Diver of the autumn, Red-throated Diver, two Kittiwake, three Sandwich Tern, in the 100+auks seen , at least five Razorbill and 20 Guillemot were identified.


Its there somewhere, am I really that short and round, (VH)

Yep it's a Great Northern Diver, (VH)

The usual assemblage of gulls included, Black-headed, Herring and Common.

For me the best bird, and a new one for the reserve/SSSI site list for 2016, a GREAT SKUA, a scarce bird recorded in the county with less than 5 in the past eight years


Great Skua, (photo from Wikipedia)


A great bird to see at any time almost as if I had arranged it.



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