Lingering winterers Thursday 9th March 2017

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On a day which has been the most "spring like" so far it was interesting to record a trio of wintering birds in evidence at Pembrey Burrows LNR.

A Male Merlin which sat on a post for c1hr on the edge of the marsh, bizarrely surrounded by Meadow Pipits, not mobbing it at all and seemingly oblivious to its presence.


Merlin, distant and cropped

Then A Short-eared Owl flushed from the foredunes at the eastern end of the reserve, the bird made it's way across the estuary towards the Gower accompanied by a couple of mobbing Herring Gulls, there was a Spring record in 2016.




Short-eared Owl, record shot

This afternoon with the fine weather continuing and high water at around 16:00hrs a short sea-watch produced a Long-tailed Duck and c2000 gulls, mostly Common Gulls loafing on the sea.

The much hoped for early Hirundine did not appear neither did a Northern Wheatear, patience patience.............

Also on the incoming tide was a bouy with a great colony of Goose barnacles attached.


Goose Barancles spp?

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