What the right tools (machines) can achieve Saturday 15th July 2017

I visited Morfa Berwig LNR yesterday to see how the work was going, its amazing what an experienced "digger" driver can achieve in a short space of time.

The old bridges that were to be replaced with culverts and hard surface have all been completed, a bit of raking will see them finished off, all of the hard-core used was sourced on site from existing mounds and bunds, which themselves have been remoulded into softer shapes.

I think the photos speak for themselves!

Today was "ramble with a ranger", it was pouring down, thankfully no one was daft enough to venture out in the rain, so a slightly soggy "ranger rambled home", I'm still not sure how I got so wet I hardly left the van.

I stopped off to count the gulls at the high tide roost in Sandy Water Park, they seemed to be enjoying the rain with 845 Black Headed Gulls (yes I counted everyone I could see), 26 Lesser black backed Gulls, 10+ Herring Gulls, 10+ Common Gulls and 28 Mediterranean Gulls.

Mediterranean Gull

Busy times, update, Thursday 13th July 2017

Quite a lot going on at the moment, not least the preparation for the official opening of the Morfa Berwig Local Nature Reserve on 21st July, more of that in a moment.

I've started the autumn ringing at Pembrey, it really is an autumn site as the hirundine (Swallows and Martins) roost is the main focus of activity. The roost of Swallows is growing daily with most of the birds being this years young, last night at sunset there were around 750 birds going in to the reeds, so far we've caught about 40 Swallows,  and one Sand Martin.

It looks like the Sedge Warblers (Sedwa) have had a reasonable breeding season with good numbers of young birds already ringed; the lack of water in the reedbed means it's not favoured by Reed Warblers (Reewa) with low numbers breeding, but they to have raised a few broods.

Other captures have included Stonechat (2 juveniles BTO code 3J) Pied Wagtails (adults BTO code 4, and 3J's) and Whitethroat (code 3J).

With the tide being high late evening I've noticed that a few of the local birders have been out, with a good count of Mediterranean Gulls (130+) in Old Pembrey Harbour.

Meanwhile back at Morfa Berwig the contractors have started replacing most of the wooden bridges with enclosed culverts and pathways.

one of the old footpath bridges, being removed

Yesterday the team were hard at applying Linseed oil to the signs, moving old fences, opening up pathways and generally getting the place in order, there's a bit! more to do next week before opening day.