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Showing posts from October 1, 2017

A walk in the dark and a surprise, Friday 6th October - Saturday 7th October 2017

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A late evening visit to Pembrey in the hope of ringing some waders , was the plan with a very high tide, perhaps too high for the task and just a lonely Oystercatcher ringed. But apparently it was a "nice walk", there was something surreal about splashing in the sea in the dark! The surprise came as we arrived at the beach where a Grey Seal pup raised its head to check us out.... still in it cloak of white(ish) fur it paid little attention to us until Gwyn had to walk passed it when it did get a bit agitated. I don't do "cute" but there's no denying that the soulful look in those eyes did give me a warm feeling... I was concerned that it may have been too young to be on it's own, the nearest colony is at Worm' Head on the Gower, it sneezed a couple of times and when we returned from our "nice walk" it was soundly asleep. Just a bit of curiosity I returned this morning to see if it was still there but it had moved

Suspicious activity confirmed. Wednesday 4th October 2017

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Wednesday, as we all know is volunteers day, so it was that I was joined by Brian, the others having other commitments. We completed jobs that have been on the list for a while plus a job forced on us by laziness on the part of a third party!!! No Parking message reinforced at the barrier, and an extra barrier put in place. We also linseed oiled the "snaths" for the scythes which was quite satisfying, another job ticked off. Now to the suspicious activity, a few days ago I found a Wood Mouse corpse in the information shelter, behind a seat, it had been bitten through the head... also a few "splashes" of white on the outside of the building. Then yesterday I found an Owl pellet in the shelter! and more splashes. A carefully positioned trail camera and my suspicious were confirmed, one or more, Barn Owls visiting the shelter at night. Barn Owl Pellet, I will dissect it and see what's been eaten

Monday 2nd October 2017

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A drier morning to meet the stalwart MENCAP volunteers for a litter pick along the beach. It was breezier than it felt once we arrived on the open beach, but undeterred we set off collecting another five bags of rubbish, mostly old fishing rope and netting. Some of the things we didn't pick up included the single dead Sheep, the Single juvenile Porpoise and the host of Barrel Jellyfish. Amongst the usual tide line debris were a couple of interesting finds, including a first sighting for me of  a Portuguese Man o'War, Physalia physalis , and several complete By-the-wind Sailor, Velella velella , previously I've only seen the "skeleton". * please do not touch the Portuguese Man o'War, they sting even when dead* Portuguese Man o'War  Porpoise? I suspect the recent run of horrendous weather out in the Atlantic has contributed to the arrival of such a mix of creatures. On the land side of things it may interest followers to look fo