Paul's Blog - All comments and views are my own,

I spent a few hours on the Pembrey LNR this morning before getting on with preparing for the BioBlitz in the Pembrey Country Park which takes place tomorrow (Sunday 10th). The weather improved quickly this morning from overcast to hazy warm sunshine which caught me out whilst on the beach looking for the STRANDLINE BEETLE, sadly there is very little debris on the beach suitable for the beetle so I didn't find one in the mile or so of beach I checked. On a brighter note I did find some "new" BEE ORCHIDS, growing in a different location to last year, the PYRAMIDAL ORCHIDS are also beginning to put on a show across the reserve. Bee Orchid flower The pond in field 2 continues to improve with 7 times more SOUTHERN MARSH ORCHIDS compared to last year as well as EMPORER, BROAD BODIED CHASERS and BLACK-TAILED SKIMMERS, all putting on a show Black-tailed Skimmer Good numbers of SMALL BLUE as well as SMALL HEATH butterflies were pleasing to see as this year seems a

A routine visit to the Pembrey LNR was rewarding in so much that the site is looking amazing. The cattle were taken out of GF2 a couple of months ago, this has allowed the vegetation in the pond to grow without being grazed off, as a result the pond and "slack" area will be at their best in a week or so, Southern Marsh Orchids are already coming into bloom, with the shoots of Lesser Spearwort providing resting places for the Broad bodied Chasers. Southern Marsh orchid With many of the summer flowers on show the accompanying butterflies are out in force with 10's of Small and Common Blues on the wing. mating Common Blues Now that the kids are back in school and there is a quieter feel to the reserve get out and explore.. It has certainly been a busy half term I'll let the photo below speak for itself, (the used bbq's  had aleady been moved off their original position, hence the burn marks however they were still hot when I got to them so we en