Spring, or is it? Monday 2nd March 2020

A belated, Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus, Happy Saint David's Day.

Yesterday was the start of meteorlogical spring, personally I'll wait for the Spring Equinox on 20th March before I get excited. Although nature is showing signs of the changing seasons that's more to do with day length rather than having hit a date in the calendar.

So what have Daffodils to do with Wales, In Wales, the daffodil is a symbol of our patron saint, David, (Dewi Sant in Welsh) and of rebirth and faithfulness because they bloom every year even after the harshest winters.

Daffodil in Welsh is Cenhinen Pedr - which literally translates as Pedr's (or Peter's) leek. The true Welsh daffodil is the Tenby daffodil, Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. obvallaris, a sub-species of the wild variety. Although it is likely this was originally a cultivated flower it now grows wild across south-west Wales.

Tenby Daffodil (Dr Stuart Blackmore)

It is planned to plant 500 each of both Native Wild Daffodils, and Tenby Daffodils at the entrance to Pembrey Country Park in the autumn of 2020, hopefully resulting in a fabulous display for late winter early spring., There may be a call for help when we get to that job....

Wild Daffodil

With favourable weather, a run of gentle southerly winds would be nice, then we can expect the first migrating birds to start arriving along the Carmarthenshire coast, many will be passing straight through to breeding areas further north, but equally many will stay to breed. Look out for the following  three birds in the next few weeks, and don't forget to call in the office and let us know what you have seen.

Chiffchaff, Northern Wheatear, Sand Martin, 

Chiffchaff, look around the Willow Trees and listen for their "Chiff- Chaff" call

Northern Wheatear (male), look on the dunes and the open grassy areas, 

they have a obvious white patch at the base of the tail

Sand Martin, Sandy Water Park is great place to see these 

sub-saharan travellers

these will be the first then closely followed by Barn Swallow, Whimbrel and House Martin. Of course nature doesn't read books so anything could turn up keep looking.....

Barn Swallow, they will be returning to nest around buildings

Whimbrel, best seen along the coast, 

Pwll and Shoreline beach areas are good spots

House Martin, not as common as they once were 

they will be returning to favoured nest sites on houses.

Keep an eye out for Toads on the move, there are a few hotspots, one of which is the coast road near Burry Port Woodlands where on suitable nights toads will be crossing the road Take Care