Autumn approaches & Wales Nature Week

Mae'r hydref yn agosáu, yn y byd naturiol mae newidiadau eisoes ar y gweill gyda dechrau mudo adar yn amlwg.

Mae'r blodau gwyllt yn dechrau gosod hadau, ac mae'r glaswellt yn marw yn ôl, rydyn ni heibio heuldro'r haf a chyn bo hir bydd y nosweithiau'n dechrau tynnu i mewn, mae'r cyfan yn swnio'n braidd yn llwm ond mae'n ffordd y byd naturiol, ac rwy'n hoffi'r hydref.

Mae'n ymddangos bod gloÿnnod byw yn cael blwyddyn llawer gwell na'r llynedd, gyda chyfrif da yn cael eu gwneud ar yr arolwg glöynnod byw yn Twyni Pen-bre.

Mae'n fis ers y blog diwethaf, gyda gwyliau a dim llawer i adrodd arno, bydd hyd yn oed hyn yn fyr.

Autumn approaches, in the natural world changes are already underway with the start of bird migration being evident.

The wildflowers are beginning to set seed, and the grasses are dying back, we are past the summer solstice and soon the evenings will start to draw in, all sounds a bit gloomy but it’s the way of the natural world, and I like the autumn.

Butterflies seem to be having  a much better year than last, with good counts being made on the butterfly survey at Pembrey Burrows.

It’s a month since the last blog, with holidays and not a lot to report on, even this will be short.

Another record of the Southern Dune Tiger Beetle, this time on Pembrey Burrows was good, in contrast searches  for the Strandline Beetle during June have found only one individual, not surprising as much of the driftwood has been buried under sand, they are there somewhere....

Adults to the left immatures to the right

On the bird front a moulting Turnstone and a couple of Ringed Plovers on Cefn Sidan, may point to early returning birds from breeding grounds much further North. Numbers of Mediterranean Gulls, are beginning to build up nicely, Old Pembrey harbour a few hours before high water is  good place to them, and worth checking to see if any are carrying "Darvic rings"  in colour and text combination which can be read and reported or just metal rings. European colour-ring Birding | cr-birding Also a useful site for identifying the birds is Mediterranean Gull - eBird

 Wales Nature Week Events,

Saturday 5th July, Beach Safari at Cefn Sidan, meet at the main beach entrance in Pembrey Country park, parking fees apply 10am -12pm

Sunday 6th July, Take a closer look at Llyn Llech Owain Country Park, Moths, pond dipping and walks, parking fees apply, 10:30am -2pm

Wednesday 9th July Beach Safari at Cefn Sidan, meet at the main beach entrance in Pembrey Country park, parking fees apply 10am -12pm

Thursday 10th July Walk at Morfa Berwig LNR 10am - 11:30pm

A nice find or two

 Bore da pawb

Another couple of busy weeks, with the chance to spend more time outdoors and observing what's going on.

Whilst looking for Strandline Beetles on Cefn Sidan a beetle with a mainly chocolate brown colouring but having an obvious creamy strip on each wing case, moved near my foot before running very fast and taking off. Enough time for a positive identification of Dune Tiger Beetle, Cicindela maritima the first record that I am aware of since 2017.

Dune Tiger Beetle - library image

Although this recent record was not on the Pembrey Burrows Reserve it was actually on the western end of Cefn Sidan it does provide hope that we can find the beetle active on the dunes.

Celery Leaved Buttercup - library image

During another survey, undertaken on 30th May I found Celery Leaved Buttercup, Ranunculus, Sceleratus, just two plants in Pembrey Country Park,  although much better recorded than NBN Gateway would suggest it looks like a a new site for this species in Carmarthenshire.

The Botanical Society Of Britain & Ireland, visited Pembrey Burrows last week , choosing a day without any rain. I could spend much time with them but they did find a new grass for the site, what's it called you ask, well when they tell me I'll tell you, (I forgot to ask). Like all experts in their relevant taxa these guys know their stuff.

There were also a lot of butterflies on the track leading to the bird hide, with - Green Hairstreak, Small Blue 40+, Common Blue 20+, Small Heath, Holly Blue 1, Small Skipper 2, Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly 2 ♀. 

On the pond in F2 there were, Emperors, Board-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Azure Blue, Common Blue as well as some stunning Southern marsh Orchids.

Southern Marsh Orchid

Conservation Team roadshow

 Bore da pawb

On Saturday, yesterday, the Outdoor Service Recreation events team held a Green Warrior Day at Pembrey Country Park.

There were several stalls promoting recycle reuse, sustainability, wellbeing and then there was our Conservation Team with our "roadshow"

Ably assisted by Veronica and Rhea we spoke to a lot of children and perhaps as importantly adults, showing them a wide range of natural objects from Carmarthenshire such as a Pilot Whale Skull, Minke Wale flipper bones, Sea potatoes, Spider Crab shells, Badger skulls although the winner this year was our "pond in a tank and tray" not forgetting a few spectacular Moths.

The ponds and lake at Pembrey Country Park support a great biodiversity so  a little pond dipping of my own soon had a collection to delight everyone, Toad tadpoles, a great hit, Leeches, an Eft, (I didn't identify it to species) pond snails, Caddisfly larvae in their different cases, dragonfly and damselfly larvae plus a few other wriggly creatures.

What struck me was how many adults bemoaned that when they were children they collected tadpoles, newts and fish and wished their children had the same fun theses days!

Also explaining that those wonderfully beautiful dragonflies that people see, start off life in water, utter disbelief from several people, but as ever it was watching and listening to the children being absorbed in the pond life, there is hope after all.

Enjoying the sunshine - work never stops

 Bore da pawb,

Well what a run of fine sunny, though sometimes chilly, weather we have been having. I hope you have been able to take advantage of this luxury.

Is it me or is the "season" early this year there are many plants in full flower that I would not expect for at least another week or maybe two weeks, Foxgloves, Digitalis purpurea, being a prime example of already being 3ft tall and flowering.

Morolwg

  The great work carried out by Bumblebee       Conservation Trust "Connecting the   Carmarthenshire Coast" project, at Morolwg in  the Millennium Coast  Park is coming along nicely, with what were bare banks of soil now  starting to spring to life and burst into flower.

Ephemeral pond Pembrey Burrows

I spent a useful few hours at Pembrey Burrows LNR, something which is difficult for me to do normally with the current workload, however I was able to identify a few problems that need sorting before they get out of control, things like Sea Buckthorn springing up in areas where there has been little growth for many years.  Japanese Rose spreading beyond acceptability and a lovely seasonally wet area being encroached by willow scrub. The work never stops.

Thrift, hard to see so go along and look 

The display of Thrift, Armeria maritima, in grazing compartment 2 , is one of the best I have seen for many years.

I am delighted to say that phase 1 planting of the Carbon Capture/pollinator project at Festival fields in the Millennium Coast Park has finally been completed due to enormous effort of the Celtic Wildflowers team WELL DONE GUYS, 

#Team Celtic Wildflowers, it was hard going (apparently)

This dry spell may have a sting in its tail, too much too soon could affect how many invertebrates cope through the breeding season, with the potential for their food sources, such as grasses and herbs being killed off early leaving any larvae without foodplants. Lets hope we do have some sensible reprieve. 

I'm going to to sign off for this week loads more going on....

Hi

 Prynhawn da pawb croeso

 

I've been struggling with ideas for the Blog, so here in no particular order is a roundup of the past few week.

On the project front I'm still waiting for full confirmation that the exciting projects I have lined up for Welsh Government's Local places for Nature fund, that the funding will come through, I'm sure it will.

This will allow projects to be carried out improving the hibernation/over wintering habitat for the Greater Horseshoe Bats, to provide mitigation for the eventual loss of the Burry Port East beach Sand Martin Colony, which, by the way is going to monitored weekly this season starting tomorrow another project for later in the year will be the restoration of a dune slack in Pembrey Country Park.

A highlight last week was to see my first Green-winged Orchids at Pembrey Burrows I expect that following the recent rain there will be many more in flower now.

On the bird front, the first Reed and Grasshopper Warblers are on territory on the coast whilst a Tree Pipit in full display flight at Llyn Llech Owain so great to see and to show to a group having a walk around looking at the Peat bog restoration work.

Oh you may have seen me on the BBC news on Good Friday, thankfully most of my interview was cut but Barry Stewart did a great job promoting the use of by-product from the steel industry to enhance bio-diversity.

I was lucky to see a displaying Goshawk at one of our sites this morning amazing bird.

The Strandline Beetle - conservation action Natur-am-Byth

 Hi all,

Usually the blog is a look back, but this edition is a look forward to some challenging work planned for tomorrow, Monday 7th April.

Working alongside the Natur-am-Byth project Natural Resources Wales / Natur am byth! Saving Wales’ threatened species  we will be installing a few different types of refugia along a quiet part of Cefn Sidan which was a regular haunt of this near extinct beetle.

Installation instructions

Using a mix of timber (old pallets), logs, roofing tiles, and maybe the odd car tyre f refugia sites will be located along 500m of beach. These refugia will be made as secure as is possible with signage asking visitors to leave them alone .

The volunteer conservation rangers will then monitor the refugia and gather what evidence they find, positive or negative.

Small flowered Catchfly

Another project now well underway (and attracting the attention of the BBC) is the Carbon Capture/pollinator/rare plant repository project now at Festival Fields in the Millennium Coast Park, (yes its expanded its purpose a bit) .

Initial preparation work is finished and the first delivery of 200t "boss-slag" from the Port Talbot Steel works arrives on Thursday. Once the deliveries are finished 5900 plug plants and several kilos of mixed native coastal plant seed will be planted, typically its too dry at the moment.

We are grateful to Katie Sutton, formerly of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust for providing the funds for the plants and seed, and for Sandra and Barry Stewart of Celtic Wildflowers for masterminding the plan.... Celtic Wildflowers, Garden Nursery Near Me, Order Wildflowers Online 

I'll keep you informed you never know we may need volunteers to plant those 5900 plugs!

Spring - official Spring

 Bore da pawb

Cyrhaeddodd dechrau'r Gwanwyn seryddol ar 20 Mawrth, diwrnod gyda diwrnod o heulwen di-dor ar draws y sir.

Clywais fy Sif-Saff cyntaf y diwrnod o'r blaen sy'n rhaid bod yn arwydd sicr o ddyddiau gwell i ddod.

Mae Siff-Saff a Telor y Helyg weithiau'n anodd gwahaniaethu rhwng rhai pobl sy'n mynd ar y llinellau bod gan Siff-Saff goesau tywyll o'i gymharu â Telor y Helyg, nid yw hyn bob amser yn wir fel y bydd unrhyw un sy'n modrwyo adar, o dan drwydded, yn tystio. Mae gwahaniaethau cynnil eraill rhwng y ddau efallai yn haws i'w gweld "yn y llaw" fel bod gan y Siff-Saff adain fyrrach yn gyffredinol, o bosibl oherwydd nad ydynt yn tueddu i fudo cyn belled â'r Telor y Helyg.

Aderyn arall y mae bron i ddeng mlynedd wedi cymryd i mi ddal i fyny ag ef yn Sir Gaerfyrddin yw'r Bronwen y Dwr, (nid wyf wedi trio mor galed erioed) aderyn sydd fel arfer o afonydd sy'n llifo'n gyflym, rwy'n gwybod eu bod i'w gweld yn ardal Dafen yn Llanelli, ond gwelais fy aderyn cyntaf ar afon Aman ychydig islaw ein gwarchodfa natur Ynysdawela.

 Bydd gwaith yn dechrau ar brosiect dal carbon / peillio yng Nghaeau'r Ŵyl yn ystod y dyddiau nesaf lle bydd deunydd gwastraff o'r diwydiant gwneud dur yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel y swbstrad lle bydd blodau gwyllt brodorol yn cael eu hau ynddo, gan ddisodli'r hyn sydd ar hyn o bryd yn ardal o laswellt amwynder gwerth isel gyda rhywbeth llawer mwy cyffrous.

Siff-Saff ----Chiffchaff 

Telor y Helyg --- Willow Warbler

The start of astronomical Spring arrived on 20^th March, a day with a day of unbroken sunshine across the county.

I heard my first Chiffchaff the day before which must be a sure sign of better days to come.

Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler are sometime difficult to distinguish between with some people going on the lines that Chiffchaff have dark legs compared to Willow Warbler, this is not always the case as anyone who rings birds, under licence, will testify. There are other subtle differences between the two perhaps easier to see “in the hand” such as the Chiffchaff having an overall shorter wing, possibly because they don’t tend to migrate as far as the Willow Warbler.

 Another bird which it has taken me nearly ten years to catch up with in Carmarthenshire is the Dipper, ( I haven’t tried that hard though) a bird usually of fast flowing rivers, I know they can be seen in the Dafen area of Llanelli, but I spotted my first bird on the river Amman just below our Ynysdawela nature reserve.

Bronwen y Dwr ---Dipper

 

Work commences on a carbon capture/ pollinator project at Festival Fields in the next few days where waste material from the steel making industry will be used as the substrate into which native wildflowers will be sown, replacing what is currently ab area of low value amenity grass with something much more exciting.

A fishy tale....

 

Helo bawb, diolch am gymryd yr amser i ddarllen blog yr wythnos hon.

Mae wythnos wych ar ôl treulio ychydig ddyddiau yn yr awyr agored ac i ffwrdd o'r cyfrifiadur.

Dydd Llun, rhoddais gludiant a chefnogaeth foesol i dîm Prosiect Morwellt wrth iddynt drawsblannu Morwellt a chwistrellu hadau i'r ardal yr oeddent wedi casglu planhigion rhoddwyr o tua deuddeg mis yn ôl. Tasg fwdlyd iawn, fe ofynnon nhw cynffonog  os fyswn i'n hoffi helpu!

 

Dydd Mawrth roeddwn ar gwrs wrth gefn sifil y Swyddfa Dywydd i gael gwell dealltwriaeth o rybuddion tywydd, a oeddech chi'n gwybod bod dau fath o rybuddion melyn, rwy'n gwneud nawr.

 

Roedd dydd Mercher yn brysur wallgof, ond llwyddais i gasglu Dyfrgwn o Ffynnon Helyg i'w archwilio dan ficrosgop digidol yn ddiweddarach yn yr wythnos.

 

Ddydd Iau gwelais fy hun a Rhea, fy swyddog prosiect, yng Ngwarchodfa Natur Ynysdawela yn clirio ffos i ganiatáu i ddŵr lifo oddi ar lwybr, aeth un ohonom yn fwdlyd iawn! Roedd y warchodfa'n edrych yn debyg iawn i'r gwanwyn. Cefais amser i archwilio'r hollt Dyfrgwn ac ar ôl gofyn i gwpl o arbenigwyr lwyddo i adnabod jawbone 99% yn sicr ei fod o Llysywen

 

Dydd Gwener, WOW am ddiwrnod yn ôl yn Ynysdawela gyda'n darparwr dysgu awyr agored, Hannah o Hiraeth y Goedwig a 135 o ddisgyblion o Ysgol Y Bedol a'u staff addysgu, rhaid dweud eu bod wedi cael amser anhygoel; Ni allaf ddangos lluniau o'r plant ond dyma rai o'r setup.

I hope I haven't pushed the translation to far this week!

Hello everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this week’s blog.

A great week having spent a few days outdoors and away from the computer.

Monday, I provided transport and moral support to the Sea Grass Project team as they transplanted Sea Grass and injected seed into the area they had collected donor plants from around twelve months ago. A very muddy task, they cheekily asked if I would like to help!

 Tuesday I was on a Met Office civil contingencies course to gain  abetter understanding of weather warnings, did you know there are two types of Yellow warnings, I do now.

 

Wednesday was a crazy busy, but I did manage to collect Otter Spraint from Ffynnon Helyg for examination under a digital microscope later in the week.

Thursday saw myself and Rhea, my project officer, at Ynysdawela Nature Reserve clearing a ditch to allow water to flow off a path, one of us got very muddy! The reserve was looking really spring like. I found time to examine the Otter spraint and after asking a couple of experts managed to identify a jawbone 99% certain it was from an Eel

 

Friday, WOW what a day back at Ynysdawela with our outdoor learning provider, Hannah of Hiraeth y Goedwig and 135 pupils from Ysgol Y Bedol and their teaching staff, it has to be said they had an amazing time; I can’t show images of the children but here is some of the set up.

The start of spring, not for me. 1st March 2025

 Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus.

Er, o safbwynt recordio meteorolegol, mae heddiw yn nodi dechrau'r gwanwyn mae'n well gen i aros am y equinox vernal ar 20 Mawrth eleni. Mae 'na ddigon o aeaf i redeg eto er gwaetha'r gwanwyn fel dyddiau'n hwyr.

 Mae hi wedi bod yn wythnos brysur sydd wedi golygu gweithio gyda'r tîm gwych o wirfoddolwyr yn trwsio ffensys ym Mhyrddiau Pen-bre ddydd Llun, ddydd Mercher fe welodd Veronica a fi yn gwirio safleoedd addas i osod reugia artiffisial ar gyfer Strandline Beetle  ar Gefn Sidan fel rhan o brosiect parhaus Natur am Byth; Fe wnaethom gyfarfod â Swyddog y Prosiect ddydd Gwener i gadarnhau'r manylion. Byddwn yn rhoi gwybod i chi sut rydym yn symud ymlaen.

 Although, from a meteorological recording view, today marks the start of spring I prefer to wait for the vernal equinox on the 20^{th of} March this year. There feels like plenty of winter to run yet despite the spring like days of late.

Strandline Beetle

It’s been a busy week which has involved working with the great team of volunteers fixing fences at Pembrey Burrows on Monday, Wednesday saw Veronica and me checking suitable sites to place artificial refugia for the Strandline Beetle on Cefn Sidan, as part of the continuing Natur am Byth project; we met with the project officer on Friday to confirm the details. I’ll let you know how we progress.

My translation may be a bit ropey this week some big words used !

A few Sand Martins have already been recorded at Sandy Water Park in the last few days and an early Sandwich Tern was seen  on at on the coast on 16th February

Sand Martin - Bird-Guides

ITVX an opportunity

 Bore da pawb

Wel, mae'r wythnos wedi bod mor gymysg ag erioed, gyda tipio anghyfreithlon, difrod, ac ymddangosiad teledu, a hynny ddydd Llun yn unig.

Bu cynnydd yn y tipio gwastraff adeiladu yn anghyfreithlon, y diweddaraf ychydig gilometrau yn unig o ddepo ailgylchu Trostre.

Mae cyfarfod defnyddiol gyda Jason, Swyddog Diogelwch Coed y Sir, yn ein Gwarchodfa Natur Leol Morfa Berwig i wirio rhes o Elms marw, yn rhoi dial dros dro iddynt rhag gorfod cael eu cwympo, byddwn wrth gwrs yn monitro'r sefyllfa'n rheolaidd, efallai na fydd y coed ynn gerllaw mor lwcus, gydag arwydd o'r clefyd y bydd angen iddynt hwythau hefyd eu monitro.

Yna, aeth i Barc Gwledig Llyn Llech Owain i gwrdd â Lewis, gohebydd gydag ITVX, a Liam ei ddyn camera am ddarn byr ar gadwraeth a bioamrywiaeth y Parc Gwlad.

Dim ond dydd Llun oedd hynny!

Why Llyn Llech Owain Country Park is a wildlife haven with a legend at its heart - Latest From ITV News

Well, the week has been as mixed as ever, with fly tipping, damage, and a television  appearance, and that was just Monday.

There has been an increase in the fly tipping of builder’s waste, the latest just a few kilometres from the Trostre recycling depot.

A useful meeting with Jason, the County’s Tree Safety Officer, at our Morfa Berwig Local Nature Reserve to check on a row of dead Elms, gives them temporary reprieve from having to be felled, we will of course monitor the situation regularly, the nearby Ash trees may not be so lucky, with sign of disease they too will need monitoring.

It was then off to Llyn Llech Owain Country Park to meet up with Lewis, a reporter with ITVX, and Liam his camera man for a short piece on the conservation and biodiversity of the Country Park. 

(Not sure about the tame Little Owl though!)

And that was only Monday!

Mixed week.

 Bore da Pawb

Mae'n braf cael rhywfaint o dywydd gaeafol, oer a sych, mae'r ddaear yn gyffredinol yn dal yn wlyb dan draed ond nid mor ddrwg ag i atal gwaith tir.

Wythnos gymysg sydd wedi golygu talgrynnu 20 o wartheg oedd yn meddwl bod cerdded ar y traeth yn syniad da ar brynhawn Gwener, er gwaethaf ein hymdrechion gorau fe gymerodd ychydig oriau i'w darbwyllo mai digon oedd digon, gyda'r ffermwr yn ennill y dydd.

Roedd hi'n braf mynd allan a gwneud cwpl o ymweliadau safle ym Mharc Gwledig Llyn Llech Owain a Pharc Coetir Mynydd Mawr, gan wirio ar y gwaith sydd wedi cael ei wneud dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf.

Yn Llyn Llech Owain neu'n benodol adran Carmel Cernydd roeddwn wedi arbrofi gyda chrafu'r tir i reoli rhedyn, mae un maes wedi dangos gwelliant tra bod un arall wedi trawsnewid o rhedyn i Heather, buddugoliaeth fach ond yn ddangosydd o reolaeth bosibl yn y dyfodol. Doeddwn i ddim yn rhy falch o weld adfywio Lodgepole Pine, mae angen mynd i'r afael â hyn yn fuan dim ond trwy dynnu llaw neu dorri i ffwrdd ar lefel y ddaear.

Its nice to have some winter weather, cold and dry, the ground is generally still wet underfoot but not so bad as to stop land work.

A mixed week which has involved rounding up 20 cattle who thought a walk on the beach was a good idea on a Friday afternoon, despite our best efforts it took a few hours to convince them that enough was enough, with the farmer winning the day.

It was nice to get out and do a couple of site visits at Llyn Llech Owain Country Park and Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park, checking on work under taken over the past few years. 

At Llyn Llech Owain or  specifically the Cernydd Carmel section I had experimented with scraping the ground to control bracken, one area has shown improvement whilst another has transitioned from bracken to Heather, a small triumph but an indicator of possible future management. 

Lodgepole pine

I wasn't too pleased to see regeneration of Lodgepole Pine, this needs tackling soon just by hand pulling or cutting off at ground level.

At Mynydd Mawr, I wanted to check the condition of the meadow area where previously most of the Willow scrub had been cleared in rotation - well as expected it needs doing again. Its such a big job that the most effective answer is to use machinery to cut and collect the arisings; this will probably be a job for the Autumn of 2025 rather than sooner, the meadow won't suffer from not being cut earlier, if you have never visited June is a good time to see the range of Orchids.

Heath Spotted Orchid

How it all started.

 

Croseo pawb,

Rwyf bob amser wedi bod â diddordeb dwfn yn y byd naturiol sy'n cael ei feithrin gan fy rhieni a brodyr a chwiorydd. Dylanwad mawr arna i oedd cyfres Ladybird o lyfrau, yn enwedig y tymhorau. Faint o ddarllenwyr hefyd oedd â'r llyfrau hyn yr oeddynt, yn eu hamser, y llyfrau mwyaf hygyrch ac rwy'n ddyledus iawn i'r awdur a'r artist.

Diddorol yw darllen rhai o'r sylwadau yn y llyfrau ac adlewyrchu sut mae ein byd naturiol wedi newid; Er enghraifft, cyfeirir at y telor cyrs fel "ymwelydd sy'n pasio i Loegr yn unig" pan ddechreuais wylio adar yn iawn Ystyriwyd bod Pwll Cynffig "ar eu terfyn gorllewinol o'u hystod" nawr maent i'w gweld ledled y wlad.

 

I have always had a deep interest in the natural world fostered by my parents and siblings. A big influence on me were the Ladybird series of books, especially the seasons. How many readers also had these books they were, in their time, the most accessible of books and I owe the writer and artist  a huge debt of gratitude.

It is interesting to read some of the comments in the books and reflect how our natural world has changed; for example, the reed warbler is referred to as “only a passing visitor to England” when I first started birdwatching properly Kenfig Pool was considered to be “on their western limit of their range” now they are found across the country.

I hope I haven't pushed my Welsh translation too far this week!

Despite still being in winter now is the time to start looking out for Frogs and possibly Toads being out, Frog spawn could be anywhere there is a pool of water whilst toad spawn will need water with some depth. As long as the weather doesn't turn "beastly" the spawn should survive. As I mentioned recently any area with Frogs or Toads could turn up the feeding signs of Otter, Polecat or  Mink all of which enjoy "frogs legs"

I recently watched a film on YouTube, Europe's lost paradise -The untold story of Hollands wild side, a great watch with a feeling of "why can't we have more of this in the UK- well worth a watch.

Something to watch out for, (a bit early yet but soon)

Mink sighted, or was it?

 Bore da Pawb

Rwy'n ceisio ysgrifennu rhywfaint o'r blog yn Gymraeg, y rhai ohonoch sy'n gallu darllen Cymraeg, cysylltwch â mi a dywedwch wrthyf pa mor bell i ffwrdd yw fy 

I am attempting to write some of the blog in Welsh, those of you who can read Welsh please get in touch and tell me how far off my translation is.

Rydym wedi derbyn adroddiad o Minc Americanaidd ym Mharc Gwledig Pen-bre, nid y cofnod y byddwn i wedi'i ddymuno, mae'n haeddu ymchwiliad pellach.

We have received a report of an American Mink at Pembrey Country Park, not the record I would have wanted, it does warrant further investigation.

Lets see how the Welsh translation has worked, before I do more!

There have also been, confirmed, reports in the last month of a Polecat, we know we have a healthy population of pure Polecats in the park and on the Pembrey Burrows LNR - did you know their eyes shine blue in torchlight!

Whilst on the subject of the Mustelid family it will soon be time for the annual decimation of the Common Toad population by Otters, how any toads survive at all amazes me when you see the carnage caused by the otters which we have filmed munching away on this amphibian - well that's nature. look out for the front half of the toads, the Otters don't eat the front end where the toxic substances are stored in glands behind the head, Polecats will bite in to the skulls, one way of determining who the murderer is!

Barn Owl !

Bore da pawb,

 A week of head work and meetings, which always hurt, but I have managed to get out and about, Monday was brilliant working alongside the conservation volunteers, there's no denying they certainly graft.

Litter remains an on going issue with a small cohort of volunteers beavering away at the eastern end of Pembrey Burrows - a huge thank you - luckily the sand gods were with me and I managed to drive almost to "the Nose" and collect the bags not something that is possible very often.

Friday was a nice day to check on contractors at the Morfa Berwig LNR, and after cleaning a most bizarre array of litter, (I won't go into the details in case I have any sensitive followers) I met up with Agnieszka and Jim from Wild-Horizons to consider a Willow Tit Survey at Morfa Berwig LNR, the habitat is perfect for them, and already having ringed an individual a few years ago we know they are about.. I'll let you know what happens.

Wild Horizons

Whilst showing the people around I came across a Barn Owl pellet on the top of a fence post, I am delighted to have found this, evidence that Barn Owls are around, worryingly though the fence post and the field I presume they would be hunting are adjacent to the A484. Something to keep an eye on.

Do you know how to tell the difference between ♂ and ♀ Barn Owls? you do need decent lighting conditions but the ♀ has a darker back than the ♂ and if you see them, the ♀ sometimes has spots on the chest but as I said you need good light to be certain.

Exciting plans 2025

 Croeso pawb,

I mentioned that I had some exciting plans for 2025, as ever funding will always be the major influencer, but I have to be confident that funding will be available, after all Wales is in a Nature and Climate emergency and we can't fight it without support.

Bat survey report

A fundamental part of managing any site for conservation is knowing what is there, during 2024 ecologists carried out a total of eight ecological surveys across five of our sites, looking at flora,  invertebrates, birds, dormice, and bats. So 2024 became the year we knew a lot more about biodiversity in Carmarthenshire than we have for a long time. Coupled with this our volunteers continued their usual surveys of butterflies, bees and reptiles all adding to the knowledge base.

One area we know little about, or rather I know little about, is Ffynnon Helyg, just what is this body of water, local experts tell me its a brackish lagoon a rare habitat in Wales , well there's only one way to find out; a survey of the aquatic and marginal environment should give me an answer, consultants will be commissioned to carry out the necessary surveys during spring and summer 2025 so watch this space !

Sand Martin nesting box

 I am hopeful that we will also be able to   mitigate for the loss of Sand Martin nesting   sites on the ash cliffs, due to erosion, at Burry  Port East beach; by providing artificial   nesting sites. I have my fingers crossed that   funds will come through... but where to put   them? any ideas welcome

I've got a few more projects "on the shelf" lets see if the funds appear!

 

Winter visitors

 Blwyddyn Newydd Dda, pawb.

I hope you have had  an enjoyable and restful Christmas and New Year.

Just a short blog this week to highlight some of the best sightings of the year so far, just two days!

A properly crisp winters day was a good excuse to get out and do some survey work, a few highlights.

Hen Harrier ♂ (library free to use image)

The clear winner in any highlight competition will be the stunning adult male Hen Harrier that graced the Pembrey Saltmarsh.

Closely followed by a real surprise in the form of a  Water Pipit.

Water Pipit, (BTO)

A single Marsh Harrier, four Jack Snipe, 26 Snipe, and at least 50 Skylarks added to the species list.

Anyone visiting Pembrey country Park should slow down as they approach the entry barriers as most of the day a mixed flock of, Chaffinches, Siskin and Goldfinch feeds on the crushed tree seeds 

Looking forward into 2025, I'm hopeful of a few exciting projects taking place, however as always it will be down to the availability of funds, more details as ideas unfold.