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!