Tuesday 9th February 2016

Storm "Imogen", the aftermath

Yesterday saw the south of the country enveloped in storm "Imogen", a gust of 83mph was recorded at the Pembrey Airfield about two miles west of the reserve.

Looking down channel (West) after Storm Imogen, the rollers were still coming in though

An early morning visit found the reserve has escaped the storm with only the fore-dunes suffering with more erosion and inundation by the sea into the dunes in a few places.

The cattle have been leaning on one of the stiles and broken the top bar, a very heavy fly could have broken it as it was very rotten!!!!. The 19 bullocks are doing a great job grazing off the rough grasses and, in a few places, breaking the surface of the fixed dunes; this is key to maintaining the dunes in great condition for the wide range of flowering plants and invertebrates.

The high tides and storms do bring home just how much plastic and old fishing nets are out in the sea

plastic and old fishing nets

car tyres, wheelie bins and plastic

Such a shame, a tin can takes 400 years to degrade, old fishing net NEVER degrades, plastic bottles take 300-400 years to degrade, and the ironic "wheelie bin" could take 400 years to disappear

Mid winter on the dunes, and there were Skylarks singing in a few different places magic....

Saturday 6th February 2016

Change of plan................

Many of you will know that my plan for 2016, was to spend an extended time on the island of Lesbos.

Due to a number of issues, not least the fact that, my "tennis elbow" has flared up, my partner is awaiting hospital treatment for Cervical Spondylosis, and the delay in obtaining permits to ring birds on the island; I have decide to put my plans on hold until we have settled into retirement properly.

So it looks like it will be another Autumn trip in mid September is on the cards for 2016, hopefully we can get two weeks at least.

As disappointed as I am I must be realistic and consider the implications should either of us need medical assistance.

Corn Bunting, one of the classic Lesvos birds

Thursday 4th February 2016

There be Dragons around...already

A dry but overcast morning found me contemplating a beachcombing session, as I approached the beach I saw some Fox foot prints and decided to take a photograph.

Fox foot print

As I did so, out of the corner of my eye I could see something wriggling from the sand, I was astonished to see a Common Lizard appear before my eyes, it looks like it is one of last years youngsters, it was milder but still 4th February?? I put the Lizard out of harms way on a habitiat pile of logs.

Common Lizard

There has been criminal damage to the fence in one of the cattle grazing fields about £400 to put right so pointless, plus the cattle escaped.

Part of the damaged fence...........

Saturday 3oth January 2016

One month almost gone......

Beachcombing project........

With the weather has unpredictable as ever I've been diverted to do some beachcombing on Cefn Sidan, not only is it good exercise (its a three mile round trip), its also very interesting.

I've started making a collection to use with visitors to the Pembrey reserve, its quite basic but already I've turned up a few exciting finds.

When I get around to it I'll label the items separately in the meantime I'll explain each photograph.

A selection of "Tellins"top and middle left: Horse Mussel, Necklace Shell middle and bottom centre:, Dog Whelk bottom right: Striped Venus top right and the  gold shell is a Banded Wedge Shell middle centre

Sea Potato Urchin bottom left, Pod Razor Shell middle:, Common Cockle and Prickly/rough Cockle top row: and Pharus legumen (no common name) bottom right

Egg Cases of Dog Whelk Left, and a Sea Heart, a vine seed from tropical America, Right:

Cuttlefish bone centre:, egg cases from Small Spotted Catshark (dogfish) top centre and top left under Cuttlefish bone, with Ray cases in the lower middle.

The high water mark on any beach is worth exploring and identifying most items is pretty easy.

There was another positive out of the exercise, I didn't find any dead or dying Sea birds, given the rough and stormy weather this winter I think that's a good and surprising thing.

Wednesday 27th January 2016

Poachers, scramblers and beachcombing.........

The weekend on the reserve has been busy and interesting in many ways.

On Saturday I did a bit of beachcombing, collecting samples for use as an educational tool, I'll go into beachcombing in more detail soon (+photos).

A phone call from a member of the public telling me that there was a suspicious vehicle and someone with a gun on the reserve!! As it turned out the suspicious vehicle belonged to a poacher, he didn't have a weapon only a Spaniel and a ferret.

As there is a total ban on any form of hunting and shooting on the reserve the Police were called, duly arrived and dealt with the offender.

On Sunday I had a brilliant morning with the reserve devoid of people and dogs, the afternoon was much busier when I recognised two vehicles in the car park and a third suspicious van?

A little investigation revealed two men poaching, they were escorted from the reserve and duly reported to the Police. Well that was one vehicle dealt with.

Another piece of detective work revealed four scrambling bikers!! after reading them the riot act, details taken and reported to the police normality returned to the reserve....(two more vehicles tied into the offence)

The local Police Wildlife Officer has taken on all three incidents and matters are proceeding.

Over the Christmas period we also suffered criminal damage when the fence to one of the grazing fields was cut by scramblers, allowing the cattle to escape....

To close this blog the offences committed lie in the Wildlife & Countryside act/CROW act for damage to an SSSI (poachers digging in the Rabbit burrows and scramblers damaging the vegetation and soil) and the Road Traffic Act driving a motor vehicle on land that is not a road, without lawful authority........

Sorry no pictures this time.

Friday 22nd January 2016

Cefn Sidan beachcombing...

I spent the afternoon walking along Cefn Sidan beach towards the South Eat corner of the Pembrey reserve.

After a wet and dreary start to the day the afternoon was clear blue skies with a steady westerly breeze.

Looking East South East along the beach towards Burry Port

I collected a good number of shells from the high water mark to make a reference collection for guided walks and school parties, the one thing I couldn't collect was this

The underside of a Sea Mouse

Top view of a Sea Mouse

My walk took me around the end of the reserve and back on to the salt marsh where there was more evidence of Otters using the site with foot prints at the edge of a brackish pool.

A bracing and interesting two hour walk ending back at my starting point.

Sea Mouse Aphrodita aculeata

this incredible scale worm lives it's life buried in the sand

Wednesday 20th January 2016

Ringing, Pembrey Burrows

An early start in sub-zero temperatures, and an unexpected breeze, saw me setting nets for Skylarks out on the dry ish

area on the marsh, I've been watching them leave the area at first light for a few days so thought I'd give them a go.

When I walked the area towards the net just before dawn there were at least 15 Skylarks which I moved from roost but with only myself I couldn't cover all bases and they flew off to my right well before the net.

Feeling frustrated I walked on to check the  obviously empty net, and in the bottom shelf there sat a Water Rail a really unexpected result

The Water Rail was duly processed and I aged it as a 5, an immature based on its white chin, leg colour and wing feathers.

This where you'd expect a nice photograph!!! well the batteries ran out so no photo.

The rest of the morning was very quiet and cold with the breeze steadily getting stronger.