Sunday 20th March 2016

First day of spring... properly....

Today marks the Spring Equinox, the days will really start to get longer than the nights  now.

 third hand report of an Otter nr the reserve car park had me out and about early this morning, in the hope of a glimpse of this elusive creature that I have tracked around the reserve for the past 5 months... NO I didn't see the animal but if anyone wants to lend/donate a camera trap then I've got the perfect place for one to be put.

I fared better on the bird front with the still lingering female Merlin, I managed to creep up on the bird to within 50m, after she had failed to catch a meadow Pipit.

Merlin

Merlin

A couple of shots one has been slightly cropped, I am quite pleased with the result given I only use a "bridge" camera.

The bird list for 2016 has now reached 81 species recorded which I am pretty pleased with there are lots more species to be added during the coming months and I reckon the list by December 31st could hit 110.

The 81st species was GOSHAWK a male (on size) was being harried by gulls but paid not attention and made its way across the reserve.

Bring on the butterflies, dragonflies and the orchids....

Saturday 19th March 2016

Oxwich NNR ringing

A grey overcast morning with a light but keen breeze, the "Snipe" nets were set and yielded one Common Snipe, a good start.

The rest of the morning seemed busy but was in fact a slow one but with a good mix of birds, including Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Siskin, Goldcrest Robin, Dunnock and Chiffchaff.

One of the Robins looked interesting as it had a grey wash to its back and wings, we initially though that it may be a continental bird, you would expect a slighter longer wing than the 72mm we measured as birds which tend to migrate also tend to have slightly longer wings, so who knows?

A definite grey wash to the wings and mantle

The Chiffchaff was a nice find, it had been buzzing around the bushes behind the net for a while before being caught.

Initially I thought it may be the first returning migrant but it had a fat score of 3 so possible an over winterer and not a traveller from the south, usually birds arriving from the Mediterranean have "pollen horns" on their foreheads where they have been delving into flowers, not so on this chap.

Chiffchaff, the first of many this season....

We packed up around 10:30am.

Friday 18th March 2016

Migration of a sort........

Another sunny and crisp morning, although a little more haze about, should have yielded a Northern Wheatear....but alas not this morning, it will probably be tomorrow when I'm away ringing at Oxwich NNR.

However a Woodcock flushed from the edge of the reed bed/rough grass on the side of the road was a pleasant surprise, it was in almost the same spot as one seen on 2nd February.

I met up with Adam Dare and his wife and after a long chat putting the birding world to right I left to return home, after a few yards a faint but clear call got my attention and Adam was waving at me after wondering over expecting to see a Wheatear he pointed out that his wife had just flushed a SHORT EARED OWL, I managed a distant but positive view!!!

My guess is that the Owl is a migrant moving north, and the Woodcock well that could be a local breeder.

no photos sorry..................

Thursday 17th March 2016

Where are the Wheater's......

Still no sign of any real migration getting under way, its that "false Spring" feeling with the sun shining but the wind in the wrong direction to really push birds up from the south.

The best I could muster today in strong sunshine and a bitter Easterly was a small group of Teal, two Mallard, two Oystercatchers, one Redshank and one Greenshank.

Greenshank (L) and Redshank (R)

The Rock Pipits at  old Pembrey Harbour are getting in the mood with territorial display and lots of chasing and calling.

The weather looks set for a few days yet, hopefully the wind will die down and a bit more cloud cover.

My plans to spend an extended period on the island of Lesbos have been changed due to family commitments, however I have been granted leave of two weeks to visit in April/May which is a bonus. If you have never visited this the third largest of the Greek Islands then do so either now in Spring or in September you will  not be disappointed. Ignore all the media scaremongering regarding the refugee crisis, yes there are lots of refugees but you would have to go out of your way to find them.

Sunday 13th March 2016

Harbingers of real Spring?.....

A really lovely morning to be out, and although the day started overcast it just felt it could only get better, and it did.

On the bird front Skylarks were in full song, a quick survey of just one grazing field showed a minimum of 11 singing males.

The Stonechats are on territory with at least five territories identified, this female just was quite confiding.

Female Stonechat

What was noticeable was the arrival of what seemed like dozens of Meadow Pipits, there were quite a few in the fore dunes, along with surprisingly, Common Snipe.

Meadow Pipit

Some of the Meadow Pipits will be local birds and there was a fair bit of flight song happening.

A local birder texted? me with the news that two SAND MARTINS had flown in a NE direction over the dunes.

Other wildlife news is of a Hare, the second sighting in two days ssshhhh!!!

Friday 11th March 2016

Taste of Spring.....

With a high tide of 9.4m at 07:48hrs, this morning was perfect for a Sea watch.

I joined Adam Dare at CE53 around 06:50 hrs, as it turned out there was little happening as far as I could see, up to 5 Great Crested Grebes flying in all directions offshore, a few Common Scoter and the odd very distant diver.

The high tide flooded the area of land to the seaward side of the main track, the area is in field 2 and we are hoping that Lapwing may find it suitable to raise a family, they certainly tried in 2015.

not usually flooded except by the very highest tides, perfect for waders to nest?

With effect from today dog walkers are asked to keep dogs on a lead in field 2 and also all of the reserve East of the information shelter, this is to give ground nesting birds a chance at breeding; it will prove a challenge I think.....

There were quite a lots of birds on the flooded marsh, best counts were; Common Shelduck 29, Redshank 80+, Teal 50+ plus the usual Curlew, Little Egret Grey Heron and patrolling the skies the seemingly ever present Red Kite.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

In like a Lion? hope it goes out like a Lamb

The forecast was spot on and the morning arrived with strong winds and a little rain, the gusts were very strong and made walking difficult.

As its Wednesday the volunteer group duly reported for duty and we set off to remove some of the larger debris from the beach in front of the reserve.

Quite frankly it was too windy to stand and take photographs but the effect of the wind on the sand and the pools of sea water was something to see.

After filling the back of the pickup and depositing the discarded fishing nets in the yard we had a spot of lunch fortifying ourselves for the emergency fencing that needed to be done.

This is the way the contractors put in fence posts.

This is the way we carry out emergency repairs, I know which looks easier but half the fun.