Saturday 11th June 2016

Late Spring, early Summer..

This afternoon I finished off the painting of the information shelter at Pembrey Burrows LNR, it was nice to hear passing visitors saying how much better it looks now, I'll post a photo when the sun is out next to show it at it's best.

I then went and had a look at the pond in field 2, specifically for Odonata, given the overcast and breezy conditions it was  no surprise just to see a few Blue Tail, albeit the type with the red thorax

Then I looked at the pond in field 3, just as the sun came out and within a few seconds there were 6 species of Odonata on the wing, Chasers, Hawkers, and Darters; the list looks like this;

Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad Bodied Chaser, Blue Tail damsel, Common Bluet, and Common Darter.

Blue Tail (from my personal library)

Emperor ♂

Common Darter

Common Bluet, a bit fuzzy sorry

On the Orchid front the time of the Green-winged Orchids has passed and now its the Southern Marsh Orchids which are at their best, with Pyramidal Orchids really getting going plus some site scarcer species including Common Spotted Orchid and the Heleborines, these really are only just starting but in a week or so I should be able to get them to species.

Common Spotted Orchid

Thursday 9th June 2016

Morfa Berwig......

This morning at the reasonable hour I, with the help of Adam Dare, led a birding walk at Morfa Berwig, the weather was perfect with 22 species seen or heard including the star of the reserve Cettis Warbler.

We also encountered a good mix of Dragon/Damsel flies in the form of Azure Bluet, Four Spotted Chaser, Broad Bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer and Hairy Dragonfly, although the last one has a ? over it, I'm confident of one sighting but all the later ones were in fact female B T Skimmer.

Azure Bluet ( one way to identify this common species is the U shaped mark on the thorax)

Thanks to Adam once again for his help.

Later on in the day in an undisclosed location deep in the woods .......

The team putting up a nest box for Owls...

This makes it look easy.....

At "fricking last" is what I think he is muttering.... but it will be worth it, with thanks to

Carmarthenshire Bird Club and Burns Pet Foods

Wednesday 8th June 2016

Strandline safari and some work...

Today was another one of our guided walks, quite a turnout although 66% were staff!, thanks anyway.

We ventured onto the beach just after the high tide, there were a few bits to look at but with calm seas the sand has settled over most of the debris.

We did however find the usual suspects in the shape of Banded Wedge Shell, Tellin Spp, Pendant Swimming Crab, Masked Crab, Shore Crab, with lots of "Sea Potato" tests on  the surface, again quite a few Barrel Jellyfish have succumbed and were lying at intervals along the beach.

We also found a Weevil spp which may be Rhinocyllus conicus or not? I'll let you know.

No common name until identified for certain

On the walk back through the dunes it was great to sea Pyramidal Orchids starting to break bud, with a few showing the classic shape of the inflorescence which gives it it's name.

Pyramidal Orchid

The stalwart band of Wednesday volunteers helped continue the refurbishment of the shelter.

Thanks!!

getting there.....

Monday 6th \June 2016

Task day...

Monday is the day that the local guys from Mencap volunteer with us at Pembrey

Today after a litter pick which yielded far more litter than should be left lying around, we started the refurbishment of the information shelter.

The information shelter resplendent in graffiti

Earlier in the morning I came across these tardy residents being hassled by the local Magpies, a Vixen and one cub, great to see.

Fox Vixen, and cub

The work is under way on the shelter and a couple more sessions should see it protected from the worst of the weather for a while.

Saturday 4th June 2016

Birds, Bees and Flowers.....

Today sees the start of a week of, Carmarthenshire based, events for Wales Biodiversity Week 2016,.

This morning we were at our newest Local nature Reserve, Morfa Berwig to look at Bees with  Bumble Conservation, we managed to see several species of Bumblebee including Early Bumblebee, Common Carder, Buff/white -tailed Bumble Bee, Garden Bumblebee, Red-tailed Bumblebee and most exciting the scarce Brown Banded Carder Bee. No photos sorry as they just would not sit still long enough...... next time...

We also had fleeting views of Grass Snake, Common Lizard , as well as  Four spotted chaser, Broad-bodied chaser dragonflies and  Blue tailed, Azure Bluet, and Common Bluet damselflies, along with Common Blue butterflies.

The afternoon was a flora feast with a walk led by Richard and Kath Pryce the county botanical recorders, we were treated to the identification of at least 10 rushes and Sedges as well as Early Marsh Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid and a new record for the site Bee Orchid.

Early Marsh Orchid

Celery-leaved Buttercup

Bee Orchid

One of the most interesting Buttercups we saw was Celery-leaved Buttercup., we also saw Common Water Plantain, Lesser Spearwort and Hedgerow Cranesbill another new plant for the reserve.

Hedgerow Cranesbill

Saturday 28th May 2016

Ramble with a ranger.....

Today was the second in the series of guided walks at Pembrey but the fourth event (two other events were combined with the Llanelli naturalists Society).

Attendance was low, in fact it was more of a staff meeting as I was joined by Veronica. We had a great walk though with plenty to look at with Birds, Butterflies, Beetles and Flies as well as a range of plants.

A couple of  "to be determined later" were a fly and a beetle, as well as confirming a few of the plants, ( [post script] with the great network of naturalists in the area my initial identification has been confirmed)

Chrysotoxum cautum no common name

Female Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis

On the beach there were at least six stranded/dead Barrel Jellyfish all at least 60cm across as well as quite a few tiny Jellyfish types the Comb jellies, I think Beroe cucumis

Barrel Jellyfish

Comb jellies Beroe cucumis

You never know what you may find and the carcass of a Swan spp was most unexpected...

Here are some enlarged photos of the beetle and the fly.....

Wednesday 25th May 2016

7000 visitors can't be wrong?

My blog has received over 7000 hits since I started which is pretty good.

Things have been a bit quiet of late with most birds getting on with breeding and the ups and downs of the weather making getting out unpleasant.

Signs of breeding are all about and today I found a Skylarks nest with four "warm" eggs, and a Redshank egg which I hope had hatched as opposed to having been predated. Stonechats seem to be feeding young with at least six pairs on the reserve, and when I was cutting the ringing rides in the reed bed a Grasshopper Warbler was "reeling" from nearby scrub.

Common Redshank ? egg

Skylark nest

The Green Winged Orchids are past their best now but still make a lovely show the next round of Orchids are beginning to push up their leaves with Common Spotted and Southern Marsh the next in line.

Southern Marsh Orchid basal leaves

Common Spotted Orchid basal leaves

Reptiles seem to be doing ok with more young Slow worms seen today as well as a few young Common Lizards.

Slow Worm

There's a guided walk this Saturday (28th May) if you would like to find out more about this great reserve.