Friday 23rd December 2016

Barbara is on her way, chance of a lie in...... no chance......

I thought a lie in would be in order today, then the ringing tones of the mobile and that was my lie in done with.

Some of the "boys" had escaped, what was I to do? well since they were last seen on the edge of the estuary I thought it wise to see what was going on.

As I drove along looking for them I noticed that the Hereford bullock was missing from F3, but the Welsh Blacks were still there although very agitated, I drove to the end of the track and passed the shelter, thinking here comes a bit of off roading, when I saw the "boys" coming over the fore-dunes, a few shouts of C'mon, and D' Yma had them interested, and they started trotting nicely to ward the van. (they know the difference between a bin bag being rattled and a feed bag!)

I wish I had a photo but the priority was to get them back in a field, sure enough they followed the van and I managed to hold them up until the grazier and team arrived, with a bit of pushing and shoving we got them back into  F3.

I thought I had better check field 1, which is where five had escaped and walked three quarters of the way around before finding where they had broken the fence, the NEW fence, it looked like something had upset them and they had just pushed through. Oh well another job.....

As I type Barbara has started to say hello with gusty winds and, for now, light rain.

Not the escapees, but some of the other boys

Tuesday 20th December 2016

Net rides cleared...............aargh........

The clearance of the Sea Buckthorn continues, also the long overdue "tickling" back of the bushes along the track to the information shelter.

This track is also one of my ringing rides.

I think that's wide enough!

The area around the information shelter has not escaped the monster on tracks, and we can now enjoy wider views of the salt marsh. The refugia is still intact in not a little flatter!

It'll grow back, well the bits we want!

Like any work with vegetation the initial result can look severe but with time the Gorse will recover and provide a nice mosaic of mixed age cover.

There's a refugia there somewhere!

Monday 19th December 2016

Last chance....

View from Palia Vigla high above the village of Vatera,

a great raptor view point in autumn as birds head south

I am finalising plans for a spring trip to Lesbos, three people are already confirmed if anyone else is interested then get in touch, by 29th December, to secure a seat on the flight.

Greater Flamingo, and Little Egret  flock Kallonis Salt Pans

Saturday 17th December 2016

All in a good cause........

Visitors to the reserve over the past week will have seen quite a few large tractors around, as we have contractors on site clearing invasive Sea Buckthorn.







This morning an even bigger machine made an appearance, and whilst it looks very destructive the ultimate end result will make it all worth it.

Sea Buckthorn, a native of the east coat of the UK was extensively planted on sand dunes all over the UK in the belief that stable unmoving dunes were best. More recent thinking shows that sand dunes are by nature intended to be mobile and changing, especially in the areas close to the sea, the "fore-dunes".

Many invertebrates and reptiles need areas of bare sand for their continued survival, its been suggested that any dune system should have at least 5% bare and, on that basis there should be around 20acres of bare sand at Pembrey Burrows, even on this very rough estimate its easy to see that there is nowhere near enough bare sand, although the current work is not designed to create bare sand the removal of the invasive Sea Buckthorn will open areas to the action of the elements, especially the wind.

The work should be finished by the New Year.

On the wildlife front the best sighting this week has been over 300 Golden Plover flying in from the NW over the marsh.

Friday 9th December 2016

Fancy a nature holiday to the Greek island of Lesbos?

I am planning a trip to the Greek island of Lesbos in spring 2017, dates will be 25th April to 2nd May.

Flying from London Heathrow via Athens to the island airport at Mytilini, we will have six full days of wildlife adventure, staying at the 2* PELA HOTEL,  www.pelahotel.gr  in the village of Skala Kalloni on a half board basis.

A minimum of two and maximum of five guests with all transport and guiding costs included; this is a private event where I am merely offering interested individuals the opportunity to join me whilst I am on the island, I will do all the organising of the flights etc. This will be my 10th year of visiting the Lesbos, (Lesbos is the official title, or Lesvos is the more commonly used name)

Based on current exchange rates etc the  FULL costs are approximately £630 for a single traveller in a room, or approximately £580pp for a couple or those willing to share with another guest.

In a good spring expect a bird list around 160 species plus a few subspecies, there are usually good numbers of butterflies, dragonflies and of course orchids

If you are interested get in touch asap as bookings need to be made.

paulnwrg@outlook.com or call 07984788218

Tuesday 6th December 2016

Starlings...love 'em...........

This is one of the flocks from Monday's roost, there are  c4680 birds in this one flock...honest I've counted them..............

incoming.............

And here's a video

Sunday 4th December 2016

Stunning...........

The afternoon has been bright and quite brisk but it was worth getting chilled to the bone to see what may turn into quite a spectacle in the coming days or weeks, maybe mind no guarantees!

The Male Hen Harrier put on a bit of a show, it was nice to see some new faces out looking for the bird, including a lady photographer who had driven from Pembrokeshire.

Don't for the sake of your eyes make the video image larger!!!!
There were some great cloud formations this evening, my photo doesn't do them justice you needed to be there....

Looking south towards the Gower peninsula

The Starlings seemed a little tardy in arriving this evening with just a few small groups of 10's of individuals to begin with, but gradually the size of the groups built up to very large flocks of 100's of birds, the roost tonight was much bigger than Friday evening I estimate between 7000 to 9000, but only a half hearted attempt at a murmuration.

I've thawed out enough to look up the manual for the camera, the next video will have sound you have been warned...........