Rainbows in ice 3rd January 2017

Winter has it's grip on the Pembrey Burrows reserve, with very few signs of life.

A cold crisp day with a walk along the length of Cefn Sidan bordering the reserve, with low water at 15:30, there were few signs of life the exception being a Stonechat which made its way along the beach keeping a few metres in front of me for most of the walk.

Common Stonechat

To be frank there was very little else to be seen, even when I made my way back into the dunes the best I could muster were a few Song Thrushes, and the odd Little Egret.

Looking west along the beach my eye was caught by an unusual sight of an "ice rainbow", I expect there's a more correct term, I believe this happens when the sunlight refracts through the ice crystals in the Cirrus clouds which were forming above me.

Ice rainbow?

What ever its called it was brief but interesting, just shows you need to look up sometimes.

There are some patches of Ivy, especially along the main track to the information shelter, the berries are enjoyed by the birds and there is a nice display at the moment.

Ivy berries

Saturday 31st December 2016

A look back..............

2016 is almost gone, but what an interesting year its been, with several foreign trips, not all wildlife focussed but you just can't avoid the wildlife can you, and lots going on at home.

A year ago saw me on my way to the Malaga area of Spain, with low hopes of finding any wildlife but the reality was very different with the highlight being a new bird for me, White-headed Duck.

White-headed Duck

Then there was my annual visit to the magical island of Lesbos, this year with a twist as I spent a good deal of the time ringing, although it was a slow spring I still found the experience rewarding with Marsh Warbler a highlight as well as a few Great Reed Warbler and of course the stunning European Bee-eater.

European Bee-eater

Another impromptu trip to Spain, this time Majorca saw another new bird in the form of Thekla Lark, but perhaps even better were stunning views of Audouins Gull.

Audouins Gull

On the home front, plenty was going on with some good strandline finds, such as Trigger Fish, a decomposed Striped Dolphin, Comb Jellies and much more.

On the bird front 142 species recorded on the Pembrey Reserve included some exciting migrants, including Spoonbill, Garganey, Pied Flycatcher and of course Yellow-browed Warbler.

Yellow-browed Warbler

For me though there is one record that really be THE record of the year, but no photograph of THE LIZARD...I'm 99% certain which one it was, and those "in the know" have not discounted it, so in 2017 my camera will be with me at all times............

Happy New Year to all my readers.

Tuesday 27th December 2016

Sorry, too late, fully booked.....................

Although the deadline was 29th December, the trip to Lesbos is now fully booked as I just managed to get one last seat on the flight I'm taking to Athens.

If anyone is still interested in joining me on one of my trips to Lesbos get in touch as there may be an opportunity later in the year.

Little Owl

In the meantime happy wildlife watching in 2017............

Balkan Green Lizard

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.