Reminder Friday 30th June 2017

There are two guided events this month run by the conservation team from CCC's Outdoor Recreation.

Thursday 6th July, is a BAT WALK at Sandy Water Park, meet in the car park at the eastern end of the lake at 21:15, dress appropriately and bring a torch.

Saturday 15th July, is RAMBLE WITH A RANGER, at Pembrey Burrows LNR this coincides with the Dragonfly Challenge week organised by the British Dragonfly Society, so we will take a special look at our ponds, and keep an eye out for dragonflies anywhere during the event. Meet at the entrance to the reserve at 10:00

click on the photo to read the detail

You've got to keep on top of the jobs Thursday 29th June

After three days of guided walks, a meeting and some off site ringing, I thought I had better get on with some jobs at Pembrey LNR, especially prepping the ringing rides ready for the Swallow roosts.

I picked a good day for it!, muggy and decidedly wet so full waterproofs it was, (yesterday  for a site meeting at Morfa Berwig I opted not to wear waterproofs and ended up very wet), armed with a slasher I stood, quietly, a bit perturbed by the sight of the ringing rides.

opps! should have done this sooner....

Probably should have kept on top of this

This was originally cleared as a new ride in April

One very sweaty hour later, I've opened up the rides they will still need a bit of tidying up (Wednesday gang you have been warned), but the hard work is done.

A bit of extra work and it will be ready

Checking the cattle I found another two that have developed eye problems, I contacted the grazier and they will be treated today, whilst the eight that had similar problems a few days ago are well on the road to recovery and ready to be brought back to site. It's not a serious problem just irritating and rightly needs treating.

Tonight is survey night for Greater Horseshoe Bats that are found nearby and use the reserve to feed, I've detected Noctule, Common Pipestrelle and Soprano Pipestrelle using the reserve whilst I've been mothing.

Greater Horseshoe Bat,

( as you need a special licence to photograph bats at a roost this photo is from Wikipedia)

BSBI visit Tuesday 27th June 2017

Today Simeon and I hosted? a visit by the Botanical Society of the British Isles, with Richard and Kath Pryce the county botanical recorders.

A group of 10 experts left me in total awe of their expertise, friendliness and willingness to share their knowledge.

a few of the group looking at something?

The group spent just over 7 hours on the reserve visiting a number of the habitats and amassing a good list of plants, with a number of "token" specimens being taken for confirmation of their identity. The actual lists will be sent to me when completed, these will then be useful to help me further my own knowledge of the reserve.

Sea Spurrey

As well as the flora, good numbers of Marbled Whites were on the wing with a few Dark Green Fritillaries, on the bird front before they group arrived I found two Common Sandpipers on the high tide with 30+ Mediterranean Gulls, and a few more Redshank than of late, I guess autumn is on the way...

Common Sandpiper, the first "autumn migrant"

Busy weekend of walks Sunday 25th June 2016

With walks on both Saturday and Sunday its been quite busy....

Saturday was our Summer Flowers walk led by Dr Simeon Jones our Conservation Officer, with a small group we had an interesting walk looking at the change in plants through each of the areas of the dune system, starting on the fore-dunes and ending in the fixed dunes, a good variety of plants seen in less than perfect weather including the stunning Sea Holly.

Sea Holly

We didn't find the Bee Orchids, but the Pyramidals put on a great show.

Sunday saw the west Glamorgan rspb local group visit for a look around, again a small but enthusiastic group saw 33 species of birds, including some distant Gannets, 70 species of wild flowers, and a few butterflies, (in less than perfect conditions of wind and drizzle) but Marbled Whites were quite abundant.

Marbled Whites

This Golden Plover caused momentary excitement as it was very confiding in fact fearless as it showed no fear of us at all, so was either sick or very tired. (It could easily have been an American visitor!!)

Another Busy week ahead  starting with a BSBI (Botanical Society of the British Isles) field trip visiting Pembrey Burrows LNR on Tuesday.......

Heatwave phew and moths Wednesday 21st June 2017

Well its hot, no mistaking that although all change tonight?

At 9am it was 26'c at the shelter to hot for work so just a morning of monitoring, no Strandline Beetles found on the section I checked today but I did find a special moth the Sand Dart.

On the subject of moths I ran the trap overnight on Monday into Tuesday with a great catch with a smattering of common moths plus some "goodies" and a NEW moth for Carmarthenshire a Reddish Light Arches, Apamea sublustris, here are a few pictures.

Reddish Light Arches, new to Carmarthenshire

Broad-barred White Scarce in Carmarthenshire

Shore Wainscot rare in Carmarthenshire Nationally scarce

Shark, uncommon and local

Carmarthenshire Bird Club guided walk Saturday 17th June 2017

The annual bird club guided walk took place this morning, a month earlier than usual, with perfect weather of clear blue skies and a gentle breeze keeping the temperature pegged at around 16'c.

There were 11 club members who enjoyed the walk through one of the grazing fields where we saw a wide range of flowering plants including: Lesser and Greater Spearwort, Bloody Cranesbill, Pyramidal Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid, Marsh Helleborine, and a host more.

Bloody Cranesbill

The Dragonflies put on a show with Emperor, Broad Bodied Chaser and Black tailed Skimmer, as well as Azure Damesleflies.

Emperor ♀ egg laying

The butterflies were a little disappointing but first of the years included, Dark Green Fritillary, Marbled White and Large Skipper with just one Green Hairstreak seen by a select few.

Dark Green Fritillary

Spearworts - pretty buttercups!

Another beetle.. Thursday 15th June 2017

A cooler blustery but bright day and another Strandline Beetle survey, disappointedly only one beetle found...

Interesting sightings included another location for Dune Tiger Beetle, and good numbers of Dune Chafer, Anomala dubia, flying and mating, this beetle is classified as having a "local" distribution in the UK largely on the West coast with South Wales a good area for them.

Dune Chafer

I was also lucky enough to find three breeding pairs of Ringed Plover, and using some field craft managed to locate a nest with three eggs, field craft, [so lacking these days amongst many people who don't "get it"] is really important if you really want to discover some hidden gems. Of course you can just stumble on these things but how many people know how to react to the behaviour of the creature being observed without stressing it. As I left the area one of the adults had returned to the eggs.