Ynys Dawela Wednesday 25th October 2017

This week the LNR volunteers visited (we did some work) the Ynys Dawela Nature Park (reserve), a 15.8ha former farm,  then in the 1830's and 1840's mining area to exploit the rich mineral reserves of the area.

A failed bid to develop an opencast mine on the land resulted in the site being secured by the local authority and subsequently passing to Carmarthenshire County Council. It is now a real patchwork of meadows, deciduous woodland with the Amman river forming one boundary.

The site is home to a typical mix of woodland birds, yesterday Jays were very noticeable feeding on the abundant Acorn crop, its specialities though are probably the Whorled Caraway, the county flower, and the Marsh Fritillary, although present in low numbers habitat management is geared to conserving this now rare butterfly.

Marsh Fritillary habitat

The autumn colours are just coming out and with the great range of tree species,including Oak, Ash, Birch, Hazel and Holly, plus Field and Norway Maple it will be a blaze of colour in a week or two.

Brian arrives, Saturday 21st October 2017

I was duly awakened by the slashing rain sometime in the early hours, then the sound of neighbours hammering something or other in the dark got me out of bed for my planned visit to the reserve at Pembrey for high water.

I'm glad I made the effort, with the wind pushing the tide the marsh was completely flooded well before high water at 07:50hrs.

The drive along the edge of the reserve yielded my first REDWINGS of the year as well as SONG THRUSH and BLACKBIRD, all trying to keep low..

A good variety of birds on the marsh battled the wind with, TEAL (50), MALLARD (c25), WIGEON (2), REDSHANK (c25), CURLEW (2), SNIPE, as well as the usual assemblage of Lesser Black Backed, Black headed and Herring Gulls.

With gusts of over 60mph recorded at Pembrey Sands, it was no wonder the instruments on the shelter were rattling.

Tardy summer visitors? Friday 20th October 2017

With storm "Brian" on the way for Saturday I got out and about this morning and walked the beach, it was good to see very little storm damage from last weeks visitor, Ophelia.

Noticeable in the brief window of good weather was the movement of Skylarks heading SE across the reserve and out over the estuary, the Cormorant flock is building up at CE51 with c25 birds roosting this morning.

Heading back inland a late Northern Wheatear was nice to see, it may be the same one that Adam saw at the Pembrey Harbour end earlier today.

Northern Wheatear

A well earned rest in the shelter allowed me to notice the number of Goldcrests, and Robins flitting about. On the walk back along the gravel tack to the van there was lots of birds activity in the scrub and a few minutes of "pishing" soon had a couple of Blackcaps, a  male and a female type, investigating the noise; (pishing is a birding term for making a pish sound which some birds will come to investigate). A male Bullfinch "peeped" back and more Goldcrests were moving through looking for insects.

I plan to be on site for high water tomorrow around 07:45, despite the forecast 50mph winds, come and join me!!!

Reserve survives Ophelia Thursday 19th October 2017

This morning was my first chance to return to Pembrey and check what, if any, damage had been caused by ex-hurricane Ophelia.

It appears that the only problem was the instruments on the weather station were facing the wrong way!, (well with gusts of 75mph recorded it wasn't surprising), that was soon rectified and now everything is facing in the right direction.

I did a Snipe count on the upper marsh and found 17 Common Snipe and one Jack Snipe, perhaps numbers are on the low side but there was two thirds of the marsh not counted!

Common Snipe

Three fly over Ravens, and a single Red Kite added some interest.

Another storm is forecast for Saturday with a tide at 07:50hrs of 8.7m the marsh will hopefully be flooded and may bring in a few windswept goodies.

Ophelia....Monday 16th October 2017

Ex-hurricane Ophelia started to make itself felt this morning with the most eerie of skies and a blood red sun, a consequence of the volumes of Saharan dust picked up by the high winds, typically I didn't mange a photo but there have been plenty on the news and social media.

The MENCAP stalwarts turned out and helped repair the enclosure in F2 which will assist the grazier in gathering the cattle when needed. The cattle are so inquisitive they just stood around watching and at the rattle of the tool box were straight in looking for food, I felt a little mean as when we arrived they were all in the enclosure and to move them into the field I pretended to have food, so they would follow me!!

That's not straight....

The full force of this ex-hurricane built up during the afternoon and this evening the sea off Burry Port was very turbulent, there were lots of people watching the waves and braving the wind, I guess there's something captivating about weather watching.

The sight of the Coastguard volunteers preparing to leave  the base at Burry Port perhaps put the storm into perspective, someone needed help somewhere...

Round up of recent sightings Friday 13th October 2017

I'd like to say not much has been going on, but as ever that's not the case although I can't really discuss much on here.

Instead here are some of the recent wildlife sightings at Pembrey Burrows.

A juvenile MOORHEN was, surprisingly, a new bird for the reserve, as was a GREAT WHITE EGRET, a long overdue sighting as they occur frequently at Kidwelly Quay and WWT Llanelli.

Great White Egret (GWE)

The recent high tides seem to have brought a lot of fish "fry" into the marsh as the GWE was accompanied by a good count of eight LITTLE EGRETS and three GREY HERONS, which could be seen actively catching fish.

MEADOW PIPITS and SKYLARKS have increased in n umber in the last ten days, with a small influx of GOLDCRESTS being vocal in the Sea Buckthorn bushes.

Goldcrest

The run of westerly winds seems to be holding up some of the more expected species, such as Redwing and Fieldfare, but the sea has seen most action with RED-THROATED DIVERS seen offshore, an increase in GREAT CRESTED GREBES and the appearance of BRENT GEESE all signs the seasons are changing.

Red-throated Diver, usually a distant view

A walk in the dark and a surprise, Friday 6th October - Saturday 7th October 2017

A late evening visit to Pembrey in the hope of ringing some waders, was the plan with a very high tide, perhaps too high for the task and just a lonely Oystercatcher ringed. But apparently it was a "nice walk", there was something surreal about splashing in the sea in the dark!

The surprise came as we arrived at the beach where a Grey Seal pup raised its head to check us out.... still in it cloak of white(ish) fur it paid little attention to us until Gwyn had to walk passed it when it did get a bit agitated.

I don't do "cute" but there's no denying that

the soulful look in those eyes did give me a warm feeling...

I was concerned that it may have been too young to be on it's own, the nearest colony is at Worm' Head on the Gower, it sneezed a couple of times and when we returned from our "nice walk" it was soundly asleep.

Just a bit of curiosity

I returned this morning to see if it was still there but it had moved away, hopefully rested and fit enough to fend for itself.

Typically I only had my phone hence the poor photos but it was after sunset!