Butterfly survey 2018, want to lend a hand? Wednesday 31st January 2018

In 2017 we conducted a butterfly survey during May to September,. The survey was carried out on a suitable day once a month May to September, thanks Veronica for doing the leg work.

PEMBREY BURROWS AND SALTINGS LNR BUTTERFLY SURVEY 2017
Weather notes -	O/C 0/8	Sunny	Sunny	Cloudy	Sunny
	ESE 15mph		Mod West	Sun ints	cool, sl.
	22.6 C		breeze	breeze	N breeze
Dates -	25-May	17-Jun	20-Jul	09-Aug	17-Sep	TOTAL
SPECIES
BRIMSTONE	No record
CLOUDED YELLOW	No record
COMMA					1	1
COMMON BLUE	28	5		28	1	62
DARK GREEN FRITILLARY		1				1
DINGY SKIPPER	2					2
GATEKEEPER			17	21		38
GRAYLING			8	1		9
GREEN HAIRSTREAK	1					1
GRIZZLED SKIPPER	No record
HOLLY BLUE	Recorded	outside	transect
LARGE SKIPPER		1				1
MARBLED WHITE		2	1			3
MEADOW BROWN		6	10	34	15	65
ORANGE TIP	Recorded	outside	transect
PAINTED LADY	Recorded	outside	transect
PEACOCK				2		2
RED ADMIRAL		1		1	7	9
RINGLET				3		3
SMALL BLUE	43	24	10	6	1	84
SMALL COPPER
SMALL HEATH	3	1		2	1	7
SMALL SKIPPER		5				5
SMALL TORTOISESHELL	Recorded	outside	transect
SPECKLED WOOD		1	1			2
WALL	Recorded	outside	transect
GREEN VEINED WHITE	Recorded	outside	transect		1	1
WHITE LARGE		2	1	5	1	9
WHITE SMALL				3		3
Date totals	77	49	48	106	28	308

We are looking for help with the 2018 survey, which will be WEEKLY, fancy a go? (you don't have to do every week)all we need is your time and confidence to be able to identify the species likely to be seen on the reserve. If you are interested in discussing the idea please get in touch by email. paul.pembreylnr@outlook.com

Trouble ahead Meles meles, Monday 29th January 2017

Before I get to the core of todays blog, let me say thanks to the Monday mencap volunteers who turned turn out regardless of the weather to carry out tasks at Pembrey Burrows LNR.

Today was wet, not by usual Welsh standards, just drizzle and mizzle but the kind that gets you wet, today we fixed a step on a stile into one of the fields, there was a photo but there was a bit of "builders bum" going on so I've deleted it!, still thanks lads.

I carried on checking around, getting to the information hut for a cup of tea, (from a flask before anyone thinks I've taken up the suggestions of a tea/coffee machine) I got out of the van to be faced with badger trouble, I'd noticed a lot of activity on the track such as old bedding and scuffling; but the have clearly been busy in the bank outside the hut, it quite a job they've done and the photos don't do it justice..

So what may they be up to....

Lets have a bit of background information about Badgers, the largest British member of the weasel family, the mustelids, nocturnal by habit and an omnivore with a taste for most things!.

The females, sows, come into season after the birth of the cubs in late winter early spring, which coincidently is when the males, boars, are fertile.

The sow goes through a process known as -delayed implantation- so the blastocysts do not implant into the uterus until December prior to a 6-7 week pregnancy, with most cubs born in February.

I suspect that the sow is getting ready to give birth and has been doing a bit of house keeping and foraging widely in anticipation of the arrival of the cubs.

Badgers are predators and impact on a wide range of other species, such as Bumblebees, and ground nesting birds, but nature has a way of maintaining a balance.