When is a Heron not a Heron Sunday 17th June 2016

I'm really enjoying my paid job with the Outdoor Recreation Service (ORS) not quite as nature focussed as my volunteer role but still---- a job is what you make of it...

This afternoon I was eating my lunch at the beach entrance in the country park when a visitor approached and let me know that there was a "Heron" on the beach that couldn't fly.

A rescue to brighten an otherwise very quiet day... I called on Oliver the duty ranger while I set off on foot westwards along the beach, ignoring the black rucksac on the beach (I'll come back to that) Oliver duly arrived along with Mandy from the campsite in search of the "Heron" nothing to be found so we headed back, as we approached the black rucksac it moved or rather lifted its head... our Heron was in fact a Cormorant. a quick chase, (yes I chased it along the beach) and it was caught. Cleary not in the best condition we took it into care, the first thing I noticed was that it was ringed with a British ring, it perked up a little while in a box after contacting the RSPCA, Oliver handed the bird into their care.

This is the most flattering photo thanks Oliver!

I have already discovered that the Cormorant was originally ringed as a nestling (pulli) in 2015, I should find out where soon and I'll update you.

Whilst out and about I noticed 100'sof Toadlets leaving the main pond in the forest, difficult not to drive over them.....

Summer sunshine Saturday 9th June 2018

I spent a few hours on the Pembrey LNR this morning before getting on with preparing for the BioBlitz in the Pembrey Country Park which takes place tomorrow (Sunday 10th).

The weather improved quickly this morning from overcast to hazy warm sunshine which caught me out whilst on the beach looking for the STRANDLINE BEETLE, sadly there is very little debris on the beach suitable for the beetle so I didn't find one in the mile or so of beach I checked.

On a brighter note I did find some "new" BEE ORCHIDS, growing in a different location to last year, the PYRAMIDAL ORCHIDS are also beginning to put on a show across the reserve.

Bee Orchid flower

The pond in field 2 continues to improve with 7 times more SOUTHERN MARSH ORCHIDS compared to last year as well as EMPORER, BROAD BODIED CHASERS and BLACK-TAILED SKIMMERS, all putting on a show

Black-tailed Skimmer

Good numbers of SMALL BLUE as well as SMALL HEATH butterflies were pleasing to see as this year seems a bit light on butterfly numbers.

Small Heath

Sunshine and Blues Monday 4th June

A routine visit to the Pembrey LNR was rewarding in so much that the site is looking amazing.

The cattle were taken out of GF2 a couple of months ago, this has allowed the vegetation in the pond to grow without being grazed off, as a result the pond and "slack" area will be at their best in a week or so, Southern Marsh Orchids are already coming into bloom, with the shoots of Lesser Spearwort providing resting places for the Broad bodied Chasers.

Southern Marsh orchid

With many of the summer flowers on show the accompanying butterflies are out in force with 10's of Small and Common Blues on the wing.

mating Common Blues

Now that the kids are back in school and there is a quieter feel to the reserve get out and explore..

It has certainly been a busy half term I'll let the photo below speak for itself, (the used bbq's  had aleady been moved off their original position, hence the burn marks however they were still hot when I got to them so we ended up with FOUR scorched areas of grass!!!)

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Don't forget to join on of our BioBlitz walks/events in Pembrey Country Park on Sunday .

New bird list - Pembrey Country Park, Friday 1st June 2018

Having spent the last two days welcoming visitors to the country park it seemed a good idea to start a "wildlife seen" list at the entrance.

The catalyst for the idea was a WEASEL running across the road, with great views.

The birds are quite "tame" with great views of MISTLE THRUSH, SONG THRUSH, BLACKBIRD, ROBIN, DUNNOCK, BLUE and GREAT TITS, JAY, and MAGPIE; ok not the most exciting birds but the thrushes were in good numbers with the Mistle Thrushes feeding fledged young.

The woodland in the park is well worth an explore at any time of year so don't forget the 

BioBlitz event on Saturday 9th June with an event evening for BATS and more, and the a packed day of guided events on Sunday 10th starting at 6:30am with a ringing demonstration. BOOKING ESSENTIAL for all events

Move the page around to read the poster

New role busy start update Tuesday 29th May

I started my new GDB, ( I mean this in the most positive way as the role is so varied) role with the Outdoor Recreation Service on Saturday the weather was not great until Monday when we had a busy bank holiday, four hours of saying " hi, that's £5 please here's your receipt have a great time..."

On the plus side whilst out and about in the park I found a HORNET, as well as a few fledged MISTLE THRUSH, a ROBIN feeding young in one of the workshops and SWALLOWS investigating nesting sites.

Hornet, Vespa carbo

I checked the reserve before and after my shifts, they are looking magnificent with a wide range of flowers on show, the SOUTHERN MARSH ORCHIDS, are just coming into flower.

Thanks to Bernie for letting me know of his bird sightings, adding KITTIWAKE and believe it or not SAND MARTIN (I still haven't seen one at Pembrey) to the year list which is now at 100.

Get out and about the sun  is here... for now!

Lanzarote, a round up Friday 25th May 2018

Just returned from a "family" holiday on the Spanish Island of Lanzarote.

A really interesting location and some good birds and volcanoes

The weather was mixed with a constant NE wind (the trade winds) and heavy cloud cover for most if not all of every day - the weather at home was much better as I kept hearing...

A respectable bird list of 22 birds with the specialities discovered on a tour with a local Eco guiding company.
New birds for me included, HOUBARA BUSTARD, CREAM COLOURED COURSER, LESSER SHORT TOED LARK AND SOUTHERN GREY SHRIKE.   I also had good views  of  BARBARY FALCON, ( an adult and a well grown chick) A selection of "record shots" below.

Houbara Bustard

Cream Coloured Courser

Southern Grey Shrike

Barbary Falcon chick

The scenery is amazing with over 200 inactive volcano cones, [the whole of the Canary Islands complex is still considered volcanically active] and extensive lava fields as well as an interesting "desert type" landscape consisting of what appear to be very flat dunes. (all explored with the same company)

Looking into a crater, notice the magma lake cap

Inside a crater

I was fortunate to have the same guide on both trips, a professional geologist by profession but also a sharp eyed birder, his passion for the island was infectious especially when he was discussing the many environmental problems Lanzarote faces....

There was very little litter anywhere but there appeared to be quite a few drinks cans scattered about showing signs of having been used for target practise by the locals ... but that was not the case at all, hunting is reasonably well controlled with only two target species, Rabbits and Barbary Partridge, both introduced for hunting, and local conservationists have a good relationship with the hunting community.

Anyway back to the can, amazingly the cause of the damage was RAVENS who have learned to target the cans as quite often a lizard or small mammal gets trapped in the can!!!!! there's even some research being undertaken by university students into this behaviour.

Corvids are clever...

All in all a pleasant week away but now its back to reality with me commencing work (paid) with the Outdoor Recreation Service from tomorrow.

Morfa Berwig Nest Box project update Wednesday 16th May 2018

I have been monitoring the 44 nest boxes at Morfa Berwig since the beginning of April, there have been signs of activity in 49% of the boxes, however todays update perhaps presents a better idea of the breeding season so far.

The cold nights in the past week have taken their toll on one box where all seven well grown Great Tit chicks have perished.

It seems that a predator, probably a Weasel, has finished off two clutches of eggs.

On the brighter side I did manage to ring three great tit chicks, albeit there were originally eight eggs in the clutch.

NEST BOX NUMBER	ACTIVITY RECORDED	Species
3	Female incubating NB not counted	Blue Tit
4	Female incubating NB not counted	Great Tit
6	Nest deserted, all seven chicks dead	Great Tit
9	Nine eggs warm	Great Tit
11	Female incubating NB not counted	Blue Tit
16	Predated	Not known
20	Three well grown chicks from eight eggs these have been ringed with ring numbers TZ…909, 910,911	Great Tit
21	Female incubating not counted	Blue Tit
33	Female incubating not counted	Blue Tit
35	Predated, two eggs discarded	Great Tit
40	Female incubating not counted	Great Tit
41	Female incubating not counted	Blue Tit
42	Six NB, there were 6 eggs on the last visit	Blue Tit

 So, to explain a bit further NB means the eggs have hatched, the chicks have no down (Naked) and their eyes are shut (Blind)

I am away for a week in the sun, internet permitting I may write a few blogs, if not I'll catch up on my return.