URGENT URGENT, Control from.......Sunday 22nd July 2018

And so it was at around 3pm today I was checking the car parks when I was flagged down by a visitor, it's usually bad news when someone flags us down, who told me that he had seen smoke coming from the forest just inland from the beach near the wreck on the western end of Cefn Sidan.

The result was of course a radio call to our control to alert them to the information; the team sprung into action as we set about locating the fire  which was found outside the park boundary in the NRW Pembrey Forest. Other members of the public were already attempting to tackle the fire and had alerted the Fire Service via 999 as had our team at control.

On this point the gentleman who called 999 was amazed he had a mobile signal, it's worth mentioning that 99% of the time when you dial 999 your mobile will pick up any network not necessarily the one you pay for... technology eh!

Well anyway it was soon apparent that the cause of the fire was a DISPOSABLE BBQ and a campfire, I cannot understand the selfishness of people WHY. A fire crew from Llanelli station arrived on site but due to the location couldn't get a hose close enough so had to carry water in buckets; the use of "fire beaters" helped contain the flames but the damage had already been done and the fire had burned deep into the ground, ( as we discovered when two of us revisited the incident around 18:30)

you can see the disposable BBQ in the lower centre

If any of my readers wonder about the decision to ban BBQ's and fires etc in the Pembrey Country Park believe me when I say the difficult decision was taken to take into account the stupidity and selfishness of some visitors (my personal view)

Well on a brighter note, apart from being bitten by a Horsefly again! we were joined by the incredible GIANT WOOD WASP, busily laying eggs in the bark of a Pine tree which was still smouldering.
These harmless insects are very impressive being around 40mm long.

Giant Wood Wasp  (Wikipedia free to use )

Morfa Berwig, Carmarthenshire Bird Club walk Saturday 21st July part 2

After the little drop of rain yesterday evening the air felt damp when we met at Morfa Berwig for a stroll around the reserve. The morning soon warmed up....

As is usual at this time of year it was quiet on the bird front save for a fly through Peregrine which proved to be the highlight.

Butterflies on the wing today included Ringlet, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small Blue.

Dragonflies were thin in the air with only Azure Blue and Southern Hawker making an appearance, the Southern Hawker performed amazingly well resting on a Dock plant in full view.

Southern Hawker

A wide range of plants including Fleabane, Greater Willowherb, Red Bartsia, Wild Parsnip, Scentless Mayweed, and Scarlet Pimpernel.

Greater Willowherb

I hope the small group of nine enjoyed the walk, July doesn't see the reserve at its best however there is always something to see.

Food for thought, Saturday 21st July 2018 part 1

Yesterday I received the weather data from the Met office for the weather station at Pembrey AWR.
The first six months makes for interesting reading.

The photo isn't particularly clear, however it shows that June 2018 (the blue line) recorded 8.8mm of rain v 88.2mm in June 2017 and 116.0 in June 2016, I wonder what July will look like.....

Morfa Berwig drought Friday 20th July 2018

A few hours checking Morfa Berwig LNR, including clearing a nice bag full of litter from the roundabout entrance, this morning was well worth it.

Plenty of butterflies on the wing including, Small Blue, Common Blue, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and PAINTED LADY.

Painted Lady

Meadow Brown

Bumblebees were well represented by Common Carder and Red-tailed, but dragonflies were scarce, given the lack of water with all the ponds empty of useable water I'm not sure where they have gone, an opportunity for a better look on tomorrows BIRD CLUB WALK.

On the bird front plenty of juvenile Goldfinches feeding on the heads of Creeping Thistle, a few warblers skulking around to, a juvenile Grey Heron in a ditch with two well grown juvenile Mallard.

The Teasel plants are coming into flower and will provide another source of seed for the birds in the autumn

Teasel

Come along on tomorrows walk and explore this interesting reserve, see the Carmarthenshire Bird Club website for more info.

Continuing heat Wednesday 18th July 2018

At four o'clock this morning it was raining and blowing so the ground had a little soak, but nowhere near enough to mitigate the effects of the on-going dry spell.

After attending a meeting in the country park I ambled over to the burrows for a mooch about.

As ever though there always seem to be something that rattles my cage and today was no exception with a pile of used dog poo bags left at the entrance of the reserve. WHY?

Despite the dry spell and the dry and dusty conditions there was quite a variety of wildlife to be seen, with many butterflies on the wing, a nice selection of wildflowers and good numbers of birds.

The Grayling stole the show on the butterfly front with many along the track to the hut, second or maybe third generation Small Blues along with Common Blue and Meadow Brown.

A good showing of the Dark Bush-cricket, with several in the park office, was something I've not noticed before.

Flowers included Purple Loosestrife growing in the "slack" area adjacent to the rapidly disappearing pond, I've never seen the slack so lush and the pond so tiny.

The Swallows in  the hut have four? well grown young which should fledge very soon, they are to awkward to get to too ring and are now too big.

Don't forget the Carmarthenshire Bird Club walk at Morfa Berwig LNR on Saturday see their website for details

Let me explain.... Sunday 15th July 2018

There can be no doubt that working outdoors, no matter what the weather, is a most rewarding occupation.

People often comment to me "what a great job you have", "you're so lucky" "what a great office", "driving around all day that's nice"; let me explain the reality

When you see me, or any of the Outdoor Recreation Team, rangers, park staff, maintenance ,and the managers driving around you can bet that we are not on a "jolly".

Granted when I'm on the reserves I can really enjoy the wildlife, spend an hour pottering around, making notes watching the wildlife yes its great; but it's not all roses so here is my (our) day today.

After checking the reserve and pottering around I went into Pembrey Country Park and met up with the duty manager.

We caught up with jobs that didn't get done on Saturday such as some bins (they fill up magically overnight!), patrolled the beach cleaning up more litter from last night, then off to CE53 to clear what is in essence fly tipping by the beach-goers. After a well deserved cuppa, although some of us had a breakfast roll - not me! we got on with other tasks, talking to visitors etc, 


Then: forgotten which order though......


A burst waste water pipe quickly resolved with appropriate procedures in place

Cover a colleagues' lunch break

Bins checked and emptied (I emptied one set of bins four times between 3pm and 8pm)

With BBQ's and fires still banned we kept patrolling the park and yes I found a family oblivious to the ban (despite signs and verbal instructions at the barrier) happily BBQing away, all sorted.

More patrolling, talking to visitors (one lovely couple from Kent plenty of locals)

Then a road traffic accident on the approach road, directing traffic as the Police had no spare officers!, I left my colleagues to it and went back in the park -----oh another family BBQing!

I think we had lunch at some point....

Then the RNLI needed help as the tide began to lap around their tyres with the battery in the 4x4 flat!!!

And then another issue which needed resolving but is not appropriate to blog about.

So yes its a great job, great team, great fun but easy it is not...…

I'm sure something else happened but for some reason I cannot remember what !

Forthcoming events, update Monday 9th July 2018

Some events in the nest few weeks:-

Carmarthenshire Local Nature Reserves


July 14th, The flora of Mynydd Mawr woodland park, a former coal site,  10am - 1pm.

August 11th a Saltmarsh tramp, Pembrey Burrows LNR 10am - 1pm

Environment and Biodiversity team 

Gwlyptiroedd Gwych
Taith gerdded i ymweld Pyllau Cochion a Mynydd Bach gael gwybod mwy am gynefinoedd cors arbennig hyn
Gorffennhaf 26fed 16:30
Wonderful Wetlands!
A walk to visit Pyllau Cochion and Mynydd Bach Commons to find out more about these special bog habitats
July 26th 16:30
• Byddwch yn ymweld â dwy gors allweddol ger Brechfa -sef tiroedd comin Pyllau Cochion a Mynydd Bach -yng nghwmni aelodau Prosiect Corsydd Sir Gaerfyrddin.
• Bydd cyfle i ddysgu pam y mae'r corsydd hyn yn helpu i gadw ein traed yn sych, ac i ryfeddu at eu bywyd gwyllt.
• Man ymgynnull -Pyllau Cochion SN498 268
• I gael rhagor o fanylion, cysylltwch â'r Swyddog Bioamrywiaeth: 01558 825390; Bioamrywiaeth@sirgar.gov.uk
• Cofiwch wisgo esgidiau glaw.
• Join members of the Carmarthenshire Bogs Project to visit two important bogs near Brechfa –Pyllau Cochion and Mynydd Bach Commons
• Find out more about why these wetlands help keep our feet dry and the fascinating wildlife that lives there.
• Meet at Pyllau Cochion SN498 268
• Contact Biodiversity Officer for more details: 01558 825390; Biodiversity@carmarthenshire.gov.uk.
• Please dress appropriately –boots/wellies essential!