Life and death Saturday 29th July 2017

An early morning phone call from a visitor reporting something not right in one of the grazing fields.

When I arrived I was told my another visitor of a dead Grey Seal on the beach, I put that one on hold, it was dead and not going anywhere - hold that thought.

Arriving at Field 1 I could see 14 cattle should be 16, at the same time the 15 cattle in Field 2 were being a bit boisterous and bellowing....

I climbed the gate (at the hinge end) to count the herd in F1 properly 16 plus a new born calf!!!! that shouldn't have happened, but yes there he was, a lovely Welsh Black calf, suckling from his mum.

After informing the grazier who was totally shocked I went off to investigate the dead seal, arriving on the beach at CE53 to see one of the park rangers trundling down the beach in a tractor  with the seal in the front loader to be buried out of sight, so I didn't get to see, measure or photograph it.

Nutkins feathers are ruffled, Wednesday 26th July 2017

July and a wet day, still a few jobs to do including checking the 44 bird nest boxes purchased from CJ Wildlife for a nest box project at Morfa Berwig LNR, the access to ring the pulli is a snug fit on some so a bit of sanding will be needed, plenty of time for that job as they are not going out until the end of autumn.

The Barn Owl box which last year had Honey Bees in residence needed a visit to check for occupancy, no owls but a squatter in the form of a Grey Squirrel had moved in, you had to be there to appreciate the funny side of events which went a bit like this:

Simeon went up the ladder to have a look for occupants, as there were no signs of Barn Owls he opened the access door,

"is that a squirrel nest" I asked,
"yes", came the reply,
"anyone in"
"yes its looking at me...."

Anyone in?

The next thing there's a bit of scratching and banging as the squirrel jumps over Simeon's shoulder, does a somersault and scampers off into the forest, leaving us somewhat amused!!

What the F'*#+, just happened!!!!

This little fella, a Field Vole, was out on the saltmarsh this afternoon

At last Morfa Berwig Saturday 22nd July 2017

All effort has been directed at preparing for the official launch of the Morfa Berwig Local Nature Reserve.

And so it was on what will probably be the wettest day of the summer 27 hardy souls gathered to hear short speeches and genuine thanks before a bit of pond dipping and a walk around the reserve.

The walk was quite interesting as two Water Shrews  (dead) and a Common Shrew (dead) were found and proved interesting to the young folk.

Water Shrew

Common Shrew in reality its half the size of the Water Shrew

Mothing Monday 17th July - Tuesday 18th July 2017

After an evening of bird ringing, I set the moth trap and the trail camera, well the trail camera revealed nothing but the moth trap came up with some goodies.

Some nice moths and a couple of beetles.

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Pebble Prominent

Ruby Tiger

Ear moth species, will need dissecting to identify correctly

Common Dor Beetle (awaiting confirmation as its a "local" species

Nicrophorus vestigator, a "local" Sexton Beetle species

What the right tools (machines) can achieve Saturday 15th July 2017

I visited Morfa Berwig LNR yesterday to see how the work was going, its amazing what an experienced "digger" driver can achieve in a short space of time.

The old bridges that were to be replaced with culverts and hard surface have all been completed, a bit of raking will see them finished off, all of the hard-core used was sourced on site from existing mounds and bunds, which themselves have been remoulded into softer shapes.

I think the photos speak for themselves!

Today was "ramble with a ranger", it was pouring down, thankfully no one was daft enough to venture out in the rain, so a slightly soggy "ranger rambled home", I'm still not sure how I got so wet I hardly left the van.

I stopped off to count the gulls at the high tide roost in Sandy Water Park, they seemed to be enjoying the rain with 845 Black Headed Gulls (yes I counted everyone I could see), 26 Lesser black backed Gulls, 10+ Herring Gulls, 10+ Common Gulls and 28 Mediterranean Gulls.

Mediterranean Gull

Busy times, update, Thursday 13th July 2017

Quite a lot going on at the moment, not least the preparation for the official opening of the Morfa Berwig Local Nature Reserve on 21st July, more of that in a moment.

I've started the autumn ringing at Pembrey, it really is an autumn site as the hirundine (Swallows and Martins) roost is the main focus of activity. The roost of Swallows is growing daily with most of the birds being this years young, last night at sunset there were around 750 birds going in to the reeds, so far we've caught about 40 Swallows,  and one Sand Martin.

It looks like the Sedge Warblers (Sedwa) have had a reasonable breeding season with good numbers of young birds already ringed; the lack of water in the reedbed means it's not favoured by Reed Warblers (Reewa) with low numbers breeding, but they to have raised a few broods.

Other captures have included Stonechat (2 juveniles BTO code 3J) Pied Wagtails (adults BTO code 4, and 3J's) and Whitethroat (code 3J).

With the tide being high late evening I've noticed that a few of the local birders have been out, with a good count of Mediterranean Gulls (130+) in Old Pembrey Harbour.

Meanwhile back at Morfa Berwig the contractors have started replacing most of the wooden bridges with enclosed culverts and pathways.

one of the old footpath bridges, being removed

Yesterday the team were hard at applying Linseed oil to the signs, moving old fences, opening up pathways and generally getting the place in order, there's a bit! more to do next week before opening day.

Baby boom Saturday 8th July 2017

With the warm weather continuing the horseflies were a real pest this morning so I beat a hasty retreat from the centre of the reserve, no point in being insect food and getting all swollen.... 

I picked up the litter from CE53 car park and filled a black bag with a selection of rubbish including some suspicious empty packets with a very "earthy" smell, cannabis! so with a combination of drugs, and drink, (judging by the cans and bottles also picked up) the idiots then must have driven home!

I was cheered up, after depositing the rubbish and recycling, to visit a confidential site and find THREE well grown healthy BARN OWL chicks they just need a few more weeks of peace and quiet before being ready to venture out on their own.

Barn Owls are a schedule 1 protected species, during breeding the breeding site enjoys the same protection afforded by the law.

Barn Owl chick (library photo)