Two more sleeps, Saturday 23rd December 2017

A damp mizzly sort of morning, but with the right clothing nothing to stop a decent walk around the Pembrey Reserve.

Nothing of note just good numbers of the common birds, with BULLFINCH, ROBIN, SONG THRUSH, FIELDFARE, BALCKBIRD SKYLARK AND STONECHAT all present.

A GREAT CRESTED GREBE off shore and 21 CORMORANTS, 29 RINGED PLOVER, 8 SANDERLING and c2000 OYSTERCATCHERS around CE51.

Clearly the excitement was yesterday when Jean Dovey was on site, armed with her camera she managed to capture some lovely shots of two SHORT-EARED OWLS, in what were clearly poor light conditions.

Its great to see that the owls have stayed around the area, although catching up with them is a bit of trial and error.

SEASONS GREETING TO ALL BLOG READERS.....

Ynys Dawela Nature Park Wednesday 20th December 2017

It's Wednesday, regular readers know that means it's volunteer day.

Today we journeyed to the NE corner of the county to the Ynys Dawela Nature Park.

In typical December weather of light rain and mist we tackled a few jobs, including removing some fencing - seems we always remove fences- the usual litter pick and a   Knotweed survey ready for dealing with in 2018, there was very little Knotweed found.

Just how deep is this pond?

It is a wonderful location and the recent management work on the dipping pond, the "meadows" and areas of woodland will enhance the respective habitats for the Marsh Fritillary and allow light to the woodland floor to enrich the flora.

Mown meadow

There were good sized mixed flocks of birds moving through the woods with TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, BLUE, GREAT AND LONG-TAILED TITS, a few JAYS moving through and the ubiquitous GREY SQUIRREL.

The photo doesn't do the actual scene justice, ..all was calm and still.....

I saw most of the birds when I stopped to catch my breath on this flight of steps!!!!!!!!

 

Billy no mates, Morfa Berwig Tuesday 19th December 2017

I was expecting help in the form of a volunteer group this morning, unfortunately they cancelled at the last minute, these things happen.....

Being the OCD organised person I am I had already prepped a lot of work which needed to be finished, (I'd made such a mess I couldn't leave it)

The Berwig roundabout entrance is getting there, it was a bit muddy after the alterations, but now there is space for at least eight carefully parked cars enough for any events we hold there.

Interesting birds today, using the winter feeding station I've been given permission to set up, and already I can confirm the presence of WILLOW TIT, and a gang of COAL TITS.

Willow Tits are RED listed which means they are of the highest conservation concern in the UK, Carmarthenshire has a reasonable population of these very fussy birds.

    Willow Tit

Cold weather arrivals, Saturday 16th December 2017

I helped out with the WEBS counts this morning on Cefn Sidan, between CE59 and Tywyn Point.

Although the tide was against us we managed to get decent coverage, best were       c3000 KNOT, c300 Sanderling, c350 WIGEON, and then a GREAT WHITE EGRET on the sands off Kidwelly Quay.

There were small skiens of BRENT GEESE moving in the estuary and COMMON SCOTER obvious offshore but not really countable from the beach probably c1000

Back at Pembrey a ringtail, HEN HARRIER put in the briefest of views as it scattered CURLEW, TEAL, SNIPE and LITTLE EGRETS out of the Swan drain.

The recent cold weather has resulted in an arrival of birds hopefully they will find the area to their liking and hang around for the rest of the winter.

The contractor work at Morfa Berwig LNR is finished just some tidying up to do, it's very muddy "offroad" which is to be expected, the tarmac paths will be swept in the next week or so.

Wigeon, Pembrey Burrows LNR - photo Colin Dalton.

Morfa Berwig Makeover! Thursday 14th December 2017

I went back to Morfa Berwig, in drier conditions than yesterday, to take photographs of the management work being carried out.

Now its a wetland site so any work at any time of year will be muddy, and current conditions are no exception.

With the entrance on the Berwig roundabout having received a makeover it looks a lot more inviting, when signage is in place it will look even better.

Berwig roundabout entrance, south west corner of reserve on A484

Management of the Willow and Gorse is essential as in short order they can both dominate the other vegetation, only about a third of each patch of scrub that needs controlling has been done and the result is open areas which will catch the sun allowing a richer diversity of plants and inverts' to colonise the areas until the scrub needs controlling again.

Brownfield area

Field 1

Yes it looks a mess and it's certainly muddy, but in  my opinion its a job well done, and in a few months you will not recognise the site.

Field 2

Afon Goch path

Field 3

Wednesday 13th December 2017, MORE SHORTIES

I couldn't resist, Colin Dalton has once again sent me a suite of SEO photographs, and the light is so good I know you would want to see them, however before that...

Contractors are on site at Morfa Berwig, carrying out fencing and path maintenance as well as habitat management in the brownfield area near the roundabout and in all of the grazing fields, and making the parking area at the roundabout entrance a bit more spacious, (if you see fly tipping here or anywhere else, please report it on 01267-234567).

A new "temporary" sign has gone in at the Berwig Road entrance.

The habitat management may look harsh but the vegetation will soon recover and the bare areas will provide consistently great habitat for invertebrates, allowing the vegetation to take over diminishes the value of the site for invertebrates, Morfa Berwig has a number of nationally and locally rare species.

Photos to follow...

Pembrey Saltmarsh, please do not wander out onto the marsh it just disturbs the wintering birds, we only go out there to carry out monthly counts and do so in an organised manner.

Now those Owls....

Never too many shorties, Sunday 10th December 2017

SNOW...., well a few flakes for a few minutes, still SNOW... mind you trying to hammer staples and handle barbed wire in this mornings cold was fun!

Still to brighten up a winters day here are a few more of Colin Daltons, Short-eared Owl photographs from Saturday evening.

Photographs are copyright of Colin Dalton

Listening and looking,

Chase on?, Skylark flushed

The two Sparrowhawks muscling in on the Shorties hunting