Paul's Blog - All comments and views are my own,

Change of plan................ Many of you will know that my plan for 2016, was to spend an extended time on the island of Lesbos. Due to a number of issues, not least the fact that, my "tennis elbow" has flared up, my partner is awaiting hospital treatment for Cervical Spondylosis, and the delay in obtaining permits to ring birds on the island; I have decide to put my plans on hold until we have settled into retirement properly. So it looks like it will be another Autumn trip in mid September is on the cards for 2016, hopefully we can get two weeks at least. As disappointed as I am I must be realistic and consider the implications should either of us need medical assistance. Corn Bunting, one of the classic Lesvos birds

There be Dragons around...already A dry but overcast morning found me contemplating a beachcombing session, as I approached the beach I saw some Fox foot prints and decided to take a photograph. Fox foot print As I did so, out of the corner of my eye I could see something wriggling from the sand, I was astonished to see a Common Lizard appear before my eyes, it looks like it is one of last years youngsters, it was milder but still 4th February?? I put the Lizard out of harms way on a habitiat pile of logs. Common Lizard There has been criminal damage to the fence in one of the cattle grazing fields about £400 to put right so pointless, plus the cattle escaped. Part of the damaged fence...........

One month almost gone...... Beachcombing project........ With the weather has unpredictable as ever I've been diverted to do some beachcombing on Cefn Sidan, not only is it good exercise (its a three mile round trip), its also very interesting. I've started making a collection to use with visitors to the Pembrey reserve, its quite basic but already I've turned up a few exciting finds. When I get around to it I'll label the items separately in the meantime I'll explain each photograph. A selection of "Tellins"top and middle left: Horse Mussel, Necklace Shell middle and bottom centre:, Dog Whelk bottom right: Striped Venus top right and the  gold shell is a Banded Wedge Shell middle centre Sea Potato Urchin bottom left, Pod Razor Shell middle:, Common Cockle and Prickly/rough Cockle top row: and Pharus legumen (no common name) bottom right Egg Cases of Dog Whelk Left, and a Sea Heart, a vine seed from tropical America, Right:

Poachers, scramblers and beachcombing......... The weekend on the reserve has been busy and interesting in many ways. On Saturday I did a bit of beachcombing, collecting samples for use as an educational tool, I'll go into beachcombing in more detail soon (+photos). A phone call from a member of the public telling me that there was a suspicious vehicle and someone with a gun on the reserve!! As it turned out the suspicious vehicle belonged to a poacher, he didn't have a weapon only a Spaniel and a ferret. As there is a total ban on any form of hunting and shooting on the reserve the Police were called, duly arrived and dealt with the offender. On Sunday I had a brilliant morning with the reserve devoid of people and dogs, the afternoon was much busier when I recognised two vehicles in the car park and a third suspicious van? A little investigation revealed two men poaching, they were escorted from the reserve and duly reported to the Police. Well that was

Cefn Sidan beachcombing... I spent the afternoon walking along Cefn Sidan beach towards the South Eat corner of the Pembrey reserve. After a wet and dreary start to the day the afternoon was clear blue skies with a steady westerly breeze. Looking East South East along the beach towards Burry Port I collected a good number of shells from the high water mark to make a reference collection for guided walks and school parties, the one thing I couldn't collect was this The underside of a Sea Mouse Top view of a Sea Mouse My walk took me around the end of the reserve and back on to the salt marsh where there was more evidence of Otters using the site with foot prints at the edge of a brackish pool. A bracing and interesting two hour walk ending back at my starting point. Sea Mouse Aphrodita aculeata this incredible scale worm lives it's life buried in the sand

Ringing, Pembrey Burrows An early start in sub-zero temperatures, and an unexpected breeze, saw me setting nets for Skylarks out on the dry ish area on the marsh, I've been watching them leave the area at first light for a few days so thought I'd give them a go. When I walked the area towards the net just before dawn there were at least 15 Skylarks which I moved from roost but with only myself I couldn't cover all bases and they flew off to my right well before the net. Feeling frustrated I walked on to check the  obviously empty net, and in the bottom shelf there sat a Water Rail a really unexpected result The Water Rail was duly processed and I aged it as a 5, an immature based on its white chin, leg colour and wing feathers. This where you'd expect a nice photograph!!! well the batteries ran out so no photo. The rest of the morning was very quiet and cold with the breeze steadily getting stronger.

Pembrey Burrows & Saltings Local Nature Reserve Ringing report & wildlife notes 2015 prepared by, Paul Aubrey : January 2016 Overview Ringing commenced at the Pembrey Burrows LNR in mid October 2015. It always take time to establish the best locations for setting mist nets at a new site; 2016 will bring consistency to the locations used. Being a coastal site ringing is very dependent on the weather especially the strength of the wind and anything over 9 miles per hour effectively cancels any attempt at ringing. In total 10 ringing sessions took place between October and December 2015 with a total of 105 birds ringed of 18 species. There are three main areas where the mist nets are set, ·         The Willows/Reed Bed opposite the Welsh Water, treatment works. ·         The area of Sea Buckthorn along the hard track from the cattle pens to the first stile into field 2. ·