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

Autumn continues... This morning was overcast, no breeze and cool but not cold. It was a pleasure to show another Carmarthenshire birder a "lifer" in the form of a Yellow-browed Warbler, not the one I ringed yesterday but another unringed individual. Blondie, is back in the field with the bullocks, thanks to the quick thinking of two of our regular visitors, (you know who you are THANKS). A few photographs of autumn fruits enough to give a warm glow...... Hawthorn Woody Nightshade or (Bittersweet) Dog Rose Hips Travellers Joy, (Old-mans Beard) Mmm awaiting a name

An East wind brings a chill and a thrill.... The weather has taken a real turn to autumn, with cooler days and nights and a steady East or North East breeze. The reserve is settling down into the quiet time but there is still plenty to see, especially the wide range of Waxcap fungi, and the various trees now laden with berries. Dune Waxcap This morning I was surprise to see a "blonde" standing near one of the field fences, especially as yesterday there were only "raven" and "grey" coloured cattle on site! Wrong side of the fence, and no intention of getting on the right side Blondie was also on the WRONG side of the fence, it turns out that two weeks ago she escaped while being loaded onto the lorry to be TB tested, well despite the best efforts of the grazier, his wife and myself blondie is still on the wrong side of the fence, only now she has the company of a young quiet bullock who will hopefully calm her down enough to be coaxed bac

Guided Walk... Today was the last of the scheduled guided walks, a strandline safari, the weather was vastly improved on the past two days when we've had near constant rain. A group of seven turned up, (thanks to Veronica for some advertising) and we walked the beach between CE53 and CE52 so that we had the wind at our backs. Although the sand had covered most of the strandline there was still enough to explore, having a couple of people who hadn't been on one of the previous walks mean't that I could really get into showing and explaining what we discovered. I never seem to be able to co-ordinate talking and taking photographs so you'll have to believe me when I say we found, Tellin spp, Banded Wdge Shell, Otter Shell, Thong Weed, Prickly |cockle Edible Cockle  host of Sand Hoppers and an incredible looking Sea Slater, Common Sea Slater (photo from Wikipedia) There were lots of groups of Goose Barnacles, and if anyone can answer the question

Nip in the air..... There was a bit of a nip in the air this morning, although if I had woken earlier as planned it would have been even nippier! Anyway a late start saw me on the reserve at 08:45, it was calm and there were quite a few birds flitting across the track where puddles still lay from the last rain. I set two 40ft nets, about 100ft apart, and whilst I was not flooded with birds catching a small flock of Goldfinches did make for a busy start. As the morning wore on I decided to see if the Meadow pipits would react to the tape lure, they did and whilst it wasn't a classic Meadow Pipit set up I caught four birds before packing up and getting on with some work. Meadow Pipits are every predators favourite food, and we have lots on the reserve, they bred well and now the winter visitors are arriving, I'll be targeting them over the next weeks. Meadow Pipit, notice the tick just behind the eye! Meadow Pipit

High tide delights...winter on the way? This morning was one of the highest spring tides at 9.1m, and it was at a sensible time around 08:30, so a lie in!. The high tide almost up to the fore dunes, in the distance , (over the white water) there were Gannets, Arctic Skua, GBB Gulls, herring Gulls, and Black-headed Gulls feeding I was on site by 07:45hrs and spent a pleasant 2 hours birding, without seeing a soul. middle marsh, just after the top of the tide I did manage 42 species of birds, with the highlights being, Whinchat, Arctic Skua, Wigeon, Teal, and the first returning Brent Geese, although they don't usually use  the marsh they do fly by, today they were resting and preening on the top of the marsh With the marsh flooding I went to the beach at the eastern end of the reserve, but not quite to the boundary so a lot of roosting waders and gulls etc were out of sight, until they got moved by the incoming tide. A flock of around 130 Sandwich Te

In deepest Swindon town... Well on the fringes at least... I was back with the North Wilts Ringing Group for my annual meeting with my mentor, old Prior.. it was good to see he's still the same as ever! He had prepared for this morning session last night. and while doing so caught a JACK SNIPE, the site is known for these diminutive wintering waders, and the 17th September was the earliest capture date. Jack Snipe, (photograph taken at Oxwich NNR 2015) With almost the full, Matt Prior, team out just Simon was missing it was great to see how much the lads Biff and Noah have continued to improve, as always the craic was up to its usual standards. With Anna and Paul W also out as well as Noah's mum who was scribing the team was set for what turned out to be a classic autumn ringing session. As usual Matt had some billy bonus net set and typically there were some interesting non-passerines to process. Common Snipe, a bird of the year (3) based on median cov

Autumn fruit and nuts...... A trip to the Elan Valley in mid-Wales showed once again that autumn is well and truly under way in the natural world. After several days of above average temperatures it was pleasant enough in the hills. The area is truly a marvellous place for both scenery and wildlife, vast man made reservoirs seem to just "fit in" to the landscape and the surrounding mix of deciduous and conifer plantations as well as some outstanding moorland blend so well. Caban Goch It was the variety of berries on show as well as a few nuts and fungi that highlighted the beauty of this time of year. I'll let the photos speak for themselves....... Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Rowan, (Mountain Ash) Sorbus aucuparia Birch Betula spp Sessile Oak, Quercus petraea Sweet Chestnut, Castanea sativa Boletus spp??