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

A look back.............. 2016 is almost gone, but what an interesting year its been, with several foreign trips, not all wildlife focussed but you just can't avoid the wildlife can you, and lots going on at home. A year ago saw me on my way to the Malaga area of Spain, with low hopes of finding any wildlife but the reality was very different with the highlight being a new bird for me, White-headed Duck. White-headed Duck Then there was my annual visit to the magical island of Lesbos, this year with a twist as I spent a good deal of the time ringing, although it was a slow spring I still found the experience rewarding with Marsh Warbler a highlight as well as a few Great Reed Warbler and of course the stunning European Bee-eater . European Bee-eater Another impromptu trip to Spain, this time Majorca saw another new bird in the form of Thekla Lark, but perhaps even better were stunning views of Audouins Gull. Audouins Gull On the home front, pl

Sorry, too late, fully booked..................... Although the deadline was 29th December, the trip to Lesbos is now fully booked as I just managed to get one last seat on the flight I'm taking to Athens. If anyone is still interested in joining me on one of my trips to Lesbos get in touch as there may be an opportunity later in the year. Little Owl In the meantime happy wildlife watching in 2017............ Balkan Green Lizard

Barbara is on her way, chance of a lie in...... no chance...... I thought a lie in would be in order today, then the ringing tones of the mobile and that was my lie in done with. Some of the "boys" had escaped, what was I to do? well since they were last seen on the edge of the estuary I thought it wise to see what was going on. As I drove along looking for them I noticed that the Hereford bullock was missing from F3, but the Welsh Blacks were still there although very agitated, I drove to the end of the track and passed the shelter, thinking here comes a bit of off roading, when I saw the "boys" coming over the fore-dunes, a few shouts of C'mon, and D' Yma had them interested, and they started trotting nicely to ward the van. (they know the difference between a bin bag being rattled and a feed bag!) I wish I had a photo but the priority was to get them back in a field, sure enough they followed the van and I managed to hold them up until th

Net rides cleared...............aargh........ The clearance of the Sea Buckthorn continues, also the long overdue "tickling" back of the bushes along the track to the information shelter. This track is also one of my ringing rides. I think that's wide enough! The area around the information shelter has not escaped the monster on tracks, and we can now enjoy wider views of the salt marsh. The refugia is still intact in not a little flatter! It'll grow back, well the bits we want! Like any work with vegetation the initial result can look severe but with time the Gorse will recover and provide a nice mosaic of mixed age cover. There's a refugia there somewhere!

Last chance.... View from Palia Vigla high above the village of Vatera, a great raptor view point in autumn as birds head south I am finalising plans for a spring trip to Lesbos, three people are already confirmed if anyone else is interested then get in touch, by 29th December, to secure a seat on the flight. Greater Flamingo, and Little Egret  flock Kallonis Salt Pans

All in a good cause........ Visitors to the reserve over the past week will have seen quite a few large tractors around, as we have contractors on site clearing invasive Sea Buckthorn. This morning an even bigger machine made an appearance, and whilst it looks very destructive the ultimate end result will make it all worth it. Sea Buckthorn, a native of the east coat of the UK was extensively planted on sand dunes all over the UK in the belief that stable unmoving dunes were best. More recent thinking shows that sand dunes are by nature intended to be mobile and changing, especially in the areas close to the sea, the "fore-dunes". Many invertebrates and reptiles need areas of bare sand for their continued survival, its been suggested that any dune system should have at least 5% bare and, on that basis there should be around 20acres of bare sand at Pembrey Burrows, even on this very rough estimate its easy to see that there is nowhere near enough bare

Fancy a nature holiday to the Greek island of Lesbos? I am planning a trip to the Greek island of Lesbos in spring 2017, dates will be 25th April to 2nd May. Flying from London Heathrow via Athens to the island airport at Mytilini, we will have six full days of wildlife adventure, staying at the 2* PELA HOTEL,  www.pelahotel.gr  in the village of Skala Kalloni on a half board basis. A minimum of two and maximum of five guests with all transport and guiding costs included; this is a private event where I am merely offering interested individuals the opportunity to join me whilst I am on the island, I will do all the organising of the flights etc. This will be my 10th year of visiting the Lesbos, (Lesbos is the official title, or Lesvos is the more commonly used name) Based on current exchange rates etc the  FULL costs are approximately £630 for a single traveller in a room, or approximately £580pp for a cou