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

I thought I had better at least try and identify the three Lichens I photographed in the last Blog, well I've established something... its not easy trying to remember detail. First a little about lichens. Lichens are unique in being composed of two organisms, algae and fungi which forms a close symbiotic association, symbiosis is a prolonged permanent contact between dissimilar organisms. In the case of lichen both the algae and fungi coexist in a state of controlled parasitism, one does not deprive the other of nutrients....nature is a clever master. Without reposting the photographs, the first shows a Yellow lichen and a Grey lichen, the Yellow one is a Xanthoria sp, probably X Parietina. And that's all you're getting for now, I'll pass to an expert!

I'm always impressed at the vast array of wildlife we have on our doorstep, although most people only see the "big stuff". One of the comments I hear, especially if talking to someone who is not behaving responsibly on the nature reserve, is "its just barren land, there's nothing here", after an intake of breath I try and explain why the site(s) is so important, hopefully something big will appear to show them there is life out there!. At this time of year it would appear that its "just barren land..." but when you look closer.... All I need to do now is identify them...............

A very quick visit to WWT Llanelli with fellow Lesbos traveller Nick, saw us in the British Steel hide, in murky conditions. A nice range of waders with Greenshank, Redshank, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit and a lonely Dunlin, with a smattering of Teal, Mallard and a nice grazing flock of Wigeon provided some interest. A decent sized flock of Greylags flew onto the scrape in classic skein fashion. Greylag overhead Greylag, wiffling onto the scrape Decent views of Water Rail and feeding Little Egret and Cormorant.

Yesterday, being a Wednesday was volunteer day at Pembrey Burrows, after a good ? litter pick around the car parks and tracks we managed to clean the area up after a busy Christmas and New year period, but why do people not take their dog mess home with them!! A spot of emergency fence repairs in two fields, following the great escape before Christmas, left us just enough time to do a spot of "monitoring" along Cefn Sidan. The amount of sea bourne litter was very depressing, but its a reflection of our society across most of the world, I didn't take any photographs as I'd left my camera in the van, and anyway one pile of litter is much the same as another. Thankfully Veronica was snap happy and managed to capture this cheeky chappy, a Northern Raven, very much king of what he/she surveys quite unphased by our approach, although two others a mile or so away were less settled. Northern Raven A report of a Dolphin corpse on the beach from a local turned o

Winter has it's grip on the Pembrey Burrows reserve, with very few signs of life. A cold crisp day with a walk along the length of Cefn Sidan bordering the reserve, with low water at 15:30, there were few signs of life the exception being a Stonechat which made its way along the beach keeping a few metres in front of me for most of the walk. Common Stonechat To be frank there was very little else to be seen, even when I made my way back into the dunes the best I could muster were a few Song Thrushes, and the odd Little Egret. Looking west along the beach my eye was caught by an unusual sight of an "ice rainbow", I expect there's a more correct term, I believe this happens when the sunlight refracts through the ice crystals in the Cirrus clouds which were forming above me. Ice rainbow? What ever its called it was brief but interesting, just shows you need to look up sometimes. There are some patches of Ivy, especially along the main track to the i

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