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

With overnight wind and rain, the morning was still a bit damp and blowing with a westerly wind, the rain had petered out by the time I arrived at the Pembrey reserve. I did a couple of quick jobs, including counting the new contingent of cattle now in residence in grazing field 1, 16 present and correct. With high tide around 0920 I wandered over to the end of grazing field 2 and did a bit of sea watching. In amongst the 2000+ Oystercatchers I found the leucistic bird that Bernie Beck had seen on 9th March, an odd but attractive looking bird in shades of brown and white, hopefully it will hang  around for tomorrows guided event. Also on the beach were 100+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 35 Sanderling, whilst offshore,  four Great-crested Grebes, a handful of Cormorants and Common Gulls. As I looked eastwards into the estuary I saw a long,pointed winged greyish bird in the gloom flying towards me, as it got closer the dark cap and pointed bill could only be one, likely, bird

I was on site at Pembrey LNR at 05:30hrs for a ringing session, it was a cold slightly frosty morning with sunrise at 06:40hrs, I was concerned that with, limited opportunity to ring in 2017 due to bird flu restrictions and poor weather, that my numbers would be significantly adrift to 2016. How the memory fades it was as tough at the beginning of 2016 as it has been in 2017 and I'm only 10 birds down. Reed Bunting ♂ Quite a lot going on today, sign boards to be weatherproofed, "wildlife breeding season" advisory signs going up, continued improvements to the information shelter, the cattle being taken off by the grazier for TB testing and new  Herp' refugia to put out around the edge of the marsh. Ready for the off An impromptu meeting with "the boss" and the job list grew.......great to share ideas and be on a similar wavelength. What was a decent enough afternoon, weather wise, gradually turned cold and very foggy; however wh

On a day which has been the most "spring like" so far it was interesting to record a trio of wintering birds in evidence at Pembrey Burrows LNR. A Male Merlin which sat on a post for c1hr on the edge of the marsh, bizarrely surrounded by Meadow Pipits, not mobbing it at all and seemingly oblivious to its presence. Merlin, distant and cropped Then A Short-eared Owl flushed from the foredunes at the eastern end of the reserve, the bird made it's way across the estuary towards the Gower accompanied by a couple of mobbing Herring Gulls, there was a Spring record in 2016. Short-eared Owl, record shot This afternoon with the fine weather continuing and high water at around 16:00hrs a short sea-watch produced a Long-tailed Duck and c2000 gulls, mostly Common Gulls loafing on the sea. The much hoped for early Hirundine did not appear neither did a Northern Wheatear, patience patience............. Also on the incoming tide was a bouy with a

A very early morning visit to Pembrey Burrows was uneventful, although I did catch a Reed Bunting and a Dunnock! the first birds I have ringed at Pembrey in 2017 due to a combination of Bird Flu restrictions and the weather . A Greenshank, in the Swan Drain, reported by Adam Dare, never appear too far into the marsh. An afternoon visit to Morfa Berwig was no more exciting however some Primroses (possibly of dubious origin judging by the size) and Hazel catkins did make it feel spring like. The scourge that is off road vehicles is making an appearance at Morfa Berwig, with tyre marks across the site I suspect that they were there at some point over the weekend. Hazel catkins

When I arrived on site this morning I  noticed a red Land-rover Defender which I had not seen before and thought mmmm! A well intended member of the public stopped me about an hour later and told me that they had seen two men in camouflage jackets, with two Lurchers and two terriers, acting suspiciously. Sure enough after a bit of searching I could see the Lurchers hunting around the dunes and the two men. Although I never saw them actually chase any Rabbit or Hare I had seen enough to think they were up to no good. I drove over to them and sat in the van waiting for them to walk to me which they did, I've heard all the excuses before but they were reasonable guys and when told to put all the dogs on leads they did. They were not happy being "hassled" but didn't argue, I always try and engage people first let them know why the conversation is taking place, then if appropriate educate them, so the education this morning was "its a nature reserve,

With Spring around the corner, (that's proper Spring) it seemed like a good idea to "refresh" the information in the shelter.  The entrance noticeboard will be "made over" next week. With a bit of handiwork, and crafting the result is fresher, the photo's may not do it justice. Simeon and I have completed the programme of guided events for April - September 2017 and I've detailed them below, I hope to see some of you on the events. The last winter event is on Sunday 19th March at 10:00 April 11th, Carmarthenshire Wildlife Walks, Marsh, Beach & Dunes Joint walk 10:00am** April 22nd, Beach walk and spring migration 10:00am** May 20th, Ramble with a ranger 10:00am** June 11th, Creepy crawlies and bug hunt   10:00am** June 24th Summer flowers 10:00am** July 6th Bat walk Sandy Water Park , meet at 9:15pm in the main car park, bring a torch. [please note this e

I spent a few hours at the Morfa Berwig LNR this morning, with blue skies and sunshine, and a bit of a breeze. The flower buds on this Willow were just pushing out and blowing in the breeze After the recent rains the site is wetter than usual, with all of the ponds looking in great condition. With a couple of conservation grazing ponies on site I enjoyed checking out the ponds, disappointingly though no sign of any frog or toad activity. There were a good variety of birds around with 17 species seen or heard, the best of which were Kingfisher, Water Rail and Cettis Warbler. European Kingfisher Signs of mammal activity were confined to a Short-tailed Field Vole under one of the refugia, and signs of a Rabbit nest having been dug out and the occupant eaten. M ore interestingly was it eaten by a Fox or an Otter? Rabbit nest dug out by a predator