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

Not as frosty as recent days, and much less wind than forecast - could have gone ringing! Anyway I visited Morfa Berwig LNR this morning with a view to finding additional ringing rides, I know its a wetland site, but give me a break, too deep too boggy, but I did find a nice area albeit wet, as an additional net ride. In the process I disturbed a new bird for the site in the wonderfully camouflaged form of a WOODCOCK, it clattered through the willows before landing again, a good record. Woodcock Water Rails are well spread through the reserve with at least three calling this morning, a flock of c15 Long tailed Tits, with a mix of Blue, and Great Tits, Goldcrest and Robins, there were at least six Robins along the Afon Goch path. A Raven and a single Lapwing overhead completed my visit.

I have been reading reports on the Carmarthenshire Bird Club sightings pages of a Short-eared Owl being seen on the reserve at Pembrey. This evening I took myself off to see if I could get to grips with this magical owl, sure enough around 15:30 an Owl appeared, my attention being drawn to it by a couple of birders who were out on the marsh! When I wandered over to have a chat I could see that there were TWO Short-eared Owls hunting over the lower marsh I love "shorties". Short-eared Owl, (I wish it was my photograph) There was some interaction between one of the owls and the local male Kestrel, but I don't think they need to fight over food as my feelings are that there is a good supply of Voles. Last year the owls only paid fleeting visits to the reserve, presumably wandering over from "Glamorgan", lets hope they stay longer this year. Probably the best place to see them from is the information hut in the middle of the reserve, or

Many "things" hang in trees, some scarce and unusual, some just disgusting, here are examples of both from our Morfa Berwig LNR, The Lichen, Usnea articulate , the Sausage Beard-lichen declined sharply as a result of airbourne pollution, but is now making a bit of a comeback generally. There is a very small example of it to be found in just one location (so far) at Morfa Berwig. So called because of because of its straggly appearance and the "pinch points" along its "stem" which look like a string of sausages. Sausage Beard-lichen It can occur in three main habitats, Hawthorns in windy location, the leeward side of windy Larch plantations or in the tops of Willows at wetland sites (Morfa Berwig), the degree of windiness is a key factor in its choice of habitat. Other things hang or are put to hang in trees, I can never understand why though, there must be some sort of evolutionary process in place where plastic bags full of

With the perfect weather to stay indoors today it gave an opportunity to "sort and tidy" our workshop. So with Veronica and Neil we set about making some basic racks and sharpening the "edged" tools So satisfying to sort everything out, hopefully ............... "a place for everything and everything on it's place" It looks a bit sparse but lots of the tools are out on the pickup. Some shelves will need to be added, and perhaps a different solution for the bush/bow saws but for now its a safe and tidy work space, and despite the photo's the racks are perfectly level!!! Another one of those jobs that has needed doing for a while, but who wants to be inside unless the weather is really bad, like today.

I've said the following so often, "in what looked like perfect conditions..." well this morning was no exception, but no one told the birds! Which is typical when you have a visitor, sorry Julie. Still Morfa Berwig looked great at 06:00 this morning as I sloshed my way through flooded ringing rides carrying all the kit laden like a donkey... no comments or thoughts please. A very modest session but always worth it especially when one of the two Redwings was a monster of a bird, well it was certainly different, I knew that because my helper originally identified it as a Blackbird - sorry couldn't resist. Based on the comments from Mr Svensson the Redwing with its much buffier face, and breast/ sides and darker mantle and wing of 124mm placed it as a likely candidate for the Icelandic race corbuni , it only weighed in at 61.6gms and no fat. The second Redwing was much more the "norm"  iliacus , a paler bird with whiter, face, breast and sides wit

Wednesday, volunteer day, Morfa Berwig. As usual a few odd jobs, including a Japanese Knotweed survey, we recorded carefully the known patches of this troublesome plant, its not a huge problem but needs nipping in the bud. A litter pick, as usual it was the A484 roundabout that needed attention, at least the fly tipping I reported last week has gone. Linseed oil on some of the on-site "furniture" and the last of the nest-boxes were put up plus one donated by Veronica It was during the Knotweed survey that whilst wandering around F3 that I was startled, by a small mouse jumping across my path, on size alone it was a Harvest Mouse but then I noticed a ball of woven grasses in the rushes, a Harvest Mouse nest. Harvest Mouse nest Harvest Mouse (Wikipedia library) A great record, which has been submitted to WWBIC. Returning to the same area later I was surprised to see a Wood Mouse jump out of the back of the nest which had now been "ragge

Monday morning, the first sub zero morning of the autumn with ice on the puddles and the need to really scrape the ice off the van. Today the Wales Wildlife Walks Litter Pickers made Pembrey the focus of their attention, and badly needed it is. After the stormy weather in October, followed by calm spring tides a huge amount of marine bourn litter has been dropped on Cefn Sidan. With 12 eager volunteers, plus the regular MENCAP gang and assistance from KWT and CCC, it was a case of divide and conquer, three hours later and a great deal had been picked but really barely scratching the surface of what is a huge problem, not only on Cefn Sidan but any beach in any part of the UK. only a small pile of the total amount picked today Still smiling!!!! A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time and effort today.