Annual General Meeting.

This takes place on Wednesday 17th October at 7.30 in the National Wetlands Centre Wales, Penclacwydd. This year there is the need for only two elections, that of Vice Chairman and of one Ordinary Member of the Committee. We were unable to fill the post of Vice Chairman at last year’s meeting but soon after Rob Hunt offered his services and was duly co-opted by a grateful Committee. There is a need to formalise the situation this year.

Angela Lovegrove has served the Club in a number of different capacities and last year was elected as an Ordinary Member of the Committee. As many will know Angela sadly lost her husband a few months ago. Angela is now moving from the area and her departure leaves a vacancy to be filled at the A.G.M.

Nominations for these posts should be sent to the Secretary by the 3rd October who would be pleased to explain what is involved.

Also at the meeting it will be necessary to make a small addition to the objectives of the club as set out in the constitution. Environment Wales has pointed out to us that our constitution although saying what we would like to do as a club does not formally empower us to carry these things out. Strictly speaking we cannot even apply for a grant. To correct this shortcoming it is proposed to add the following to the list of objectives:-

To carry out any legal activity in pursuance of the above objectives

Past Events

. Welsh Wildlife Centre and Llangranog

As July is usually a poor month for birds, the idea of the visit to Cilgerren was to see the habitat at Teifi marshes and the excellent visitor facilities at the Welsh Wildlife Centre. A walk around the reserve gave us views of the reedbeds and of the river Teifi in spectacular flood after the heavy rain. Surprisingly, we logged 32 bird species including Swift, Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Goldcrest and Reed Bunting. Seven butterfly species were recorded including Holly Blue, Ringlet and Peacock. The Teifi marshes should offer some exciting birding in winter and we planned a return visit in December or January.

With Reg Bevan in charge, we set off in the afternoon to see a very different habitat, the cliffs of Cardigan Bay at Llangranog. The visit started with spectacular views of adult and juvenile Choughs in the field beside the car park. Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar and Herring Gull were nesting on the cliffs and Gannets were spotted out at sea. We walked along the cliff and down to the headland at Ynys Lochtyn where we had closer views of nesting Fulmar, one with a chick, and Kittiwakes. A short seawatch found a few distant Manx Shearwaters and more Gannets. Rock Pipit, Wheatear and Raven rounded off an enjoyable day’s birding. Perhaps July is not such a bad month after all.

Dragonflies, Butterflies and a Hobby

Twelve members came to the August dragonfly-watching trip at Broad Pool, Gower. Wendell’s short introductory talk was specially appreciated by the people who had no previous experience of dragonflies. We were soon searching the vegetation at the edge of the pool for damselflies and found male and female Emerald Damselflies among the commoner species. The warm sun soon brought out the large Emperor Dragonflies, Black Darters of both sexes and Common Darters. Malcolm’s skilful use of the catching-net allowed us to examine a few specimens in the hand - or least in the jar - before releasing them. We were not the only dragon-fly hunters out that day - an overflying raptor turned out to be a Hobby with a dragonfly in its talons. During the morning we logged 9 dragonfly and damselfly species out of a possible 10 for the location and time of year. We had watched some intimate activities in the life-cycle of these fascinating insects including copulation and ovipositing - and if you want to know what a “teneral” is then join us next year.

After lunch, some of us went for a walk at the Whitford plantation. Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker were the only birds of note but we found a large patch of Water Mint with 7 species of butterfly feeding on the flowers including a rare Brown Argus. Peacock, Red Admiral, Common Blue and Small Tortoishell were also there. A sighting of a male Brimstone brought the butterfly species count for the day to 11.

Evening Walk in Burry Port

On August the 15th we met on a surprisingly pleasant evening to look for terns as the tide rose. We were able to see a few Sandwich Terns off Burry Port Beach amongst the roosting Gulls, but as the tide came in they were forced to lift. We moved to the Old Harbour at Pembrey and the birds had only one recourse, to rest on the end spit of Cefn Sidan Beach. We had a good view and were able to count 69 Sandwich Tern, 23 Ringed Plover, 45 Turnstone and 2 adult Mediterranean Gull.

Ringed Mediterranean Gulls at Penclacwydd. June 2007

These Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Penclacwydd by Barry Stewart and Wendell Thomas during June 2007 and their ring colours and numbers noted. This information was then forwarded to the Mediterranean Gull Ringing Group by Barry. Their response gives us an idea of the journeys the Gulls make and the importance of ringing.

White 3P17

Original ring was Green 3XN6. Ringed as a chick in Antwerp 04. 06. 02. Previous sightings Blackpill 2004/2005

Green 3PL8

Ringed as a chick in Antwerp 01. 06. 03. Since then has been to Seine-Maritime, Noord-Holland, Oviedo Spain, Landes France, Finistere France, Cantabria Spain, Bizjaia Spain, and Penclacwydd on 19.06. 06. Following that to Seine Maritime and Calvados France before returning to Penclacwydd on 20.06 07

White 34H2 ringed as pullis Antwerp 20. 05. 02

and

White 35H4 ringed as 3rd cal year 13. 05. 07. Neither bird sighted elsewhere until Penclacwydd w/end 17. 06. 07

Thank you for the help received in compiling these reports. Any short articles would be welcome for further newsletters.