Events

Wednesday March 4th

An illustrated talk by Mr Michael Clark at Penclacwydd starting at 7.30pm.   His subject will be Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain.           .

Tea/coffee and biscuits to follow as usual at £1.50 ph.

Saturday April 25th 

Field Trip to R.S.P.B. Dinas Reserve. Meet in the car park at 9.30am for our annual fix of spring migrants, including Wood Warbler, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher. Last year some members were fortunate to locate Whinchat further up the road so maybe we could be lucky in seeing this species too.

Wednesday May 14th

An evening walk for Grasshopper Warblers and other species. Meet at 6.30pm in the free car park turning off at the third roundabout after taking the new Burry Port by pass when coming from Llanelli. From the railway station bridge it is also the third heading away from the Harbour. SN 455004

Friday June19th

Nightjars. Meet at Crychan Forest Car Park, above Cynghordy at 8.30pm. SN837413. Our visit in 2007 gave some excellent views of Nightjars. Tree Pipits and Whinchat were also seen.

Saturday July 18th

Dragonflies and Butterflies. Following the success of our walks for these species in 2007 and 2008 we will visit Kenfig Nature Reserve this year. It is hoped we will see Ruddy Darters and Red Veined Darters amongst others. Meet in the Reserve Car Park at 10am.

Any suggestions for Speakers for Winter Indoor meetings would be appreciated by Wendell, who can be contacted for further information on 07912 577626.

We would like to thank Nigel Williams and staff of The Welsh National Wetland Centre Penclacwydd for the use of the building for our Indoor Meetings.

January 2009 at Whitford Burrows

Despite a dodgy weather forecast, ten of our members and six from Gwent O. S. set out from the car park at 9.00a.m. and were delighted to see 15 Crossbills immediately on entering the plantation. The usual banter took place as to the merits of Carms. Birders and Gwent Ornos.during the morning. Strengthening winds and ominous distant clouds meant we started the trudge back to the car park about 13.15pm. Despite this a total of 61 species were seen including Slavonian Grebe, Hen Harrier. Eider Duck and Brent Geese. Common and Jack Snipe were the highlights.

February 2009 Event

Unfortunately Dave Rich was unable to give his talk due to medical problems. Best wishes for his recovery have been forwarded. The club is very grateful to Barry Stewart for stepping in and giving a talk on The Birds of Glamorgan and Carms 2008. We were treated to some wonderful shots of some rarities that turned up during the year, and some video footage of Green Sandpiper and feeding Osprey. A final photograph of some odd birders at Penclacwydd was enjoyed by the 20 brave souls who ventured out of their homes on a cold night.

Breeding Distribution of the Swallow

From the B T O Atlas recorded to date. Can you fill in any of the blanks, for this or any other common species this coming Spring or Summer?  If so, please contact our Chairman John Lloyd.

The Welsh Ornithological Society (WOS)

The club is now affiliated to WOS and this entitles all members to a £2 discount on WOS membership.  Enrolment form can be found on line at http://www.welshos.org.uk

Alternatively contact Derek Moore for more details. 

WOS is a partner in the publication of the State of Birds in Wales document recently presented to the Welsh Assembly Government.  Copies are available free of charge from the RSPB at: Wales Headquarters Sutherland House, Castlebridge

Cowbridge Road East
Cardiff
CF11 9AB

Tel: 029 2035 3000

Highlights January 2009

In a quiet month a Curlew Sandpiper at Kidwelly Quay (5th) was a surprising find as was a repeat sighting of a Long-tailed Duck at Ferryside on the 10th.  The Waxwing invasion appears to have missed Carmarthenshire other than an unconfirmed report of 2 birds at Parc Street Bridge, Carmarthen (2nd).

WWT Wales, Penclacwydd, Llanelli

A highlight of a different sort was the Reserve holding seven different raptors on the same day (10th) in the form of Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Hen Harrier and Buzzard.  A Slavonian Grebe appeared on the estuary on the day before. On the 2nd two Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers were present together with a single Spoonbill.  Wildfowl numbers remained high throughout the month with the following counts recorded: Shelduck 164 (23rd) Wigeon 371 (9th) gadwall 88 (9th) Pintail 450 (4th) Shoveler 220 (10th).  The reserve also held 604 Lapwing (23rd) 28 Snipe (26th) and 8 Greenshank and 5 Spotted Redshank on the 30th.

Kidwelly Quay

Both Red breasted Merganser and Little Grebe are regular here.  Four Red-breasted Merganser were present on the 4th along with a Mediterranean Gull and 3 Goldeneye while 14 Little Grebe were present on the 7th.

Other Sightings

Brambling are far from plentiful in the county which made the appearance of a single at Llanfihangel-ar-Arth (16th) and 5 at Myddfai (23rd) of interest. Similarly the sighting of 5 Yellowhammer in Troserch Woods (22nd) and of a single bird at Bethlehem (8th) were also encouraging.  Cilsan Bridge is the site for Whooper Swan with 18 on the 17th and 9 on the 23rd.  Dryslwyn through to Drefach held 30 Tree Sparrow on the 7th while 103 Greylags were reported from Dryslwyn Bridge on the 26th.The cold weather at the beginning of the month drove many shy birds into the open.  Among them were Woodcock the best counts being 6 at Rhydcymerau (1st) and 10 found during a ringing session at Cynghordy (27th).

Owen Harris

Nigel Williams

Wendell Thomas

Thank you to contributors to this newsletter. Items about your sightings or local patch would be very welcome.