Events

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.

Friday August 21st

Tern Watch at Burry Port. As there was such a good turn out of members at this event last year it will be repeated this year. (Please note change of day). Meet at free car park at Pembrey Old Harbour, just past Shoreline Caravan Park. From 6.00pm. High tide 8.5m at 19.51hrs.

Saturday September12th

Visit to the Newport Wetlands. Meet 9.30am at the Uskmouth section of the Reserve (follow the brown signs).We will go on from there to the Wader scrapes at Goldcliffe before returning to Uskmouth for lunch. The new Visitor Centre is now operational. In 2007 we had fantastic views of a Hobby hunting for dragonflies. Hopefully some of our “ornithological” friends from Gwent will join us.

Check with Wendell 07912 577626 on the previous day of any event, but particularly this one, should there be any doubt about the weather.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Wednesday October 21st at 7.30pm

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Wildlife and Wetlands Centre Penclacwydd. The Speaker has yet to be confirmed. More details in the newsletter.

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.

You may have missed:

March 4th. An illustrated talk by Mr Michael Clarke on the dragonflies and damselflies of Great Britain was very informative on the life cycle and habitat of both species. This was backed up by some excellent photography and was thoroughly enjoyed by all those members present.

May 2nd Annual Visit to RSPB Dinas

Despite being postponed for a week, our annual visit to Dinas attracted 14 members. This trip is the first opportunity of the year for many of us to see less common migrants such as Wood Warbler, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Tree Pipit. Close views of a Tree Pipit, perched and in display-flight turned out to be one of the highlights of the day. Wood Warblers were present in good numbers - we counted 10 singing males -and some showed very well for us. Several Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers were observed. Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Cuckoo and House Martin joined the list of migrants. Swallows were nesting in the porch of the church. A Treecreeper was seen near the boardwalk, a Dipper was on the river and a Red Kite flew over. A short excursion along the road towards Llyn Brianne added Whinchat and Wheatear and took the species count for the day to 33.

May 14th Burry Port

Despite an overcast evening 13 members enjoyed a 2hr walk following a map prepared by Diana Jones. We enjoyed excellent views of Reed Warblers, Whitethroats and other passerines. On the coast, Whimbrel (12), Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin and Great Crested Grebe were enjoyed. Also seen along the coast path were the Sand Martins’ nests. Unfortunately what was to be the icing on the cake at the end of the walk did not happen. The Grasshopper Warblers kept quiet. However everyone went home happy (so they said) having seen some nice birds in what was for them a new site to birdwatch. In total 34 species were recorded.

Annual General Meeting

Please note that the date of the AGM has been set for Wednesday 21st October 2009. The Meeting will be followed by a speaker yet to be confirmed. It is particularly important for every one of us to try to attend this meeting as the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Events Organiser and County Recorder are all up for re-election. Though some of these office holders are willing to stand for re-election should no candidates present themselves, our present Chairman John Lloyd, who has served on the Committee since the Club’s inception, has indicated his wish to stand down. There will be an opportunity to pay tribute to John’s efforts though he will of course continue to work hard for both the Club and for the BTO in Wales in the coming years. John will also continue as Atlas Organiser.

The Committee will be pleased to receive nominations for the posts of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Events Organiser and County Recorder. There are only four committee meetings a year and all are friendly, amicable affairs. Present office holders would be pleased to talk to anyone interested and there may be an opportunity for anyone interested to attend the next Committee Meeting as an observer to investigate what is involved.

Dipper Boxes

John Lloyd’s long running campaign is at last bearing fruit. Isabel Macho, the County Conservation Officer has agreed to place Dipper nest boxes under bridges recently worked on by the County Council where Dippers were previously present but are now absent. If anyone is aware of any suitable candidates in this category John or the Club Secretary would be pleased to hear from you. Get in touch too if there are bridges in areas where Dippers are present which you feel would be good candidates to receive such a box.

UKBS Carmarthenshire April 2009

Highlights

A Honey Buzzard was seen fling west at Machynys Copper Works on the 16th while an Osprey was over the Towy at Gelli Aur on the 24th. Suspicions of the presence of a White Stork in the County were finally confirmed with the sighting of a bird over Priory Street Carmarthen on the 18th.

WWT Wales Llanelli

Two or three Garganey were present from the 22nd to at least the 29th and a Yellow-legged Gull on the 17th. The report of a pair of mating Mediterranean gulls on the 29th gives rise to hopes of a confirmed breeding record this summer.

Other Sightings

There were conflicting reports on the status of Wheatear in the County. Birds were on the coast at the start of the month with 3 at Machynys and 1 at Pembrey both on the 1st. An authoritative report of no birds at Tair Carn Isaf on the 20th suggested that they are now rare in the uplands while the report of 25+ at Mynydd Du on the following day suggested abundance at this site.

Raptor sightings included a Goshawk at Cwmhiraeth (4th), a Marsh Harrier at Kidwelly Quay (22nd) and a Hen Harrier at Mynydd Du on the 19th. The first Little Ringed Plover report came from Dinefwr Ponds (5th) and by the end of the month they were well established on their breeding grounds along the Tywi. Dotterel sightings came with 3 at Tair Carn Isaf (20th) a one on Mynydd Du on the 28th. A Lesser-spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming at Pentrefelin (4th) and the first report of a Lesser Whitethroat came from Llanelli on the 28th. On the 24th Cefn Sidan produced a dark phase Arctic Skua, a Red throated Diver, 500 Manx Shearwater and 30 Gannet.

Owen Harris, Nigel Williams, Wendell Thomas