Spring/Summer 2010 - Forthcoming Events

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Melvyn Grey of Newcastle Emlyn who on this occasion will give an illustrated talk on “Trinidad”.  At the National Wetlands Centre, Penclacwydd to commence at 7.30pm followed by coffee/tea and biscuits @ £1.50 per head.

Contributions for the Raffle would be greatly appreciated.

Sunday 18 April 2010

Newport Wetlands with members of Bristol Ornithological Society.  Meet at car park of the Reserve at 9.30am.

Saturday 24 April 2010

We visit the RSPB Reserve at Dinas.  Meet in the car park at 9.30am.  Unfortunately due to forecasted bad weather last year we had to postpone our visit to the following Saturday.  Should there be any doubts about the weather this year, please contact Wendell on 07912577626.

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Following last year’s successful evening walk at Burry Port (groppers excepted) when 34 species were seen, we will re-visit.  Meet in the free car park ½mile or so east of Burry Port Harbour (SN455004) at 6.30pm.

Saturday 12 June 2010

Carmel Nature Reserve.  This Reserve is on the Cross Hands to Llandeilo Road.  The site is clearly signposted before reaching Carmel Village.  Car park is on left immediately you leave the main road.  Meet at 10.00am.

Saturday 17 July 2010

The butterflies and dragonflies of Pembrey Country Park.  Fritillary, Marble White and Small Blue amongst others.  Meet in car park on left prior to entrance to County Park at 9.30am.

Any queries or doubts about weather contact Wendell on 07912577626

Our thanks go to the Management and Staff at Penclacwydd for the use of the building for our indoor meetings.

You may have missed –

Two visits were made to Whiteford this year.  Following the postponement of the visit on 9 January 2010, which was called off due to adverse weather conditions. 

24 January 2010

Unfortunately our friends from Gwent with the exception of Steve and Sian were unable to join us due to their own events clashing with our revised dates.

11 members met at the car park at Cwm Ivy for an early start on a cold but bright day. 

Walking through the woods we had the usual species including Mistle Thrush, Goldfinch and Green Woodpecker.  Our “orni” friend Steve had a sight of a Goshawk. 

At the marsh we flushed out Snipe and one Jack Snipe. On reaching the hide we had great views of Brent Geese, Pintail, Bar Tailed Godwit, Slavonian Grebe (5) and Great Crested Grebe, Red Breasted Merganser, Golden Eye and the star of the show a Great Northern Diver. 

After lunch we moved on to the beach where we were greeted by a flock of 60 (approx) Eider.  Walking further along the beach we caught sight of more Brent Geese, Sanderling, Turnstone and Golden Plover.  In all we had 57 species

6 February 2010

9 members were present for this visit and were rewarded with excellent weather.  49 species were noted with the usual good sightings of Slavonian Grebe, Eider and Brent Geese.  With good light conditions we were able to get fine views of Knot, Bar Tailed Godwit and Grey Plover.

10 February 2010

For our indoor meeting we welcomed Richard Smith from Mid Glamorgan.  We were treated to an excellent talk by Richard.  His subject was the Birds and Habitats of the Western Cape, South Africa.  26 members/guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves. 

Thanks to those who provided prizes for the Raffle and hope that further donations will be forthcoming for the March meeting.

From the Secretary

At the AGM members were sounded out about the interest in an exchange visit with some French Birders.  They have proposed a visit by us to Agen between 23rd October-3rd November of this year and I need to know whether the interest is still there in order to pursue matters further.  Could anyone interested please let me know by the end of April.  If n umbers have no reached the eight needed to make the trip viable by then I will cancel the proposed plans.

Owen Harris

From the Bird Recorder

The Committee apologises to all members for the delay in publication of the 2008 Bird Report.  The records were handed over to the Recorder in January but were nowhere near being in a publishable form.  Since then Gary Harper, Rob Hunt and John Lloyd have been working hard but we have decided to issue a combined 2008 – 2009 Report and this will be dispatched to members well before the AGM in October.  Once again please accept our apologies for the delay.

To avoid further delay, therefore, could I ask for the last few records for 2009 to be sent to me as soon as possible.

With my thanks for your co-operation.

Owen Harris

Message from the BTO

Carmarthenshire bird club is a BTO Birdclub Partner and as part of this relationship we are pleased to offer all CBC members a special membership offer from the BTO. All CBC members joining the BTO by direct debit before 31st April 2010 can receive a year’s subscription to the BTO for half price. This brings individual membership down to £14.50 and concessionary membership (full time student or receiving a pension) down to just £11.50 for the first year. The BTO member’s magazine BTO News, published six times a year provides a great way of keeping up to date with national surveys such as BirdAtlas 2007-11, Breeding Bird Survey and WeBS as well as general birding news & views. Best of all you’ll be supporting BTO’s unbiased scientific research which monitors the changing fortunes of Britain’s birds. To take advantage of this offer simply telephone the BTO membership team on 01842 750050 and quote “Carmarthenshire Birdclub offer”.

UKBS Carmarthenshire January 2010

Highlights

A Red-crested Pochard and a Bittern at Old Castle Pond on the 11th with the Bitten remaining until the 12th seem to have been part of a larger cold weather movement.

WWT National Wetland Centre Wales

A Centre and estuary count on the 31st yielded 450 Dunlin, 87 Black-tailed Godwit, 275 Knot., 955 Pintail. 217 Redshank, 476 Shelduck., 185 Teal and 104 Wigeon

Other Sightings

During the coldest part of the month several observers noted large numbers of very tame Redwing in the leaf litter at roadsides, almost too weak to avoid the slipstreams of passing cars.  Snipe too were in the hedges at the sides of roads. The most unusual sighting was a robin landing on the head of a surprised customer in a café in central Carmarthen. 

Two Ruff appeared in a field off Waun Rd Llanelli (11th, 12th.)  Also in, Llanelli, at Machynys 1,000 Golden Plover crossed from North Gower on the 25th.Apart from their usual haunt of Cilsan Whooper Swans appeared at Coedbach with 9 on the 18th, and 10 on the 31st, this time in the company of 9 Bewick’s Swans.

Also on the 31st came a report of 30 Crossbill singing and showing well in Brechfa Forest.  A pair of Hen Harriers is back on the Gwendraeth estuary (29th) and a single Avocet appears to be wintering on the Towy estuary for the third consecutive year.

Owen Harris, Nigel Williams, Wendell Thomas