Forthcoming Events

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.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Tern Watch.  Meet at 6.30 in free car park by Shoreline Caravan Park.

Saturday 28 August 2010

Walk around Kidwelly Quay and Glan yr Afon NR.  Meet at 10am Kidwelly Quay.  High tide is at approximately 9am (7.4m).

Friday 24 September 2010

High tide watch at National Wetlands Centre, Penclacwydd.  Meet at 6.15pm.  High tide at 19.44 hrs (7.7m).  Entrance fee £4.50 including coffee/tea and biscuits.

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Annual General Meeting followed by illustrated talk (speaker to be confirmed).  Coffee/tea and biscuits @ £1.50 per person.

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 –

Sunday 18 April 2010 – Goldcliff & Newport Wetlands

Five members met at Newport Wetlands @ 9.30am on a glorious sunny Sunday morning; we were also joined by our “orni” friend from Gwent.  We then went up the road to Goldcliff where we had a fantastic view of a Yellow Wagtail in full summer plumage.  There were also 36 Avocet sighted.  At the sea wall we had great views of Whimbrel.  In all 56 species were seen or heard to name but a few:  Black and Bar Tailed Godwit, Knot, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Ruff (two males in summer plumage), Little Grebe, Wheatear, Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap.

After lunch we visited the Wetland Centre where we had a wonderful view of a Little Owl enjoying the afternoon sun perched in an oak tree. 

A very good day was had by all.

Saturday 24 April 2010 – Dinas Glenffrwd

18 members met in the car park; as soon as we arrived we heard a cuckoo calling in the woods to the right of the car park.  We also saw a Blackcap and Willow Warbler in the trees surrounding the car park.  Great views were had of Pied Flycatcher, Nuthatch and Redstart from the boardwalk.  After lunch more Redstarts and Nuthatches were seen as well as Wood Warblers, Tree Pipits, Long Tailed Tits, Wren, Coal Tit and Tree Creeper in the woods.

Everyone went home after a good day’s birding after seeing 27 species.

Wednesday 12 May 2010 – Burry Port

16 members met at 6.30pm in the car park to brave a cold and windy evening but luckily the rain stayed away.  We had stunning views of approximately 50 Whimbrel on the rocks by the sand dredger.  A few lucky members also caught sight of Gannets a long way out in the bay.  Ringed Plover, Sandwich Terns, Bar Tailed Godwits, Sedge Warbler, Swifts, Sand Martins, Linnet and Bullfinch were also seen.  We heard at least three Grasshopper Warblers calling in the brambles behind the Mound. 

A good evening was had by everyone seeing 30 species.

Our thanks go to Wendell for all his hard work in organising all outdoor and indoor events.

UKBS Carmarthenshire April 2010

Highlights

April was off to a cold start with a report of Sand Martins hunting over Pwll Fishing Lake on a frosty morning (1st). Things began to pick up with a Garganey at Coedbach (3rd and later one at Sandy Water Park 22nd) and both Wheatear and Ring Ouzel at Pal Y Cwrt on the 4th.  Despite earlier fears Cetti’s Warblers appeared to have survived the winter with birds reported at Ashpits Pond (3rd), Penrhyngwyn (16th and 21st) and Kymers Canal, (22nd).  Spring seemed to finally arrive with a Cuckoo at Talley (12th).  This was followed by the first Grasshopper Warbler at Ffrwd Fen (14th) with others then reported from traditional sites around the county.  The first Redstart appeared on the 9th at Cilsan but the best count 5 was at Dolaucothi (12th).  By the 27th 11 Wood warblers were in Full song at Brechfa.

On the coast things were also moving with the first Whimbrel at the Gwendraeth Estuary (5th) before numbers bgan to build to 100 plus at Burry Port (25th) before the passage began to diminish with 15 at Cefn Sidan 27th.  Terns began to appear with up to 16 Sandwich Terns at Burry Port and Cefn Sidan (25th), an Arctic Tern at Pwll on the 21st and a Little Tern at Cefn Sidan on the 27th.  Manx Shearwaters  were reported moving with 50 off Burry Port (18th) and 100 of Cefn Sidan (28th).  Gannets appeared in Carmarthen Bay from the 16th while a fulmar was seen off Cefn Sidan on the 22nd.  Yellow Wagtail is now a rarity in the County but one appeared on passage at Banc Y Lord on the 25th.