1) Present were Rob Hunt, Julie Evans, Terry Wells, Owen Harris, Wendell Thomas and Beth Harris.

 

Apologies were received from Gary Harper

2) The Minutes of the meeting held on the 18^h February were approved.

3) These were also approved for posting on the website.

 

4) Matters Arising

 

There were none that were not on the substantive agenda.

 

5) Conservation Matters

 

a) Coedbach

The refusal of planning permission has been appealed and there is a Public Enquiry in Llanelli in June. We continue our watching brief. Details to be found at:

http://coedbach.webs.com/.

 

 

6) Publications

a) Site Guide

Owen reported that though funds might be available it would be on the basis of matched funding and the arranging of an event to launch the publication. In view of the expenditure involved the invitation to bid was declined.

 

b) Birds of Carmarthen

There was nothing further to report. It was felt that John Lloyd had his hands full until the close of the BTO Atlas project.

 

c) Bird Report 2008/2009

 

The Report is now at the printers and a proof has been received. The report will be distributed as soon as it is available. Wendell volunteered to oversee distribution while Julie offered to print labels for those to be posted. The writers of the Report, Rob Hunt, Gary Harper and John Lloyd are to be congratulated on the speed with which it has been produced.

 

7) Report of the County Recorder

 

Few rarity reports have been received and the two most recent refer to escaped birds of prey, an Egyptian Vulture and a Golden Eagle.

Monthly reports continue to be produced for Bird Watching Magazine and the general feeling is that most of the reporting of sightings now does take place on line. It was agreed to take measures to continue to encourage this via the Newsletter.

Rob raised the point that in certain BTO Census tetrads there was gross under recording of both common species and in particular of their breeding. Though some of this might be corrected by the fact that the final atlas at both national and local level would be resolved at a 10 Km. level there might still be considerable inaccuracy in the results. It was agreed that through the newsletter an appeal for members to this summer submit ALL breeding records of ALL species to the Atlas as roving records.

 

8) Programme of Meetings

 

The March indoor meeting was not well attended which was a pity as there was an excellent talk by Melvyn Grey.

The visit to the Newport Wetlands though successful in terms of the quality and number of birds seen (60 species) was only attended by 5 people, so confirming the feeling that members do not wish to attend out of county events. In future such trips will be arranged on an informal basis.

On the other hand the Dinas visit and the evening walk at Burry Port were both attended by 18 members and produced the target species.

Future events are:

 

Sat June 12^th. Carmel Nature Reserve

Sat 17^th July. Butterflies and Dragon Flies at Pembrey Country Park

 

Full information is available on the club web site and in the Newsletter as usual.

 

The Date of the AGM was set for Wednesday 20^th October at 7.00 for 7.30 at Penclacwydd.

 

9) Secretary’s Report

 

The Secretary omitted to report that the response to the invitation to undertake an exchange visit to Agen was zero. The Secretary had therefore written to the Agen contact to end the proposed association.

 

11) Newsletter

 

Julie reported that measures to update the e-mailing list had elicited a positive response and was well worth doing. She requested items for the next edition and the Secretary would provide copy within a week. Advance notice of the AGM would be given.

 

12) Treasurer’s Report

 

There has been little change in the overall financial situation. An interim statement of accounts was presented to the meeting. The Club is solvent and able to meet future demands made by the publication of the 2008/09 Report and the Report for 2010.

Terry reported that there were 119 current CBC memberships making 154 in total counting joint & family members as two.

However 22 had not yet renewed their subscription this year and these would be mailed their reports along with a letter stating that this would be the last mailing until membership was renewed. The nine members, who have not renewed for two years will not receive a Report and be removed from our list.

 

 

13) Website

The feeling that the website was now functioning much more smoothly and our thanks are due to the Webmaster, Mark Newton.

 

14) AOB

 

a) Terry raised the question of whether we should support the BTO appeal to establish an office in Wales. This will be placed as an agenda item for the next meeting.

 

15) Time, place and date of next meeting.