Indoor Meeting Llanblethian Church Hall 1st December 2016
Twenty two members attended on a cold and foggy morning for the final meeting of 2016 to see and hear a series of three fine presentations.
First up was David Edmunds who had recently travelled to Zambia on safari and we were treated to a summary of his adventures, with lots of photos and stories about the lions, leopards, wild dogs and elephants.The lions in particular seemed to be thriving, but it was sad to hear that the biggest and best elephants were being systematically picked off by the poachers wanting their tusks, leaving a weakened, depleted gene pool. They remain endearing creatures though, because of the tender care with which they look after and protect their young, for example, when crossing a crocodile infested river. It was also comforting to know that these well fed lions have no interest in humans so that a walking safari was not as dangerous as it sounds .(Probably).
Special guest Jeff Stamatakis then showed us photos from the Residential Field Trip to Norfolk which some of us had been on last month. Despite the challenging conditions, he had some very good photos of the waxwings, black tailed godwits, greylag, pink footed and Brent geese to name but a few. There were also some human group photos which reminded us of quite how cold and windy it was when we had to huddle together against the wind , or behind the mini-bus when it was hailing, but also enjoying a giggle in the warmth and comfort of the hotel lounge in the evening.
Being the Christmas Season, and as the Accounts are in a healthy condition, we splashed out and had mince pies and sherry during the brief change- over periods between speakers. The refreshments went down remarkably well.
Our third speaker was John Andrew who with his wife Anna had been on a Cruise to Svalbard on the Hurtigruten during July. You go to Svalbard (formerly known as Spitzbergen) to see polar bears, and they saw lots. But this was tinged with sadness as the ice is retreating so much, particularly this year, that the sightings tend to be on bare rocks and land , where the bears are unable to find and catch food. They also had remarkable views of a large group of walruses swimming towards the boat . They saw many sea birds: two kinds of guillemots , kittiwakes, fulmar, a lone puffin, various gulls --ivory and glaucous, skuas----great and arctic, arctic terns, snow bunting and barnacle geese with their goslings. A big trip needs a big finish and that was provided by a hump backed whale , announcing it's presence with a spout, then presenting it's fluke as it gracefully disappeared into the deep.
All the speakers were warmly thanked for providing the group with a taste of such a wide variety of wildlife . Quite inspirational!
TJ
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Residential Field Trip to Norfolk 4th-7th November 2016
A small mixed flock of members and a spouse met in Old Hunstanton for a birdwatching weekend with Limosa Holidays. We were a little disappointed by the weather because the immediately previous weeks had been very mild resulting in delayed migrations of the expected birds, it then changed dramatically to become extremely cold with very strong northerly winds, it rained and and there was also the odd bombardment of very painful hail. However , we had an excellent guide, Mike Crewe, who was not only very knowledgeable but good company as well, so after a bracing day out in the field we enjoyed convivial evenings back at the hotel. I'm sure in better conditions we would have seen a lot more---there was no hope of seeing any owls for instance--- but even so we were rewarded for our efforts and recorded about 86 species. Having made a 5- 6 hour journey it's the birds we don't see here in the west which are of the most interest and at our first stop there was a flock of 50 waxwings, gorging themselves on hawthorn berries. We saw many geese and waders, partridges both grey and red-legged, many marsh harriers, no bitterns but water rails, shore larks and a rather rare black necked grebe. ( A full report from the guide should be available soon for anyone who wishes to see it). It wasn't entirely birds---there were sightings of brown hare, a stoat and a giant shaggy parasol mushroom bigger than a dinner plate. All in all it was a highly enjoyable and very successful weekend. We should do it again!
Photos on the right, by Geoff Jones
TJ
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AGM and Indoor Meeting-----3rd November 2016
Seventeen members attended the meeting in the Llanblethian Church Hall. The Accounts were scrutinised and approved and the activities of the year so far were reviewed. The programme for 2017 was discussed and a few ideas came out of the brainstorming session, with the expectation of consolidating them at the next meeting. Due to an insurmountable technical difficulty, the original presentation was abandoned , and Val Monaghan very kindly stepped up and delivered her excellent presentation on the Wildlife of Costa Rica, and we were treated to pictures and videos of a number of mammals including 3-toed sloths, ant eaters, green iguanas and some remarkable footage of howler monkeys to name but a few. Ruth Jenkins demonstrated the Trail Camera for the benefit of those who have not yet tried it, and we were able to see some examples of very lively looking hedgehog(s).
TJ
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Llanelli Wetlands------6th October 2016
Eleven members arrived at the Wetlands for a preliminary cup of coffee before a guided tour by Sammy who introduced us to a thriving and friendly population of Hawaiian Geese. These creatures were near extinction in their native Hawaai, the population being down to 17 individuals, but thanks to the work of Sir Peter Scott at Slimbridge they have been saved, and following a captive breeding scheme have been successfully re-introduced to their homeland.
We saw Coscoroba swans which are the smallest species of swan and were thought to be geese at first.
The flamingos were undergoing routine monitoring and examination so we only saw 2 young individuals, but they were an impressive pink colour thanks to the addition of carotene to their diet of fish pellets.
In theory, the birds were in pens representing for example,different continents, but there was considerable mixing of categories. Gadwall were in with the Australian Wood Ducks. The South American pen had Puna teal with their blue beaks and stripey blue feet, Sharp Winged Teal which were probably responsible for the whistling calls we could hear, Ruddy Headed Goose, Argentine Red Shoveler, Chiloe Wigeon and the Ring Necked Teal.
In a separate pen was a pair of splendid Red Crowned Cranes. They are also an endangered species their numbers being down to 2,600 in the wild in their native China and Japan . They have suffered from habitat loss due to agriculture and hunting for their feathers and as food.
Mingling with Barnacle Geese were a pair of elderly black swans which are about 18 years old and too old to be fertile. Mating behaviour is triggered by (monsoon) rains in their native land. Nearby were also Brent Geese and Cackling Canada Geese(a sub species of the well known Canada Geese. Try as we might, we found great difficulty in seeing the subtle differences between Snow Geese and Ross's Geese.
As we moved on to the end of the tour we saw Red Crested Pochard and the rather impressive Swan Goose---the only goose which is able to dive under the water.
Geoff Jones thanked Sammy for her efforts and we repaired to the cafe for some lunch, after which we split into small groups and looked around the wetlands. By then the tide had retreated taking the waders with it. We saw a peregrine standing on a grassy outcrop , little and great egrets,some shovellers but nothing else remarkable. It was a very pleasant day, and our thanks go to Geoff for organising it.
TJ
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Kenfig Sands ----1st September 2016
The meeting this month was a Teach Yourself exercise in Marine Biology. The timing was planned around a convenient low Spring Tide. Ten of us met at Kenfig Nature Reserve, and clutching buckets and carrying picnics and armed with reference books we made our way through the dunes to the beach.Feeling a bit like kids ourselves, having done our homework, some wearing shorts and going out to play in the rock pools, we spared a thought for teachers and children having to start back to school after the summer holidays. We reached the beach about one and a half hours before low tide and the rocky outcrop aptly called Gwely'r Misgyl,which lies below the mean low water line was well exposed, revealing its extensive mussel beds. Immediately the group started exploring the rock pools and the sharp eyed and nimble managed to catch specimens in the buckets.
We were very careful to return everything to where it was found and to replace any rocks that were moved in our search.We did not succeed in identifying everything, but we found a selection of shrimps and blinnys, hermit and shore crabs, common starfish,barnacles, and the wonderfully built tubes of sand which are the homes of the honeycomb worms (Sabelleria alveolata) and the similar structures made by the Ross worm (Sabelleria spinulosa)which uses shell for the same effect.There was not a lot of seaweed evident but there was some Serrated wrack, little wrack , sea lettuce and even a little Halidry siliquosa I'm reliably informed. Razor shells and sea potato tests added to the haul and the catch of the day was a (sadly deceased) sole.
As well as checking the pools we also stopped to watch the birdlife, and amongst the gulls and oystercatchers there was a flock of sanderling scurrying about on the shore, and small flocks of turnstone and grey plover fantastically well camouflaged on the rocks.
Some of us ventured to the furthest point when the tide was on the turn before making our way back over the rocks to join the others on the beach for the half an hour walk back to the car park.
TJ
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Forest Farm------4th August 2016
The day started with heavy rain which fortunately soon cleared and 10 members (including a guest) gathered at Forest Farm and met the Warden Paul Pinnel, who gave us a conducted tour. We were his first tour group. He made some general comments on the plants and told us that many years ago, nettles were used to make rope as well as tea and soup. He showed us a sacrificial crop which was a strip of wildflowers. These are left to go to seed to feed the birds and then sprayed at the end of the season. The site of the sacrificial crop is rotated each year and sewn with fresh seed. Natural Resources Wales had a fenced off area holding ponds with baby fish to restock the river. The fish down- river need to be replaced because they are infected with blackspot.
We stopped at two bird hides, the first renowned for seeing kingfishers early in the morning, and the second for snipe in the winter months.We saw neither.The vegetation growing in the canal is ideal habitat for damsel flies which we did see in the sunshine.
Paul told us about the work that they do to maintain and improve the area for wildlife with the help of volunteers. They built a sand martin bank , but it has not been used yet. They build dead hedges to encourage insects for bats. A local farmer grazes his cattle for free as this keeps the grass down. In the winter the reeds are cut back to maintain the pool habitats and the eroding banks of the canal are bolstered using alder wood as this is resistant to rotting in water for 15 to 20 years. There is a constant battle with invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam and the dreaded Japanese Knotweed.
The history of the Glamorganshire Canal was interesting. It was built in 1794 in order to carry iron mainly, from Merthyr to Cardiff. A horse could pull 40 tons of iron 26 miles in 1 day, which was a considerable improvement on using mule trains. In due course, the canal transport was superseded by steam trains, and the canal system fell into decline having been a remarkable piece of engineering.
Finally we made our way to the weir and on the far bank of the river Taff we were able to see a number of kingfishers perched and in flight.This is where it is possible to see the salmon leaping, later in the year.
Steve Monaghan thanked Paul for a very enjoyable morning and arranged to send a donation. Many of us were amazed that we had lived nearby for many years and were previously unaware of the existence of such a haven on the outskirts of Cardiff, so we were doubly grateful to Steve and Val for organising the day and resolved to return soon.
TJ
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Coed Garnllwyd---7thJuly
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Kenfig National Nature Reserve 2nd June 2016
This was a re-arranged event due to a cancellation of the original.Our thanks to Roger Jones who did all the groundwork for this trip despite not being able to attend himself. Kenfig is a Special area of Conservation and SSSI.It's a shame that due to funding issues the excellent facilities are no longer available. Nine members turned up on a beautiful day. We walked to the pool which was somewhat under occupied by bird life, and then meandered through the dunes to the beach.In the absence of an official guide we took our books and binoculars and put our heads together to identify the birds we could hear and see and the flora mainly, although we also saw some butterflies and dragonflies.John Cook was very helpful with the bird calls especially, so we were all able to identify a Cetti's Warbler before long and the ever present meadow pipit.Reed bunting,willow warbler, chiffchaff, stonechat and skylarks were also in evidence.
Much of the flora seemed to be at an in-between stage as some flowerings have been delayed by the late onset of Spring, but we learned a lot and John Andrew photographed many. Those we were unsure of will hopefully be more obvious when we study the photos.
We covered about 3.5 miles through the morning, which felt rather more on the sandy paths and dispersed for a late lunch after nearly 3 hours.
TJ
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Trip to Flat Holm 13th May 2016
This event took a lot of organising. We wanted exactly 12 people in order to fill the boat for the crossing and to keep the expenses down. That was achieved by recruiting a few extra people from other groups.It was a beautiful morning in Cowbridge when we set off and the sea looked deceptively calm at Penarth Marina where we gathered and got onboard the Sea Safari RIB. Fortunately everyone had taken heed of the advice to be waterproof, but nevertheless, it was a rough crossing and most of us arrived on the island drenched.
We were accompanied by Stuart, one of the Wardens who was starting a 3 week stint. We made for the Victorian Barracks and had a hot drink and stripped off some wet layers to dry in the sun and the wind. Stuart then took us on a whistle-stop tour. The island is roughly circular with a diameter of 500 metres, and has a long history having been occupied for 800 years, but Stuart focused on the more recent military history, showing us the sites and remains of some of the 9 Rifled Muzzle Loading guns which were put in place during the middle of the 19th Century (when there was concern about Napoleon III) but never used.
From a Natural History point of view the island is an important nesting site for the lesser black backed gulls, a species which is in decline. They are ground nesting birds, and normally lay a clutch of 3 eggs. The success rate is low. Only 1 in 10 make it from egg to maturity.This year, for some reason they were several weeks late laying the eggs. The adults defend the nests fiercely, which is why many of us took the precaution of wearing hard hats.
Other birds seen were swallows, shelduck, oyster catcher and a male peregrine (tiercel). We did not see the sheep which graze here , but there were plenty of rabbits. We also found 5 Slow Worms keeping warm under a corrugated refugia. We examined some of them and they were all males.
The island is known for it's rare wild leeks and wild peony ( believed to have been brought from the mediterranean via a neighbouring island)and we also saw lots of ground ivy and bluebells.
There are high levels of lead in the soil,and the rabbits accumulate high levels in their livers. It is therefore not allowed to grow crops there. It was not explained what happened to the sheep.
We spotted our boat returning, full of members of the Flat Holm Society who were coming for the weekend to do a gull count. We hurried to the quay and prepared ourselves again with waterproofs and lifejackets. By then, the swell had increased and the boat was unable to land, so it disappeared again, to go around the island to try to find an alternative landing site. As time ticked by, we started to contemplate the possibility of an unplanned night on the island. The boat appeared again, and there was a marginal reduction in the swell--just enough to allow the crew to offload the passengers. They had lots of luggage, so in true naval fashion we formed a human chain and very efficiently passed everything up to the platform. Time was of the essence, so we then had to get on board as fast as we safely could. Fully braced for the worst and hanging on tightly we motored across the sea. We were quite sure that we took off occasionally. There were certainly a few big bumps, but sitting in the front wearing my hard hat and with my back-pack covering my lap for extra protection,I didn't get too wet going back.(However I later heard that one of the ladies at the back and on the windward side took one for the team and had to be put through the wringer on reaching home.) To relief all round we were soon basking in the sun in the Marina again. We had judiciously postponed lunch until after the boat ride, and enjoyed our picnic on terra firma.
There had been no time to thank Stuart properly (he was thanked later). Our thanks to Dave Webb for setting up the trip. Well done everyone for all arriving back unscathed, if a little damp. It was great fun and a bit of an adventure.
TJ
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Reptile Walk Parc Slip 7th April 2016
It was far from perfect weather for spotting reptiles emerging from winter hibernation and wanting to warm themselves in the sun, as it was cold, windy,and cloudy with the odd drop of rain.Ten members gathered at Parc Slip and were met by two leaders--Vaughn Matthews and Lorna Baggett. We made first of all for the "Met Field" which is maintained as a wet area mainly, but with a rotation of dry buffer zones at the margins and piles of grass cuttings in the corners. A series of corrugated sheets acting as refuges for reptiles are distributed around the field margins and each one was carefully lifted by Vaughn with his reptile stick. We did not find any reptiles today, but we did see some small mammals---a common shrew, a field vole and probably a water shrew. (They are very black above and white below.) There was plenty of evidence of small mammal activity too ---nests, larders and latrines under the sheets. A field vole makes a cut at an angle of 45 degrees in the vegetation it is eating.An ant's nest and a caterpillar cocoon were also evident. Lorna pointed out to us that the muddy areas provide her with evidence of overnight activity too with tiny foot and tail prints.
As we walked around the site looking for reptiles, we were noting bird calls, especially the willow warbler.
We moved on to the Northern Wetlands to see the lapwing field from the hide where the lapwings are being enticed to come and breed. Being ground nesters they need a suitably cropped meadow---hence the 3 Highland cattle in the field which also churn it up for them and attract insects to their dung which in turn provide food for the birds. There is an electric fence to ward off foxes and some nearby trees have been removed to reduce the risk of aerial predators.However a goshawk(an even more endangered species) has been seen to eat one of the chicks. There are also lots of small triangular structures to give them some shelter too.We saw a couple of lapwings and swallows and sand martins from the hide.
As we moved on there was no sign of a bittern from the Bittern Hide (none seen since 2013) but there was a lovely display of primroses outside, and similarly nothing was seen at the Mary Gilham Hide which we did not stay in for too long as it faces straight into the prevailing wind, but from there you can see how the sponsored scrapes are developing since they were created only a few years ago.
Parc Slip is always worth a visit, and this was no exception, especially as we had the benefit of expert guidance. John Cook thanked Vaughn and Lorna on our behalf for a very enjoyable morning, we gave them a donation for the Trust and most of us repaired to the cafe for lunch.
Our thanks to John for organising the trip.
TJ
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Visit to Llanelli Wetlands. 3rd March 2016
Our visit coincided with one of the more pleasant early spring days. We were guided round the wetlands by a pleasant and knowledgeable young lady called Pam Styles. She assured us that she was unrelated to Harry Styles of the pop group One Direction. Apparently she had been asked by a member of another group if she was his mother.
Pam first introduced us to the Hawaiian Goose known by natives as the Nene as this resembles the call of the bird.(See photo) They were remarkably tame and could be fed from hand. Unfortunately this friendly disposition led them to be very vulnerable to predators and they almost became extinct. Llanelli contributed to breeding and consequent reintroduction of the geese in the Hawaiian Islands.
We next saw an unusual bird looking very much like another goose but turned out to be a Coscoroba swan from the Falkland Islands. In the same pen were Greenland White Fronted geese. Apparently their population is dropping due to climate change and research is being done to investigate this. Shell ducks and Red-crested Pochards from Asia were also seen.
We next visited a large pond containing Caribbean Flamingos. They were being fed with a special diet to produce their pink coloration. This pigment is found in algae in their native lakes. Pam explained that flamingos always seek out toxic ,highly alkaline lakes to nest on as this protects them from predators.
We were told that Whooper Swans no longer visited the reserve as they bred further north and that this was due to climate change. We saw Barnacle geese which is a protected species. Numbers were dropping due to hunting on their migration routes.In the South American pen we saw Ringed Teal, Shapwin Teal, Ruddy Bearded Gove and Merganser Teal.The Australian pond contained black swan , Chloe Widgeon and Puna Teal with blue beaks. We also saw, in the upper pond White headed ducks , Smew (see photo) and Gadwall. Other birds seen were Red-breasted geese , Blacked-necked swans , Eider Ducks and Mandarin Ducks.
Following the guided tour most of us visited the hides overlooking the salt marshes and the saline and freshwater lagoons.We were able to see Lapwings , Herons ,cormorants , Redshanks Blackheaded Gulls , Greylag Geese and thee little egrets.
Altogether we had a very enjoyable and instructive visit and we look forward to another planned visit in the Autumn
Bob Bevington
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Indoor Meeting. 4th February 2016
Twenty four members met for the first meeting of the year, which was a team effort. Roger Jones had the idea, John Andrew did the technical side, and I did the presentation. Between us we listened to, and hopefully learned at least some of 30 bird songs in preparation for the Spring. There was enough time at the end for John to also show us his delightful wildlife videos taken recently from his camera trap in the garden featuring a hedgehog (and on one occasion, two hedgehogs,) and also a mouse, all feeding on food left out for them under a cage.
TJ