16th November 2025

 Thank you to everyone who turned up to the Walk with the Warden yesterday. It was a lovely autumn morning after having had the bad weather on Friday, which made for a good walk around the Reserve.

The final WWTW of the year will be on Saturday 20th December 2025 at 11.30am. 

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`Walk 60 miles in November for Prostate Cancer Research`

I have now reached the half way point in the month, and the `Walk 60 miles in November for Prostate Cancer Research` has been going okay, and I am really grateful to everyone who has donated during the month. I really appreciate it. Thank you.

I am currently the equivalent of two days ahead of my daily walking target, leaving me some mileage leeway in case, for whatever reason, i`m unable to exercise one day. 

If anyone else would like to contribute towards the PCR campaign and sponsor me, please go to the Just Giving page here:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Russ1761837579305

Thank you for all your support.

Russ. 

9th November 2025

 Good to meet and host a RSPB group visiting WWT Llanelli last week. 

I only had about an hour to introduce them very briefly to the Reserve, but hopefully they had a "taste" of a small part of it. 

Next Saturday (15th) it`s the November Walk with the Warden. As it looks like a wet week in between, don`t forget that good footwear is essential, as there has already been so much rain locally.

My own `Walking 60 miles in November for Prostate Cancer Research` is going well, heading out just after 6am this morning as rain was forecast for later. I am so grateful for all the donations received so farm surpassing the target, but would be very happy for more contributions to this worthy cause.

Thanks to everyone again.

Russ

`Walk 60 Miles in November` challenge. Can you help?

 

Hi everybody

Did you know that 1 in 8 men in the UK will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime?

So far i`m one of the "7 in 8", but I’m taking on the `Walk 60 Miles in November` challenge for PCR to change this and help make a difference to men and their families who have been affected by prostate cancer.

Why am I doing it? Well I have friends that are living with prostate cancer, some that have come through it thanks to the wonders of both the NHS and support teams like PCR, and other people I knew who were less fortunate.

Why the "sprout walking" pic??!!! Well i`m too shy for a personal image being posted, and it was my early nickname from bRUSSELL sprout (a dodgy spelling purely for the play on my name).

So please support me if you can during this challenge by donating whatever you can to Prostate Cancer Research. Every donation you make, big or small, helps advance their mission to create a world free from the impact of prostate cancer.

Thank you for your support!

Evening High Tide Watch

 

Last night, Monday 6th October, we had the annual evening High Tide watch at WWT to tie in with some of the biggest tides of the year. 

Meeting around 5.30pm, a group of 20 guests met with evening leader Dr.Brian Briggs, other staff and volunteers, including myself, before heading to the British Steel hide. For the next hour or so we watched the large tide come in, filling the right hand side of the marsh (from our viewing point). 

Hundreds of birds, including Redshank, Black tailed Godwit, Kingfisher, Peregrine, Curlew Sandpiper, Curlew, Cormorant, Greenshank, Ruff, Canada Geese, Spoonbill, etc.

A great night as usual, and well-supported.

Thanks to all who came along.

Steve Whalley

 It was very sad to hear last night that Steve Whalley of the Don Powell Band had passed away yesterday. 

I`d met Steve a couple of times at video shoot events for the band, and he was always very friendly, patient and polite to everyone. He was a really good bluesy guitarist and great singer too.

This was the last time I saw him, almost a year to the day (30th September 2024), at the video shoot for their last single. 

Steve Whalley, who passed away 27th September 2025.

Walk with the Warden today (20th September)

 Thank you to the mighty few who braved the elements to today to go on the walk.

We were going to do the hides in the grounds for a bit more protection from the weather, as well of course looking out for Autumn migrants, but the general opinion was that everyone was up for a walk on the soggy Reserve, and we had a good time.

Thank again for your continuing support for these walks.

Next one - SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2025 at 11.30AM.

See you there.

Project `wrapped` for 2025

 

This year`s Kingfisher monitoring project is now finished, taking the decision now with a week of dodgy weather on the way. I would have wrapped it up in a week or so`s time anyway, but the timing is right.

Another season, another soap opera. Hopefully you`ll hear about some of the detail soon. 

With autumn advancing, I have a few plans in the pipeline. We`ll see what happens 😐