Autumn walk

 Well there was a large response to last Saturday`s Walk with the warden as 38 came along, the largest group I think we`ve had. Thank you everyone for supporting it. The next one will be on Saturday 21st November at 11.30am.

It`s great to see some changes now in autumn, and yesterday I had my first Merlin locally for this autumn/winter. Not always easy to see at a distance as it`s our smallest UK falcon, about the size of a Blackbird, but yet another sign that winter is on it`s way.

This record shot was taken in poor light at distance elsewhere in January 2026.

It`s such a pity that WWT Llanelli will be closed on even more days from November until February, as winter arrivals will be building up. Merlin are part of the winter raptors that are seen, and are normally best viewed with a `scope from the British Steel hide. Peregrine, Buzzard, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harrier are all regular birds of prey, so hoping that we`ll have good Hen Harrier sightings this year too.

Enjoy getting out and about whenever you can.

Autumn watch

 Not the programme of course, but it`s that time to keep an eye out on what`s arriving for winter, with mid to late October being an interesting time.

I`ve been out looking for early winter raptors, but still a week or two too early I think. There are always some exceptions moving around, but I haven`t come across them yet.

Due to very limited personal time, and also WWT Llanelli now closed for 2 days per week (it will be closed for 4 days per week from November), i`ll be "watching" my local marsh, estuary and surrounding fields whenever I can. There are a few other places too if I have the chance.

Yesterday I had the chance of slipping further West for a few hours while the conditions were good, but no real sign of any winter arrivals. A female Marsh Harrier saved the day, but that was at a distance.

Back at WWT, i`ll be doing the Walk with the Warden on Saturday 17th October. As usual, we meet in the main reception area for 11.30am, and will go on to the Reserve for around an hour and a half, maybe a little more. (Come prepared for the weather, including appropriate footwear). 

If you do come to the Centre, make a day of it and check out the saltmarsh etc from the hides before the walk, as there have been good sightings of Spoonbill, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, etc over the last couple of weeks. Also look out for wader numbers building up, and Knot are often mixed in with the Black Tailed Godwits.

I`ll be posting some occasional updates, and the odd "vlog" now and again, so hoping for a good autumn and winter ahead.

BananaGate

 Miss of the day:

YouTube subtitles not understanding what i`m saying again i`m afraid! 

Vlogging

 As much as I generally dislike selfies, i`m going to be trying some vlogging here now and again as we head into winter. 

These will be via links from this blog to start with, but will see how it goes.

So here I am, at Llanrhidian marsh in (the year 20,261):

Calendars

I`ve had some enquiries already as to whether I would be putting together and selling calendars for 2027, like I have done for the last few years. All profits from the calendars for the last couple of years have gone to help fund-raising for St.Gwynogs Church in Llangennech.

Well i`m afraid I won`t be putting together any calendars for next year, as there is only a small window of time to sell them. I might instead look at doing individual things "to order", but nothing concrete yet. If so i`ll announce this as and when.

Thank you for your continued interest.

Russ.

High tide watch next week

 

Pembrokeshire

 

Back after a good week away at St.Davids, with the bonus of better weather than was originally forecast.

Plenty of places for a pot of tea, which is always welcome for me.

Back to it now, and planning a few projects for winter.