Looking forward to Skomer

Counting down the time until I get on to Skomer Island again this year. 

Last year wasn`t very productive, as I committed most of my time to trying to track down Short Eared Owls (that normally breed on the island). With the wind picking up, it was not good `owl conditions`, and in the few hours spent on the island I only managed some very distant cropped shots.

Going to make another attempt at the owls (if they show!) in May, and then return again for the Puffin activity in June.

Lots of fingers crossed this time!!

WWT volunteering

I`m happy to say that I will be helping with the `Walk with a warden` session at WWT Llanelli on 15th April, and again in mid-May. 

In addition to this, I will be carrying out the monthly `Walk` sessions myself during the summer. Don`t question me too much though!!

Check out the events page of WWT Llanelli here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/llanelli/whats-on/

On Sunday 7th May I will be with Brian (Dr.Brian Briggs) when we do the annual Dawn Chorus Walk, an event I always look forward to. It`s an early start, meeting at 5.45am to go out at 6am, but always well worth it for the bird song throughout the walk. We are there just to help you pick up on things, and help with any questions as we go through the morning.

Come prepared with suitable clothing and footwear, but let`s hope for good weather for all the events.

Photography for Falconry experience day

 

Next week I`ll be covering some photography for Carmarthenshire Falconry for one of their `experience days`, where customers can book for one-to-one flying experiences.

If anyone would like to book on such a day, follow the links or make some enquiries from their facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/carmarthenshirefalconry  or website:  https://www.carmarthenshirefalconry.co.uk.

* PLEASE LET THEM KNOW IF YOU WOULD SPECIFICALLY LIKE ME TO COVER YOUR EXPERIENCE DAY * 

Thanks

Otter sightings

 

There have been a number of good Otter sightings recently at WWT Llanelli, where I volunteer on the Reserve, but it was only on Monday that I managed to finally catch up on one of them myself. It was late morning, and there were some lovely colours reflecting off the calm water. The Otter put in a brief appearance, at a distance (this is a cropped image), and then melted away underwater and around a corner of the ponds, not to be seen again.

We currently have at least three Otter, possibly four, from a known family, and there is a possibility of more across what is a large site.

Like a lot of wildlife, Otters are easily disturbed and can be pushed away from their territory if they feel threatened. It`s important therefore to be quiet and still if you come across them.

If you are going out hoping to see Otters, your chances are increased by being cautious, and of course wearing `muted colours` rather than bright clothing. Look out for evidence Otter by keeping an eye out for their spraint (droppings), often left in prominent places near access to water etc  (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/identify-poo) , or their prints in soft mud. 

stormy morning

After a few weeks of mostly travelling or being away for family reasons, I managed to slip to Porthcawl yesterday for an hour before & after morning high tide.

I missed the largest spring tides by a couple of days, but with a good strong wind blowing it was still well worth the effort.

A good clean up of the equipment from any salt spray is sometimes necessary afterwards, but on this occasion the covers I had seemed to have kept the weather (and the sea) out. 

It was then on back to WWT in Llanelli to have a look around, but the very strong wind by now meant that a lot of birds were keeping low against the weather. Good to be back out though.

FALCONRY

In just over a week or so i`ll be doing some photography for a Falconry, capturing the `flying experience` for their visiting customers. This will be at Gelli Aur country park, the `flying experience` being a privately paid-for one-to-one session. 

Fingers crossed the weather and the light will be just right.

Spoonbills

It might have been yet another quiet month for me, (responsibilities taken up elsewhere), but it was good to catch five Spoonbill feeding together the other week.

These birds have wonderful spatula-like bills that they sweep from side to side whilst feeding.

Spoonbill aren`t common in our neck of the woods, but a group of up to six can sometimes be seen at WWT Llanelli, Penclacwydd. A greater number have been seen in the past on one particular September `spring tide`, but this group was a nice surprise.

Time has been taken up recently back and forth to the SE of England, with photography taking a backseat. I have had to postpone my falconry photography work and a few other things, however Skomer has now been booked for the summer, so there`ll be time for some catch up then.

Hope to see the `Spoonies` again soon.