Time for the 2025 resolutions

A look at the (unachieved) "resolution" list for 2024, and 2023 and before, and there seems to be a common theme with not getting things done. Time. So many things, projects and stuff to take forward. It`s time to modify my task app, Remember the Milk, for another year ahead!

Whatever your thoughts are for the future, I hope the coming year will be a good one, a healthy one and a safe one. 

Lots going on in the world already, and some worrying things ahead with the change of power coming up across the ocean. I "count my blessings" with all the good things are are around me in life, trying not to dwell too much on the bombardment of bad news that comes to us everyday.

So stay strong and be happy people.

Best wishes for 2025

Happy Christmas

 

It`s Christmas Eve eve today (if that makes sense), and I would just like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas, and a healthy and safe 2025.

See you soon

The last 2024 Walk with the warden

Next Saturday, 21st December, it`s the last Walk with the warden at WWT Llanelli for the year. Can`t quite believe how the year has flown by, but there is one final chance to join us for a wander on the Reserve.

Thanks to everyone who has come along and supported the walks throughout the year, rain or shine. It`s been good to have your company.

The walks will resume again in 2025 (check the WWT website for details), but normally around the third Saturday in the month.

Thank you again for all your support.

All over

That`s it folks, the last of the calendar order opportunities are now over.

Thanks to those who ordered today - you should have an approximate delivery date.

Thanks too to those who`ve previously ordered, both online and locally. Your support towards the fundraising has been appreciated.

Enjoy your calendars next year! 

"Black Friday" - so an additional day to buy the 2025 calendar

 

It`s back available to buy online, for today only - my 2025 calendar.

This is a glossy A4 double fundraising calendar, with all proceeds going to St.Gwynogs, Llangennech.

So here we have it:

• JANUARY - Short eared owl, taken in South West Wales
• FEBRUARY - Porthcawl
• MARCH - Coot, with early Spring reflections
• APRIL - Young fox, photographed locally
• MAY -  A young female Kingfisher, actually taken in a September at an undisclosed location
• JUNE - Droplet on the very tip of a Japanese maple leaf
• JULY - Puffin on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire.
• AUGUST - Male Kestrel on the cliffs of Gower, South Wales
• SEPTEMBER - the Hoopoe that visited Swansea for a couple of weeks this year
• OCTOBER - Great White Egret, superb bird the size of a Grey Heron
• NOVEMBER - Barn Owl
• DECEMBER - Winter berries

If you haven`t bought a calendar yet, either for yourself or for someone else for Christmas, act fast, as this will be the last opportunity to buy. Remember, ALL proceeds will be going to fundraising.

The glossy A4 Double calendars are available for UK purchase and delivery only, but will be available to buy online today only. 

Calendars cost £25, plus £3.99 UK delivery.

Delivery will normally be within 7 - 10 days.

HOW TO ORDER:

Click on the `Buy Now` button, and you will be directed to Paypal, where you can buy securely by debit card.

Remember to complete the name and address clearly for the person who the calendar is to be shipped to.

This final opportunity will close at the end of Black Friday

Thanks for your support!

-------------------------------------------------------

STOP PRESS:

The last chance for calendar ordering has now concluded. 😕

Thanks to those who bought today (29th November). Orders are already being processed, and an approximate delivery date provided by email.

The ordering option has now been removed.

Thank you all again.

Volunteer morning

 Looking forward to hosting an early morning for some vols and staff at WWT Llanelli tomorrow for a bit of Bird ID, etc. Bless them, they work so hard and give up so much time for the Trust, but often don`t have time to spend outside.

The weather looks better but cold tomorrow, and will tie in nicely with the morning high tide.

Hope the avocet come back .........

Thank you

 Thank you to all those who came along on the Walk with the warden yesterday - 33 of us altogether, so thanks for the support.

The next walk is on Saturday 21st December, a good way to escape the Christmas shopping mayhem.

For upcoming events at WWT Llanelli, take a look here:  https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/llanelli/whats-on/events

Thanks again

Russ

Calendars available online - but for a limited period only! MOnday

The 2025 glossy calendars mentioned in my previous posts, a limited amount available locally, are now also available to purchase online, but for a limited time only.

The A4 Double calendars are available for UK purchase and delivery only, but will be available to buy online until 18th November 2024. 

Calendars cost £25, plus £3.99 UK delivery.

This is a fund-raising calendar, and all profits made on the calendars will be donated to St.Gwynogs Church, Llangennech. 

Delivery will normally be within 7 - 10 days.

(see below to order)

(ONLINE ORDERS FOR THE CALENDARS NOW FINISHED FOR 2024. CURRENT ORDERS BEING PROCESSED READY FOR DELIVERY)

IMPORTANT: - Do not worry if you see this payment section `closed off` after 18th November. This is because it is a limited opportunity to buy online only.

Thank you.

Remembrance - 2024

 

2025 glossy calendars

Well the plunge has been taken again, and another annual calendar produced, for first one fo three years, this time a glossy one for 2025. (Yes, the Hoopoe is in there!)

Immediate plan is for local availability only, but this might change soon, so keep an eye out.

All profits made on the calendars will be donated to St.Gwynogs Church, Llangennech.

Here are collages from multiple screengrabs as an example:

Thanks

2025 calendar??

 

It might yet happen .........?

Walk with the Warden - Saturday 19th October 2024

 

This Saturday i`ll be doing the monthly Walk with the Warden at WWT Llanelli again.

The walk is more of a relaxed amble, taking in what`s around us, and not a "power-walk"! If any ramblers are planning on coming, please be aware of this.

At the moment it looks like some early rain / drizzle, but (hopefully) clearing up in time for the walk, which will start around 11.30am. However, please come prepared for the weather, AND with appropriate footwear, as we could be on some muddy paths.

Look forward to seeing you there.

At the WWT desk

 

Good to be at WWT this afternoon, doing a bit of covering at the Information Desk for a few hours, and chatting with a number of visitors along the way. 

As many of you might have gathered by now, WWT Llanelli is one of my happy-places, and after 19 years as a volunteer I still find it a place of refuge in this busy and often troubled world. I`m normally out on the Reserve, but this afternoon I was happy to help with the all-important contact with visitors.

This week hasn`t been easy, with the welfare and then the loss of our tortoiseshell Toffee taking over from most everything else, it`s been a bit difficult to get through. Whether i`m volunteering or even have some time to myself there, WWT Llanelli has been a place to unwind and de-stress. 

I`d just like to thank all the staff and other volunteers there for making it a happy place for both myself and the visitors that come through the Centre doors. It`s good for the mental health, and I feel privileged to be able to visit there both as a member, and continue to help as a volunteer whenever I can.

Northern lights

 

Last night, the Northern Lights (Aurora) were visible almost all over the world thanks to some recent solar flare activity hitting the Earth.

I needed to get away from street lights, so went to Penclawdd to face north across the Loughor river, and saw the reds and greens of the aurora. The photos I took, at slightly different `wide` angles, and different positions, showed up the mixture of colours and activity in the sky. I opted to use my wide 10-20mm Sigma to get in a lot of the more or less clear sky.

By tonight, there is a large mix of photos taken both across the country, and indeed the world. Some fantastic shots from the aurora in Norway in particular.

Hoping that last night wasn`t the last time for the year, as as I type (Friday evening), the alert level is down to yellow, and the sky quite cloudy. Happy I saw things last night though.

Toffee Myners

 Yesterday a little furry light went out when our beloved Toffee passed away. She had suffered significant trauma with a fractured tail, pelvic injuries, a loss to her nervous system in the pelvis and abdomen. How this was done we will never know, but the vet said it was consistent with a "pull injury", likely that she got her tail jammed somewhere.

We had only adopted her this year, but she was an extremely affectionate little tortoiseshell cat, quite vocal, but fitted in so well with the family.

She will be deeply missed by everyone, and i`m feeling that emptiness of her loss already.

Until we meet ........

The Hoopoe in Swansea

 I`ve never been one for rushing to see a rare bird, often descended upon a large groups of twitchers, (not me), which often leads to some kind of general melee. So I decided not to go to see the Hoopoe that had arrived along the Swansea Bay, but at the same time feeling it was a chance to see a bird i`d never seen before - let alone photographed. So I left it a number of days.

Yesterday I took the plunge and decided to go have a look as it was still around, and hoping any crowds would have thinned out. The forecast wasn`t good to start with, but it broke into a lovely day, and it didn`t take long for us to locate where the Hoopoe was.

What a fantastic bird! It was literally a few metres from us, at times too close to focus. Very confiding, and it was a "lifer" as they call it - when you`ve seen one for the very first time.

We had a good couple of hours with it before it eventually flew off over the beach, and around to the Gardens somewhere. By this time i`d taken hundreds of photos, so now begins the long process of wading through them. Should keep me quiet well into the autumn! 

I won`t be joining any realms of twitchers, but the handful of us that were there first thing were respectful and quiet. The Hoopoe was back and forth really very close, so all in all a great experience.

Don Powell Band video shoot - 30th September 2024

 

Just got back today from attending another video shoot with The Don Powell Band in the Midlands. (Note: I wasn`t doing the video shoot! A company from Kidderminster were doing it for the band. I was there as part of the crowd!)

Last year, the band were shooting a video for their then upcoming release "I am the Beat" cover, and for the first time it was one that fans could be part of the video. There was no hesitation grabbing the chance to be there again this year when the news got out.

We travelled up late morning to Kidderminster, and after later checking in to our overnight hotel, checked out the venue for the evening`s gig.

Once the doors opened, Don was already available to chat with fans, sign autographs and the like, and spent well over an hour before heading to the dressing rooms. It was a chance for us to bump into old friends, and the atmosphere was building evening more, with Slade and Don Powell Band music over the PA at a suitable volume!

For the video shoot, Don used the full chrome kit of one of his old mates, the late Cozy Powell, as the video shoot was for the future release of one of Cozy Powell`s old hits.

The band came on stage to a great reception, and as this was a video shoot to the already-recorded track, video was shot four or five times, with the camera guys covering various angles. (Working with a hand-held gimble for something like this is something i`ve always wanted to do). A "click track" counted in the group each time.

With the full kit mic`d up for live drumming on top of the backing track for the video, the drums just sounded like thunder. Fantastic.

The video shoot went well, and there were some "crowd shots" too, so don`t know whether we`ll be somewhere in the final cut!

Don spent so much time before and after the shoot signing autographs, chatting with people, posing for photos (sorry, i`m not posting one of me!), and just being an all `round nice guy.

I took a couple of things to be signed, including this CD booklet for the 1976 album Nobody`s Fools, and nothing was too much trouble for him.

This year, everyone that attended (and it was strictly limited tickets) received a free, signed copy of the new CD, which is embargoed until official release date.

Before we left Don was still in demand, but found time for everyone, including us. A quick chat and thankyous all `round, and a final chance to have a couple of photos with him. A real gentleman.

It was a great night, and look forward to seeing the final version of the video when the single is released.

Thanks

Thank you to those in the WWT Llanelli photo club who attended the early access event yesterday, and for accepting the hide restrictions. It was a good morning, and good to have your company.

Shout out to Neil who spotted the three Cattle Egret, and to Paul and Sue who located the male Sparrowhawk before it rushed past us. 

The bad weather kept North of us, and no sign of lightning that I felt might risk pulling the event, so all went well.

Thank you too to those who turned up for Walk with the Warden later in the morning. Only a few of us this month, but good to meet you.

Events update

 

Last night, the high tide event was very spectacular. It was a big 9m+ tide, forcing thousands of birds in, in conditions that were just perfect. I think everyone enjoyed.

This Saturday coming I will be doing `Walk with the Warden` with Brian and others at 11.30am. 

Prior to that, i`m the host for a private photography event for 17 people. Should be good.

Harvest moon

 

Good to see the full Super moon / Harvest moon last night, this taken from Llangennech.

There was a 4% lunar eclipse this morning well in to the early hours (from about 01.44am), but too late for me! 

High tide event

 

This coming Wednesday evening, 18th September, it`s the annual High Tide watch at WWT Llanelli, from 6pm to 8pm. 

The timing of the tide watch should be perfect, with the evening high tide being around 7.19pm give or take, and so far the weather forecast is looking good.

We will be using the British Steel hide to overlook the incoming tide over the salt marsh, and afterwards there will be tea/coffee back at the Centre.

Current `special birds` might include Marsh Harrier, Curlew Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, and a good chance of Kingfisher whizzing past or hovering close by.

For further information about this event, and to check for any remaining spaces, please contact the WWT Llanelli during office hours.

If you are unable to come to the tide watch, we have the monthly `walk with the warden` next Saturday 21st, from roughly 11.30am to 1pm.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Extra event

 

The news is now out online, so I can say that on Saturday 21st September 2024 at 8am i`ll be leading an `early-access morning` for members of the WWT Llanelli Photo Club.

This is a thank you for all the contributions made to the photography group page, and the wetlands, but spaces are limited .

We`ll be going to the Michael Powell and British Steel hides.

Access to the rest of the hides, grounds and the Centre, leading to the Reserve, will be from 9.30am as usual.

For any members of the WWT Llanelli Photography group wanting to attend, please register by following the instructions on the recent Club facebook post.

Thanks.

Coming events at WWT Llanelli

 

Excuse the dodgy phone pic (i`m more at home with my camera), but here`s a quick reminder of a couple of events coming up in September that i`m involved with.

Firstly, on Wednesday 18th September 2024 at 6pm, it`s the annual High Tide watch from the British Steel hide. This event is always popular as we watch the big tide often bring in hundreds if not thousands of birds.

Sometimes, the build up of birds will attract some additional raptors (birds of prey), and previous suspects have included Marsh Harrier and Peregrine.

I`ll be there to lend a hand, together with on a separate `Walk with the Warden` on Saturday 21st September at 11.30am. The walk this month will be lead by Brian rather than myself, but i`ll be attending as usual.

There might be something else in the pipeline too that may or may not come off. That`s all I can say at present, so watch this blog / my social media for any further news.

Thanks

Don Powell Band video shoot

 

Only a few weeks now until the next video shoot for The Don Powell Band in Kidderminster, which was a great event last year.

The track that they will be releasing is still, at this time, a mystery, but it will be a `tribute to the late Cozy Powell` (no relation), that excellent powerful drummer who played with the likes of Rainbow, the Brian May Band, Whitesnake, and others.

I met Don for the first time last year, after loving Slade since my school days, and what a lovely, patient chap he is. He is extremely generous with his time both with fans and interviewers alike, and last year`s video shoot was a great evening.

You might recall that Don gave me one of his sticks at the end of the shoot, his sticks being custom made for him and heavily taped against shattering into pieces of stage. 

Looking forward to what`s in store this year, as apparently Don will be using Cozy Powells` original double chrome kit too, similar to Don`s trusty Ludwig chrome kit of the 70s and 80s. This is being loaned to him by it`s current owner.

Last year the Band shot a video for their cover of the track `I am the Beat`, with Bev Bevan guesting . The former ELO drummer also patiently, and quietly, signed autographs before the shoot, and this can be seen on the framed VIP entry ticket above.

Think it`s going to be a great night.

This time last year, as they say

 

Looking back on what I was doing this day last year, and came across a batch of previously unedited shots. These included this stunner of a bird, a juvenile female Kingfisher - which was from the first brood fledged earlier that year.

I never get bored with them.

Kingfishers begin to disperse

 

Two weeks on from fledging, the Kingfisher young are now already gradually beginning to disperse a little further across the reserve. The occasional visits may still happen if you are patient, but probably by the end of September the sightings will become fewer and fewer.

Unfortunately during the time I was at the PS hide yesterday (Friday), the sun was so strong and high (around the middle of the day) that exposure was a nightmare. The bulk of the time the Kingfisher was facing away from the strong light, therefore being in it`s own shadow, but it`s patch of white plumage along with the length of branch were blowing far too much.

Below par photos, but still good to see that they`re still around.

Tough times for them ahead. Wishing them well.

Osprey near home

 

(COLLAGE FROM ARCHIVE PHOTOS - SEPT 2017)

A number of people have seen Osprey in the area and across the region, from Teifi marshes in the West to Penclacwydd here in the South. Well I missed the Penclacwydd Osprey, as i`ve mentioned on facebook, but always wondered if an Osprey had ever been up the Loughor river towards the marshes where I live close by.

Today, by a stroke of good timing just for once, I saw my first Osprey flying over the estuary and marsh, fish in talons, and being generally bothered by crows. I had no camera, as it was just one of my regular pull-ins when coming back from the village, so binoculars only. However, the distant bird lazily flew in the direction of the end of the village , veering off North until it disappeared from sight.

I think this could well be the first sighting for Llangennech, although I have seen a reference to a possible one back in 1992. It`s certainly my first sighting there though, and so glad to have one not far from home.

Hoping this won`t be the only sighting over the next week or two before they depart South.

A bit of reading

 

I recently finished re-reading Gary Burghoff`s autobiography, which has the curious semi-sarcastic subtitle "That nobody wanted to publish", which becomes evident as the book goes on.

Being a big MASH fan, in which he plays Radar O`Reilly, I felt it worth a second read as first time around I felt it a strange and rather `glass-half-empty` type of book, but having left it some time, the second read wasn`t too inspiring either.

It`s obvious that GB has had a life of mixed fortunes, and his reasons for his ultimate departure from MASH are slightly different for those given over the years by other cast members, etc, but there was no doubt that he was a superb actor. 

His dialogue timing with both Harry Morgan and McLean Stevenson, where he predicts what the other person is about to say, and says it half-a-second before, was done through learning the others` scripts and delivering with perfect timing.

I can kind of see why the book wasn`t picked up by publishers in a rush, but it`s now back in the bookcase - for future reading again no doubt.

I am just starting my copy of the final M*A*S*H feature episode script "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", the programme that at the time had the highest EVER American TV audience, beating the Superbowl. It`s hard to imagine now any TV episode having such an impact nationally, but the ratings at the time of the airing of the programme were greater than that also of the Moon landing of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

The final episode really focusses on the madness of war, in this case the Korean war, and the final scenes - where the characters all leave for home - still has an impact.

I`m not the fastest reader, as it isn`t that often I sit down (or if I do, that I don`t fall asleep!), but really looking forward to going through this scene by scene. 

The copy I have is one that was given to one of the `dressers` on the crew, and contains notes relevant to dressing continuity written on to the script. The original scripts are held more or less by collectors with deep pockets, but this is still something special to me.

I also have scripts in book-form of the brilliant Dad`s Army, Frasier and the Marx Brothers, all of which I love. Just don`t have the time to sit and read them!