Happy Easter

 

It`s Easter Sunday morning, and would just like to wish you a happy Easter day. 

It`s been a week or so more or less away from the camera, my only venture out being yesterday down to Ginst, which turned out to be just a few hours, and then, very very quiet.

So back at WWT, what have I missed? The single Great Crested Grebe is still hoping it`s mate will turn up, bless it. Time is ticking on a bit now. Let`s hope it will settle for breeding soon. 

Other things have been Kingfisher pairs finding their territories, the Pallid Harrier being occasionally seen still from the British Steel hide, the otters showing on occasions, and more recently a Little Gull being viewed from the Boardwalk hide. Lots more too, so plenty happening.

I`m looking forward to the next Walk, having missed the last one. It is due to take place on Saturday 20th April, but keep an eye on their website just in case there are any changes.

Happy Easter Day to you all.

Maundy Thursday

 

Had a powerful and evocative service for Maundy Thursday last night at St.Gwynogs, reminding us all of the significance of the lead-up to the crucifixion.

Maundy Thursday often gets "lost" in the Easter weekend, so it was good to have time to reflect on the full picture of the Easter story.

Thanks to the Rev.Capt. Rob Lowe for all the preparation involved and the vision to pull everything together - the pop-up Garden of Gethsemane, the organisation of the meal of cawl and bread for sharing together, all the music, lighting, and just about everything else. 

Thanks Rob.

Work due at WWT Llanelli

 

Just a reminder to keep an eye on the WWT Llanelli website for the latest information about work on the Reserve.

Currently on the Deep water lake area there are a pair of Kingfisher setting up home on a mud bank close to the Heron`s Wing hide. There`s also a Great Crested Grebe waiting for it`s mate to arrive, and has already built an initial nest. Med Gull are also on the rocky island, hidden amongst the Black Headed gull.

If you are fortunate, there is a reasonable chance of seeing up to three Otter swim through from the Peter Scott hide area, particularly from mid to late morning. (They can roam throughout the waterways of the Reserve, and I had fresh Otter prints close to the reedbeds on my checks last weekend).

A few Sand Martin and the first Swallows have just arrived, and you can now hear Chiffchaff, Cetti`s, Reed Bunting etc singing and calling across the Reserve. Spring is beginning to bring things to life.

See you back there soon.

Palm Sunday - and looking back on the week

 

After spending most of the last week gloss-painting around the house (it has to be done), it was good to spend just a short time on Friday catching up with some Short Eared Owls again before they head off soon. With a wet week ahead forecast, it might have been my last chance to see them until next winter, who knows. 

The SEOs will be heading off to Scandinavia and the Low Countries, with some maybe heading for the moorland of North of Britain. You never know, the odd one may stay `local` and head for Skomer.

It was good to be back at WWT Llanelli yesterday, and bumped in to many visitors I know from previous occasions. BTW, the Heron`s Wing bridge & hide and the Peter Scott hide remain open until after Easter, the contracting work having been delayed. 

During the last week, i`ve been doing more `push-ups` practice ready for April, albeit the less strenuous versions (knee and wall ones) to prevent damage to my arm. So far i`ve stuck to the discipline of doing 2 x 50. I am so grateful for all the donations received so far - thank you.

We had a make a tough decision early in the week. We were looking into adopting another rescue cat to fill the big paws of Oreo, who passed away in January. A lovely tabby and white who would have fitted in really well, but he had an unfortunate medical history that, more likely than not, would require ongoing treatment on and off possibly for the rest of his life. With insurance not covering pre-existing conditions, it was so sad to make the decision of being unable to take him on. Hopefully his "forever home" is out there, and he will settle into a loving home soon.

Last Wednesday we had another busy night at the Soup kitchen, around 30 people, and as usual we are very grateful for all the donations of non-perishable food we receive. It`s only by that ongoing support that the work can continue long term.

It`s Palm Sunday as I blog this today, the start of an important and significant week in the Christian calendar. I`m looking forward to the additional services at St.Gs this week for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday - but I promise i`ll still be squeezing in the practice for the fundraising in April! I must start one of my New Year`s resolutions too, losing that weight which i`ve been promising myself for over a year now. (just one of a number of resolutions "carried forward" from the previous year!)

It`s nearly 7am, i`ve been up again since 04.30am, so time for the first bit of exercise in a minute to blow away those cobwebs.

Have a good one, and Happy Easter everyone for next weekend.

Hen Harrier talk last night

Great talk by Keith Offord via the Gower Ornithological Society zoom presentation last night, following for fortunes of the Hen Harrier population, particularly in his area in North Wales.

Good to hear someone with sensible views, taking care as much as possible to minimise disturbance when studying these wonderful birds. I`m with him on his opinions on ringing, but I think it`s here to stay.

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On a separate note,  just a further THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed so far to donating towards my 100 push-ups a day for Cancer Research UK in April. I`m really taken aback by the response so far, and the practicing continues!

Thank you so much.

Work has begun

Work has commenced at WWT Llanelli to repair the main bridge to the Heron`s Wing hide and on to the  Reserve. A temporary alternative route is in place:

https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/llanelli/news/essential-work-to-secure-access-to-the-nature-reserve-begins

Looking forward to getting back there soon as i`ve been tied this week on the dreaded gloss painting at home (part 4 or 5 I think) - i`d rather be out there. Spring is beginning 

WWT Walk today - and some important Centre news

 

It`s Saturday 16th March 2024, and just letting you know that the Walk with the Warden has been CANCELLED today.

IMPORTANT CENTRE NEWS:

WWT Llanelli will soon be carrying out essential work to the footbridge that leads on to the Reserve in the Millennium Wetlands. This will mean that there will be no access across the bridge for approximately four weeks, and both the Heron`s Wing hide and the Peter Scott hide WILL BE CLOSED during this period. 

It is hoped that access arrangements to the Reserve will be made available via the gate by the farm (yet to be confirmed), so that the rest of the Reserve can be visited and enjoyed, with toilets opening by the Canoe station. 

Any walk to the Black Poplar wood area (the Northern Loop) will stop short of the path to the Peter Scott hide, which will be needed for contractors, so there will be no access allowed along that path.

The work to the main bridge is essential, and must be carried out for the long term access to the Reserve and hides, so the cooperation of all visitors, including regular bird watchers, is essential.

The WWT team will also be posting details of this essential work on their website soon (start date to be confirmed at the time of this posting), but I have been asked to make you aware of this impending work as i`m out and about on the Reserve, and a number of people know me.

Everyone`s cooperation is essential, and of course appreciated.

Thank you.

THANKYOU

Thank you so much to everyone who has responded so far to my `100 push-ups` challenge in April to raise money for Cancer Research UK. I am truly taken aback by the generosity.

To read the background to this, please go to my `Pinned Post` on my facebook page here: 

https://facebook.com/russmyners

To donate directly, my Giving Page is here:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/russs-giving-page-22?urn=787664917&utm_team=FPPushUpsApril_In-Series_2024_March_Email_Welcome2

Again, thankyou so much.

Skomer booked

 

I was a bit late off the mark this year, but have finally booked my annual visit to Skomer Island off Pembrokeshire. With many of the peak dates gone when Puffins are at their most active bringing in Sandeels for their Pufflings, my usual alternative choice, in the latter part of May, should see the island carpeted with millions of bluebells, particularly in the North Valley.

Alongside Puffin, the island is also home to large groups of Guillemot, Razorbill, and other seabirds, and of course there`s that on-going "target" of mine - capturing a Short Eared Owl in the area of the bluebells. It hasn`t happened yet, and i`ve previously been jinxed by blustery winds (keeping any owls on the ground), but you never know. I live in hope.

The island is also the magnet, and home, of the highest concentration of Manx Shearwater in the world. These live in burrows underground, in the same way as Puffin nest underground in burrows, and are active at night.

Access to Skomer is dependant on the strength and direction of the wind, which create high waves or swells. In certain conditions sailings can be cancelled, always disappointing, and sometimes this can be last minute if there is a change of forecast for the day. Everyone is made aware of this on booking, but it is a shame when it happens, and it has happened a few times to me before now. The problem then is trying to find a remaining alternative date to reschedule, but (fingers crossed) let`s hope it all goes to plan t start with.

Only just over a couple of months to go .......  can`t wait.

 

 

A patient week

 

Bags of patience needed over the last week, waiting for some owl shots in certain lighting conditions. Some strong winds on a couple of days didn`t help (they won`t show), but as they`ll be off again soon until next winter, the clock has been ticking.

Although there is still a particular angle of shot I would like to try and capture, you can`t and mustn`t encroach in any way - you just have to be still, hidden if possible,  and patient sometimes for hours and hours.

(Location withheld)

I`ll be back at WWT this forthcoming week, starting some data collection on a certain project. Hope I might be lucky to have another Otter encounter along the way.

Fingers crossed.

The next monthly walk

 

The next monthly Walk with the Warden at WWT Llanelli will take place on Saturday 16th March, but unfortunately I will not be able to attend myself.

I look forward to being back on the April walk.

Thanks.

Social media - do I, don`t I?

 

I`ve toyed with this question before, maybe a year or two ago, wondering whether to pull the plug on my social media. 

Twitter, or `X` as it`s now known, is all over the place these days, and there seems to be a surge in being tagged in to posts from dodgy accounts. I`ve spent more time blocking people than actually posting, and i`m not sure whether some posts even get seen.

Facebook on the other hand I still find useful at times, so have still continued with it so far, but I really don`t know.  And as for LinkedIN, the "professionals" network where I continue to post occasionally, I find it has become a bit of a back-patting arena - bordering on the typical posts of "influencers". Again, i`m in one of my "mulling over" times when i`m not sure whether to continue.

The current benefits to me of social media is that it has (potentially) the biggest reach audience-wise compared to running a website, and of course they are free. They are of course a great way of communicating news straight to peoples` phones, tablets etc wherever they might be, so it looks as though to Pros and Cons arguments I have with myself leave me with the thinking it`s best to carry on with them - yet again! 

So with that in mind, I might look at my as yet un-started New Years resolutions / projects list and plan some time to achieve them - of course, posting updates on social media, now that i`ve convinced myself yet again to plod on.

So in the meantime Facebook, Elon`s X and LinkedIN look likely to stay. 😐. 

Happy St.David`s Day folks. 👍