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.