Second anniversary

 Alone with my thoughts a bit yesterday - the second anniversary of Dad passing away.

I can remember his last days, and particularly his final afternoon with us, as if it had all happened yesterday. 

A true Christian gentleman in every sense of the word, always polite, caring, compassionate, with integrity that you do not see very often these days. His humble nature was an example to us all, and his incredible musicianship touched many over the years.

Two years ago, my brother, sister and I and been with Dad all day. At the end of the afternoon, within 10-15 minutes of us leaving, he gently passed away. Despite him being asleep for four days, it`s as if he almost wanted to stay alive for us all to be together for as long as possible.

Dad`s gracious and humble nature touched the lives of so many people, young and old, and we are just so proud to have known him as our Dad.

We miss you. I miss you. Thankyou for leaving that fine Christian example to look up to.

We will meet again.

20 years not out (although the joints ache a bit)

 

This week is my 20th anniversary of becoming a volunteer at WWT Llanelli (it was 13th June 2005 that I started). It`s been a privilege to have been able to work, when time has permitted, in such a wonderful environment and with a great group of people.

I spent the first ten years working in the Grounds, mainly at weekends, and doing just about anything that was needed to be done and were, of course, within the boundaries of volunteering. For instance, using certain power tools and driving tractors etc are left to the main staff that have those responsibilities. However, over those years I carried out a wide range of work, and along the way met with many visitors, and got to know a number of more regular `birders` too.

Ten years on I moved to the Reserve area of WWT Llanelli, initially carrying out photography for the Centre and compiling sightings reports. Since then things have developed over the years, and have regularly helped with Walk with the Warden, Dawn Chorus walks, Tide watches for the Photo Club and the annual High Tide watch, visitor engagement, etc. 

One of the main projects I have been involved in for the last few years has been the monitoring and data compilation of Kingfisher breeding information on the Reserve. This has been an eye-opener, as it has helped understand feeding patterns, territorial action, etc, all discretely. Over time you can identify patterns in their behaviour.

Over the years some volunteers and staff have changed, but I would like to thank everyone for their friendship and teamwork. It`s been like working in a family, and i`m grateful to have met so many good people during those 20 years.

Here`s to the next how-many years of volunteering!

 

Back on Skomer again

 

It was good to be back on Skomer Island again yesterday, the thick morning mist eventually breaking into a lovely day.

There are record numbers of Puffin on the island this year, coming in for the breeding season before leaving again around August. They are along the edges of most of the island, but the main concentration of them being at `The Wick`, where thousands of seabirds breed.

It was good to hear that Skomer also has record numbers of Short Eared Owl, my main "target" for photography for the day. According to the warden, there are a staggering 22 birds (11 pairs) on the island.

I didn`t see them - well apart from one very faint glimpse for a few second at long distance. That was it. To say that I was disappointed with not catching the owls was an understatement. Never mind.

Back at The Wick the Puffin were on form, and although not yet the maximum sand eel time, there was plenty going on.

I`m back there in July, so hope the Short Eared Owls will still be around.

Visit to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales

 

It was good to visit the National Botanic Gardens again after a gap of a couple of years. Two visits in one week actually, thanks the the generous free readmission within a week policy they have. It`s a wonderful place to drift around this time of year, and going before the schools broke up was a bonus.

The collection of plants and flowers, etc are substantial, and the glass house gives you opportunity to wander around and around out of any Welsh weather (which was chilly, blustery and drizzly on the time I went back).

The landscaped estate, with lakes and excellent paths, is quite stunning, and I had the feeling there was so much more i`ve still yet to see.

It was good to do something a bit different, challenging myself to stick to one lens, my Canon 55-250mm, but I did take a couple of extension tubes which I haven`t used for a number of years. I did this rather than take a separate macro just to challenge myself again, and working totally manual like I normally do.

I ended up taking lots of images this year, but unfortunately my plan of taking a lot of bee shots on the second day was somewhat scuppered by the frustrating strong wind, blowing flowers all over the place (there are surprisingly few insects at all in the glasshouse). But as the Centre is less than 15 miles from home, i`ll be back for more fairly soon before the summer holiday chaos starts! 

A great couple of days though.

Skomer coming soon

 

Having spent quite some time on and off (when i`ve had the time of course) monitoring the Kingfisher at WWT Llanelli, it will be good to set foot on Skomer Island again soon to see Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, and (hopefully) Short eared owls. You never know until the day what you might come across, what the weather will be like, or indeed whether you can actually sail!

Skomer is always a magical place, carpeted in bluebells and pink campion in the spring, and only the sounds of nature around you. Some parts of the island are incredibly quiet, other parts - like The Wick - a cacophony of noise from the thousands of seabirds.

I`m still waiting to bag a SEO flying in just the right light and right angle above the millions of bluebells in North Valley!  You never know, this could be the year? although i`ve said that every year! 

There are meant to be up to five breeding pair this year, so at least there is a chance. 

Fingers crossed, yet again.😶

16th April 2025

 How quickly time is going.

Another `Walk with the Warden` this Saturday, and the weather is looking ....... well ......, we`ll see. Once thing`s for sure, the lovely Spring days have gone, already a distant memory, so what will be will be.

Since the last entry, the morning high-tide watch for the photo-club was pretty stunning, a big tide with perfect light and conditions. I`ve never seen the peak of such a large tide from the Michael Powell hide at WWT Llanelli before, normally i`ve gone to the British Steel hide, but that was the perfect angle for the light. The small group attending, those that haven`t been able to make it before, all enjoyed the experience.

Up until recently the weather has been beautiful, with temperatures (once the day has warmed up!) have been better than most of  Europe. However, that high pressure has now moved away, and this week has turned wet and windy - and still chilly enough to keep the heating on for at least a while first thing in the morning! 

During the last few weeks, i`ve been continuing my Kingfisher monitoring, and they have "moved house" to a different nest hole. All has seemed settled, so just hoping that the change in the weather this week doesn`t have an impact of the nest tunnel. Hopefully, within the next couple of weeks, there might be the first evidence of mouths to feed. Fingers crossed. 

In just over a fortnight`s time, i`ll be with Brian doing the annual Dawn Chorus walks, hoping again that the better weather returns! Quite a number of Spring arrival birds are now in, and to hear bird song particularly first thing in the morning is quite special. Looking forward to that. It`s the Sunday and Monday of May Bank holiday weekend at WWT Llanelli, with a 6am start. (If anyone is interested, you must book in advance).

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter.

Things coming up

 

Looking forward to being involved in a few things coming up at WWT Llanelli soon. 

On Monday 31st March i`ll be with some members of the WWT Llanelli Facebook Photo Club, meeting to take advantage of a good high tide before normal opening hours.

Easter Saturday, 19th April, i`ll be on the next "Walk with the Warden", meeting at 11.30am by the Information Desk.

On Sunday 4th May and Bank Holiday Monday 5th May, i`ll be helping with the annual Dawn Chorus walks, meeting around 5.45am for a 6am start. Let`s hope it`s fine weather.

I`m also currently involved with some Kingfisher work, and at time of posting it is hoped that it won`t be long before the first clutch is laid.

As well as WWT work, on Friday 4th April i`ll be with Carmarthenshire Falconry, taking photos during a customer experience day. For those who have purchased an Experience day, it`s a great way for the client to be able to "remember the day", when they can focus on flying and handling the birds. 

Alongside all this, we are in the run up to Easter, and currently nearly half way through Lent. Easter is an important time for the church, and there will be services at my church, St.Gwynogs, on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. 

I`ve yet to start all the projects on my "New Year`s Resolution" to-do list, with lots of photography, nature and art stuff planned. Hopefully, one day, i`ll get around to them!

WWTW next Saturday

 Looking forward to Walk with the Warden next week (15th March) at WWT Llanelli.

Hoping that we`ll have some more of this lovely early-Spring weather.

Another year notched up

 

This last week it was my birthday, something I don`t make a song and dance about (and I often forget it`s coming up anyway), but can`t quite believe how the years are shooting by. What is difficult to take on board is that all my old school mates, who I last saw when I was 17, are now obviously all the same age as me too. Some of those now have grandchildren. Where did the time go?

It`s important to use time wisely, and that`s one thing i`ve always tried to do, going back to the days of my main employment, and when I was self-employed too. Even these days, with various personal responsibilities I have, I try and time-manage my full week, squeezing in time `for myself` if I can. 

With "notching-up" another year this last week, it`s made me feel grateful for what I have compared to so many in the world, particularly remembering all those in Ukraine. I have absolute admiration for President Zelensky, who has always shown tremendous leadership, but who had to endure the thuggery of Trump and his side-kick Vance this last week. With the Russians grinning from ear to ear, Trump and Musk already destroying democracy in the US, we are now in different are far more dangerous times. I am grateful for my family, friends, all those in my church and at WWT, my "second home" when I can get there, and all those I meet. Grateful too for this soggy-old but beautiful country we also call home.

I might be beginning to feel my age a bit, but while the joints are still working i`ll be out and about when I can, balancing a bit of time to allow for my volunteering too. Speaking of which, come June i`ll have been a volunteer for 20 years (another "where did the time go?" moment), but i`m just so grateful for that opportunity too.

So onward and upward into another birthday-year. I still have all those untouched New Year resolutions from the last few years, the plan to "definitely get back to art" promise yet to be started, a number of photography projects to take forward, plus some responsibilities for fund-raising to take forward. Just need bags of time.

Speak soon.

Walks coming up

 

Tomorrow, Saturday 15th February 2025, i`ll be involved with another `Walk with a Warden` at WWT Llanelli, Penclacwydd. 

If anyone wishes to come along, we meet inside the Centre in the reception area at 11.30am, and go out for about an hour and a half. Come prepared for the weather, with good footwear, ie boots!. (Admission charges or membership card entry applies).

Very soon the annual Dawn Chorus walks should be confirmed. This is a popular and well attended event, and for the second year running we are hoping to do this over two consecutive days. 

Details should be published on the WWT Llanelli website and facebook page very soon.

LEAVING `X` (fly Twitter)

 

Many of you know that I have always had a love/hate relationship with social media, and a couple of times thought about leaving facebook behind. However, i`ve stuck with it so far and intend to do so for the foreseeable future.

Prior to facebook I was already using my Twitter account frequently, and yes it did reach a decent audience. Through the use of twitter I made some great new contacts too, but since the change to X, and the massive upheaval to the way it is run, the audience has declined considerably, and there has been a significant increase in unwanted Musk and Trump propaganda.

I`ve always tried to keep out of politics, everyone is entitled to their own views, but sometimes you have to speak out or at least do something to say when things are wrong. It`s along those lies that I feel I can no longer use or support "X", owned by the richest and currently one of the most influential people in the world, who, along with Donald Trump, are marginalising some of the poorest and most vulnerable in society. 

What we are seeing is a true horror story in the making, and although this is not a platform for my feelings, I would be wrong to continue to support Musks` X business empire, which is making him even richer when the poor are getting poorer.

I haven`t deleted my twitter account yet, but I will no longer be posting on it. 

Thank you to all those twitter followers, most of which probably don`t know I exist anymore anyway!

For those that have my twitter (X) link on the back of my last business card, please use the facebook or other links to contact me in the future. 

Thank you.

PS: I`ve no intention of being `trolled` (i`ve been "stalked" and trolled in the past!), so i`ve limited my very strong views. 

Events

`Walk with the Warden:

Tomorrow, Saturday 18th January, it`s another Walk with the Warden at WWT Llanelli, and it looks like the weather should be okay.

Come and join us at 11.30am inside the Centre at the Reception area. The gentle amble around the Reserve will take approximately 90 mins. Wear suitable clothing and footwear.

.............................................

Morning High Tide Watch:

Thank you to all those who attended the Photo Club high tide watch earlier this morning.
Amongst the `cast` on the saltmarsh were 76 (+) Curlew and 18 Greenshank, plus Kingfisher, Spoonbill, Sparrowhawk, Dunlin, and other regulars. 

Unfortunately no male Hen Harrier while we were there 

Thanks again.

Remembering Oreo one year on

 

It was 12 months ago on 14th January that Oreo passed away.

Oreo was very much a silent `observer of life`, shunning toys in order to watch the washing being put out, what`s going on on the computer, or what might be coming out of the oven. He did however like to lie upside down in the sun, gripping a tennis ball over his head, taking life in his stride. 

He became my shadow, quietly taking in whatever I was doing in, around or outside the house. If I was talking up the road to a neighbour, a minute or two later Oreo would be at my feet. One evening, when we were all spending time at a neighbours house, we opened the front door to leave and found Oreo had been waiting all evening on their front doormat for us.

We later adopted Toffee, who was just slightly more `active` than Oreo and became the local Ninja, but she was so lovable too. 

In October, Toffee tragically came home with some injuries to her tail and pelvis that meant Toffee too was to leave us, but this time through a very difficult decision I had to make.

Both Oreo and Toffee are greatly missed by us all.

Another year begins

 

Well it`s a cold start to 2025, as expected for January of course, but it was disappointing that New Year`s Day was quite miserable weather-wise. However, on January 2nd the conditions were much better, and some time put in on the North Gower finally paid off when, after many nippy days on previous occasions being patient, a male Marsh Harrier came to within 30/40 metres of me! Quite a memorable experience.

On previous occasions, something has happened on a rare moment of close approach, such as just "committing" yourself to making a hot drink or having a bite to eat, just as those seconds of opportunity catch you out. 

My `target` bird for that day, a male Hen Harrier, was nowhere to be seen, however I did see one with other WWT staff & vols yesterday morning during a sunrise/high tide Bird ID morning overlooking the saltmarsh at WWT Llanelli (the other side of the Burry inlet). A frosty marsh became side-lit in soft pink, and the Harrier (first spotted by staff member Andrew) flew across in the mid distance before dropping down near the butts closer to the estuary. 

I didn`t have my camera, taking my bins only so I can help people, but that`s my first sighting this winter. Hoping next week to try a find one again when the more stable weather comes in.

The New Years resolutions, most of which are carried forward from 2024, 2023, etc, have been put together `in hope` yet again, but I MUST get back to painting!!! Lots of intended photo projects amongst other things, but as i`ve often said, available free time is the biggest issue. We`ll see how I get on.

Today is Saturday 4th January, and a forecast of bad weather / snow risk later today has meant that i`ve decided to shelve my initial decision of being further afield, so I will popping to my local marsh and estuary when it`s light later (it`s still early morning as I type).

Whatever you are doing, stay safe this weekend and in the week ahead.

Off to get another mug of tea in now.