BananaGate

 Miss of the day:

YouTube subtitles not understanding what i`m saying again i`m afraid! 

Vlogging

 As much as I generally dislike selfies, i`m going to be trying some vlogging here now and again as we head into winter. 

These will be via links from this blog to start with, but will see how it goes.

So here I am, at Llanrhidian marsh in (the year 20,261):

Calendars

I`ve had some enquiries already as to whether I would be putting together and selling calendars for 2027, like I have done for the last few years. All profits from the calendars for the last couple of years have gone to help fund-raising for St.Gwynogs Church in Llangennech.

Well i`m afraid I won`t be putting together any calendars for next year, as there is only a small window of time to sell them. I might instead look at doing individual things "to order", but nothing concrete yet. If so i`ll announce this as and when.

Thank you for your continued interest.

Russ.

High tide watch next week

 

Pembrokeshire

 

Back after a good week away at St.Davids, with the bonus of better weather than was originally forecast.

Plenty of places for a pot of tea, which is always welcome for me.

Back to it now, and planning a few projects for winter.

Solar eclipse - Wednesday 12th August 2026

 The country seemed to be gripped with "Eclipse fever" this week, as the first solar eclipse for many years was due to happen when viewing conditions were good. I wasn`t expecting the chaotic scenes that were on the news and online, with roads jammed and people triple-parking.

I decided to go to the a quieter area, but there was still heavy traffic for a fee miles before it thinned out. My plan was to solely get the sun being covered by the moon, rather than stacking a sequence across the sky, so I chose to use an infrared filter (IR850) so that the camera sensor would hopefully not get damaged during exposures.

The resulting shots produced a surreal magenta colour, which I liked when I was doing some test shots a few days before. Some of them seem to come straight out of "pacman"!

I took two shots every five minutes from about 6.15pm to 8pm (with the peak being 7.13pm), and have just collaged some of them.

My favourite shot has to be around the peak at 7.13pm, which I might just get printed up on canvas one day. Such a thing to experience.

This shot is just a few seconds early - the moon moving from right to left.

I`m glad I shot in infrared as it`s different from anything else i`ve seen out there.

Kingfisher success again

 

It`s been a long time again since my last blog post yet again, but worth an update now as there has been success with the second brood of Kingfisher on the Reserve side at WWT Llanelli. 

There was a male and female fledged in mid-May from the first brood, but I can confirm a male fledged yesterday (Monday 3rd August), together with another that quite possibly fledged the day before.

We are hoping that another bird might have fledged today, as the adult female was taking in fish to the nest site as well as feeding the one that had just fledged (in the image above).

Fingers crossed.

(For the blog post I posted last year about Kingfishers on the Reserve in 2025, click here:

https://russartworx.blogspot.com/2025/12/kingfisher-breeding-success-at-wwt.html )

Blue Tit brood

 Some of you might have seen on my facebook page that our Blue Tits, George and Mildred, have been successful this year, with a family of five young successfully fledge.

This was taken (very quickly) on 18th May.

During the time of bringing in food, George and Mildred endured both the 30C heatwave and some torrential rain and thunderstorms. 

At their peak, the parents were between them bringing in food  every 2 to 3 minutes from around 5am until around 9.40pm. Even if you said it was every 3 minutes over 16 hours, that would be 320 meals!!

They worked their little socks off, and managed a few times to defy a Magpie that was trying to get into the box.

Since they fledged, I haven`t seen the family around, so I just hope they are doing well.

I`ll leave the nest box for a few more weeks just in case they are interested in using it again, but that is doubtful. It will then be carefully cleaned out, just in case there are mites and ticks to get rid of.

Skomer 2026

 Just over a couple of weeks ago it was time for my annual visit to Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire, a place I always love to visit at least once a year if I can. Late May is normally my preferred time, when the Puffins are back on the island in force, and (hopefully) there are Short Eared Owl back on the island too. The month of June gets booked up very quickly, being the peak time for Puffins bringing in sand eels for any Pufflings, and this year there was no second date available.

The day before, Pembrokeshire experienced some horrendous weather, with torrential thundery showers, including hail "the size of pebbles". However, on our arrival the sun was out, the sea calm, and all looked good. The forecast was for a cloudy but dry day, with the wind in the right direction. The day was on.

Our booking was for a 10am sailing, and our boat, the Dale Queen, gave us a smooth ride over, with onboard "entertainment" from Jim and his Herring gull sidekick Tonto. Just that challenge of negotiating the 84 steps winding up the cliff doesn`t get any easier, in fact the opposite these days. It was then the mandatory welcome talk with the wardens, and then we  headed off to the farm and North valley to see if there were any Short Eared Owls around.

Having stayed there for a while, there was no show, and with the island to explore and some time wanted at The Wick, it was time to move on. It didn`t take long before a sweeping, damp and pretty chilly sea mist came in, and stayed around for a couple of hours.

Eventually, we had some time at The Wick, where the main concentration of Puffins are. Considering they have had the highest count of Puffins in this year, some 52-53,000 birds, the Wick seemed a little subdued, and it was possible some of the birds might have been affected by the weather the day before.

Timing can be everything on Skomer, and although yet again I didn`t see any Short Eared owls around (there were meant to be 8 pairs/16 birds), there was still plenty of other wildlife around, including Chough, Guillemots and Razorbills.

It`s always sad to leave the island, particularly if that`s your only visit for the year, but - health permitting - i`ll be back next year.

Recent events

 

Thank you to all those who came along to the Walk with the Warden last Saturday at WWT Llanelli, just a day too early to hear the first Cuckoo arrive on Sunday! 

The weather was fine for us, with plenty going on when you stop and listen. Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler singing along the centre path; Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren, Cetti`s etc throughout the Reserve, and our operatic Reed Warbler down in the main reed beds.

A male Marsh Harrier was seen from the Heron`s Wing hide over the far side of the Deep Water lake, having personally seen a female MH earlier in the morning. 

Lots going on on the Reserve, with the adult Kingfishers bringing in fish for their new chicks, and Lesser Whitethroat singing/calling in a few places (having arrived a couple of weeks earlier than the norm).

Anyway, a good amble around, and thank you to those who continue to support the monthly walk.

On Sunday morning there was a bit of a bonus, an early "tide watch" for a small group from the Facebook photo club, who haven`t had the chance to attend before. A good high tide, calm conditions and excellent light, I think everyone enjoyed coming along. One or two managed to glimpse a couple of Cuckoo that had arrived, later photographed by another visitor. 

In less than two weeks i`ll be with those that book onto the Dawn Chorus walks on May Bank holiday. 3rd and 4th of May. There are limited spaces on these, so book early.

See you soon.

Saturday 11th April 2026

It`s been three months since my last public-facing blog entry  (I don`t get any better at it), but there`s been plenty going on behind the scenes.

A few snippets relating to my volunteering at WWT Llanelli first:

Next Saturday, 18th April, I will be taking the monthly "Walk with the Warden" again. This takes place on the third Saturday of every month, where we meet at the indoor Information desk at 11.30am, and then go out on to the Reserve for about an hour and a half or so. 

We normally go out rain or shine, but may be subject to cancellation if there are high or potentially damaging winds.

Apologies that I couldn`t make it last month due to illness (I lost 9lb in four days!!), so it was lead by Brian, with Jim and Diana.

On Sunday, 19th April, I will be hosting a morning tide watch at 8am for some members of the WWT Llanelli Facebook Photo Club. This is an opportunity for some of those contributors who haven`t been on one before, and attendees have been notified. 

High tide is round 8.12am, so just hope for some favourable weather! The attendance list is now "closed off", but I hope to do some further ones for Photo Club members during the year.

Going into May, and I will be involved with the two Dawn Chorus walks that are now bookable online. 

These will take place at 6am on Sunday 2nd May, and Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May, and must be booked in advance (places are limited). Good footwear and suitable weatherproof clothing advised:

https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/llanelli/whats-on/events/dawn-chorus-walks

A final bit of WWT-related news is that a few weeks ago a video team from Slimbridge visited WWT Llanelli, and by chance I was asked if I would do a piece for them! (I happened to be walking through the cafe at the time when I was called over!!). 

A few weeks later, the video has ended up in our Volunteers` newsletter `Marsh Mail` as a "Spotlight on colleague Russ Myners " . Oh dear. I`m afraid I was tongue-tied, looking totally unnatural,  (i`m never one to do anything where you`ll see me online!) - but as I was asked to help, well ........... 😶

https://vimeo.com/1178413397/c3780e9400?share=copy

Don`t think it will win an Oscar somehow!

Thanks for looking in.

Otter family

 

So good to see a family of three Otters yesterday (mother and two kits) at WWT Llanelli, something that has eluded me for some time.

A great tonic on such a gloomy morning, 

9th January 2026

Belated Happy New Year everyone!

Hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year break.

Although this last month I haven`t been too well, it was good to be able to get out and about just on a few occasions, taking advantage of a very rare "dry week" from what had become to be a near constant dose of wet weather here in South Wales. The winds were often bitterly cold, but such a change from rain for the last few months.

On one of the days out I managed to finally photograph one of my favourite birds, a male Hen Harrier. Not often seen, as it is still a rare bird in the UK, but there are some areas where your chances are slightly better if you are out watching the right habitat. You still need to be fortunate, a lot of patience and on your game all the time, as these male birds often seem to dash through a lot more quickly than the female. It might be me, but I often noticed that over the years.

Looking forward now getting back to more of my volunteering at WWT Llanelli as and when time permits, particularly back on the Reserve. 

All things being well, I should be on the next Walk with the Warden on Saturday 17th January 2026. 

Apologies that I couldn`t make the last walk, but I was pretty unwell and also had a foot injury (that hasn`t gone away, but has calmed down).  Thanks to Jim and Diana for "flying the flag" and carrying on with the walk, and for Bob for assisting.

As always if you are planning on coming out for the walk please wear suitable clothing and footwear, after all it is winter and nearly always wet. We meet at the Visitor Information desk inside the Centre at 11.30am, and we normally go out for around `1.5 hours +. The walk is subject to any restrictions that might be due to poor weather or site safety.
See you soon. 

Kingfisher breeding success at WWT Llanelli

A couple of months ago, I posted on Facebook that there might well be a chance of something I had prepared ending up being published in a magazine. That was looking positive at one stage, but - unbeknown to myself at the time - plans were afoot for the magazine to cease physical publication, and now there are no longer any plans for any going to print.

The magazine was the WWT`s `Waterlife` magazine, and my plan was to try and raise the profile of WWT Llanelli by doing hopefully a two to three page feature on the breeding success of Kingfisher on the Reserve this year. 

I`ve been involved in a lot of the data gathering for the last few years, and the life of Kingfisher can be a real soap opera.

So rather the written effort go to waste, here is what was a pre-publication draft and without the detailed data spreadsheets, produced here while we are still in 2025!

Here goes:

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

Kingfishers Enjoy Another Successful Breeding Season at WWT Llanelli

This year has brought another `colourful` success for WWT Llanelli, with kingfishers once again choosing the waterways around the Millenium Wetlands as their breeding ground. Over the course of the breeding season, two broods were successfully fledged. Between 13th to 15th May, two male and a female juvenile were confirmed, followed by a second brood later in early August.

To encourage Kingfisher nesting, a few years ago the Reserve team at WWT Llanelli introduced an artificial bank, containing multiple chambers, around the ponds close to the Northern Loop. The bank is at an attractive angle, just off vertical, and located in an area that Kingfisher had attempted to nest before.

The artificial bank gives any prospective pair of Kingfisher the opportunity of “choosing” which chamber they want to use and modify by excavation, and has helped protect any new clutch from tunnel collapse, that can happen in natural banks.

Preparing for a family

For our Kingfishers, courtship all started back in early February, with a male `tailing` the female around the ponds surrounding the breeding site. The male would try and offer a fish, whereby she would move on to another perch, and the process start again.

By mid-month there were reports of up to four birds squabbling over the territory (which were subsequently identified as three male and a female), and for a couple of days there was plenty of noise! However, by the 24th of February, a pair had won the territory and were starting their initial excavation of one of the nest holes, which they subsequently used for the first brood.

The pair of adults eventually raising this year’s young were not the same birds as last year, a new un-ringed male winning the honours . 

Life in the Nest

Kingfishers are burrow-nesters, excavating tunnels up to a metre long normally in steep, sandy or earthy banks beside rivers and lakes. At the end of the tunnel, a small chamber is hollowed out where the eggs are laid — usually between five and seven at a time, but records exist of up to ten eggs. The problem with any large clutch is that not all will be successfully incubated. 

Incubation normally takes around 20 days. Our adults on the Reserve took turns incubating their clutch into April, before it was noted that the first sticklebacks were being brought in around the 19th. The children had arrived!

After about three to four weeks the chicks are ready to fledge. Even then, they remain dependent on their parents for a short while, learning how to hunt and fend for themselves. However, this can only be between 2 to 5 days before the adults will chase them off the territory, if it`s going to be used again for a further brood. We have regularly seen this behaviour.

Both parents normally take part in raising the young, bringing food to the nest in a constant relay of fishing trips for a few weeks (averaging between 23 – 27 days). However, it was noted that our female left the male to do nearly all the work for the last two weeks prior to fledging, and she seemed preoccupied with making adjustments to a different nest hole in the bank – ready for the next brood.

A Splash of Colour

Kingfisher are one of Britain’s most striking birds. Barely larger than a sparrow, it is instantly recognised by its vivid plumage: a stunning bright blue back and tail, almost neon-like; a blue crown and wings, that can sometimes look quite greenish in different lighting conditions (such as low morning light); an orangey chest, and flashes of white along the throat and side of the neck. 

A breeding adult female has an obvious orangey-red  “lipstick” colour on the lower bill. Both adults have orangey-red feet.

Juveniles have slightly darker `chequerboard` chests, more obvious when wet or perched in shadows, a `sooty` top to their feet, and sometimes a slight white tip to the bill (but this can vary greatly).

On the Reserve at WWT Llanelli, Kingfisher can be seen via a viewing screen around their breeding area at the Northern Loop ponds from their first territorial courtship in February until the fledging of their final brood. However, they can be seen more frequently from our Peter Scott and Heron`s Wing hides from early July until late September. 

Heading into early Autumn, both the adults and juveniles then disperse across the Reserve, and maybe further afield, so sightings become more scarce.

An Indicator of a Healthy Habitat

Because they rely on clean water and healthy fish populations, Kingfishers are considered a key indicator of wetland health. Their ongoing success on the Reserve highlights the quality of the site’s habitat and thriving ecosystem that also benefits many other species. Despite the regular growth of summer algae, the waterways around the Reserve still provide the necessary and plentiful food for all their families.

For our visitors, a glimpse of a kingfisher is always a highlight, but patience and sometimes a bit of luck may be needed. The habitat on the Reserve provides them with an extensive area to roam and find their own individual fishing territory. Sometimes you might walk into a hide and see one perched outside straight away, but more commonly it might be a fleeting flash of blue and orange after a two or three hour wait, or just hear the shrill whistle call as it announces it`s arrival.

And there are more Kingfisher!

At WWT Llanelli, we also have Kingfisher breeding around a `non-public` section of our main Grounds area, a discreet distance away from disturbance, but with full access to a long stretch of flowing water. Their territory here is also a considerable distance from the Reserve, so rivals from the Reserve at least should not challenge them.

Although `unmonitored` in this private area, Kingfisher seem to hold their numbers, as it is these birds that are seen after the breeding season from the Michael Powell and British Steel hides, and occasionally over the Marsh Garden and from the Observatory. 

Kingfishers landing on the `No Fishing` sign close to the Michael Powell hide create one of the most photographed perching opportunities at WWT Llanelli! 

Kingfishers are more likely to be seen during the winter months on the saline areas from these hides, rather than those on the Reserve. Look out for them around the surrounding fenceposts and barbed wire.

Conservation in Action

The repeated success of Kingfisher here at WWT Llanelli is not simply by chance. Careful management of the Reserve has been essential, and staff and volunteers have worked to maintain the quality of the habitat and to protect nesting sites from disturbance. 

The successful fledging of two broods on the Reserve again this year reflects years of ongoing conservation work, the resilience of this delicate species, and the importance of maintaining healthy waterways. 

Staff at WWT Llanelli have put up numerous perches and posts across the Reserve, some not visible or obvious to the public, and at least give Kingfisher the best opportunity to find independent fishing territories, and therefore give them the best start in life.

Russ Myners

(August 2025.)

All text and images (c) Russ Myners. Not to be reproduced

The final Walk with the Warden of 2025

 This Saturday, 20th December 2025, it will be the last Walk with the Warden of 2025 at WWT Llanelli, and yours truly should have been involved as usual.

Unfortunately, I have had some foot damage, beyond that of my Plantar fasciitis, and I am under instructions from the hospital NOT to aggravate the problem until results of x-rays are received.

I will be there to have a quick chat at the start, but on this occasion (and hopefully only once) i`ll have to stay back in the centre.

If anyone intends to go on the walk, meet inside the Centre at 11.30am. Due to likely bad weather on Saturday, it might well be a short walk.

Thank you.

Thank you for your support

 With my `Walking 60 miles in November for Prostate Caner Research` now completed, I just want to say a final thanks to everyone who helped raise a total of £450.

Brilliant. Thank you.

The last few days to order .......

2026 Calendar 

- only available to Order online until 26th November!

This is the last few days to order this unique glossy fund-raising calendar.

All proceeds go to the fund-raising efforts of St.Gwynogs Church, Llangennech.

Original photography donated by me, Russ Myners.

Click on the `Buy Now` button to go to the secure payment area, where you will also complete details for billing and shipping.

Thank you for supporting this.

Russ

2026 GLOSSY A4 DOUBLE CALENDAR  (ORDERS NOW CONCLUDED)

2026 GLOSSY A4 DOUBLE CALENDAR (30cm x 40cm) - available for a limited time

AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED PERIOD ONLY (until 26/11/2025)

2026 GLOSSY A4 DOUBLE CALENDAR (30cm x 40cm)

Another year on the horizon, and another opportunity to own a newly-designed calendar. 

ALL profits raised will be donated to St.Gwynogs Church as part of their ongoing fundraising. All photography (c) Russ Myners.

As this is a fundraising calendar, they are available for £25 plus £3.99 p&p/delivery.  

(UK only, and one per order)

If you would like to buy a calendar, please click the `Buy Now" button, and you will be taken to a secure area for payment. 

Please remember to check your Billing address and Shipping address details.

Thank you .

Russ. 😃

2026 GLOSSY A4 DOUBLE CALENDAR (ORDERS NOW CONCLUDED)

16th November 2025 - Thanks!

 Thank you to everyone who turned up to the Walk with the Warden yesterday. It was a lovely autumn morning after having had the bad weather on Friday, which made for a good walk around the Reserve.

The final WWTW of the year will be on Saturday 20th December 2025 at 11.30am. 

---

`Walk 60 miles in November for Prostate Cancer Research`

I have now reached the half way point in the month, and the `Walk 60 miles in November for Prostate Cancer Research` has been going okay, and I am really grateful to everyone who has donated during the month. I really appreciate it. Thank you.

I am currently the equivalent of two days ahead of my daily walking target, leaving me some mileage leeway in case, for whatever reason, i`m unable to exercise one day. 

If anyone else would like to contribute towards the PCR campaign and sponsor me, please go to the Just Giving page here:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Russ1761837579305

Thank you for all your support.

Russ. 

9th November 2025

 Good to meet and host a RSPB group visiting WWT Llanelli last week. 

I only had about an hour to introduce them very briefly to the Reserve, but hopefully they had a "taste" of a small part of it. 

Next Saturday (15th) it`s the November Walk with the Warden. As it looks like a wet week in between, don`t forget that good footwear is essential, as there has already been so much rain locally.

My own `Walking 60 miles in November for Prostate Cancer Research` is going well, heading out just after 6am this morning as rain was forecast for later. I am so grateful for all the donations received so farm surpassing the target, but would be very happy for more contributions to this worthy cause.

Thanks to everyone again.

Russ