Short Eared Owls

 

Caught up with some Short Eared Owls this week in Carmarthenshire.

I went to their known area rather tentatively, knowing that they are subject to disturbance, and too much attention from people will probably make them decide to move on. 

The day was spent next to the cover of high bramble bush, using the shadows, and trying not to get caught in the thorns. With one quite active soon after my arrival, a second started showing an hour or so later, joined by a few even more distant ones in adjoining fields by the afternoon. Some hefty and prolonged showers (that weren`t forecast) made the light drop considerably at times, but generally a great few hours.

I sincerely hope they won`t be disturbed, as more people begin to turn up to watch them, or try and find them. I`m also hoping that those that turn up also respect the local land ownership, and don`t upset local farmers (as what happened down in Newport with the Barn owl some time ago).

With a large influx of birds, my money`s still on a very cold winter in Europe and Scandinavia. 

Let`s see what happens over the next few months.

Cold winter ahead?

Interesting scenarios published this week seem to suggest a wetter, milder autumn and early winter, leading to a much colder but drier mid-to-late winter, 

There seems to be an influx of Waxwing to the North of the UK, particularly Shetland and Orkney, Shorties across the country, and even Water Rail to the Welsh Islands. With Hen Harrier and Merlin also down on lower ground and coastal marshes by early October, it could be that much colder picture not too far ahead? Who knows.

Just need all this regular rain to stop though.

Winter birds have arrived

 

(Short eared Owl - Carmarthenshire, 2020)

I took a break from all the gloss painting and other stuff form the last few weeks, and went to Llanrhidian yesterday to see what was there. I was hoping to catch a Short eared owl, as someone reported one a couple of weeks ago, but no show while I was there.

My other main target birds were Hen Harrier, and both a male and a female were present - a long way out though. With the very soft mud following big tides plus the heavy rain recently, I decided to sit tight by the car and see if anything would come close. Not my day, however plenty of birds out there including large numbers of Geese, Goldfinch bouncing around the marsh, Great white egret, Red Kite, Stonechat, etc.

Back on my local estuary i`ve had Merlin around and again good numbers of Canada and Greylag Geese, but no sign of a local Hen Harrier yet this year on the limited time I can be there. (The roaming horses restrict where I can view from now). Hoping that one day I will catch a Short eared owl locally, perfect habitat with the rough fields adjacent to the marsh. My gut feeling is that they have passed through at some stage over the years, but haven`t seen this yet.

I saw my first two Redwing of the winter on Llangennech marsh this week, so hope they will be in in good numbers soon.

Yesterday`s walk

Another good showing for `Walk with the warden` yesterday at WWT Llanelli, and thanks to everyone that came along.

Earlier in the morning I had a good sighting, although brief, of a female Marsh Harrier flying over the Reserve and in to the Deep water lake area, and naturally I was hoping we might have been fortunate to have seen in again. Well it didn`t happen, but we had a good walk anyway.

 This time we went via the Southern loop and down to the reed beds, stopping every now and then to look at different habitats and suggest areas to watch out for different species at different times of the year. The weather was kind to us (for once), so we took advantage and had a bit longer together on the Reserve than initially planned.

The next `Walk with a warden` is planned for Saturday 18th November *, so why not de-stress from pre-Christmas shopping and come along? The walk is more of a gentle amble rather than anything strenuous. Meet in the inside reception area for 11.30am, with good footwear and suitable clothing for the weather advisable.

(* Check the WWT Llanelli website nearer the planned date)

Back from the Framers

 

Just back from the framers with my latest 'pride and joy', signatures from the Don Powell Band, Bev Bevan (ex-ELO, The Move, Black Sabbath), and one of Don Powell's reinforced sticks, given to me by Don himself.

Thanks to Sharon at Named and Framed in Llanelli for a job well done.

This will be hanging in the Study!

Walk with a warden (October)

 

On Saturday 21st October 2023 I will be taking part with the `Walk with the Warden` again at WWT Llanelli, Penclacwydd, from 11.30am to 1pm.

Come prepared for bad weather, just in case!

North Gower marshes

 

Had a couple of hours on the marshes of North Gower yesterday, and a few occasional long-distance sightings of Hen Harrier - indicating that winter is not far away.

These stunning birds come down in the autumn from the higher moorland where they have spent the spring and summer, and use the coastal marshes in particular for the winter. They normally hunt low over the ground, tilting their shallow V-shaped wings until they then twist and turn down onto an unsuspecting prey.

I always have a `hit list` of birds to photograph in the winter, the male Hen Harrier being one of them. With completely different plumage to the female in this long-distance shot, the male is a stunning and rare bird to see, pale grey with black tips to the wings, as if dipped in ink.

Others on my list again this year (hopefully!) are of course Short Eared Owl, Merlin, Bittern, and Rough-Legged Buzzard. However, there are lots of other great species to photograph which should be more easily to see, so fingers crossed.