2017 Summer Newsletter
Forthcoming Events
Wednesday, 9 August 2017 – Tern Watch at Old Harbour, Pembrey.
Meet at car park just passed Shoreline Caravan Park 5.30-6pm High tide will be at 8.21pm. Alternative date will be Thursday, 10 August 2017.
Saturday, 16 September 2017 – Kidwelly Quay & Ferryside
We will visit Kidwelly Quay in the morning and after lunch venture to Ferryside. Meet at Quay car park at 10am.
For outdoor events, check the sightings page on our website or phone Wendell on 07912577626 should there be any doubt about the weather.
Please note:
Due to WWT Penclacwydd being unable to guarantee staffing for our meetings, our programme of indoor meetings will now be held at the Club House of Llanelli Cricket Club, Denham Avenue, Llanelli. Our first meeting will be the 2017 AGM. A location map will be included with the next Newsletter.
Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Annual General Meeting to commence at 7.30pm to be followed by an illustrated talk by Richard Smith on Wildlife of the Kruger National Park. Meeting to commence at 7.30pm at Llanelli Cricket Club House, Denham Avenue, Llanelli. Tea/coffee/biscuits will be available at £1.20 per head.
Wednesday 15 November 2017
Club Chairman, Adam Dare will give an illustrated talk on the Birds of Assam. Meeting to commence at 7.30pm at Llanelli Cricket Club House, Denham Avenue, Llanelli. Tea/coffee/biscuits will be available at £1.20 per head.
Donations of Raffle prizes for indoor Meetings would be greatly appreciated.
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You may have missed: –
Saturday, 22 April 2017
Visit to Dinefwr Country Park and Pont Carreg Swadde, Llangadog – 15 Members attended in decent weather. A total of 42 species were noted with the highlights at Dinefwr being a pair of Little Ring Plovers on the pools, a pair of Marsh Tits nest building plus Siskin, Treecreeper and the usual woodland species.
Carreg Sawdde produced just one Dipper seen by just one member. Stonechats, Sand Martins and the regular Red Kites brought a nice outing to a close. (Wendell Thomas)
Saturday, 6 May 2017 – Visit to RSPB Dinas.
A little chilly for the time of year but the club members were rewarded with the usual species of birds such as Common Redstart and Pied Flycatchers along the boardwalk. Two Dippers were on the river with Tree Pipits, Wood Warblers and Garden Warblers in the trees going up the hill from behind the river. Yellowhammers were present at the bird table in the picnic area along with Nuthatches, Tits and Chaffinches. After lunch we ventured along the roadside of the reserve, which gave us good views of Common Redstart, Pied Flycatchers and the star of the show the wonderful Wood Warblers. (Julie Evans)

Female Pied Flycatcher by Julie Evans
Saturday, 17 June 2017 – Pembrey Burrows
Paul Aubrey, club member and warden of Pembrey Burrows nature reserve, lead eleven of us on a very enjoyable walk on Saturday 17th June. In bright sunshine the reserve was full of the song of Skylarks and the descending trills of Meadow Pipits. Linnets and Stonechats were also very much in evidence around the reserve, against a background of Whitethroats, singing scratchily.
Butterflies took to the wing as the temperature climbed with Small Blues being most numerous, followed by Common Blue and Meadow Brown. A couple of Marbled Whites and Large Whites flew by and a Red Admiral was found by the hut. A few Small Heaths appeared here and there. The best of the butterflies was a superb Dark Green Fritillary, which stopped and posed for photographs after a bit of a chase.
Dragonflies were on the wing and several Emperors were seen, including females laying, as well as Broad-bodied Chaser in good numbers and a single Black-tailed Skimmer. Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly were also evident.
There were still good numbers of Southern Marsh Orchid in bloom and Pyramidal Orchids were emerging in good numbers, several displaying an intense pink characteristic of the species.
By one of the ponds we found a few spikes of early Marsh Hellebores – a classic duneland plant.
Paul showed us Greater and Lesser Spearwort – both are buttercups, but Greater Spearwort is a giant one! Bright patches of Bloody Cranesbill stood out against the Kidney Vetch and Birdsfoot Trefoil.
A hare also made an appearance, which rounded off the morning nicely. In all an excellent morning on the Burrows. (Adam Dare)


By Adam Dare
Photographs taken by members

Cuckoo at Llyn Llech Owain by Chris Onn

Lapwing and chick at Cross Hands by Chris Onn

Gannet at Burry Port harbour by Chris Onn

Caspian Tern at WWT Penclacwydd by Wendell Thomas
