Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

LBS Builders Merchants are helping a local British Trust for Ornithology volunteer to provide vital nesting boxes for one of the county’s rarest breeding birds. The tree sparrow may be mistaken for its more common cousin the house sparrow (tree sparrows have a distinctive brown cap and black spot on their cheeks) but the Tywi Valley now appears to host the largest population in Wales of this ‘red-listed’ species. The tree sparrows do not wander far from the valley floodplain. Here, around the still or slow-flowing water found on the floodplain, they can find the preferred insects that adults feed to the young during the summer. Nest boxes at key sites will benefit the tree sparrows, helping to supplement their preferred nesting sites in tree cavities, and provide a good opportunity to ring and monitor the birds. The project is being run by Charlie Sargent, who is a member of the Teifi Ringing group and a BTO licensed bird ringer. Outside the breeding season, tree sparrows are depende...

An extremely cold and windy day did not put off Rachael Garside from the BBC Radio Wales Country Focus programme from joining members of the Carmarthenshire Bogs Project out in the field. Rachel and her producer Pauline Smith came to Pyllau Cochion common near Brechfa to look at the work that the project has been undertaking. They found out more about the importance of lowland bog habitats and the interesting discoveries the project has made over the last 18 months. A whole programme will be dedicated to the project on Sunday February 26 at 7am on BBC Radio Wales and it will then be available on the BBC radio i-Player for a month after. Formed over thousands of years, lowland bogs are increasingly rare examples of an important peatland habitat supporting specialised but threatened wildlife. Bogs lock-up carbon in the peat, and when in good condition capture more from the atmosphere, helping to address climate change. They filter water for slow release into streams and are valuab...

Creatures of the night have been spotted making the most of the natural surroundings at Pembrey Country Park. A new night vision wildlife camera is helping capture footage and still images of a variety of animals, birds and critters that are visiting the park after dark. Rangers have been recording and monitoring the nocturnal wildlife, and are working with the park’s conservationist to identify the best locations to set up the camera in the coming weeks and months. Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member for regeneration and leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said: “It’s fantastic to gain this insight about our nocturnal visitors without intruding or disturbing them. We’ve already seen owls, badgers and foxes, and we’re really excited to discover more over the next few weeks. “Pembrey Country Park’s woodlands provide the perfect natural environment for a variety of birds and wildlife, and we work hard to protect and preserve their habitats whilst allowing visitors to enjoy...

Habitat improvements have been carried out at an Amman Valley nature park to encourage the growth of flowers and wildlife. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, volunteers and Carmarthenshire County Council rangers worked together at Ynysdawela Nature Park to manage the species-rich meadows there. The nature park, in upper Brynamman, is important for wildlife, with the rare marsh fritillary butterfly found in its meadows, and the dormice living in its field margins and woodlands. Welsh Government funding paid for the habitat improvement works at the site, which included mowing the meadows, raking grass to form habitat piles for reptiles and insect life, and cutting back scrub from field edges. The grassland management will help the flower rich meadows to flourish and prevent the fields from being swamped by trees. The many different flowers will bloom in middle to late summer to be enjoyed by a variety of butterflies, birds and other animal life. Biodiversity Officer Isabel Mac...

An Aberystwyth PhD student has discovered that birds with additional DNA may live longer lives. In research published in the journal 'Aging', IBERS PhD student Ilze Skujina screened hundreds of mitochondrial DNA sequences for the presence of duplications and demonstrated that they are found significantly more often in longer-lived bird species. http://www.aging-us.com/article/ggTZQvxjJXncACAsf/text Ilze said “Understanding how ageing happens in different groups of species like birds may provide insights into ageing in humans.” The mechanics of flight utilises a large amount of energy and results in higher body temperatures but despite this, birds live longer than mammals of equal size. Mitochondria are the 'batteries' of cells and generate chemical energy that every cell in the body can use. Mitochondria play an essential dual role in maintaining a constant body temperature and in generating energy, which both link to expected lifespan. Dr Rob Mc Mahon, Ilze’s PhD sup...

Two Carmarthenshire greenspaces are set to be a buzzing haven for bumblebees thanks to lottery funding. Sandy Water Park and Mynydd Mawr will form part of the Bee Wild West Wales project after The Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) secured £45k from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help protect the fluffy pollinators. Bee Wild West Wales project aims to raise awareness on their importance and what people can do to protect them following a decline in numbers. The UK has already lost two native bumblebee species in the last 80 years. The two-year project will be delivered by BBCT early next year with support from Carmarthenshire County Council, National Botanic Garden of Wales and Keep Wales Tidy. The council’s executive board member for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “The dramatic decline in populations of the bumblebee show that something needs to be done. They are great pollinators, and have a vital role in producing much of the food that we eat. If their decline continues, the ext...

A new Barn Owl box has moved into Pembrey Country Park. Nestled in the woodlands, towards the west of the park, it is hoped the roost will help boost declining owl numbers. The heart shape faced barn owls have been spotted nesting in the Corsican Pine woodlands for some time. The box, made by Burns Pet Nutrition, is one of three donated by Carmarthenshire Bird Club. Other locations in Carmarthenshire include Penclacwydd and near Llanboidy in the west of the county. Plans are also in hand to put up boxes near Llangunnor and Cross Hands. The council’s executive board for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “We are doing our bit to conserve one of the most beautiful birds on earth and together with the park being a perfect location for them the box will help increase the Barn Owl population.” Barn Owls screech, not hoot. The barn owl can fly almost silently which enables it to hear the slightest sounds made by its rodent prey hidden in deep vegetation while it’s flying up to three me...

The public are being asked to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour directed at swans in Sandy Water Park. It comes after reports of the lakeside birds being handled. Rangers have stepped up their patrols but the public will have an important role to play in being watchful when in the area. As native wild birds, swans enjoy statutory protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to intentionally injure, take or kill a wild swan. The council’s executive board member for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “These beautiful swans enhance the area at Sandy Water Park and are for the benefit of everyone visiting the area. It’s so sad and very unfortunate that swans and their nests are sometimes a target for vandals but if anyone is spotted carrying out any wrongdoing to them then they will be reported to the police.” The Act similarly protects the eggs and nests of swans. It is an offence to take or possess the egg of a wild mute swan, or to damage o...

Tens of thousands of soft-shell clams have been washed up on Cefn Sidan beach, Pembrey. Following Monday’s stormy weather the saltwater clams, popularly known as steamers or longnecks, were washed in with the tide at Pembrey Country Park. The clams live buried in the mud on tidal muflats and are a well known food item on the coast of New England in the Western Atlantic Ocean. Last year thousands of barrel jellyfish, which attracted global attention, were washed on Cefn Sidan and Burry Port beaches due to the warm weather spell. It’s likely though the tide will take them back out over the next couple of days The council’s executive board member for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “Cefn Sidan is well-known for being a magnet for all kinds of items from marine wildlife to bottles of suntan lotion. Sometimes we’re lucky to find real pieces of history and treasure but on this occasion its nature that’s taken its course.” As well as falling prey to humans, this clam is apparently relishe...

Bird lovers can find out more about their feathered friends which populate the Tywi estuary and the Ferryside foreshore. A talks about the birds in that area is taking place at Ferryside Village Hall on Wednesday, December 16 at 8pm. Neil Calbrade from the British Trust for Ornithology will talk about the birds in the estuary, and why it is recognised as being of European importance for the coastal habitats. Neil is also the national organiser of the Wetland Bird Survey which can be found at www.bto.org . The talk is being organised by Carmarthenshire County Council working in partnership with Ferryside Village Forum to look at the biodiversity in its area. It is being funded by a grant from Natural Resources Wales, with the aim of promoting biodiversity in the Ferryside and St Ishmael areas. Executive board member for biodiversity Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “Carmarthenshire has an amazing coastline, which is of international importance for the range of birds it supports. “This is a ...

A number of events are taking place across Carmarthenshire to celebrate wildlife during Wales Biodiversity Week . People are invited to go along and find out more about the county’s rich wildlife during the national week of celebrations taking place from June 6-14. A Farm Open Day is being held at Penlan Farm in Kidwelly on June 7 from 11am to 3.30pm, which will include a guided bird walk or a pollinator survey. Discover the world of bats and how they use coastal dunes at Pembrey Burrows on June 11 at 8.30pm, or go on a walk through flower-rich meadows at Cwmdu near Llandeilo on June 12 at 11am. Join the Llanelli Naturalists on a visit to a garden on June 14 at 2pm for a chance to see Herb Paris, otherwise known as True Lover’s Knot, in woodland. During the whole week, activities will take place at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Penclacwydd, including pond dipping, mini-beast hunting and insect-themed crafts. People are asked to stop, look and listen for wildlife during the wee...

Guy Fawkes Night revellers are being urged to watch out for hedgehogs before they light their bonfire on the 5th November. Carmarthenshire Biodiversity officers supported by Carmarthenshire Environment Partnership say hedgehogs are preparing for are preparing for hibernation and may use unlit bonfires assuming that they will be a cosy location over the winter. Many people start building their bonfires well before Bonfire Night . This allows hedgehogs (and other small animals) time to investigate and start using these inviting woodpiles. Obviously lighting these without taking special care can mean that many hedgehogs are killed. If you are planning a bonfire please help keep hedgehogs safe from harm by following these simple guidelines: Try and build the bonfire as close to the night as possible to reduce the chance of a hedgehog moving in. Ideally make your pile of material next to the bonfire site and re-build the stack prior to lighting. Before lighting, search the bonfire f...

Families from Llanelli have been getting up close with nature. More than 50 people have enjoyed taking part in a series of nature walks organised by  Carmarthenshire’s Communities First team . Families took to the trails and learned about the local wildlife including ducks, dragonflies and butterflies that thrive at the area’s ponds and reservoirs. The nature walks enhanced children’s appreciation of the natural environment, through focusing on the things that the children could see, hear and smell. Communities First Health Promotion Worker Llyr Lloyd, said:”The children enjoyed the fresh air and were pointing out and trying to identify different species. “ Communities First is a community focused programme that supports the Welsh Government's Anti-Poverty agenda. The programme supports three policy areas, considered core to combating poverty and social exclusion. These are health, education and economic prosperity. To find out more information about forthcoming events, contact t...

The secret nightlife of an Amman Valley school was revealed recently as part of a conservation project. Officers from Carmarthenshire County Council’s conservation section visited Saron School which has a nature area within its grounds, and a very keen nature group. Officers set a moth trap overnight, and by the next morning 60 species of moth were identified numbering about 200 individual moths in the trap. The bright light of the moth trap bulb attracts them from the surrounding habitats. They then fall in the trap and nestle amongst egg boxes placed in there. Pupils were shown the moths, handled some, and found out more about them and why they are an important part of the natural environment. Most moth species are only active at night and come in a range of sizes, shapes and colours. Many have camouflage to help them hide from predators, others are brightly coloured like the tiger moths and hawk-moths. Biodiversity officer Isabel Macho said: “Moth numbers are falling and some moth...

Volunteers from Carmarthenshire are being sought to take part in a hedgehog survey. The prickly friends have undergone a marked decline in recent years and conservationists want to know why. A new way of monitoring has been developed using footprint tunnels to identify what is happening to the hedgehog population. Volunteers can undertake the survey, which is supported by Carmarthenshire Environment Partnership (CEP), at any time until September for five consecutive days. Sites have already been pre-selected as they are associated with information on badger density, something that is likely to be an important influence on hedgehogs. Equipment will be provided following signing up. Carmarthenshire Environment partnership’s development Officer, Anna Patterson said: “The partnership supports this type of survey. As residents we often take for granted that hedgehogs survive ‘whatever the weather’ but in actual fact they play as an important in our local biodiversity systems in the county...

A project is underway in Carmarthenshire to restore important wetland habitats. Carmarthenshire County Council has successfully secured funding from Natural Resources Wales’ Resilient Ecosystems Fund (REF) to focus on six commons in central Carmarthenshire. The area, near Brechfa, has been identified nationally as a priority area for the rare raised bog habitat in Wales. Wet bog habitats are one of the most important natural resources and provide us with fresh water by filtering out pollution. They act as sponges, reducing flood risk through the storage of rainwater, which is then slowly released into surrounding watercourses. They also help buffer the extremes associated with climate change by storing carbon within the peat. Carmarthenshire’s biodiversity officer, Isabel Macho said: “In Carmarthenshire wetlands habitats have been lost or damaged though draining and burning of the commons. Bogs act like big sponges storing water and carbon, helping with flood prevention and climate r...

Cwmamman youngsters are looking for volunteers to help build nesting boxes. Cwmamman Youth Club, along with Carmarthenshire County Council rangers, plan to erect the 30 bird houses after securinga grant of over £900 from Carmarthenshire’s Youth Grant Panel. To coincide with National Nest Box Week , it is hoped volunteers will share their skills and attend the workshop at Cwmmamman Community Centre on Tuesday, February 18 between 7-9pm Once built, the wooden boxes will be housed in trees in a bid to attract birds at Gellu Werdd Tip in Glanamman, as part of the Gelli Werdd Management Plan. Youth club member, 16-year-old Brittany Bingham said: “We want to give birds a new home and a helping hand. It would be really good if many people got involved and helped us make a difference to the birds in the area.” The project will not only benefit local birdlife but also encourage intergenerational relationships within the community. The nesting boxes will be monitored and maintained on a regula...

TV presenter and wildlife champion Iolo Williams has given his backing to a wild land charity’s bid to buy a key conservation site in the Snowdonia National Park. The John Muir Trust, which owns and manages a number of mountain landscapes in Scotland, including Ben Nevis, has launched a £500,000 appeal to buy the Carreg y Saeth Isaf estate in the Rhinogydd Mountains. Iolo Williams welcomed the move saying: “It’s a delight to know that this part of wild Wales will continue to be cared for with nature in mind. I urge everyone who loves our wild places to contribute to the fundraising appeal.” The Trust is a membership organisation, named after the founder of the modern conservation movement, Scots-American John Muir. It has been active in Wales since 2001, working with 100 partners – including schools, colleges, clubs, conservation and outdoor organisations ­– to deliver the John Muir Award scheme to 33,000 people.The Trust has also campaigned in Wales to protect wild landscapes f...

Researchers at Aberystwyth University have established that the wild ponies grazing the Carneddau Mountains, North Wales are a genetically unique population, which should be conserved to safeguard their existence.  Preserving the genetic resource provided by the Carneddau ponies is particularly crucial since recent snow storms led to the death of many of these animals, dramatically reducing their numbers. The study, the first into the genetic characteristics of the wild ponies, whose habitat in northern Snowdonia reaches heights of over 600 metres, was undertaken by scientists at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University using samples collected at the annual round-up of ponies above the village of Llanfairfechan. The aim was to establish to what extent the Carneddau ponies are genetically related to other UK native breeds and particularly whether they relatively recently separated from the existing Welsh Section A pony....

The secrets of how animals adapt to the ebb and flow of the tide are revealed by Aberystwyth University lecturer Dr David Wilcockson in ‘The Secret Life of Rock Pools’, a television documentary broadcast on BBC4 on 16 April 2013. The programme’s presenter, Professor Richard Fortey embarks on a quest to discover the extraordinary lives of rock pool creatures. He is joined by Dr David Wilcockson, aquatic lecturer in IBERS, Aberystwyth University and other leading marine biologists to help explore this unusual environment. Startling behaviour is revealed and new insights are given into how these animals cope with intertidal life at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth and on the beach in various locations around the UK. Describing his contribution Dr Wilcockson explains “Animals that are challenged by regular, periodic inundation and exposure by the ebb and flow of tides coordinate their behaviour and physiology. This is what enables them to survive and flourish in a complex and ra...