Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - June 1984
Richard Pryce

Joint Meeting: Cardiff Naturalists/Llanelli Naturalists

About thirty members from both societies and several MoD personnel assembled at tine main gate and were duly issued with their passes. It was decided to split the part into two groups, one ornithological, the other botanical, but both started at    view point south of the Witchett where the wildfowl were observed on the pool.

The ornithologists spent much of the day punting and wading in the pool ascertaining the numbers of breeding species. Both parties, however, were lucky enough to gain magnificent views of the resident Marsh Hairier as it soared overhead daring the day.

The botanical party commenced by walking around the south-eastern margin of the pool through the thick alder and willow carr and traversing the extensive fen, co dominated by the Cyperus Sedge (Carex pseudoucyperus).    This species was recorded in Carmarthenshire by James Motley about 1850 but no locality was given and it was thought to have become extinct in the county until discovered here last year. It is not known, however, whether Motley's plant came from Pendine or elsewhere.

After lunch, the party examined the large area of fenland which until about twenty years ago was the mouth of the Witchett Pill and was regularly inundated by the sea. There was discussion regarding the chemistry of the habitat when acid loving plants like Cotton-grass (Eriolphorum angustifolium) and Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum) were seen growing in the vicinity of fen-species like Tubular Water Dropwort (Oenanthe fistulosa).    Undoubtedly the discovery of the day was the extensive stand Brown Sedge (Carex disticha), a new species for Laugharne Burrows and only the third post 1970 record for the county.

The entomologists in the party were not disappointed either. Early in the day a Grizzled Skipper Butterfly and a pair of Poplar Hawk-moths were seen. Later a fine specimen of the Hairy Dragonfly was caught and all those present were shown the distinctive characters used in the identification of this rare species.

Finally, the leaders and MoD escorts were thanked for their time and enthusiasm, the only regret being the restriction on photography resulting in a lack of material to show at future indoor meetings to those members unable to be present.