This is the first time I have written these notes from my new home on the rather exposed watershed between the Towy and Gwendraeth rivers. Despite this, the diversity and numbers of birds far exceeds those at the Gilfach. At least two pairs of Curlews and a pair of Mallards have nested nearby. Small passerines are far more plentiful including Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, Finches (Linnets are nesting in the garden hedge), Blackbirds and Robins are nesting in the garden, Sparrows and Starlings in the cowshed, Swallows and House Martins in the barns. Although we regularly see Ravens, Buzzards seem to be absent, probably due to the lack of nearby woodland and trees. There is, however, a particularly cheeky dog-fox which has a regular daily beat crossing our neighbour's land in full view, of our kitchen window. He shows great interest in the chickens but has failed in gaining access to their run so far!
The scale of the Pembrey Saltings development seems at last to have been grasped by the local public accompanied by much heated comment in the press. The formation of the Burry Estuary Society has in no small way played its part in this but in its current primary role of action group to stop the development has, it has been suggested, alienated some sympathisers by the outspokenness of some of its officers. It remains to be seen whether it succeeds in forcing a Public Inquiry, but members of the Llanelli Naturalists can certainly assist by writing, to the Secretary of State for Wales expressing their concern over the loss of wildlife and wildlife habitat, the loss of tranquillity of the area, the huge public expense in creating a handful of jobs, the increased congestion likely to be caused by the influx of tourists, etc. etc. Remember that the greater number of letters the Welsh Secretary receives urging an Inquiry, the more likely he is to be forced to hold one. At least if one is hold, all interested parties will have an equal opportunity to present their cases and hopefully a fair decision will be arrived at.
The ditch dug a couple of years ago at the Ffrwd Nature Reserve with the aim of creating some open-water to enhance the botanical and entomological interest of the site continues to bear fruit. The Frog Bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), a floating plant like a small water-lily, did very well last year and all indications are that it will continue to do so this season. One of the species that it was hoped would reappear in the reserve, in the new ditch, was discovered there last month. The Floating Club-Rush (Scirpus fluitans), quite frequent in Glamorgan and Pembrokeshire but rare in Carmarthenshire has forged a floating mat, about a metre square near the corner of the new ditch. There is concern, however, over possible nutrient enrichment of the open water and fen caused by run-off from the piles of chicken manure currently stored on the old colliery site above the reserve. This has resulted in an excessive growth of Flote Grass (Glyceria fluitans) in the ditch and adjacent wetland, and must be curtailed if the fen is to retain its ecological richness.
With one or two exceptions I have yet to receive any reports on Graveyard wildlife. Recently two Carmarthenshire cemeteries have turned-up in excess of 250 Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula) and other species I have found include also abundant Lilium pyrenaicum and also Dropwort (Fillipendula vulgaris). Please keep your eyes open and report any good discoveries to me.
This Newsletter is another 'expanded' issue and now this time are Field Meeting reports, which I hope will be a regular feature. I must express sincere thanks to our Editor, Mr. Ian Morgan, for his unfailing energy and expertise in extracting articles from reluctant authors, long may he continue, although I hear, additionally, he is about to embark on the same onerous task for the B. S. B. I. Wales Newsletter: He comes highly recommended.
May I draw your attention to the full and varied programme of field meetings, and I hope to see many of you at one or other of these events during; the summer.
