Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - March 2003 - No 69
Kath Cottingham

Two pairs of Bullfinches were observed at Trevethin, Pwll on 3rd June 2002, one pair of which stayed for several minutes feeding on the fluffy seed-heads of Geum rivale (Water Avens) only about a metre from the window, so I have made a mental note to encourage the Geum.

Late August 2002 brought several butterfly records from the garden including Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Peacock and Common Blue and in September two Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillars were seen, one on Chamaerion angustifolium (Rosebay Willowherb), the other on Oenothera glazioviana (Large Evening-primrose), so these areas of plants have been left untidied over the winter.

Hedera helix (Ivy) berries are good attractants for Blackbirds and thrushes during the late winter and on 4th February its value as a food source in the bleak winter days was emphasised when three Blackbirds and a Song Thrush were seen all feeding together on the ripe berries at Trevethin.  Ivy is also excellent for insects when the flowers are out in late summer.

During this winter I have gained much enjoyment from birdwatching whilst working on the computer. If I arrange the computer properly I can see the berrying Ivy from one direction and four birdfeeders from the window at right angles, where all the usual tits, House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Dunnocks and Robins can be seen plus daily a pair of Nuthatches, Coal Tits and, for a period of several weeks this year, Long Tailed Tits (see photo), with occasional Bullfinches and Goldfinches. My only complaint about the Pwll garden is the lack of Reed Buntings and the rarity of Siskins which we do see regularly in the Llangennech garden. It certainly beats working in central Swansea anyway!

Our first record this winter of Long Tailed Tits on the Trevethin peanut feeders was on 18th November 2002 in contrast to the previous winter when they appeared much later on 30th December 2001 and were regular visitors until mid March. The last sighting at the time of writing (17th February 2003) was on 17th Jan 2003. They seem happy eating from both peanut and sunflower heart feeders as well as breadcrumbs on top of the wall, and we can view them from only a couple of metres away.

Slow-worms were again using the plastic compost bin during spring and summer when up to nine individuals were counted (see photo). They gradually dispersed by autumn but were often encountered under stones and other shelter in the garden.