Brecon Wildlife Watch

The Brecon Wildlife Watch group is gathering momentum.  We are starting to see some regulars returning and new faces joining as the work gets around. 2024 kicked off with a dissecting owl pellet from our Vicarage Meadow nature reserve.  We then tried to identify the different skulls we found before discussing the food web.  These sessions are run in conjunction with staff from Y Gaer-Museum, Art Gallery and Library.  I think the parents enjoyed it as much, if not more, than the children!!!

The next session will be Friday 16th February 2024 when we will be learning about nests.  If you would like your child to come along please email: Pauline @ p.hill@welshwildlife.org to add them to the list.

Green Minds Garden Project

Through funding from Brecon Beacons National Park Local Nature Partnership, Pauline is leading a series of sessions with Brecon Mind at their Green Minds Garden Project, in the grounds of Brecon Cathedral.  The aim is to increase biodiversity in the garden and to enable the attendees to identify some of the species found there.  We are looking forward to building bird and bat boxes, as well as providing homes for hedgehogs.

Brecon Local Group 

November’s AGM was well attended.  After the formalities the attendees were treated to a talk about Slime Moulds by Barry Webb remotely from his home.  Thankfully the technology held up and members were treated to some stunning macro photography of slime mould fruiting bodies.  

Who knew they were so beautiful, see image below. The annual quiz night fundraiser was December’s fixture.  20+ people tested their general wildlife knowledge on questions set by Quiz master Clive Summers, supplemented by a secondhand wildlife bookstall, raffle and caption competition.

Both events supported by the Steph and Pauline from Brecon WTSWW office. The New Year started with a bracing walk attended by 23 members around Mynydd Illtyd discovering where different wildlife could be found.  An exciting programme of activities have been organized for 2024 by the committee and small programming team.  

The programming team would be very grateful for more volunteers to assist with the arrangement of speakers and expert walk leaders, and possibly to be the group leader on the occasional walk.  No expertise is required.  If you would like to help please email Roz wtswwbreconlocalgroup@gmail.com who will provide more details.

Winter Bird Walks

It was a stunning day for the Winter Bird Walk at Llangasty in December.  Lead by experts Keith Noble and Mark Spirito, we made our way around Llangors Lake looking primarily for the different species of wildfowl that winter here.  The highlight was actually spotting a Water Rail right below the hide, skulking through the reeds!  There are a number of other habitats around the lake so a variety of other birds were also spotted, including a pair of Stonechats.  The most unusual sighting for the time of year was a queen Buff tailed Bumblebee trundling around the clumps of grass!

The next Winter Bird Walk will be Saturday 10th February 2024 in the Builth area. For more details click here. 

Pauline Hill, Team Wilder Officer (Brecon)