Sarnies - 22/07/2013

A few days leave meant that we were off down to Exeter for a few days, and among beach visits we also went to Dawlish Warren for the first time. We didn't quite get through the nature reserve area as perhaps we might have liked but we did see some Sandwich Terns carrying what appear to be sand eels, and a Great Black Backed Gull on the beach near where it curves around into Exmouth with the hordes of Herrings and Black Headed Gulls. 

On the way home we popped into Greylake reserve, and had a bit of bad luck in that there was work going on, and the areas from the hide, probably consequently, were quite quiet.

The Sparrows are still coming to the garden regularly, including the one legged male.

A Midsummer Forest Farm - 15/07/2013

The summer quiet is upon us, and a refreshingly shady and cool walk around Forest Farm was a relatively quiet one, though there were much higher levels of fish in the canal, a moorhen nesting inconspicuously in the middle of the canal, and two passing ladies pointed out this Common Spotted Orchid along the main canal path -

James and I headed up to Llanwonno last week to see the Nightjars and had some great views, with churring and wing clapping all thrown in to boot. Didn't quite enjoy the midges so much though, has to be said!! 

We also had a pair of Bullfinches in the garden which was a nice surprise, and the sparrows are regular everyday now. 

Do you even lift bra - 08/07/2013

Toil for working on the Tesco Roadshow at Culverhouse Cross on Sunday meant I was free for the day, so after getting the front room light fixture fixed, it only took a year, I took myself off down to Goldcliff. It was a planned trip anyway, but the report of a Pectoral Sandpiper meant it had to be done. It was on the lagoon opposite the first hide after some looking, amongst red and greenshanks, and the long staying spoonbill.


Terrible shots, terrible heat haze and long distance -

Pec vs Shank

Small Tortoiseshell

Young Pied Wagger

After Goldcliff I took a stroll down Saltmarsh Lane and found a group of fledgling Long Tailed Tits, a Reed Bunting, a female Blackcap eating berries, and on leaving hundreds of Sand Martins on the telegraph wires near the houses, which was an amazing sight.

If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it - 05/07/2013

A stunning forecast for the next week or so meant that I could not resist taking a day off to give Craig Cerrig-gleisiad another go for the ring ouzels. I set off fairly early before Jess had left for work and on arrival I decided to take the steep path up the left side of the valley. The area was alive with Pipits displaying and hunting for food.

The climb was hard going in the heat, but near the top my heart leaped because a pair of ouzels flew up over the cliff side and onto fence posts about  twenty or so metres away. Before I could get the camera up they flew on into the farmers fields, as shocked to see me as I was them. They didn't go too far though, and then busied themselves by feeding and gathering worms in the short grass. They were back and fore down the cliff side and back up to the fields often, so perhaps they were feeding a second brood. 

Goldcliff and Magor Marsh - 30/06/2013

It was a stunning morning and we had to get out and enjoy the sunshine and a first trip to Magor was on the cards. We decided to go via Goldcliff along the coast, and there was some great birds on show when we popped in. A Spoonbill was feeding on the first lagoon, (the first for us within Wales) and there were also Dunlin, Blacktailed Godwits in summer plumage, barnacle goose, along with the usual Redshanks and Shelduck etc. There was also a juvenile black headed gull which looked smart and unusual.

Unfortunately Jess was suffering with hayfever so there was a quick dash for some anti-histamines at Magor town, before heading on to the marsh. It was really stunning and we walked the entire reserve. We checked in at the hide and there was a great summer plumage Little Grebe diving, along with some Moorhens, juvenile Grey Heron and some Mallards.

Small Tortoiseshell








The top results were a water vole in the first reen, and a swimming grass snake in the last. We also found some eggs in one of the nest boxes.

The one that got away!!!!