One good tern deserves another, Dorset holiday - 16-19/05/2014

We chose Dorset for our Sun holiday destination this year, and after carefully choosing the best time to go using the precedence of the weather these last few years, we still felt like we'd won a lottery with the weather. On day one we visited RSPB Arne, and we set out onto the reserve heading towards the coastal viewpoint. I was keeping my eyes and ears out for Dartford Warbler in particular, but we had no luck on that front. What we did see though was lots of Wood Ants in huge hives dotted about the heathland and the woods. They are much bigger than regular ants, and the swarms were very impressive.

Jess spotted this interesting shield bug, and took some good pictures.

After a great walk, we popped by the small visitor pod in the car park and were treated to seeing nestcams of nearby buzzard and barn owl, and also had close views of greater spotted woodpecker on the nearby feeder. 

The next day we visited Brownsea Island, eager to find a red squirrel. After spotting sandwich and common terns on the boat crossing from Poole  Harbour, we visited the Dorset Wildlife Trust section of the Island first. There were a few hides where you could gain access to the lagoon type enclosure, and these Black Tailed Godwit were roosting from the first - 

Next we visited the Sandwich Tern colony from the main hide, and the noise and hustle and bustle was a change of pace from the somnolent godwits. The terns were back and fore regularly, coming back with sand eels. There were also several pairs indulging their instincts shall we say!  

From there we set off towards the feeders near the visitor centre where apparently the squirrels frequent for food, but we had no luck. We found some stuffed squirrels in the centre, but were still without the real thing in sight. We walked right around the Dorset WT area, and marched on to see as much of the Island as possible. We walked to the far side of the island, seeing some amazing views of Poole Harbour and the other Islands, and on out way back, just when it seemed all hope was lost, Jess spotted our quarry, statuesque in a tree! 

The next day we visited RSPB Radipole Lake in Weymouth, where we see our first BEARDED TITS!! We rounded a corner and started out across a stone bridge, when I heard that familiar pinging call. A small flock flew out from the reeds, and we only had a glimpse on two occasions, but it was great to finally see some. There were reed warblers and cettis calling out from the reeds. Back at the centre we had time for a quick piece of cake, watching the gulls out over the water.

We then set off for the nearby RSPB Lodmoor Lake, where there wasn't too much on show, and we didn't hang around for long because it's basically a viewpoint over an area of reeds and water near the beach front. Some Sanderlings and an Arctic Tern had been seen earlier, but no luck by the time we had arrived.

Gwenffrwd-Dinas - 04/05/14

A year to the day, Jess and I re-visited the Gwenffrwd-Dinas reserve in Mid Wales after popping home for a Sunday lunch. Upon arrival, the second bird I saw from the car park was a singing Garden Warbler, my first of the year, doing rounds in bushes near the car park. We took the long route around the reserve, keeping an eye for Pied Flycatchers, Redstart, and Wood Warbler. We even explored Twm Sion Cati's cave high up a steep valley side above the Tywi, but can't say that I rate his taste in hideouts!

These chaffinches were keen to share our biscuits!

We stopped off in Llandovery because I had a hankering for a pint, and from the car park I saw my first Swift of the year hawking above us. It was a very nice pint, if someone quickly drunk because it went slightly cooler, and then Jess drove us home to Cardiff.

 Bank-holiday Monday saw me getting a little stir crazy so I took a short visit back to Rudry Common where the wind was keeping most things fairly grounded, so I didn't stay long. 

Rudry Common - 03/05/2014

Being in the mood to explore somewhere new took me early morning up to Rudry Common. It was a bit of a chilly start, but there was plenty of birdsong in the air. Whitethroat, and willow warblers were in good numbers. At the top I stopped for a while watching this tree pipit displaying.

Whilst watching him a cuckoo started calling from down in the valley and it burst into sight only to be quickly sent packing by a pipit. On the way back there was a pair of stonechat and a bullfinch near the car park.  

Goldcliff, Easter Monday - 21/04/2014

Another really nice day meant I was itching to get out and about and with nowhere else to go I decided on Goldcliff, and I'm really glad I did. The sun was shining and it was so warm I was quickly down to my t-shirt, no need for the warm weather clothes I'd had on only days before. There were a friendly bunch down there, including a knowledgeable chap called Dan.

There were a couple of hundred  dunlin in summer plumage flying around which could well have contained the reported curlew sandpiper. 3 stock doves flew in which was good to see, but also of note was a lesser whitethroat which I as glad to have identified first by song and then which I saw in flight briefly, a peregrine with a quick flyby, avocets, lots of lapwing, and an elusive spotted redshank of which I think I have pictures, but I can't be sure. Really need that scope! So, since my lists began, that's two lifers right there, and it could have been a third and even a fourth with the spotted shank and curlew sandpiper, but it was not to be today. I'm now also up to 111 on my British year list without doing anything intensively, so I'm happy to say it's going well so far! 

Greenshank

Location, Location Location - 18/04/2014

An early start for the annual survey had me up at half past five this morning, though after having been up early twice in the week for the gym it wasn't all that bad oddly enough! The sunrise held the promise of nice weather, and I wasn't disappointed as it was a stunning day for it.

The first bird I saw upon arrival was a wheatear on a nearby post, which turned out to be one of three. A great start! There was still good numbers of skylarks and mippits, but my heart sank at the 5th 100m mark, because there seemed to be no sign of last year's GP's.

I geared up for the last transect, when low and behold suddenly there they were! A small flock had appeared to my right. I carefully moved forward, and realised there was another bigger flock directly ahead of me smack bang in the middle of the transect line.

The birds were soon airborne together and both groups merged into one, circling at first low, and then high above me, sparkling like glitter in the clear blue of the morning. At one point they seemed almost to hang in the air, no doubt being buffeted by the strong wind at that level, but it gave an amazing effect, like golden fire suspended in a deep blue. I'm only gutted the camera wasn't able to capture that effect in still frames, because it was sublime, and I'm not one to wax lyrical about things!

A count of 36 plover this year, in contrast to last year's handful!

A superb experience, and a morning I will never forget. 

A Gargle inducing Gargantuan Garganey Fest, Ogmore - 16/04/2014

Seeing on Glam Birding forum this afternoon that unbelievable SEVEN garganeys turned up at Ogmore settled my mind into going down straight after work. On arrival at Portobello they were now up river as was pointed out kindly by a couple of other birders. From the bridge by the water works I could see them just land out of sight a fair way off on the left channel, but they were soon up again, and flying in loops.One loop came close enough for a couple of record shots.

They then settled again further up the estuary, but were soon off again up river towards the castle, and out of sight. There were five drakes and two females!

Amazing record for Glamorgan, and a lifer for me!  

Dunraven Bay - 13/04/2014

Sun poured in through the window this morning as had been promised in the weather forecast, in stark contrast to the grey cold of yesterday, and it seemed too nice a day to waste. Without a good idea of where to head, we decided to go to Southerndown.

When we arrived it was a little chilly in the wind so we abandoned to idea to sit on the beach and instead explored the cliffs. I was busy keeping an eye out for the kestrel that I had seen on a previous visit, hoping to get good clifftop eye-level shots like I would have had last time had I been camera ready, but there was no luck. We did however hear and then see two chough flying east overhead as we stopped above Dunraven Bay. We had a nice walk exploring the coastal path, and in typical fashion we saw the kestrel when we were leaving, the Micra struggling in first gear up the steep hill.

When we got home I noticed an angle shades moth on the drive way taking shelter in the nook of the pillar at the start of the drive.