Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve....24/07/2010

On arriving just before noon at Brandon Marsh my tummy was telling me it was time for lunch! An Omellette with salad and a bowl of chips at the cafe was just what the Dr ordered.lol! Whilst waiting for the meal to arrive it was most pleasant sitting and watching the birds on and around the feeding station which is alongside the cafe. New feeders have been added since my last visit and judging by the many birds visiting them most welcome they are too! Good numbers of Blue & Great Tits were the predominent species on the feeders, also putting in an appearance were a pair of Bullfinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker!

My main objectives today were to see butterflies and dragonflies as last year I had seen a record (for me) 12 species in one day on the 2nd August at Brandon Marsh, today I was not so lucky. I think the dullness of the day and slight breeze was a factor keeping both species low even though it was a warm day. Comma were seen feeding on the vegetation in front of the East Marsh Hide and Large and Small White seen in several areas. Meadow Brown were around in small numbers and a Burnet Moth did a quick fly past so I am not sure whether it was a Five or Six spot. A Brown Hawker was spotted while walking along the path to Swallow Pool and I believe they were Black-tailed Skimmers hunting around the Newlands Reedbeds. I have yet to see a Painted Lady this summer, strange after last years invasion. In fact I have not seen butterflies in great numbers on any of my local and not so local walks. I am hoping a return visit in the near future to Brandon (on a sunny day if we get one) will be more productive.

Highlight bird species were the Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Green and Common Sandpiper, Hobby, Whitethroat, Pied Wagtail ( I don't see many, I know I must get a life.lol), Bullfinch, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, last but certainly not least a Kingfisher.

The Kingfisher was a delight to see as it perched on one of the perching poles for quite a long while giving the photographers in the Carlton Hide plenty of time for getting some great shots. I took several photo's but as the Kingfisher was a long way off for my camera they are not brill photo's but I am pleased with them and really chuffed to have had such great views of this super little bird, the same applies with distance and record shots of the Black-tailed Godwit and Hobby, record shots of super birds! A couple that were sat next to me in the hide had previously asked me in the East Marsh Hide if Kingfishers were to be seen at Brandon, it was their first visit to the reserve. I directed them to the Carlton hide and told them if they were patient they maybe lucky...well they were patient and lucky today! The gentleman was especially pleased as he told me he had only had flashes of a Kingfisher in the past and this was the first time he had seen one perched. I was really pleased for them, great to see their delight at viewing a special little bird. On seeing the same couple later in the afternoon the gentleman told me he had taken 50 photo's of the Kingfisher and if at least two photo's were half decent one's then he would be thrilled. It is uplifting when you speak to people who have so enjoyed there first 'proper' views of a bird species.

Ain't nature lovely?

A weekend in Powys....2nd-4th/07/2010

A long weekend in Powys was to be a real treat! We stayed at a B&B in Abercegir, Machynlleth which had been recommended by a friend. A great choice of accomodation and the B&B garden and surrounding countryside were a delight! The waters of Nant Gwydol flow alongside the long stretch of the delightful garden, Dippers are to be seen along the waters but sadly not during my stay. Pipistrelle Bats that emerged from the roof of the house at dusk more than made up for not seeing a Dipper. Our hosts were very attentive and informative, a return visit is a must sometime in the future. Red Kite, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Jay, House Sparrow, Tits, Goldfinch, Swifts, Swallows and House Martins were the highlight birds seen at the B&B, along with the Bats of course! I was told that the Kites have nested locally so that was great news to hear.

Ynslas Nature Reserve was visited before making our way to the B&B. On the way to Ynslas I spotted an Osprey perched on a telegraph pole, so the car was reversed and I was just about to take a photo when the Osprey was spooked by a car and truck coming past!! Still it was a great sight to see and unexpected!! The area I saw the Osprey in is called LLandre, so if anyone is passing that way keep them peeled.
The Dunes are a sight to see and to walk through...I felt that I was in a desert at times with the heat of the sun beating down! I found and took photo's of a pale pink Orchid in the dunes, unfortunately me or my camera played up and I do not have the photo's. My daughter is visiting the area this weekend (23-25th), so I have asked her to enquire of the species name for the Orchid, no doubt they have finished flowering now. It was a sunny but very windy day, the strong winds stayed throughout the weekend, at least it was dry as the rain fell during the night fortunately. Not a lot of birds seen at Ynslas but it was still an enjoyable walk on the dunes and beach! Birds seen were Gulls (too far away for a proper ID even through the scope), Meadow Pipit, Collared Dove, Goldfinch and House Sparrow. A Cinnabar Moth put in a brief appearance in the dunes and quite surprisingly not a single butterfly.

Saturday morning after a hearty breakfast at the B&B we set off for RSPB Ynis-hir! Speaking to the Lady volounteer in the shop she told us how quiet it was for a Saturday as normally the car park was pretty full, unusually there were only 3 or 4 cars parked. She told us about the Swallows that had nested in the Mens loo, the nest was on top of a cistern. Well it didn't take me long to get my camera out and investigate!! Lovely to see the parent Swallows swoop in to the building, feed the chicks and swoop out again...blink and you missed them! The staff had put a notice on the door asking for the door to be left open as the Swallows were nesting. Swallows had also nested in one of the hides, Breakwater hide if I remember correctly, again blink and you misssed the parents as they zoomed in and out of the hide windows. The glass had been removed from the two windows to allow continous access for the birds, great to see such good management!
RSPB Ynis-hir is a fantastic reserve with varying habitats and a two and a half hour (approx) walk to boot! There is a shorter walk of which we partook in after recovering from the long walk! The highlight birds were the Common Redstarts! I did manage a few record shots of them. Otherwise it was very quiet, maybe the gusty wind was keeping the birds low. We were told that a new boardwalk and hide was to be opened the following weekend giving access to the area where Avocets have nested. They had 10 pairs nesting and now had 37 Avocets!! Wonderful news...I just wish the hide had opened a week earlier...typical! Highlight birds seen were Common Redstart, Siskin, Chaffinch, Robin, Common Whitethroat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Reed Bunting, Wren, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Blue & Great Tit, Oystercatcher, Mallards, Heron, Moorhen and Canada Goose. Heat haze over the Estuary made it very difficult to pick out any Gull and Wader species. Speckled Wood and Small Skipper were the only butterflies seen today. Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Darter and a Four-spotted Chaser were the Dragonflies seen. A patch of nettles looked odd and on close inspection we saw they were teeming with Black caterpillars, I have been told that they were most probably Peacock butterfly caterpillars.
I would like to visit both of the above areas in the Autumn/Winter and see the overwintering Ducks and Geese.

After refreshments and a well earned rest sat on the very long bench at the front of the Visitor Centre and watching the Siskins, Chaffinches and Robins on and around the feeders a few metres in front of us we set off for Dyfi Osprey Project a short drive away.
We were told that the Ospreys had not been seen at all today. I told them of my Osprey sighting the previous day, they were pleased to hear my news and said that they had been told of numerous sightings in the area I mentioned. The Project is only in it's second season. A female Osprey returned to the site on the 4th of April and a male returned on the 29th of June. It would be great if the pair start to breed in the future. Common Lizards were seen along the boardwalk, some being very tiny so probably newly hatched, such sweet little creatures.

It had been a brill weekend and meeting some very friendly and informative people throughout the weekend made for an enjoyable time spent in Powys.

Upton Warren....18/07/2010

It had been almost a month since my last visit to Upton Warren so an afternoon visit was decided on after garden jobs had been completed. The Moors was the first port of call with highlights being a Pyramidal Orchid in all it's glory, a lone Green Sandpiper, Common Tern and Oystercatcher, plenty of Canada Geese, Lapwings, Coots and Mallards, also a cute little humbug, a Great Crested Grebe chick!



Next port of call the Flashes! The Sailing Centre was bustling with people, no doubt some event had taken place today. A male Banded Demoiselle posed for a photo at a distance but a beautifully coloured female did not wish to pose today sadly! The flowers on Greater Burdock were almost open, they will look a treat when in full bloom. On approaching the feeding station hide I heard someone ask " can I see your permit"......a friendly "hello" in the first instance would I feel be more welcoming to visitors/members before being asked rather bluntly if they have a permit. Just my opinion.

Highlights at the Flashes were Green Sandpiper, L R P's and a chick, Curlew, Heron, Dunlin x2, Stock Dove, Goldfinch, Linnet (1), Long-tailed Tit and Jay x4.

Sling pool and a walk....17/07/2010

A sunny Saturday morning called for a local walk and where better than Sling Pool in the hope of seeing a few Butterflies and Dragonflies! Well the Butterflies were out and about in the warm early sunshine but not the Dragonflies, not warm enough yet perhaps! Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Comma butterflies flitted in the hedgerows that were bathed in sunshine! A leisurely walk was taken down the lane from Sling Pool with the intention of walking up the public footpath alongside Calcot Hill which forms part of the Clent Hills. Clent Hills

It was a steep climb from the start of the public footpath, fortunately a Nuthatch was spotted which gave time for a breather in the steep ascent!!! Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush and Jay were also seen in the small wooded area adjacent to the path. A Green Woodpecker flew to a telegraph pole at a distance, on viewing my record photo's later in the day it appeared to be a spotty juvenile, it was seen several times during the walk/linger! I say linger because at the top of the hill the views were splendid so time was taken (a lot of time as it turned out) to see what flew in and over the area. A flock of c100-150 Gulls could be seen in the distance, they were in an area that I know to be a local landfill site. A Buzzard was heard mewing and Swallows, Swifts and House Martins were sighted regularly! Goldfinch, a single Linnet, Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Treecreeper were other bird species seen this morning! I was thrilled to see the Treecreeper as it had been a long time since my last sighting of one. The sky was turning noticeably grey and it was not long before the heavens opened, fortunately there was a dense clump of trees to shelter under. After the showers it was time for the now slippery descent, I am pleased to say I did not slip on my derriere.lol!!

Back at Sling Pool I had hoped to now see a few of the aforementioned butterfly and dragonflies as the sun was shining once again. Comma and Ringlet butterflies obliged by resting on the Himalayan balsam but no Odonata today. The Hogweed was alive with various flies and Soldier beetles were out in force on the vegetation. Great views were had of a Buzzard as it circled several times over the pool/field areas! I feel that this area as a whole will possibly throw up some nice bird species in the Autumn/Winter seasons.

After a three and a half hour walk/stroll I felt it was time to head for home for a much

needed.......................................................cup of tea.lol!!

Uffmoor Wood....11/07/2010

After luncheon (ooh, ain't I posh.lol!!) it was off to Uffmoor Wood, a Woodland Trust wood. It is only a hop, skip and a jump away by car. The target here was to be a White Admiral butterfly. The wood has several pathways which veer off the central path, you cannot really get lost in this wood as each path leads to the edges of the wood and you just follow the outer path and eventually return to the small car park. The wood is surrounded by pasture land. As soon as we had reached the outskirts of the wood we found our target, a super White Admiral, another first for me! It was gently flying amongst the shaded branches of trees and sometimes landing on the vegetation. At least three were spotted as the afternoon wore on. Other butterfly species seen were Gatekeeper, Comma, Red Admiral, Ringlet, Large White and Small Skipper. I also found Cardinal Beetle, Longhorn Beetle, Broad-bodied Chaser, Brown Hawker, Common Spotted Orchid (plenty of these Orchids), Common Vetch, Ragged Robin, Marsh Ragwort (99% sure), Tadpoles, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Buzzard, Blackbird, Blue Tit and Bullfinch (heard)! A super afternoon spent in glorious sunshine in a splendid wood!