Canadian Birders

I would like to say on behalf of the rest of the lads who were on our recent trip to Point Pelee and Algonquin Park a really big thank you to the Canadian Birders whom we met. Every man and woman we met were so helpful in telling us about the good local finds often without being asked, they just wanted to share their good fortune. 
We cannot name everyone ( in fact there are many where we never got to know their names ) but a few need a special mention. In particular Michael Runtz and Rik Eckley whom we spent a good few days birding with and also spent a good few hours laughing at some of their tales. Clayton, who give us a lot of information about other sites further north and to the ladies who we met on the first morning and then later on recognised us and told us about the Prothonotary Warbler at Hillman Marsh.

Rondeau park

It's a bit warmer than Coed Cae Aberaman Mark.

 Chafer beetle type any ideas

 Blue Jay

 White Breasted Nuthatch.

 American Goldfich.

Rondeau Provincial park

 Eastern Garter Snake.

 Eastern Chipmunk.

 Great Horned Owl Chick.

 Red Trillium.

Red Breasted Grosbeak.

Whainchat

This is last year shot but I got one male today in the same area above Llwydcoed. Also Cuckoo and Tree Pipit and 1 male Kestrel. I sheltered from the rain on the forest edge and twenty young adults doing Edinburgh awards passed and they never saw me and for one second I thought of jumping out and making them jump but I thought I like my front teeth too much. The spelling is right going by the weather and it felt like being in Canada again..

Point Pelee part two

 Two strange waders on the beach .Good chance snodwits.

 A cracking bird found by Rob a Solitary Sandpiper.

 Baltimore Oriole.

Magnolia Warbler.

Canada Pictures

 Black Billed Cuckoo

 Wood Chuck

 Painted Turtle

Scarlet Tanager

 Moose

Mizzy Trail at Algonquin Park

Point Pelee part one

 The boys waiting for the big one to arrive.

 Chestnut Sided Warbler.

 American Redstart.

Swanson's Thrush.

Crepuscular

I've just got back from Llanwynno, where I Kevin Hughes and I had a pair of hunting Nightjar, plus at least one other male churring fitfully. In fact there was very little churring and no display going on up there, this evening.

Why the long face?

This chap looked a bit pissed off that we hadn't brought Mr Hogan to visit - that's one lifer this Moose ain't going to tick.

Trip report and more photo's to follow soon on the trip to Ontario. 

Rhaslas stopover

I know this must be getting boring but I'm obsessed with passage waders, these birds; DN[9] & RP[6] arrived yesterday and were still there, loafing, this morning. Apparently although of 'interest', passage birds (waders, wildfowl and the occasional passerine) add no conservation value to Rhaslas and therefore can be dismissed. Thus spake the PCB's, also known as the Pro Coal Birder's, South Wales Branch.

Rhaslas passage

Wet and windy Rhaslas this pm with just a nervous flock of dunlin[17], eventually settled down with the locals working the banks.

Rhaslas passage

Usual birds through today, showers and windy, only thing new was a dead horse floating off mid north dam, reminded me of Lagos.

In search of waders

I checked Cwm Cadlan and then Rhaslas but these guys hadn't seen any Dotterel either. I think I'd better go and thrash some local woodland tomorow when its still standing.

Silver Rain

Having tried and failed, yesterday, to find Wood Warbler along the disused railway line from the Merthyr tunnel to Abernant, I popped up there again, this morning, before work and after a little while heard the beautiful silvery trill coming from the larch forest adjacent to the tunnel approach. Creeping through the wood, I eventually had some good views of it, as it sang and quivered its wings. Such a lovely bird!
After that first for the year, this morning, another presented itself this evening, in the shape of a single Swift.

Yesterday morning, while searching for Grasshopper Warbler behind Tower colliery, I head, then saw my first Whinchat of the year.

Cwm Cadlan

This little cracker is easy to see in flight but a little harder on the deck, Phil asked what flower is this and I said Lady's Smock and when I looked at the flower this Orange Tip was on it. Also this Tree Pipit was near by.

Sun day

Whilst the weather was better than expected, the birding left a bit to be desired. Hoping to pick up Wood Warbler and Gropper for the year, saw a dip on both counts.A female Pied fly in CCF was a bonus, and plenty of male Redstarts in song, as I walked over Merthyr Common and back down Taf Bargoed.

Leps started to show from 10am onwards. No Green Hairstreaks but my first Large White of the year + my first Brown Silver line moth, plus the little beauty below. Any ideas Mark, Mike, Martin?

On the plant side, my first flowering Orchid for the year - a small, pale, Common Spotted Orchid.

Greeen Hairsteak

Me and Phil had five in Hirwaun mid morning and they were the first for the year.

Rhaslas

Whimbrel[2] flushed by John Davies from haul road this morning eventually landing on the south dam. Still quiet with swallow[c20] passing through and usual waders present.