Funny Old week

This is the sunrise on Sunday morning on the way too Cardiff foreshore,  it was a brilliant pink and almost as pink as our mate Mikes travel bags. On Wednesday I was washing some gutters in Penywaun when I heard the sparrows alarm and looked down to see a female Sparrowhawk sitting on the floor below me, she jumped up on to a fence and back down again a couple of times and she was trying too get the sparrows too flush from the bush. I'd wished I had my camera on me as I was only about ten feet from her and looking right down on top of her and she stopped, she looked around and then spotted me and was gone like a flash. Also this week I had my first Woodcock of the year and its the latest  it's took me too get one, also last week I had a couple of Song Thrush's near the Ynys who were fighting and really going for it. I have never seen them bill clapping and they were doing it all the time I was there. Last of all looking forward to see everyone Saturday, boys and mine's a lager.

Peru Photos Kindly Donated

Since my camera decided to give up the ghost after a week of my trip to Northern Peru I have been fortunate in being sent the following photos by Andrew Lapworth and Mary Vitoria of some of the wildlife encountered for the rest of the trip. They are very much appreciated.

Bay Headed tanager

Black Aqouti

Collared Pecari

Croaking Ground dove

Golden Bellied Grosbeak

Hawkmoth Spp.

Inca Tern (birding porn)

Many-Coloured Rush Tyrant

Marvellous Spatuletail

Pectoral Sandpiper

Peruvian Meadowlark

Peruvian Pelican

Peruvian Pygmy Owl

Pygmy Marmoset

Royal Flycatcher

One or two Royal Terns

Sechuan Fox

Three Toed Sloth

Tropical Screech Owl

White Edged Oriole

White Tailed Jay

White Winged Guan

Tayra

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Say porthcawl is best

It was great yesterday to get out of the valley and do some sea watching. Myself and Mr Bell supplied the snacks as usually, it was nice of Phil to put his rubbish in my rucksack and it felt like old times again. We watched for just over 5 hours and it was great too catch up with the rest of the lads. There were lots of Turnstone around the shelter .

waiting, and waiting, and waiting, ............

With a good blow forecast overnight myself, Phil and Martin Bevan, headed down to Porthcawl to enjoy the wonderfull aroma of the pavilion opposite the Atlantic Hotel. It was still dark (06:45) when we pulled up, but some massive waves could be seen pounding the coastline - excellent. We were all set up and ready to go by 7am, being joined by Alex Bevan. By 7:20 we had managed to last twice as long as out last go at sea watching at this location, helped by a good movement of gulls, including at least 9 Meds.
As the crew increased, the birds decreased, but news of Leach's Petrels at New Passage and Lavernock, kept us at it. Slowly the list grew with Common Scoter, Gannet, Kittiwake and Fulmar all storm blown, plus Great Northern Diver, drifting up channel, and 2 Great Crested Grebes heading down channel. Then at 11:45, Mark Hipkin got onto a Petrel, to be followed by a frantic couple of minutes until all got on to the bird, and we all enjoyed decent views as it passed not to far offshore.

PinkWaxcaps in Aberdare park

Cliff Woodhead found these yesterday and it's been so long since I have seen a whole one that I had to go and have a look today, I counted 11 and there was one still coming up and I should get better shots of a whole one then.

I had a quick look  at the Fly Agaric to see if they had been damaged by the rain and found some had been blew over in the high winds. But still lots in good condition and was amazed too hear that people have been coming here too see them and feel well chuffed to share with everybody for them to enjoy them. When I was there on my good old mat on my knees to take shots I spotted these small red fungus and been told now they are Scarlet Caterpillarclub and got to get better shots of them .

Back To the Park

With the wet weather carrying on and no car at present I decided to go back to Aberdare Park for a walk and chill out for five. I was talking to the Park Keeper about the Eyptian Geese and he said that they had young this year but were all taken by the Gulls and the same last year and he had heard the second bird had come from Cefnpennar. I was scanning through the Greylag flock and spotted some red blobs below a tree and on looking closer I could see they were Fly Agaric Fungus and found there was loads and most in very good condition. I did a count and counted 130 in total, this was a nice surprise too on a damp day. Also there were some Boletes there too.

Swantast

Yesterday morning I had an hour to spare and thought I would go along and see the Cynon valley Royal Family at Abercwmboi Lake. I was very surprised too see them flying towards me and the first time I have seen the youngsters in the air, it was great to watch and made me think are they planning too leave the lake for good. I witnessed them flying once more when I was there and they were brilliant to watch. I also found some nice Brown Birch Boletes in the woods, also a fungus I had seen before but never sure what it was called and I have been told it's Grindled Knight and a very smart fungus too. Bird wise it was pretty busy for a change, there were 5 Little Grebes together and list as follows 4 Cormorant, 17 Coot , 7 Moorhen , 5 Mallard ,