I was up bright and early on Saturday morning and headed to Tir Founder Fields and on getting there was shocked to see the local patch watcher James already there and halfway around the field, I thought he must have had accident in the night to be up so early. I thought there was no point rushing after him and I would make the most of it and just bird my way along. The light was really good for reflections. There were still lots of Greylag Geese about and maybe nesting in the reedbed near by. I got halfway around before I found my first year tick which was a Reed Warbler, it was feeding low down and not singing. Has the walk went on it did start to warm up and staight away I heard a Whitethroat and then a Sedge Warbler and as I needed to see them for the year I got closer to where they were singing from and found that there was a pair of Whitethroat and got the Sedge Warbler in the same bush. On the river was a Drake Goosander and is the latest I have seen one in the area. On the Ynys playing fields were a pair Mistle Thrush and song thrush. I ended the walk on a high and happy with my three year ticks.
Wren nesting in a birch tree and Bee Fly below, my first for the year .
When I was up CCG with Phil we saw these Wood Anemone and it seemed strange seeing it growing out in the open and shows there must have been a wood on the side of CCG once .
Last night I nipped up Penderyn to look for Mark's Cuckoo and it took a bit of finding. It called three times and went slient each time. I sat on a wall for thirty minutes in the freezing wind and than it decided to move and I had brilliant views of it. It was worth the wait and also got a nice pair or Redstart, that's my dodgy shot also two Tree Pipits and also got a mammal tick for the year three Brown Hares out in the open feeding .
Rob asked where Mike was and I saw him sleeping in the Cwm Cadlan overflow carpark and been on the wine again pmsl.
Last thing on hearing there was a Mega over Taff Bargoed and one I had too see, I got up very early Sunday and went over too see it and was great too see the coot was still present and looking pretty good, what a bird Martin and great find mate pmsl.
I went back over to Goldcliff with Rob on Sunday morning and met Mr Bell there unfortunately for those two the Broad Billed Sandpiper had departed overnight. I had a few year ticks including Yellow Wagtail, Greenshank, Whitethroat, Bearded Tit, Sedge Warbler also in the butterfly department Small White, Green Veined White, Speckled Wood
ReplyDeleteSound like you had a good morning and surprised you did not get Lesser Whitethroat and i had my first orchid of the year and had early purple and also heard willow tit in Oakwood park and went on the Vertigo and was nail bitiing and was told if we like we could have a second go and a lot greyer now .
ReplyDeleteThanks for confirmation of the Coot record. I was really pleased with that until I found out about the BB Sand. and to think I almost called into Goldcliffe on my way back from London on Saturday evening - Doh!
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