Cwm Cadlan or Cefn Cadlan Neigh

Sunday morning I was up bright and early and on my way to the limestone pavement above Penderyn to do the yearly search for Dotterel. There seemed to be Wheatear all over the Lower and Upper Cadlan and it looked like there had been a fall in the night. Up on top was fairly quiet at first but has I got to the first bit of limestone I could here a Cuckoo calling below in the forest, I picked it out sitting on top of a conifer where it was being mobled by Meadow Pipits. The Meadow Pipits and Skylarks seemed to be waking up and starting to display perhaps even birds have a lay in on a Sunday. Has for the Dotterel no sign and after hearing later there were two near by at Crickhowell and who knows maybe they have changed their stop site. Also on site I found this Mare with a very young  foal. I also found Marks pony carcass, it was striped clean, it would have been great to see when fresh (yes maybe a peg needed or two) but would  have been great to put a hide up and seen what comes into feed on it. I can hear my wife saying that hide you bought thats struck in the corner in the box unopened and I would say but Phil would not get all his food in it.The Wheatear's on site have paired up and have set up territories.

I find the moble phone signal on the Cadlan is pretty shocking and makes me wonder if maybe this is the mast on this Rams head. It's always great too see cyclists when parked and not stuck behind them  like Phil was once coming over the top.

This area had a Grasshopper Warbler in it which took me ten mintues to find. I would say I like bird song until I am trying to pin down a Gropper. A Green Woodpecker started drumming and I did not realize how loud it was and it sounds like distant machine gun fire and at the same time a male Redstart was sitting on a branch singing and after hearing one last week it was great to see one. I heard about half dozen later.

On the Cwm Cadlan Reserve it was great to see the common butterwort and it will be great to see the tiny purple flowers again, it's a very smart insectivorous plant and great to have on our doorstep. There where two more Cuckoos calling, one was on site and another was over the Quarry and in the Bod Estate.  There were at least two male Tree Pipits on the reserve doing their parachuting displays. I also went looking for Phil's Whinchat but no sign, it must have been a passage bird and the local birds have not turned up yet. I did have two male Reed Buntings also a female. I also found this Fox but sadly it did not die of old age and you would think has its a Reserve this would not go on but maybe better one shot instead of being ripped apart by dogs.

After see Drinker moth Caterpillar last week at CCG it was nice to takes some photos  this week.

I found some tracks, thoughts on them maybe Hedgehog again .