Rhaslas

Sanderling found by TC earlier today, alas missed by Phil and myself who were in too much of a hurry to do a lap, oh hum. Also present this p.m. were 2 common sandpiper plus all the usual suspects. I also missed the 5 Black-tailed Godwit TC found yesterday but I did get a good rinsing, I've got to pull my finger out.

Should I stay or should I go...

....to Pembrokeshire? That was the question on Friday evening and early Saturday morning. In the end I decided to stay local and headed down to Crymlyn Burrows. A great call as Hedwig didn't show...

Down Swansea way, birding was tough in the early morning drizzle with only a chiffy of note. However, almost as soon as the rain ceased, swallows started to trickle through. These were quickly followed by a singing Willow Warbler, my first of the year. At least 8 of these were out feeding in the willows, joined by several Blackcaps. Unfortunately nothing more interesting could be coaxed out.

A planned walk down the Gower today was amended as my mate John was hungover and I was knackered after getting to bed after 3 that morning. We ended up walking round Pwll-Ddu (site of last years Rock Thrush) and the Blorenge. Not a lot of birds about but some quality with a pair of Ring Ouzel, being the first birds I saw, just be where the path to the quarries leaves the road. Several Wheatear were on territory, with one bird watched both in display and in a territorial clash with a neighbour.

Over at Blorenge, Red Grouse proved relatively easy with at least 4 birds present, a couple showing reasonably well.

Dowlais

Anyone wondering about yesterdays report in Birdguides of an Iceland Gull in a slurry field 400m south of Dowlais ? It was Dowlais Farm, Somerset not Dowlais Top or Dallas Texas.

Snowy Owl

Heavily cropped photo of the Snowy Owl at St. David's yesterday. Can't believe I've now seen two of these beauties.

The gloss of a three Woodpecker day..

Arriving at RSPB Nagshead, slightly later than expected, we arrived just after 7:35 to an empty car park. Myself, Phil and Martin quickly kitted up and made our way onto the trails. In the lovely spring sunshine, birds were everywhere, with the sights and sounds of spring all around us. It didn't take that long before all three of us noticed a bird fly onto a tree about 100m away. Both my self and Martin quickly got on to it - a female Lesser 'Pecker. Result. Phil was quickly on to it as it was joined by a male. We watched this scarce species for a couple of minutes before they just disappeared. A male (the same individual?) called about 10 minutes later some distance away.

Several Great Spot's were heard and seen, but there was no sign of any Hawfinches. Back at the car park a Tawny Owl called twice.

From Naghead it was down the road to Lydney to search for the Glossy Ibis that had been found there recently. Whilst we knew it was near the pumping house, we didn't really have any idea where that was. After driving down a few roads we found the site, but there was no sign of any glossy. Just as we started to search the surrounding fields Phil picked it up flying in to the field next to the pump house. A nice "pull back" after dipping the Avalon Marshes bird earlier this year.

After the Glossy we headed back into Wales and our first visit of the year to Goldcliffe. Spotted Redshank was a year tick for myself, but there was a distinct lack of migrants. At least 120 Avocets were noted. It's a little surprising how the numbers of this species are increasing year on year at this site when the breeding success is so poor.

Braving the crowds, we had a quick walk round Uskmouth, but this was largely birdless. Several singing Chiffchaffs proved it was spring and Martin and Phil located a feeding Willow Warbler, but I didn't get on to it. A couple of yaffling Green Woodpeckers completed the set of resident 'peckers for the day.