Mystery time

A trip to London on Saturday produced Ring-necked Parakeet for the year list.

Yesterday was a day of Surveys, with WeBs, my final Glamorgan Willow Tit survey and BTO Heronry survey.

WeBs around Parc Taf Bargoed saw an overall drop in numbers - hardly surprising at this time of year, with the Teal having departed and Mallard numbers almost halved. There were, however record counts for Coot - 5 - and Cormorant - 9. Plenty of Chiffies singing.

Over to Nelson Bog for the Willow Tit survey - no sign on the first visit, but a surprise Kestrel was a bonus. Parc Penallta also drew a blank with Willow Tit. It did, however, score heavily with Brimstone butterflies with anything between 4 and 12 seen (I had three males together and a single female, to give the minimum total, but estimate at least 10 males zipping about). A single Peacock was the only other species on the wing.

Back through Nelson Bog, and more Brimstone's, inc another female, a Small Tortoise and a Comma. Success also with a male Willow Tit.

The Heronry survey was worthless, only one Heron could be seen and in the hour I watched not another flew in or out. Give it a couple of weeks and the young should have hatched and the parents will be more active.

So the Mystery in the title? Well, walking through Nelson Bog I noticed a "mass" on a branch a few meters up. on the tree that leans towards 1 o'clock from the bottom left of the photo, it's the first branch on the right hand side

 A bit closer and the grey "mass" can be made out.

A closer look, and it was Frog spawn!

Anyone any ideas how such a large mass of spawn managed to get onto a branch so high up

Spring has sprung

The first Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing back on territory this morning along Tram Road Side, Abercynon, brightened the walk to the station.

Llantrisant

Two Swallows over Cross Inn Llantrisant this morning.

Finally, something to howl about

The second last week of the BTO Calling Owl survey. I haven't recorded a Tawny Owl locally since the end of October last year, neither during my 20 mins survey time slot, or at any other time. Would tonight see the return of the Tawny's, or had they deserted me for good? I've been thinking that every week since I returned from South Africa in November.

19 mins into the survey and, wait, was that a faint hoot, or was I desperately imagining it?. No, there it goes again. Result, a male Tawny Owl hooting. With seconds to spare it made it into my survey result.

The only other sighting of note were 3, prob, 4 Rooks low over Abercynon station this morning, heading up the Cynon valley - I presume from the rookery that has become established at Cilfynydd Sewerage Works - I first noted breeding Rooks there last year.