Cynon Valley Year List

A new year and another list so I thought I would give this blogging another go. Local listing is a great way to get you out and about especially checking your local patches in the valley, rain or shine still gets you out. I always start listing religiously at the beginning of the year and than it seems to fade off as the year go on. On adding up my list for last year I was surprised to see I had beat my previous high count by two birds and my best now stands at hundred and twelve birds for the valley.

On the second of January I started my first day birding local. I went to Dare Valley Country Park first stopping to pick up Tufted Duck but on arriving I was surprised to find my flock had gone from nine to two. It just go to shows you can't take anything for granted. I also did Tirfounder fields and all in all I picked up 42 species. As I got home I had a phone call from Phil to say he had found a Great White Egret,  its a big local rarity and I think a third or fourth for the Valley, a brilliant find by Phil. On arriving I got the news I had missed it by five minutes, it was seen at Peace Park if your local or any non native people to the valley Pwll Waun Cynon Nature Reserve. 

The biggest part of my birding is done when I am out with the dog,  my walk a couple times day consists of a field at the top end of Robertstown . It turns up some good birds over the years, its where I found my first Yellow Browed Warbler. At the field yesterday I managed  to see four species of birds of prey in twenty minutes, I got my first Peregrine of the year, my local female Goshawk for the third time this year. It's a juvenile bird and I have been watching it since last autumn. I have seen it chasing Wood Pigeons but  most day its after the Jackdaws going to roost or leaving the roost at Aberdare park. Two days ago I was over the field and I spotted her flying over, she was taking some big flaps and I was starting to think she was going to do a display flight but with that she shot off west and out of sight. Within minutes a male Sparrowhawk flew towards me really fast and dropping in to stoop. I thought it was hunting but little did I know it was being hunted by the Goshawk chasing it over a wood and out of sight. For a second you think wow, what a sight, a first for me and then the coin drops and you start to think I hope it missed. I had to wait two days before I saw both again and boy was I relieved. I have also noticed that there seems to be a lack of Winter Thrushes and it took me a couple of days to get both, in the past I would have got both on the same day. Last thing big cheer for Martin for keeping the blog going and boys I am sick of buying all the tea.