Nature Notes from Mid Wales (and elsewhere!)

Nature Notes from 2005

14 December 2005
At Ynyslas last week I counted 57 Curlew foraging in a field accompanied by a single Redshank they were all put to flight when 2 kites appeared. I scanned the mouth of the river Leri with my scope and counted 13 Shelduck and over 70 Wigeon. I did some sea-watching between the cliffs at Borth & Ynyslas and saw a few Common Scoters, some Red throated-Divers & a Great Crested Grebe. I met John Davis of Mid-Wales Birdwatching holidays at Borth and he told me that he had seen a Merlin at Ynyslas and a Great Northern Diver in the Dyfi estuary. In the afternoon I was in Aberystwyth and watched a solitary Purple Sandpiper on the stone steps near the old college. This section of the sea wall is a favoured location for this species during the winter months but sadly their numbers have declined during recent years. There was a Red throated-Diver offshore. There were 2 Kingfishers on the rocks by the Pier and one was quite persistent as it chased the other in a wide arc out to sea. I waited by the Pier for the huge numbers of Starlings to appear before dusk. They roost by the thousands under the pier where they gain some degree of protection from the elements. On the 12th of this month I visited the Cors Caron national nature reserve near Tregaron. I took a stroll around the boardwalk but it was rather bereft of birds except for some Reed Buntings and a beautifully coloured male Bullfinch along the old railway track. I was told that late afternoon before dusk was a good time to see Hen Harriers from the boardwalk. At 2pm I watched the kite feeding at Pont Einion. I counted 72 birds. There were 3 orange tagged birds (2005) bearing the no's 01, 89, and 94. The bird bearing 01 would have been the first nestling tagged in 2005. Today I visited a quarry in North Wales where I had superb views of a Peregrine. At dusk 12 Choughs came to roost. Choughs tend to gather in decent sized flocks in the winter and are often obligingly approachable. They usually advertise their presence by their piercing calls which is not dissimilar to a Jackdaws but harsher. In terms of historical interest Choughs figure prominently in the religious beliefs of Celtic Britain and myths tell of King Arthur returning as a Chough. (the legend is that Arthur lies sleeping in a cave in a mountain guarded by Eagles awaiting his reawakening!). Choughs are an attractive bird possessing 'great character and charm' as one author described them. They have exquisite black plumage and a curved deep red bill and red legs. They are acrobatic in flight and the tips of their primary feathers fan out like fingers of a hand. The Chough requires areas of short pasture in order to probe for food with its long bill. They feed on invertebrates such as beetles and their larvae, fly larvae, ants & their grubs and pupae, spiders, sand hoppers and occasionally earthworms. They are restricted to the rocky and windswept West coast regions of Britain and Ireland. They nest in sea-caves, cliff crevices or disused farm buildings. Wales holds three quarters of the U.K. population. Here they are known as “Bran Goesgoch” (red-legged crow). They can be seen in Pembrokeshire and on the Lleyn Peninsula (Pen Llyn) in Caernarfonshire. In the county of Ceredigion winter flocks can be seen in the Mwnt area. In Wales in the summer they can be seen whilst walking along the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park coastal path. They breed on Ramsey Island which is an R.S.P.B. reserve. You may see them too on a coastal walk from New Quay to Mwnt in Ceredigion and if you decide to do this walk then take an occasional glance seawards as there is a good chance of seeing Bottlenose Dolphins, Porpoise & Seals. In North Wales Choughs can be seen at the R.S.P.B. reserve at South Stack where there is also a superb colony of breeding seabirds. There are usually a couple of pairs nesting on the famous rock outcrop called Craig-yr-Aderyn (Bird Rock) in Gwynedd which is probably now their only inland breeding site in Wales. Choughs also breed on the Isle of Man. Their Scottish stronghold is undoubtedly the Inner Hebridean Island of Islay where there are about 64 pairs. Late Summer/Winter flocks can be seen at Ardnave and Kilchoman-Machir Bay & Bay-Coul areas which are all easily accessible. In Southern Ireland the Counties of Cork and Kerry are their main strongholds and they can be seen along the Causeway coast in Northern Ireland. The people of Cornwall are now well “chuffed” as in 2002 the species successfully bred after an absence of many years. They are depicted on the county's heraldic coat of arms together with a miner and a fisherman. The coat of arms of the city of Canterbury in Kent has five Choughs depicted on it which is in commemoration of the its famous archbishop Thomas a Becket who met a violent end on the steps of the alter of the cathedral in 1170.

7 December 2005
I really miss the prolonged frosty mornings which we experienced in the country in mid November. The days broke with clear blue skies and the air was crisp and invigorating. The light was excellent for birding too. I walked through a local woodland and watched a family group of Long tailed-tits searching for insects in the treetops which were now devoid of leaves. A trio of Woodcock startled me as they took flight as I was almost upon them flying off in silent zig-zag fashion dodging in and out of the trees. During the cold spell I kept my garden birds well fed with a variety of seed and fats and I also cleared the ice from my birdbath however my birds are lucky as there is a stream nearby which was ice free. Throughout the cold spell the trees were covered with a layer of frost during the chilly nights and in the warmth of the morning sunshine it would thaw and fall lightly to the ground glistening like silver tinsel in the bright sunlight. During that time I paid a visit to the coast to one of my favourite birding areas at Aber Dysynni near Tywyn. Here on the foreshore I watched several Curlew, Ringed Plovers, a Redshank and a few Turnstone feeding amongst the seaweed covered rocks. I counted more than 60 Red throated-Divers offshore and there was a closely grouped flock of about 30 'duck' Common Scoter. One moment they would be bobbing about on the surface of the sea and then dive almost simultaneously for a good while and then bob up again one by one like a series of corks. Closer to the shore there was a group of Eider Ducks of both sexes. This is a good location to see these delightful sea ducks which frequent here each winter. My wife and I visited Northumberland in June this year where we saw breeding Eiders. There they are called 'cuddy ducks' which comes from their association with St; Cuthbert. He was a 7th century saint who gave the ducks sanctuary on the famous Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast. He effectively created the first nature reserve in the World and consequently the Eider was one of the first birds in the world to be given formal protection.

A few days later in November I returned to the Dysynni Valley area and scanned with my scope the brackish lagoon known as Broadwater. Here there were Redshank, Curlew, a Grey Heron, a Little Egret, numerous Lapwing, about 74 Dunlin, Teal, several Goldeneye, about 230 Wigeon, over 60 Shelduck, a Red Kite. Towards the end of the month I paid a visit to the River Clettwr which flows into the Dyfi estuary. A Dipper was my first bird here followed by 2 Kingfishers, 2 Little Egrets, Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper which briefly made an appearance from a small creek which branches off from the Clettwr. In the surrounding pasture there were a few Golden Plovers and Lapwing and Curlew. During my walk I flushed out some Snipe which uttered their characteristic alarm call. Birds of prey were well represented too with Kite, Buzzard and a Hen Harrier which was being mobbed by crows. I reached the estuary and on the saltmarsh I counted more than 300 Wigeon, There was a drake Goldeneye on the Dyfi and Shelduck feeding in the mud. This week I visited the Glaslyn estuary in North Wales during high tide. At Borth-y-Gest near Porthmadog I watched more than 80 Knot busily probing the mud on the foreshore. Here too were Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatchers, and a few Wigeon. On Sunday last I was at the Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian Forest Centre and Kite feeding station where I occasionally work as a volunteer for the R.S.P.B. “Aren't Birds Brilliant” Red kites in Ceredigion scheme. About 60 kites made an appearance at feeding time at 2pm. A kite picked up a piece of meat and then lost its grasp on it and the meat subsequently dropped into the lake located by the feeding area. A succession of kites then attempted to retrieve the piece of meat from the lake in Osprey fashion! Although a majority of the birds were on target only one was successful in tearing off a chunk from the floating bit of meat. The whole spectacle was highly entertaining to watch. The previous day there was high drama at this location as a kite, probably attempting a similar feat, made a serious misjudgement and ended up in the lake. It was rapidly becoming waterlogged and would almost certainly have drowned had it not for the timely intervention of Emyr Evans the R.S.P.B's Welsh Osprey/Red Kite project officer. He waded into the lake to rescue the unfortunate bird. The Kite made a full recovery and was then released seemingly unharmed following its ordeal.

12 November 2005
What an atrocious week its been weather wise here in mid-Wales as indeed it has been in many other parts of the British Isles. Gale force winds and driving rain have battered our nation. Monday wasn't a bad day here the warm sunshine brought out a strikingly coloured Red Admiral butterfly (see picture right). Since putting my bird feeders back up a couple of weeks ago I have had a host of birds visiting my garden again. This week my bird tally has included Blue, Coal & Great Tits, Robins, Greenfinch, Dunnocks, a Wren, a couple of Sparrows, Blackbirds, a male & female Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Siskins & Goldfinch on my nyjer seed feeder, a Pied Wagtail picking off insects on my roof, a Tawny Owl at dusk (they roost in our Cypress trees) and of course the ubiquitous Grey Squirrels although they haven't attacked my bird feeders yet. I have fitted plastic domed squirrel guards over my feeders in the hope of deterring them. A surprise visitor last Sunday was a female Brambling which was feeding on the ground below my sunflower seed feeder amongst a group of Chaffinches. A distinguishing feature on this individual was the distinctive white rump. This was undoubtedly a winter visitor from the Fenno-Scandia region of Europe. The male Chaffinch too appeared bulkier than normal and seemed brighter in colour so they may well have been continental birds also (or perhaps I was just imagining it!). Of course I will be inputting my weekly garden bird records online onto the BTO/CJ Garden Birdwatch project. Friday turned out an interesting day. It was blowing a gale outside with squally showers so it was a great opportunity to do some paperwork at home. I was in my office working on an article on the Red Kite as it happens and I looked out of the window and there were several obliging Kites soaring above the hillside opposite my home. There were a couple of Buzzards too then a Peregrine joined them momentarily and then disappeared over the hill, then a Raven came on the scene. As you can imagine I found it difficult to concentrate with all this interesting bird activity outside so I got my binoculars and stood outside on my porch watching the kites. I viewed six birds in my bins at one time and just at that moment there was an exceptionally strong gust of wind and there were leaves stripped from the trees swirling in the air everywhere. So I tried to pick out my six kites amongst the airborne leaves. The kites were in their element appearing to hang effortlessly in the strong wind. What a superb example of avian aerodynamics! No wonder the toy 'kite' was named in their honour! As the day drew to a close other Kites appeared, eleven all told. What a delight it was to see this many. We have lived here for over 20 years and this is the greatest number of kites I have seen here at one time. What I was seeing was without doubt the beginnings of a communal roost a form of behaviour that kites are renowned for during the winter months. I guessed that this was a roaming group of individuals. Some I believe went in to roost in the trees behind my neighbours farmstead but a group of six remained airborne until about 5pm when it was barely light and they too eventually flew in to roost into nearby trees one following close behind the other. It turned out to be quite a memorable day and one unlikely to be repeated in a hurry. This group of kites will probably move on to another location to roost on subsequent nights.

1 November 2005
My reflections and personal thoughts on feeding wild birds - both normal garden species and one close to my heart - the Red Kite can be read as an article on the Birds Of Britain website.

17 October 2005
I spent many hours sea-watching at Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire last week. The migratory passage of seabirds was not as good as the week I spent at this location in September probably due to the wind direction not being entirely suitable however I did see a Sooty Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Great Skua, Red-throated Divers, Mediterranean Gulls, Common Gulls, Kittiwake, Sandwich and 'commic' terns, Teal, Wigeon and a great number Common Scoter. There was also a heavy movement of auks (guillemot/razorbills). Peregrine Falcons again intrigued me with their behaviour. I watched a male (tiercel) fly out to sea with a determined purpose for a great distance to a point on the horizon where I studied it through my scope. It was engaged in a bout of high aerial soaring surveying the sea below. I thought that it might have been hunting for tired passerine migrant birds or even petrels. Its enterprise was not successful as it flew back towards land low over the sea. A short while later both the male and the larger female appeared before me at eye level the male continued flying to my right following the contour of the cliffs and the female broke off and flew back from whence she came giving me an indignant look! I felt that I was intruding in their territory. I have watched Peregrines on many occasions this year and they never cease to fascinate me. My wife and I visited the Nevern estuary accessible off the A.487 road at the village of Newport where we parked by the iron bridge. This is a popular spot for local birders. We had excellent views of kingfishers. We also saw Little Egrets, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Wigeon, little Grebe, Grey Heron. There have been recent visits to this location of an Avocet and a group of Spoonbills. My latest reading material is a book entitled 'Everything you wanted to know about birds but were afraid to ask' by Stephen Moss published by Christopher Helm. Written in a highly amusing way this book contains a wealth of information which the reader can dip into covering an array of subjects of ornithological interest which will fascinate your family & friends. This is undoubtedly a good book to add to your Christmas shopping list! and at £9.99p its good value too.

7 October 2005
Mr & Mrs Palmer were my two clients today. We commenced our birding at Tal-y-Llyn lake where we saw a Great Crested Grebe and the two resident cob Mute Swans. Our destination was Ynyslas and on route we stopped off at Glandyfi to scan the upper reaches of the Dyfi estuary. We watched a Little Egret. On reaching the dunes at Ynyslas at high tide we made our way to the point. Wader numbers were poor compared to previous visits but we saw Sandwich Terns, gannets, Red throated-Diver. There was an active movement of auks offshore (guillemots/razorbills). Further up the estuary we watched a small group of Dunlin & Ringed Plover which were “spooked” by the appearance of a Peregrine Falcon. This bird flew up the estuary just above the surface of the water a clever tactic possibly with the intention of conducting a surprise attack on an unsuspecting wader. From Ynyslas we made our way to Borth and had a lunch stop during which we scanned the sea. We recorded small numbers of Common Scoter and had good views of a Red throated-Diver. In the afternoon we journeyed up to Devils Bridge. On route we had superb views of a Red Kite hanging almost motionless in the air whilst it was eating prey which it held in its talons. Its victim may have been a small bird. We stopped off at Devils Bridge to take a look at the 3 famous bridges. Our destination from here was The Forest centre at Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian to watch the kites being fed at 3pm. There were good numbers of kites today upwards of 60 giving us excellent views including the leucistic (white) kite which posed nicely for us in a nearby pine tree. There were a few tagged birds from the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 (orange No.56). Ravens “kronked” above but wouldn't venture down to feed. There were buzzards too. The light was fading on our return journey to Tal-y-Llyn via Aberdyfi but we watched a resting flock of Oystercatchers on the estuary opposite the Outward Bound centre.

4 October 2005
I had a quiet week birding last week but the month ended with a sighting on the 30th of September of nice wading bird which was a Green Sandpiper busily feeding on the river Clettwr which is a tributary of river Dyfi. There were no plovers in the surrounding fields although I believe I saw a flock of Golden plovers in the distance nearer the mouth of the estuary. October started off on a high note as on the 1st I was sitting in a café in Aberystwyth when I was told of a Grey Phalarope in the sea at south marine terrace. Now I do not class myself as a 'twitcher' so I didn't exactly rush out at that moment however I was told about the bird at 12.45pm and given its exact location so when I visited the spot at 2pm the bird in question was still at the same spot and presented itself well. The sea was quite rough and there was a strong west to sou' westerly wind. The Phalarope was on the sea literally yards from the beach and bobbing around like a buoyant cork! constantly picking off morsels from the surface. Occasionally It would fly up and move a few yards and drop down into the sea again. In flight the broad white wing bar was showing nicely. There were some winter plumaged black headed gulls in the same vicinity and the phalarope looked tiny amongst them however they shared that same pale grey colouration. The phalarope was no doubt on its migration south from its high Arctic breeding grounds to lead a pelagic life wintering in zones of upwellings off the coast of western & south western Africa and nice of it to call in at Aberystwyth on the way! My previous sightings of Grey Phalaropes have just been a fleeting glimpse. Nearer home I spoke with my farmer neighbour yesterday and he told me that a neighbouring farmer had found a dead Otter cub on the road a couple of weeks ago. This would have been just a couple of hundred yards from my home. If correct then this was sad news. You may recall that I previously reported in nature notes (3/9/2005) that my wife had seen an adult Otter in the river Dulas nearby. I wondered whether the poor cub was a progeny of that adult. The Carrog stream flows into the Dulas near the point where the cub was discovered and it is very close to the road perhaps the adult and cub were moving up a culvert and the cub became unwittingly separated from its mother which ultimately ended in its untimely death. Today has started well too as I had a brief slot on a BBC radio Cymru (BBC radio Wales) early morning programme with the presenter Gaynor Davies. Our conversation revolved around my favourite subject “Red Kites” or “Y Barcud Coch” in Welsh. I would like to extend my thanks to Gaynor for giving me 'air time' and for giving my business a good plug. I will reciprocate and say that her programme is great and the music is fab. "Diolch yn fawr iawn i ti Gaynor" Gallwch wrando ar rhaglen Gaynor Davies rhwng 05:00 - 07:00 o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener, pan y bydd Gaynor yn cyflwyno cymysgedd o'r gerddoriaeth orau ac yn sgwrsio gyda hwn a'r llall am bynciau'r dydd ac amrywiol bethau.

24 September 2005
I thought I would take a walk to the Broadwater area of the Dysynni Valley today to discover what birdlife was around. I parked at the Ynys Maengwyn caravan park near Bryncrug. Ynys Maengwyn was once an important manorial estate belonging to the Corbett family. Walking along the public footpath which leads to the Dysynni river I passed a grand example of an old dovecote or pigeon cote which was once obviously quite a feature on this estate. I am informed that it dates back to the 18th century. It is in a remarkably good state of repair. The structure, which is of a square design, is entered through a small opening into the dark interior where can be found numerous recesses or nesting chambers. It looks a bit like an “Alcatraz” for pigeons! Most dovecotes were designed to hold between 200 and 500 pairs of birds. Of course the history of these dovecotes is quite fascinating and it only recently I discovered their importance to past communities. For centuries doves and pigeons were a valuable source of meat. They also produced high quality manure which was greatly valued. In the middle ages only manorial lords could keep these birds. In the 18th century there was a fundamental change in farming practices with the introduction of root crops. Prior to this there was simply not enough feed to maintain livestock through the winter months and this ultimately meant that animals had to be slaughtered and salted to preserve them for future consumption. In the preceding centuries pigeons were therefore the only reliable source of fresh meat during the harsh winter and early spring months. The pigeons, which were prolific breeders, provided much needed sustenance for the landed gentry. The pigeons were free to roam the surrounding countryside in search of food in the form of seeds and crop. The Romans too were pigeon fanciers! (no doubt with their bellies in mind!) The dovecotes mentioned above were preceded by the Roman “Columbarium” this was usually of a round construction with a vaulted roof made out of stone. It is possible that the Romans introduced the concept of dovecotes into Britain. Interestingly, the scientific or Latin name for the order of pigeons & doves is 'Columbiformes' The pigeons kept were no doubt descendants of the wild rock-doves (Columba livia). Incidentally the Welsh name for the Pigeon or Dove is 'Colomen' another throwback to the Roman occupation of our homeland perhaps! I intend to conduct some further research into the history of the dovecote at Ynys Maengwyn with the present owners.

Leaving the dovecote I continued my walk along the Dysynni river towards Broadwater. The weather had a decidedly autumnal feel to it with a brisk south westerly wind. I glanced up the valley towards Cadair Idris in the distance and Craig-yr-Aderyn (Bird Rock) in the foreground. I disturbed a Grey Heron skulking on the edge of the reedbeds, a flock of Teal passed overhead. 2 Little Grebes were feeding with a group of upending Mallards. I heard the distant blast of the whistle from the Tal-y-Llyn railway steam train. I spoke to two fishermen who were having a disappointingly luckless day fishing. I scanned the Broadwater for birdlife and counted 47 Lapwing, 3 Dunlin, 28 Wigeon, 55 Cormorants, a motley collection of gulls. 3 buzzards hung in the air on the updraughts created by the ridge to my right. A Kestrel was being harried by 2 crows. A Red Kite hunted over the open pasture adjoining the reedbeds, a single Curlew flew silently overhead. Looking through my 'bins' I watched two peregrines flying high who seemed to be taking part in some sort of flight play. For a moment they briefly engaged in a 'talon grasp' one of the birds flipped over or inverted, talons upwards, whilst carrying out this manoeuvre. I cannot say whether they were an established pair or perhaps a parent bird and one of its fledged young but one of the birds certainly seemed larger than its partner so they may well have been a female and tiercel (male). I have been studying my literature at home and discovered that paired peregrines during courtship behaviour sometimes, whilst in flight, touch each other bill-to-bill or breast-to-breast in a kind of 'aerial smooch', so perhaps peregrines have feelings after all! On my return walk back towards Ynys Maengwyn a Common Snipe passed overhead.

20 September 2005
Birds seen during a high tide sea-watch at Aber Dysynni near Tywyn this morning included 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Whimbrel, 60 Eiders ( most of the males were in eclipse) 70 Oystercatchers resting on the beach and keeping a watchful eye on me, 3 Ringed Plovers, about 7 Dunlin 4 of which landed on the beach just yards away from me. 8 Common Scoters offshore as well as a few gannets and auks. 2 Kestrels, 3 Wheatears and 2 Grey herons on the land adjoining the foreshore.

19 September 2005
It was an exceptionally high tide today so I decided to pay a visit to the Dyfi estuary at Ynyslas. There were small numbers of passage waders at the usual roost, about 175 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone, 2 Knot. There was a winter plumaged Red throated Diver at the mouth of the estuary. There were also small numbers of guillemots & razorbills. A Peregrine Falcon appeared at the wader roost and 'stabbed' an unfortunate wader either a Ringed Plover or Dunlin this fell into the water presumably mortally wounded or stunned and was casually picked up by the falcon which then flew off towards Aberdyfi to devour its meal. Peregrines often seem to disrupt my birding! A Kestrel flew just offshore and headed into the sand dunes. Higher up the estuary there were Curlew and a Whimbrel. 2 red kites were hunting over the distant saltmarshes. I left the estuary and travelled towards Borth and watched 4 Whimbrel feeding on the short turf of the golf course. A scan of the sea at Borth produced about 10 Common Scoter On my way home there were 2 kites & a Buzzard at Trerddol. At Glandyfi there was a solitary Little Egret on the upper reaches of the Dyfi estuary.

11 - 17 September 2005
Sea Watching at Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire
One of the most fascinating facets of birdwatching is the study of bird migration. It is an aspect of natural history that has intrigued man since time immemorial. Many people witness an act of migration without giving it a second thought. In the British Isles we look forward to seeing the first Swallow arrive in our home area following their Winter sojourn in South Africa. The return of the Swallow to our shores heralds the coming of Spring, however bird migration occurs throughout the year to some degree. Some species of birds such as the Arctic Tern undertake a remarkable annual migration from their summer breeding grounds in Northern latitudes, even from the high Arctic, to winter in the Southern oceans on the edge of the Antarctic pack-ice a journey which entails the bird clocking up an incredible 35,000 kilometres (approx; 22,000 miles) or more annually. The Arctic Tern therefore witnesses more daylight hours in a year than any other living species of animal. They enjoy a life of perpetual summer. It is thought that on reaching the Southern hemisphere some terns may even circumnavigate the Antarctic continent! I have nothing but absolute admiration for the Arctic Tern because if you see one close up it doesn't appear to be a particularly robust bird which nonetheless does not preclude it from carrying out these amazing transoceanic migrations. I will not delve too deeply here into the complexities of bird migration but can only advise the reader to obtain some reading material on this fascinating branch of Ornithology. I have just finished reading a recent book by Dominic Couzens entitled 'Bird Migration' published by New Holland and I can highly recommend it as an introduction on a subject that can seem bewildering to a layman but Couzens has been able to condense the literature on the subject to a highly readable and easily understandable format.

This book was appropriate reading material for me this past week as I have spent quite a few hours conducting a 'sea-watch' for migrating seabirds at, what is without doubt, the most supreme location in Wales for sea-watching which is Strumble head in Pembrokeshire. This peninsula of land known as Pencaer lies 5 miles west of Fishguard juts out slightly into the sea thereby affording a good platform to watch the passage of seabirds which usually starts from the end of July through to mid-November peaking in September/October. At Strumble head you will find a building which is a remnant from WW2. It was then an observation post for enemy submarine activity in the surrounding sea but now it has adopted a more passive role as a vital and welcome shelter from the elements for the great many 'birders' who visit this location during late Summer and Autumn to witness the spectacular migration that can occur here. Anything can turn up for those who have the time and patience to spend hours at this prestigious location such as the recent sighting on the 23rd August 2005 of a Sooty Tern, a rare vagrant to these shores, a species that breeds in tropical and sub-tropical zones of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. The best sea-watching conditions at Strumble head are following a prolonged spell of South or South westerly gales followed by the wind veering to a West or North westerly direction. This has the effect of driving birds, who would normally pass to the South or West of Ireland, into the Irish sea area and the changing wind direction then forces them back in a southerly direction which effectively brings the birds close inshore as they leave the Irish sea area. If you happen to be at 'Strumble' when these prime conditions occur the sense of expectancy among the birders present is physically tangible. The topography of Strumble head is well suited to obtain good observations of seabird movements as it is only about 60 to 70 feet above sea level. The observation building is like a natural theatre and life is played out before an audience awaiting in excited anticipation. 'Birders' can sit and watch here with their 'scopes' and 'bins' constantly scanning the sea. The building in question is now maintained by the Pembrokeshire National Park authority and during the months in question you would be unlucky not to meet one of the eminent Ornithologists that spend countless hours here recording the seabird passage. These old 'sages' affectionately known as 'Strumblers' will be on hand to help you with identifying any species seen and I can speak from experience that after spending many hours in their good company sea-watching demands great concentration, patience, dedication, and an element of luck but it is certainly never boring as here at Strumble head the sea meets the sky and the colours and the moods of the sea are forever changing. Harbour Porpoise are present throughout the year but can be difficult to locate by the untrained eye especially if the sea state is choppy. You may also see Atlantic Grey Seals indeed during the months of September to October relatively good views can be had of seal pups on nearby beaches and coves along this coastline. You will also get the occasional flypast of a noisy party of Choughs or even a Peregrine Falcon. Last year, during September, I was here during stormy conditions and saw a Peregrine Falcon picking off migrating Leach's Storm Petrels as they were flying just above the surface of the sea on their migration Southwards! Out at sea there are Gannets, Fulmars and at this time of year a myriad of auks moulting into Winter plumage and formed into small rafts are scattered over a wide area of the sea. Just to the left of the observation building lies the now unmanned and automatic lighthouse on a small islet called Ynys Meicel. The light can be seen by shipping at a range of just over 26 miles. When strong gales fiercely pound these shores the scene can be dramatic as the waves crash onto the rocks below. It is an enchanting place to spend some time and may it always remain so. If you intend visiting Strumble to do some birding then I cannot emphasise strongly enough that you need to arrive there at the crack of dawn as the first couple of hours of daylight are likely to prove the most productive although I would advise birders to spend the whole day there. For your own comfort I would suggest also that you take a folding seat of some sort with you. Ensure too that you wrap up well against the chill or you may fall victim to the 'Strumble shakes!' Sea-watching can prove to be a cold affair. The following is a list of birds I saw at Strumble head during the week 11th to 17th September 2005 just to give you an idea what species can occur:- Sooty Shearwater, Cory's Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Mediterranean Shearwater, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Pomarine Skua, Sabine's Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Kittiwake, Little Gull were also seen by those whose company I shared as well as Black Tern, Sandwich Tern, Red throated Diver, Common Scoter, Wigeon, Teal, Whimbrel. There was also a good passage of Swallows probably having flown across the Irish sea from Ireland. Suggested reading for 'birders' who have an interest in visiting Pembrokeshire are 'Birding in Pembrokeshire' by Jonathan Green & Owen Roberts-published by The Welsh Ornithological Society & printed by Gwasg Gomer, Llandysul, Ceredigion. 'Birds of Pembrokeshire' by Jack Donovan & Graham Rees (out of print) and the Pembrokeshire Bird Report 2004 available from 'The Wildlife Trust South and West Wales', Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran, Cardigan. Tel-01239 613211 Priced at £4.00 excl; p&p or from the Secretary of the Pembrokeshire Bird Group- Mr. Trevor Price, 2 Wordsworth Avenue, Haverfordwest. SA61 1SN or Tel:- 01437 779667.

4 September 2005
Bay of Biscay trip report
Cardigan Bay has acquired an enviable reputation for cetacean watching with the presence of our resident population of Bottlenose Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise, and the occasional visits by schools of Common Dolphins sometimes in vast numbers as of a recent count of hundreds of animals in St George's channel off the Pembrokeshire coast. Risso's Dolphins are also regularly seen. There are also sightings of the more exotic forms of cetaceans such as the 3 Humpback Whales that were seen offshore near Ynys-Lochtyn on the Ceredigion coast in July 2005 by the few lucky people whilst on a boat trip from New Quay. Last year there was a stranding of a live Sowerby's Beaked Whale on a beach at Ynys-Lochtyn which was successfully returned to the sea but the following day discovered again stranded alive on the beach at Parrog in Newport Pembrokeshire. It subsequently succumbed and was found dead on the beach. Orcas or Killer Whales are sometimes seen too. Recently the sighting of 6 Fin Whales, 2 Minke Whales and Common Dolphins in the Celtic deep a few miles west of 'The Smalls' in Pembrokeshire proves the importance of the area for animals feeding on the rich fish supply. But for serious whale watching in European waters for us 'Brits' undoubtedly one would have to visit the Bay of Biscay recognised as one of the best places in the World to see cetaceans. Between last Tuesday and Friday I undertook the voyage from Portsmouth to Bilbao aboard the P&O cruise ferry the 'Pride of Bilbao' I booked my holiday with the whale watching tour operator called 'The Company of Whales' operated by Hugh Harrop based in Shetland. They have long experience of cetacean watching in the bay. This was the second year that I had travelled with them and once again it turned out to be a supremely enjoyable experience. The topography of the Bay of Biscay bears a similarity to that of the Earths landmass and in parts the depth of the water is shallow perhaps averaging a 100 metres on the continental shelf but it then falls considerably to depths of over 4000 metres where there are undersea canyons which exist in the bay and an area known as the abyssal plain. Here you get what are termed 'upwellings' which is basically the mixing of nutrients from the cold water of the ocean depths and combined with the warm temperatures at the surface of the sea create ideal conditions for the growth of phytoplankton (the 'green grass' of the marine eco-system) which in turn provides food for the zooplankton (a host of marine creatures some of them microscopic) which are preyed upon by fish such as sardines or sprats which are in turn fed upon by other species of other fish such as tuna and also Mammalian species such as Dolphins, Porpoise, a host of Sea-birds and at the height of the food chain the great whales. This is why the bay is so important for these creatures at certain times of the year particularly between July and September when the whales and seabirds undertake their great migrations. Although much research has already been undertaken with regard to the movements of these species there is a great deal of knowledge yet to be discovered with regard to the ecology of these animals in relation to their breeding and feeding behaviour. To watch cetaceans you need good calm sea conditions at the surface because it is then far easier to see the appearance of what is sometimes an all to brief sighting of the back or a dorsal fin of a surfacing whale or dolphin and to locate what is termed the 'blow' of a large whale which is the exhalation of air through the nostrils or 'blowhole' as the whale surfaces and in the case of the Fin whale this 'blow' can extend to a height 8 metres thus making it clearly visible in good conditions up to a distance of perhaps 3 kilometres. The 'blow' may take several seconds to dissipate. The sea conditions on the voyage out of Portsmouth were not ideal but nonetheless we did get sightings of some Fin Whale or more often than not their 'blows'. These great leviathans of the deep can reach an adult length of 18-26 metres (72 ft) and can weight up to 80 tonnes and it is the second largest animal species on Earth the largest of course being the Blue Whale which has been sighted from the 'Pride of Bilbao' on previous voyages. We also had superb views of Common Dolphins some with their calves 'bow-riding' at the front of the ship (swimming in the bow pressure wave created by the vessel) and 'porpoising' (leaping clear of the water whilst swimming rapidly forwards). What was particularly impressive with regard to the outward leg of the voyage was the number of members of the 'Shearwater' family of birds that we saw. There were vast numbers of Great Shearwaters numbering hundreds and scores of their close relatives Cory's Shearwater and also a smattering of Sooty Shearwaters. I have a great passion for shearwaters and have spent many an hour watching the Manx Shearwater off the Welsh coast. The Pembrokeshire Islands of Skomer & Skokholm together with Bardsey in the North hold large breeding colonies of this species which are of international importance. The family are great ocean wanderers. The Great Shearwater breeds in the Tristan da Cunha/Gough group of Islands in the South Atlantic in vast colonies numbering up to 3 million pairs! From April onwards each year birds undertake a clockwise loop migration around the Atlantic Ocean which takes them along the Eastern coast of North America onto Nova Scotia and the Newfoundland Grand Banks area and also off Greenland where throughout the Northern Summer many undertake their moult. The Southward return journey is believed to occur on a broad front across the whole Atlantic which brings some of the birds into European waters during the period August to October and this is when large numbers appear in the Bay of Biscay. These are thought to be non-breeding birds. Likewise the Sooty Shearwaters undertake a similar trans-equatorial migration. They breed, again in large colonies, on islands off New Zealand, Australia and southern Chile and the Falklands. There are 3 recognised races of Cory's Shearwater most likely the majority of the birds we saw on our voyage were those of the race 'borealis' which breed on the Atlantic islands of Madeira & its satellite islands, the Canaries & the Azores. We saw a couple of Balearic Shearwaters and just a handful of Manx Shearwater. We recorded Great Skuas or 'Bonxies' as they are referred to by birders, a flock of Golden Plover, a Grey Plover, Grey Phalarope, Common Terns, a Turtle Dove, a shag (which landed on the ship!) Some of our group also saw a 'breaching' (leaping clear of the water) Minke Whale but I only caught the residual splash as it hit the surface of the water. We watched on deck until dusk and as the sun disappeared below the horizon there was a 'blow' from a distant Fin Whale and the vapour hung in the air and assumed an orange colour from the setting sun. The following morning we docked at the fishing port of Santurtzi (which one has to say is not very picturesque) and a group of us took a walk into the foothills above the town. We saw some good birds the highlights for me were the Red backed Shrikes, Booted Eagle and Honey Buzzard plus a host of colourful butterflies. Many migrant birds were passing through the area such as whinchats, Pied Flycatchers, Swift and hirundines (swallows & martins). Later that afternoon we commenced the return overnight voyage back to Portsmouth. Sea conditions were somewhat better for cetacean watching and we were not disappointed we had excellent views of 2 Cuvier's Beaked Whales as we sailed over the edge of the continental shelf and the deep abyssal plain and a further one seen by one of our group members. The Cuvier's Beaked Whales feed on Cephalopods such as squid. We saw large numbers of Common Dolphins and Striped Dolphins and the most phenomenal sighting of a large Fin Whale surfacing directly ahead of the bow of the ship it blew and we saw the long arched grey back appear followed by the dorsal fin and the whale veered safely to the right out of the way of the approaching ship at the very last moment and we could clearly see the extended white marking on the right side of the lower jaw of the animal which is a very diagnostic feature of this species. The left side of the lower jaw is dark. This sighting produced exclamations of pure unadulterated excitement from all those on our deck and other passengers on the decks below. Sightings of whales and dolphins are announced over the ships' public address system to all passengers by Clive Martin who is the wildlife officer for the 'Biscay Dolphin Research Programme' (featured in Sept/Oct 2005 issue 9 of 'Whale and Dolphin' magazine) whose dedicated team of volunteer surveyors twice each month travel aboard the bridge of the vessel recording cetacean encounters and other forms of marine wildlife for research purposes. The data assimilated contributes greatly to cetacean knowledge and to provide important statistical information to ensure that, if necessary, measures can be taken by European governments to conserve the unique biodiversity of this marine eco-system. The Bay of Biscay is an internationally important area for migrating whales and seabirds it is vital that as much information be gleaned as possible about the behaviour of these species in the Bay to ensure that conservation measures can be implemented so that future generations can also enjoy the wonderful wildlife encounters that we are privileged to see at the present time on the planet. So for a truly magical wildlife experience why not take a voyage aboard the 'Pride of Bilbao' between the months of July to September and see for yourself. You can obviously book a voyage on this route direct with P&O details can be obtained by visiting their website at www.poferries.com but for a little extra cost I would highly recommend the services of 'The Company of Whales' who have been running whale watching and research holidays in the Bay of Biscay since 1996 and who have amassed a considerable amount of information on cetacean and seabird movements in the Bay. You will be assured the highly professional and expert guidance of experienced cetologists. The company, with the absolute discretion of the ship's captain, have exclusive access to the dedicated whale-watching platform situated high up and above the ships' bridge called 'Monkey Island' which affords excellent all round views of the surrounding sea. For further information on this company and details of past and current sightings in the Bay visit their website at www.companyofwhales.co.uk. My advice however comes with a health warning- you could get seriously “hooked” on whale watching! I wish to express my gratitude to our two guides Dylan Walker & Matt Dobbs for another memorable voyage across the Bay of Biscay.

3 September 2005
I was away from home today when I received an excited telephone call from my wife who at 6.55am that morning was taking a dog for a morning stroll when she peered over the small bridge crossing the river Dulas hoping to catch a glimpse of a Kingfisher but instead she was stunned to see an Otter swimming upstream in the direction of the bridge. She stood quite still and watched the animal go under the bridge and continue its journey upriver. The animal made no sound and the head profile clearly showed the long stiff whiskers on the muzzle known as vibrissae (which may assist Otters to locate the movement of prey in murky waters). The dog thankfully failed to notice the Otter. This shows that the Otter being a secretive animal moves discreetly through its watery habitat and is therefore rarely seen except by the lucky few who more often than not are fishermen. Over the years we have been living in our delightful valley I have often discovered Otter spraint (droppings) on rocks situated mid-stream below our house but I have never personally seen an Otter on this river. I often sit on the rock used by the Otters under the canopy of a mature Alder tree and contemplate what it would be like to live the life of this intriguing mammal. So I was rather envious of this sighting of the Otter by my wife but my disappointment was somewhat dissipated on my return journey home as I had an excellent view of a Merlin on a fence post on the road between Dylife and Machynlleth. This area is good hunting country for Merlin.

26 August 2005
With 2 clients conducted the long 'Red Kite Safari' starting from Machynlleth to Cwm Rheidol, Devils Bridge, Cwm Ystwyth, Elan Valley to Gigrin farm Kite feeding centre at Rhayader. Along the way we saw 9 kites, 2 peregrines, 2 kestrels, a Wheatear, Stonechat, and a Grey wagtail in Cwm Ystwyth. Numerous kites seen at Gigrin farm 50 plus seen in the air from the hide at one time including a white or leucistic (red) kite. Also saw buzzards, crows, rooks, starlings and a Grey Heron. Young 2005 kites bearing wing tag no's 50, 51 & 68. 2 further kites seen on the return journey between Llangurig & Llanidloes.

22 August 2005
Between bouts of gardening at my home this morning I watched large numbers of swallows moving over our valley they seemed to be feeding on high flying insects and were probably in the process of undertaking their long and hazardous journey to Africa which to some people is a sign that heralds the end of Summer. We returned home yesterday having spent 2 days at the excellent British Birdwatching Fair held at the Egleton nature reserve on Rutland Water. Now if you have never been to this annual event then set aside some time to visit it next year. It is a pilgrimage that every self respecting birder should undertake at some stage in their lives. It is particularly worthwhile visiting if you are considering purchasing a pair of binoculars or a telescope as you can find all the major optics manufacturers at the venue and can try out various models of 'bins' or a 'scope' under excellent field conditions. There are a host of stands selling books, new & second-hand, on every subject concerned with nature and a plethora of Worldwide travel companies offering birding or wildlife holidays to every continent on Earth. I particularly enjoyed visiting the arts marquee to see paintings by some of Britain's most eminent wildlife artists. I rate some of my favourites as works created by Paul Gale depicting the wildlife and landscapes of the majestic and pristine Antarctic continent. Anglian water have a superb visitor centre at Rutland water from where you can watch birds or visit one of their many hides situated around the reserve. This year 11 ospreys were translocated from Scotland to be released at Rutland with the hope that they will return to breed in the area in future years. A pair of ospreys successfully bred this year and raised 3 young. There was also a non- breeding pair and 3 other unattached males around during the Summer. There was still 1 female left in the release pen. We saw at least 5 ospreys but I was told that someone had seen 9 together! on one arm of the reservoir the previous day. For information on the ospreys at Rutland visit the website at www.ospreys.org.uk

10 August 2005
My destination today was the seaside town of New Quay in order to undertake a Dolphin watch. On route I stopped off at Glandyfi to scan the upper reaches of the Dyfi estuary for birdlife. I watched a group of 11 Little Egrets feeding in the shallows and amongst them was a Greenshank. On the adjacent saltmarsh there were Lapwings, Curlews, and Oystercatchers. Continuing on my journey I saw a Red Kite at Taliesin, a further 2 at Bow Street and 3 flying together just before Llanrhystud. My voyage out into Cardigan bay was from the pretty harbour of New Quay aboard Steve Hartley's research vessel 'Sulaire'. Sea conditions were very calm therefore perfect for watching cetaceans. We cruised South following the spectacular coastline of Ceredigion passing Craig-yr-Adar (Bird Rock) earlier in the summer host to a vibrant and thriving seabird colony but now deserted the only evidence of their presence being the white guano that was still present on the breeding ledges and the distinctive raised nests of Kittiwakes. Absent the auks & kittiwakes may have been from their cliff breeding colonies but they were certainly in abundance on the surrounding sea. There were numerous guillemots consisting of adults and fledged young. The adults were in post-breeding moult and were very reluctant to take flight as we approached them in the boat. Many of the young birds I saw were being cared for by what I presumed to be the adult males. There were Gannets, Fulmars and Kittiwakes too and scores of Manx Shearwaters. We also saw 2 Sandwich Terns and Lesser black backed and Herring Gulls. We cruised as far as Aberporth and during the voyage we saw several Bottlenose Dolphins. We were afforded superb views of a mother and her calf which was reckoned to be about a year old. The skipper Steve was extremely careful not to harass or cause unnecessary disturbance to the animals. The research crew took photographs of the Dolphins in an attempt to identify the individual animals from any nicks or lesions which may be present on the dorsal fin. We also saw Harbour Porpoise and a couple of Atlantic Grey Seals. But we were not as fortunate as those on board the 'Sulaire' on the morning trip as they had sighted 26 Dolphins! My thanks to Steve Hartley for an absolutely splendid voyage. Trips out into the bay on Steve's boat the 'Sulaire' will continue until the end of October. Details can be obtained on our 'links' page under the heading 'Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre'.

8 August 2005
The Wood Ant nest (Formica rufa) which I discovered in a sunny glade in a woodland near my home last year seems to be thriving.There was a great deal of activity around the nest when I visited it today with a representative working on behalf of the Countryside Council for Wales. This species of Ant is nowadays extremely uncommon and it is afforded legal protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act. The nest of this species consists of an ant-hill the colonies of ants build twig, leaf, and grass stem domes over their nests which rise up among bracken on open scrubland or on the bare forest floor. The nests are usually in groups which actually form one community. Each nest will have a number of queens and may in due course produce a population numbering about 100,000 worker ants. They roam from the ground to the heights of trees in search of their prey which are other insects. The Red Ant is a very distinctive and attractive looking creature and larger than the species you would normally find in your home or garden such as the Red Ant or Garden black ant. Wood ants have no sting but they can squirt formic acid at an enemy. The demise of this species in our countryside is lamentable. In June my wife & I visited Abernethy Forest in the Spey Valley in Scotland and were impressed by the immense and extremely beautiful nests of this species which we found on the forest floor. If you know of any Wood Ant nests in your locality then please inform your local Countryside Council office or local Wildlife Trust.

Took a 2 hour evening boat trip out with 'Dyfi Discoveries' from Aberdyfi. Saw Gannets, Cormorants, a couple of Sandwich Terns, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Oystercatchers, Grey Heron, gulls, and a Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma Octopus). We also saw Sand Martins at their colony on the shore at Tonfanau. We had fine view from seaward of Cadair Idris and Craig-yr-Aderyn (Bird Rock). The evening finished off with a beautiful sunset on the Western horizon.

4 August 2005
Undertook the long 'Red Kite Safari' tour today starting from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth then via the Rheidol Valley, Cwm Ystwyth & the Elan Valley through typical kite country. Recorded good numbers of Birds of Prey- 9 Kites, 11 Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 1 Peregrine Falcon & a number of Ravens. 2 Wheatears and a Grey Wagtail in Cwm Ystwyth. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers between Aberystwyth and Devils bridge. A few Sand Martins on the upper reaches of the river Elan. Feeding time at the Gigrin farm Kite Feeding Centre was at 3pm. Large numbers of Kites present (100 to 150) also Buzzards, Ravens, Crows and a Grey Heron. There were a handful of this years fledged juveniles present resplendent in their fresh plumage and less deeply forked tail. 2005 birds may bear an orange PVC tag on the right wing (2002= White, 2003= Red, 2004= Yellow, 2005= Orange, 2006= Green). All Kites tagged in Wales will bear a black tag on the left wing. Each wing tag bears a bar at its base showing the colour of the opposite wing tag in order to facilitate establishing the origin of the bird should one of the tags be lost. So keep your eyes peeled for tagged birds anywhere in Britain although you will probabaly require binoculars or a telescope to read any of the unique letters or numbers present on the tags.

2 August 2005
Took a jaunt to the Cors Caron National Nature reserve near Tregaron today especially after being told that there were Hobbies about. I  took a short stroll along the old railway track and clocked a Redstart and Bullfinch. Following a delightful lunch at the 'Caffi Sara Bara' in Tregaron I ventured out onto the bog following the well constructed boardwalk and within minutes I spotted a Hobby in the distance with that distinctive swift like shape that is so characteristic of this bird. I met another birder further along the boardwalk and enjoyed his company as we both excitedly watched not one but two Hobbies! They were between them covering a wide area of the bog and were one moment perched on a dead tree then sallying forth to catch an insect or otherwise engaging in a high flying hunting strategy resulting in the aerial capture of what I presumed to be Dragonflies which were held in their talons and eaten in flight. I pondered as to how many Dragonflies would they have to catch and consume until they were satiated.

28 July 2005
Although today was not ideal birding weather, wet and breezy, I ventured out to visit the stunning Dysynni valley. A brief stop by the Tal-y-Llyn lake produced a Great Crested Grebe, 2 female Goosanders, a Grey Heron and 2 Mute Swans. Further down the valley towards Llanegryn I stopped on a stone bridge and watched a Dipper feeding on invertebrates in the stream and just a few inches away on the pebbles was a male Grey Wagtail darting around picking off insects. In an overhanging Alder tree Willow Warblers were likewise engaged. In an adjoining field a trio of Goldfinches were hanging acrobatically whilst feeding on thistle heads. Both Sand and House Martins were present. Shortly I arrived at the famous Craig-yr-Aderyn or Bird Rock. Here is probably the only inland nesting colony of Cormorants in Britain. A few centuries ago the sea lapped at the foot of this rock outcrop. There were a few pairs of Cormorants with well grown young. A constant procession of adults flew towards and from the direction of the sea with food to satisfy the rapacious appetite of their youngsters. A Peregrine Falcon made an appearance and alighted on the rock face. I eventually made my way to where the river enters the sea at Aber- Dysynni. On a freshwater pool on the shingle bank I watched 9 Dunlin a few still resplendent in their summer plumage complete with their black bellies or abdomen. There was a solitary Redshank too. A pair of swans kept a watchful eye on their 6 cygnets on the Dysynni. I reached the mouth of the estuary and set up my scope and watched Gannets and Manx Shearwaters offshore. 2 Sandwich Terns flew Southwards. There was a Ringed Plover on the foreshore as well as a number of Oystercatchers. There were a few juvenile Wheatears around. I kneeled down and examined the prickly leaves of sea holly (Eryngium maritime) on the shingle bank. I scanned the sea for Bottlenose Dolphins but the conditions were far from ideal for cetacean watching it was to choppy.

25 July 2005
Took a trip out from Aberdyfi into Cardigan bay with 'Dyfi Discoveries' on their RIB boat. We saw Cormorants, a Gannet, and a line of Manx Shearwaters flying North. If you are reading this entry and propose to visit this area of Wales between now and the end of Summer then why not take a voyage out into the bay with this company. On the 2 hour trips and subject to favourable sea and weather conditions there is every chance of seeing the resident population of bottlenose dolphins although I have to stress the point that they are wild animals and this is a big sea! For further information please access their website on our 'links' page.

23 July 2005
The 'redcaps' have arrived in my garden today! No, I haven't been paid a visit by a company of military policemen during some exercise but an appearance of a young Great Spotted Woodpecker who was feeding avidly on scores of ants on a grass embankment. The bird adorned a red crown indicating that it was a juvenile this will eventually dissipate into a small red patch on the nape if its a male or disappear entirely if its a female. Last year I left my peanut bird feeders out in the summer and a pair of woodpeckers were visiting on a daily basis and in due course they brought along their family of young fledglings which were then fed with bits of peanuts by the parent birds.

The last time I went to see the now famous pair of breeding Welsh Ospreys in the Glaslyn Valley near Porthmadog was a couple of days in June before the eggs hatched but today when we visited there were 2 well advanced and healthy chicks in the nest. The third egg failed to hatch and has been removed for analysis. The RSPB have set up a temporary visitor centre at Pont Croesor where visitors can view the activities in the nest via a live TV link. The nest is a massive structure and the camera is situated above it. Today the chicks are aged 41 & 44 days respectively. They have been ringed by RSPB staff and both chicks also bear a yellow coloured ring indicating that they are birds hatched in 2005. The female has not wandered far from the nest for weeks and it is the male that provides his family with food. The diet of Ospreys is solely fish and in this case the usual prey is grey mullet which the male hunts for around an area known as the 'cob' at Porthmadog. To date in excess of 33,000 visitors have been to view the Ospreys at the visitor centre. The distant nest can be viewed through telescopes provided by the RSPB from a viewing hide. The mountain backdrop at the viewing site is superb providing stunning views of the 'Moelwyns' 'Cnicht' and 'Snowdon'. The Welsh name for the Osprey is 'Gwalch y Pysgod' which means fish hawk a very apt name indeed. Later on that day we stopped off at the 'cob' and at 8.15pm saw the male flying from seaward towards the nest site further up the valley there was a fish dangling from its powerful talons. Was this the last meal of the day for the chicks? At 8.45pm an Osprey flew back towards the sea over the cob. In between these sightings we watched Redshank, Curlew, and a Red breasted Merganser with her brood of 7 chicks. To get an up to date progress report on the Ospreys please visit the 'Glaslyn Osprey Project diary' on the RSPB Wales website which can be accessed on our 'links' page.

21 July 2005
Closer to home a family group of 5 blackbirds are seeking sustenance from the bumper crop of apples on a tree in my garden. One of the fledgings attempts to coax its mother to feed it with a morsel of apple sometimes with success but more often than not the young birds pick at the apples themselves with some relish. Yesterday there was a party of 4 jays who likewise feasted on my apple crop. This normally shy bird losing its wariness in search of food. Apples form an important source of food for many bird species during this lean time of the Summer. The ground is very dry at the moment probably making it difficult for members of the thrush family to find earthworms and no doubt badgers are affected the same way.

19 July 2005
A visit to the Kite feeding station at Bwlch Nant yr Arian today produced approximately 60 kites at feeding time with a white or leucistic (red) kite making an appearance. This bird has been turning up at feeding time for a few days now and is proving popular with visitors. There are probably only about eight of these kites showing this abnormal or 'aberrant' plumage in the whole population of kites. There was also a young brood of Little grebe or 'dabchick' on the lake in front of the centre as well as the resident tufted duck.

16 July 2005
Today we took a walk around one of the paths leading from the Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Centre near Ponterwyd and saw 2 Peregrine falcons one of which was constantly mobbing a couple of ravens to such a degree that it forced the ravens to take respite from this onslaught by landing on a ridge. At the end of the walk we are fairly certain that we saw a Honey buzzard which has frequented this area on previous occasions.

13 July 2005
An evening watch at the Montgomeryshire wildlife trust reserve at 'Cors Dyfi' produced good sightings of a male nightjar 'churring' from a perch high up on a shrub which was followed shortly afterwards by an aerial pursuit of a female the male engaging in a bout of 'wing clapping'. A large flock of about 150 swallows were hawking for insects over a wide area of the bog before finally alighting to roost in the reedbeds at dusk. The pleasant scent of bog myrtle was wafting through the air. I had visited the reserve on the previous Monday and seen a Noctule bat. There were signs of otters visiting the reserve too as I found fresh 'spraint' the animal possibly searching for Amphibians such as frogs.

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Nature Notes 2006