Nature Notes from Mid Wales (and elsewhere!)

Nature Notes 2006

Tachwedd 14eg 2006 (English version below)
Anrhegu plant Ysgol Gynradd Pontrhydfendigaid
Heddiw fe ymwelais ac Ysgol Gynradd Pontrhydfendigaid mewn pentref o’r un enw yng Ngheredigion i gyflwyno set o bosteri o adar a mamiliaid yn yr iaith Gymraeg ar ran fy ngwmni ‘Safaris Barcudiaid Coch’. Gobeithio y bydd y siartiau yn hybu’r disgyblion i gymeryd diddordeb mewn byd natur o’i hamgylch. Mae’r ysgol sydd a 52 o blant rhwng 4 a 11 wedi eu lleoli ar ben bryn tu allan i’r pentref or fangre lle y gwelir gwarchfodfa natur Cors Caron. Yn hanesyddol mae’r ardal hon yn un or llefydd gorau i weld y barcud coch ac yn ystod misoedd y gaeaf mae’r barcudiaid yn cael eu bwydo yn ddyddiol gan y tir feddianwr ger pont Einion ar y A.485 ger Tregaron. Mae’r bont yn lle da i wylio’r barcudiaid yn bwydo ac hefyd i edrych dros y gors ar arwyddion o fywyd gwyllt. Yn ogystal a chyflwyno’r ysgol a’r siartiau cyflwynais lyfr o waith Malachy Doyle sydd yn awdur llyfrau plant sef ‘Mam-gu Penrhiw a’r barcud coch olaf’ a oedd wedi eu arwyddo gan yr awdur yn ogystal a chylch lythyr Ymddiriedolaeth Barcudiaid Cymru ‘Boda Wennol’. Yn y llun gwelir rhai o blant yr ysgol gyda’u Prif Athrawes. Dyma lun o Elfyn Pugh, Carys Davies (Prif Athrawes) a’r plant Siencyn Jones, Amy Evans a Sophie Bailey.

14th November 2006
Presentation to the pupils of Pontrhydfendigaid Junior School
Today I visited Ysgol Gynradd Pontrhydfendigaid (Pontrhydfendigaid Primary School) in the village of the same name in Ceredigion to present them with a set of bird and mammal wall charts in the Welsh language on behalf of my venture ‘Red Kite Safaris’. Hopefully the charts will encourage the pupils to take an interest in the natural World around them. The school which has 52 pupils aged from 4 to 11 is situated on top of a hill outside the village and from it in the distance one can see a part of the internationally important national nature reserve at Tregaron bog (Cors Caron). Historically this area is one of the best places in Wales to see the native Red Kites. During the winter months kites are fed almost daily by a landowner near Pont Einion on the A.485 road into Tregaron. The bridge at Pont Einion is a good spot to see the kite feeding and to cast an eye over the bog for signs of birdlife. As well as presenting the school with the wildlife charts they were also given a Welsh version of book ‘Granny Sarah and the last Red Kite’ by the children’s author Malachy Doyle. The book was signed by the author. They were also given the latest bi-lingual issue of the Welsh Kite Trust newsletter ‘Boda Wennol’ Pictured are Elfyn Pugh, Carys Davies (Headmistress) and pupils Siencyn Jones, Amy Evans and Sophie Bailey.

12th November 2006
There were a great many kites at the Gigrin feeding station today at feeding time. I would estimate numbers between 200 - 300. They must have been hungry as they were gathering in spirals around Gigrin long before the appointed time. Chris Powell spread the meat on the ground and it wasn’t long before they came down by the score. It amazes me how they seem on the whole to avoid a mid air collision with other birds. There was the usual entourage of buzzards crows & ravens etc; but the magpies kept a discreet distance. A high proportion of the kites were not fitted with wing tags however I was able to pick out the Scottish bird from the Black Isle area Blue/Orange ‘M’ (Mohammed Al Fayed’s bird), also a Yorkshire bird Orange/Orange no.‘1’ and one originating from the East Midlands White/Orange ‘L’. The aforementioned tagged kites were all reared in 2005. I must admit that I have got really hooked on reading wing tags but it can be frustrating if for some reason you cannot read them if for instance they choose to perch on the blind side of a tree! I met Tony Cross of the Welsh Kite Trust in one of the hides he had a rather flashy looking camera and telephoto lens attachment with him. I was rather envious of him. I have been considering acquiring one myself for some months now. There have been times this year that I wished that I was in possession of a camera I would have had some brilliant shots of birds and cetaceans (dare I put it on my Christmas wish list!). On the subject of the Welsh Kite Trust the Autumn newsletter (issue 19) is now available. It is free to ‘Friends of the Welsh Kite’. If you want a copy contact Tony Cross Tel- 01597 825981 or e-mail info@welshkitetrust.org it only costs a pound. The newsletter contains a full report of the Red Kite breeding season in Wales for 2006 but in addition to that it also gives a resume of the 2006 Red Kite breeding report from the other UK regions. You can also see a selection of Welsh Kite Trust Christmas cards including an exclusive limited edition Christmas card by the well known bird artist Terence Lambert. Buy one of these cards (£7.50each) and you get a chance to win the original artwork signed and framed by the artist which is valued at over £350.

Returning home from Gigrin over the mountain road from Llanidloes we came across a large flock of Starlings near the Staylittle turning (1,000+). I have seen very large flocks in the area recently. I estimated that 3,500+ flew over my home in several flocks before dusk on the 4th of the month heading no doubt for the famous roost under Aberystwyth pier and today there was again a flock of many thousands feeding on the Machynlleth High School playing fields and surrounding farmland during the afternoon. I have also seen large movements of Fieldfares and Redwings. Its great to have these winter visitors from the continent back with us again.

Autumn 2006
If you are a regular reader of my ‘Nature Notes’ then you must hold the belief that I had gone into a state of hibernation because my last entry was back in June! The truth is I guess is that I’m sometimes a bit like an artist casting an eye on an empty canvas with a paint brush in his hand I only write when I feel inspired to do so! In fact I have been busy with clients on several days since June and if you are one of them and reading this then I am deeply grateful to you for your custom. I remember that July was a stiflingly oppressive month with temperatures hitting the 30 degrees Celsius in spite of that it was a good month birding wise with excellent views of Red Kites at the various feeding stations and on the theme of birds of prey we have enjoyed watching a breeding pair of Hen Harriers engaging in a food pass on a remote moorland. A trip to Craig-yr-Aderyn (bird rock) near Tywyn in early July was interesting too. This is a well known traditional breeding site for Peregrine Falcons and looking up at the famous crag we saw three juvenile Peregrines on each of three pinnacles of rock and watched as a parent bird appeared with prey it had caught, probably a bird, there followed a great commotion as each chick pleaded in a most vocal fashion for a share of the catch. Here too we found the nest of a Spotted Flycatcher in a hole at the end of a broken off branch of an oak tree the nest contained three delightful chicks lying quite still gazing down on us. Later in July a trip to the Elan valley proved equally as interesting for Peregrines when we watched them at another traditional breeding site above the information centre and one of my guests actually saw one stoop and kill a Pigeon. Again in July we took a coastal walk to Craig-yr-Adar (Birds Rock) just south of New Quay (not to be confused with the other rock previously mentioned) here again we peered down onto a rock pinnacle at a juvenile Peregrine devouring a Kittiwake chick. Kittiwakes breed on this area of coastline. During the afternoon on that day we took a boat trip aboard Steve Hartley’s boat ‘Sulaire’ for a very pleasant four hour voyage along the coast of Ceredigion and enjoyed close views of Bottlenose dolphins. Unexpectedly we were also joined on board by a TV crew who were filming for the BBC 2 programme ‘Nature’s Calendar’. They were able to obtain some good footage of dolphins including some underwater shots I believe. We also came across a floating carcass of dead Porpoise which Steve thought had been a victim of a dolphin attack because there was clear evidence of a clean break to the rib structure. Unfortunately there have been instances of porpoise being killed by bottlenose dolphins in Cardigan Bay. The probable cause is competition for food and for this reason you rarely see the two species in close proximity. The Porpoise will stay clear of its rather larger marine neighbour. On this day we also had great views of Manx Shearwater. August was a relatively quiet month but at the end of it I took what has now become an annual pilgrimage for me. I took the 4 day crossing from Portsmouth to Bilbao on the P & O ferry the Pride of Bilbao across the Bay of Biscay on a Whale watching trip with ‘The Company of Whales’. Our illustrious leaders were Hugh Harrop and Rob Still. Just when you thought that the last trip couldn’t be bettered then the Company of Whales come up trumps again. The tally of Cetaceans and birds we saw during the subsequent days was truly impressive. During the outward and return trips we saw at least 26 Fin Whales, 5 Sperm Whales, 3 Cuviers Beaked Whales, a Pilot Whale was spotted. There were many other ‘blows’ seen from unidentified Rorqual Whales. Common Dolphins (725) Striped Dolphins (485), Bottlenose Dolphins (130), Risso’s Dolphin (3), Harbour Porpoise (28). Sunfish & Tuna were also seen. The bird list was equally good with sightings of Cory’s, Sooty and Manx Shearwaters and an incredible 2,500 Great Shearwater. We also saw Storm Petrel (130) Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Great Skua (40), Arctic Skua, Common & Black Terns, Sabine’s Gull. On reaching Spain the regular walk in the foothills above the port of Santurtzi produced a good list of migrant and resident passerine species and the highlights for me were Booted Eagle, Red backed-Shrike and Hoopoe. All in all another great trip across the bay with ‘The Company of Whales’.

September was another good birding month with a few visits to the kite feeding stations. On one particular day, on the 4th in fact, with a client I was watching the afternoon kite feeding at Gigrin Farm in Rhayader and saw a blue/orange tagged bird which I later established from Tony Cross of the Welsh Kite Trust had originated from a nest in Ross-shire in Scotland. Now this bird had a fascinating history. In 2005 at the age of 5 weeks it was taken under licence from a nest in Scotland and was one of 10 birds which were released in an experimental local reintroduction scheme from Mohammed Al Fayed’s (Harrods’s boss) Balnagown Estate near Kildary. It was released on the 1st August 2005 and as well as being fitted with the standard bird ring it was also fitted with a plastic wing tag bearing the letter ‘M’ which denoted none other than the man himself Mohammed Al Fayed. The other released birds bore tags bearing the initials of the staff on his estate who had helped in the project. This young kite ‘M’ was also fitted with a tiny radio transmitter. It is known that in early December 2005 ‘M’s radio signal was picked up on the edge of the Queen’s Balmoral estate in Royal Deeside where it remained until the spring of 2006. It was then unheard of until Tony Cross spotted it at Gigrin Farm at the beginning of September 2006. So it had travelled a quite remarkable distance about 605 km in fact from its release point. My thanks to Tony Cross of the Welsh Kite Trust for supplying this information. Of course kites do wander great distances in their 1st winter or the following spring. At the kite feeding station at the Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian Forest centre a 2005 bird bearing green/orange wing tag no. ‘111’ has been a regular visitor since April 2006. I last saw it there on the 24th October. This bird originated from a nest in the Dumfries & Galloway area of Scotland. So this is where wing tagging and fitting some individuals birds with radio transmitters is proving invaluable by giving a fascinating insight into the movements of young kites. Birds from the other release projects in the UK namely Yorkshire, Chilterns & Rutland have made appearances at Nant-yr-Arian this year.

During a week in September and again in October I spent a considerable number of hours sea-watching off Strumble head in Pembrokeshire noting seabird movements. It involved some early mornings but the weather was kind to me. I managed to get a reasonable quota of birds which included, Great, Arctic, Pomarine & Long tailed Skuas, Sooty Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater (a record number of 93 birds passed in one day on the 7th October(**) it is believed that there are only about 1400 pairs of this species in the World confined to islands in the Mediterranean) and Manx Shearwater, Leach’s Petrel, Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Arctic, Common, Sandwich and Black Terns. Waders were well represented too with Dunlin, Knot, Turnstone, Bar tailed-Godwit. Duck species seen included Wigeon, Pochard & Pintail and many scores of Common Scoters often breaking the monotony during quiet periods (the sea-watchers friend as someone said!) during my absence others had seen Teal and a Long tailed Duck (**). We cant leave the geese out either two Brent’s flew past going West (south) on the 11th October. There were the divers too a couple of Red throated and a magnificent Great Northern Diver still resplendent in its summer plumage showing the beautiful patterning on its back (black dotted with white) giving the appearance of a star studded night sky. The bird kept me mesmerized as it fished in the sea just below the observation building at daybreak. It peered periodically under the water looking for prey and holding station against the current with it legs set well back on its body. I should love someday to hear the haunting wailing calls of this bird on its breeding grounds in higher latitudes (Canada, Greenland & Iceland) This species of diver are called ‘Loons’ in North America (a corruption of an old Norse word) because of its mystifying vocalisations. It was a bird revered by native American Indian tribes in their spiritual beliefs. Birds of Prey too gave us a good show at Strumble there were regular sightings of the resident Peregrines. We also saw a Kestrel. On the 10th October a female Merlin posed on a rock close to our shelter resting and preening and which became momentarily startled by the guttural sounds of a Gannet flying nearby. However the highlight of the week was undoubtedly the appearance of an Osprey on the 20th September and yet another bird on the 21st both following a period of strong gales which no doubt halted their progress south to their African wintering grounds. During the October week on Strumble there were four of us present in the observation building and my attention was drawn to a rather large dorsal fin out somewhere in the area of the tide race. It was not that of a Bottlenose Dolphin. My initial thoughts were that it was a Risso’s Dolphin but my experienced companions came to the conclusion that it may have been a young male Orca (Killer Whale) we will never know beyond all doubt but I defer to the experience of my good companions on the day! On the 12th October I witnessed very unusual animal behaviour indeed and I suspect something which may not have been previously recorded in scientific annals. I speak of an incident of ‘cannibalism’ in the Atlantic Grey Seal. Just after 8am on that day I was gazing at the sea and saw the familiar head profile of a big bull Grey Seal a few hundred yards offshore. He looked as if he was devouring something and I thought at first that it might have been a Conger Eel. I have previously seen a seal eating this formidable fish when I stayed on Skokholm island a few years ago. I looked through my scope at the animal and was quite shocked to see that it was actually chomping away at the carcass of a dead seal pup. This old bull was taking chunks out of the body of the pup and was clearly relishing it. The carcass of the seal was on its back and I could clearly see the forelimbs. The bull was making inroads into the carcass from the front end the head of the pup appeared to be missing. There was a motley gathering of gulls (kittiwakes, black-headed & herring gulls) round about picking bits of flesh up from the sea surface. Curiously there were also a few shags and auks about too which were taking a passive role in the proceedings the shags were occasionally peering under the water. Now Cliff Benson has put forward a plausible theory with regard to the presence of these birds. He stated that predatory fish may have been attracted by this feeding frenzy hence therefore the presence of the shags & auks which would in turn feed on the fish. After watching this gruesome spectacle for a while I then saw a considerable amount of blood emanating from the seal carcass which coloured the sea red round about. I saw the bull rip out what must have been the internal organs (viscera) of the dead pup possibly including the liver. This too was devoured the bull throwing its head back in doing so. Now not long after this the bull seemed to be getting uncomfortable with the ever growing band of seabirds gathering around and he took a deep dive and that was the last I saw of him and for that matter the seal pup carcass! Now what intrigues me about this matter is what happened to the carcass? Did it sink to the depths as its body cavity filled with seawater? Or here I pose another question-is it possible that the bull somehow cached the carcass somewhere on the seabed for future consumption or dragged it away under water to some other part of the sea where I couldn‘t see it? Could it have wrapped the remains around a holdfast? (a type of seaweed of the species Laminaria with long fronds) seals sometimes wrap their bodies around holdfasts when resting below the surface to prevent them from drifting away on undersea currents. I have trawled through my literature at home and so far I have been unable to find any reference to cannibalism in this species. I think I can safely assume that the pup probably died of natural causes as there is generally a very high mortality among young pups in the first few weeks following birth and in this case it may have been washed off a storm battered beach or sucked out of a sea cave whereupon it drowned and the old bull came across the floating carcass by chance. If any of my readers have knowledge of similar incidents of cannibalism in seals then I would be grateful if they could communicate with me. On the 12th/13th October I took a brief respite from sea-watching on Strumble head and joined Cliff Benson of ‘Sea Trust’ and a couple of other guys on a cetacean survey across the Irish sea crossing from Fishguard to Rosslare aboard the ferry Stena Europe. We recorded Common Dolphin and Porpoise on the crossings. I returned to Strumble on the Saturday morning only to be told that on the Friday I had missed a pod of five Risso’s Dolphin, including a calf, seen just off mackerel rock within view of the observation building (**) This species had eluded us on the ferry crossings. A large Sunfish (Mola mola) had also been seen. Just goes to show folks it’s better sometimes to stay put! Strumble Head is full of surprises and enough interest to keep an amateur naturalist scratching his head searching for explanations to the bewildering mysteries of the natural world.

My book choice for you this month for a good read to while away those long winter evenings is Dominic Couzen’s latest excellent book entitled ‘Secret Lives of British Birds’ which follows on from his previous volume ‘The Secret Lives of Garden Birds’ both are published by Christopher Helm and priced at £14.99p stick them both on your Christmas wish list!

** (Courtesy of Graham Rees County bird recorder for Pembrokeshire)

A Scottish Adventure
It is well over 30 years ago since my last visit to the Outer Hebrides or the Western Isles to give them their proper title and I have long wished to return to those enchanting islands so it was on the 18th of June 2006 my wife and I boarded the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry from Oban and embarked on the long seven hour voyage to the Outer Isles. Our ultimate destination and base for a week was the island of North Uist. Thankfully we had a good crossing and sea conditions and visibility were good. I really look forward to these voyages on the ‘CalMac’ ferries to me it is an exciting aspect of the holiday and I try to spend as much time on the upper deck as possible in order to gain the maximum chance of seeing seabirds or cetaceans. My dear wife is very often left below decks as I selfishly pursue my dedicated deck watch. When she was finally able to coax me down for food in the ferry’s excellent restaurant I hastily gulped it down and returned to the upper deck to re-join other equally keen amateur birders and whale watchers and was told that I had missed a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins and a Basking Shark! Such is life but a man has got to eat sometime! However during the voyage I achieved a reasonable tally of birds which included auks, Gannets, Fulmars, Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrel, a ‘Bonxie’ (Great Skua) Red-throated Divers, and Harbour Porpoise. After a brief stop at Castlebay on the Isle of Barra we continued our voyage onto our final destination which was lochboisdale on South Uist where we disembarked then followed a short car journey up to Lochmaddy which means “Loch of the dogs” on North Uist. We were staying at the excellent brand new modern stylish Scandinavian design hotel called ‘Tigh Dearg’ which I would highly recommend. The bedrooms are spacious and luxurious with super king size beds and en-suite facilities. The food was good too and the hotel has a well equipped gym, a sauna & steam room. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. The hotel has excellent access for the disabled too. For further information visit the hotel’s website www.tighdearghotel.co.uk Lochmaddy is a good place to base yourself whilst birding on these southern isles. It was unfortunate that our stay on the Uists coincided with a spell of unseasonable gales accompanied by torrential rain but this just made our visit more adventurous. It certainly didn’t stop us birding. On one day we travelled down to the island of Eriskay now joined to South Uist by a causeway. We could hardly stand up in the ferocious winds but nonetheless I saw Arctic Skua and a Storm Petrel. The weather was very squally and tended to clear by the afternoon. Ferry crossings were cancelled for a couple of days due to the bad weather and therefore we extended our stay. My list of birds wasn’t numerically great for the week but it was good in terms of quality. We saw White tailed-eagle, Red necked- phalarope, Hen harrier, Short eared-Owl, Arctic & Little terns, Arctic Skua (light & dark phase), Red throated-Diver, Gannets. We heard and saw the elusive corncrake during a visit to the RSPB reserve at Balranald. But what really gave me the greatest pleasure was seeing such a large number of breeding wading birds such as Lapwing, Redshank and Dunlin all with chicks. There is a high concentration of wading birds breeding on the Uists effectively making the islands of international conservation importance. Sadly there is a ‘spanner in the works’ as in the 1970’s someone in their wisdom decided to introduce hedgehogs onto the islands to control garden slugs. The hedgehogs multiplied and as part of their diet they have been eating the eggs of these grounds nesting waders therefore threatening their very existence. I understand that quite a few hedgehogs have been culled in order to reduce the population but this practise is stirring up some emotion. An equally substantial number of hedgehogs have also been rescued by individuals and organisations concerned about the culling operation and these animals have been successfully translocated to the mainland. Well folks I am not going to fall into the trap of getting embroiled in a debate about this issue as I am likely to get an ear bashing from some quarters. At least I have visited the islands and have been fascinated by the wonderful array and density of breeding waders. If the conservationists want to rid the islands of these delightful and thoroughly fascinating and spiky little mammals then please send them my way as I see precious little of them nowadays apart from squashed victims of our highways and by-ways. Likewise in my lifetime I have also witnessed the decline of many breeding wading birds from my Welsh homeland due primarily to habitat destruction as a result of changing farming practices. The residents of the Western Isles working with the conservation organisations involved with controlling the hedgehog population must take whatever action is necessary to preserve the unique wader population of the islands without allowing sentimentality to cloud their vision. I only hope that the situation is dealt with in a responsible humane and sensitive manner. Ultimately I hope that common sense will prevail.

One of our best days out on the isles was our drive across a short causeway from North Uist onto the low lying island of Berneray so loved by Prince Charles. It is easy to see why he was so enthralled by the island. The Uists are renowned for their colourful machair flowers and I think Berneray provides a fine example of this combined with the islands population of breeding waders and a superb three mile long sandy shell white beach this is an absolutely exquisite place to walk and immerse yourself in your thoughts. You may be lucky and have this magnificent stretch of beach to yourself. Berneray is also a great place to see common seals basking nonchalantly on the rocky shore. There is a good tearoom on the island called the ‘Lobster pot’ where you can get a bite to eat it also has a good shop if you have ideas on camping or self catering on the island. I have made reference to the Tigh Dearg Hotel having good disabled access then I must add that these south islands offer good birding opportunities to people who are wheelchair bound or not so good on their feet as a lot of birding can be done from a vehicle which is the best mobile hide in any case! Don’t be put off by the apparent remoteness of these islands they are easily accessible by the ‘CalMac’ ferries www.calmac.co.uk There is a good selection of bed & breakfast accommodation and self catering facilities available. Eating places are few and I would recommend the ones usually forming part of the community and art centres such as the ‘Taigh Chearsabhagh’ in Lochmaddy. For excellent cuisine I would also recommend the ‘Langass Lodge’ hotel which has recently undergone extensive alterations with the addition of a new extension. The food is exceptionally good here. Whilst having after dinner coffee in the lounge we were treated to good views of a fine looking male Hen Harrier and a Short-eared Owl! (www.langasslodge.co.uk) We didn’t see any Otters whilst on the islands but we did see their signs! We had precious little time on the islands but they are certainly worthy of further exploration so we will doubtless pay a return visit someday. From the Uists we crossed on the ferry from Lochmaddy to Uig on the Isle of Skye which is another fine island. I saw Storm Petrels on the voyage which were foraging in the vicinity of a fishing boat.

Our destination for the second week was Aviemore which is a good base to go birding in the Speyside and Cairngorms region. Of course we had to take the obligatory birdwatcher’s ‘pilgrimage’ and visit the RSPB’s reserve at Loch Garten to see the famous Ospreys. We saw the adults ‘E.J.’ (female) and ‘Henry’ (male) with their three well grown siblings. The male in typical theatrical form brought a fish for them whilst we were there. We also took a walk around the RSPB’s nearby Abernethy Forest and in a space of a few minutes near the parking area we saw Crested Tits, Red Squirrel and Roe Deer. The Wood Ant nests were still there but some appeared to have been attacked by an animal a Badger perhaps?

Aviemore is a popular and bustling holiday resort and if you like a bit of life then I guess it is a good place to stay for your birding expeditions in that area. If you happen to visit there you must call in at the ‘Mountain Café’ located above the Cairngorm Mountain Sports’ shop. They offer a menu consisting of healthy wholesome food and if you order a frothy cappuccino or latte coffee it will be made for you by skilled and trained staff whom seem to be generally made up of exceptionally friendly young people from the Antipodes! They claim that the coffee here is the best in Scotland I would actually go beyond that and say that their coffee is the best in these islands! Give it a try apart from anything else you will get fantastic views of the Cairngorm mountain range. I was even lucky enough to spot an Osprey carrying a fish whilst we were eating in the café! Another good birding area close by is Lochindorb which is a large freshwater loch surrounded by vast tracts of open heather moorland managed for Red Grouse. There were divers on the loch and we had superb views of three Ospreys fishing together over the loch. What particularly enthralled me was seeing a beautifully coloured Golden Plover uttering contact calls to its single cute little chick from a patch of heather near the roadside. I kept my distance not wishing to disturb the parent and chick but a couple of cyclists came along and they were as equally entranced by the birds as myself. They regularly cycled this route and this was the first occasion that they had seen a Plover and a chick. The Golden Plover is a species that breeds in the uplands of Britain and northern Europe and may be susceptible to any escalation in climate change. It’s all due to the Plovers breeding cycle. This species is breeding earlier than 20 years ago and the hatching of chicks is not coinciding with the availability of its main food source which are craneflies or daddy long legs to use their more familiar name. Basically the birds are adapting to climate change more quickly than their prey species. If you wish to seek further information on the research carried out on this issue please visit the RSPB’s website www.rspb.org.uk and refer to the section on climate change.

Other highlights of our Scottish holiday included a day trip from Oban to Mull where I saw an Otter in the sound between the two islands. During the afternoon we crossed on a ferry from Mull to the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and onto the westernmost point of land in mainland Britain. Standing near the magnificent statuesque lighthouse we looked west out towards the Western Isles which were visible on the distant horizon. Closer to the mainland to the north were what are called the Small Isles which consist of the islands of Rhum, Muck, Eigg and Canna (Rhum has the largest Manx Shearwater colony in the World). The point at Ardnamurchan is an excellent location to do some whale spotting or watch for seabird movements. We were astounded to see a Basking Shark feeding literally just yards off the rocky point its dorsal fin and upper part of the tail fin breaking the surface. In the clear water we could easily see its enormous gape as it sifted for plankton near the surface of the sea.

As for my choice of books for the touring birder in Scotland I recommend the following:- ‘Where to Watch Birds in Scotland’ by Mike Madders published by Christopher Helm (A & C Black Publishers Ltd;) also ‘The Rough Guide to the Scottish Highlands & Islands’ and its companion guide to the mainland ‘The Rough Guide to Scotland’ the authors of both books are Rob Humphreys and Donald Reid.

June 2006 - Voyage to the Celtic Deep
In May I was contacted by the eminent wildlife photographer Janet Baxter who invited me to accompany herself and Cliff Benson of the organisation ‘Sea Trust’ and his research team on a days voyage into the Celtic Deep area of the Irish Sea in search of cetaceans and other species of marine life. Without hesitation I gratefully accepted this invitation. Thus it was on the 2nd June 2006 with great excitement I boarded Nick O’Sullivan’s boat the ‘Celtic Wildcat’ and we left Neyland marina on the morning of that day on what for me was a great adventure. The area known as the Celtic Deep is an undersea ridge more than a 100m in depth lying about 20 miles off the south-west coast of Pembrokeshire. The upwelling and mixture of ocean currents in this region bring nutrients up from the deep waters which provide a rich food source for plankton ( minute and microscopic animal & plant life inhabiting the sea). Shoaling fish obtain their sustenance on this nutritious ‘seafood soup’ which in turn benefit the marine animals higher up the food chain such as whales, dolphins, porpoise and even man! This southern area of the Irish Sea and St George’s channel further north is renowned for frequent sightings of common, bottlenose, Risso’s dolphins and the occasional appearance of whales too as well as basking sharks which feed on the rich plankton.

Commencing our voyage we headed out of the shelter of the haven on a gloriously sunny day the wind was light so sea conditions were relatively calm. We passed St. Ann’s head with its lighthouse on our starboard side and then the islands of Skomer and Skokholm. As we cruised further out to sea gannets became more evident there were lines of them, no doubt laden with fish, making their way back to the island of Grassholm which we could see in the distance with its huge gannet colony (about 32,000 pairs at the last count). I wished we had been able to get closer to it but the crew were on a mission and so a visit to Grassholm must be reserved for another day. As we got further from land we spotted our first pod of common dolphins which contained adults with calves some members of the pod entertained us by joining our boat for brief bouts of bow-riding. There were numerous auks too such as guillemots, razorbills and puffins. We saw a grey seal and a couple of small specimens of sunfish. On the edge of the Celtic deep we encountered a French or Belgian trawler which was trawling nets. From a distance we could see many sea-birds following the vessel. We made our approach and the air was buzzing with excitement as amongst the gannets gulls and fulmars following in the wake of the boat there were numerous European storm petrels too. Minute ocean going tube nosed seabirds hardly bigger than a house martin flying around with great agility and occasionally pattering the surface with their tiny webbed feet in characteristic fashion looking for rich pickings on the sea surface. Cameras were clicking with great aplomb! The stiff winged fulmars whizzed close to our heads casting a stare at us with those dark almost demonic eyes. Seeing the ‘stormies’ feeding far out at sea in this manner was a realisation of a dream for me.

I had harboured a wish for many years to see these birds in their natural element. It was over 30 years ago that I saw my first storm petrels and that was when I stayed on Skokholm island. The birds breed on this small magical island off the Pembrokeshire coast and I remember listening to the ‘purring’ calls uttered by the males only emanating from within their burrows situated in the field boundary walls on the island. I searched for them too in the boulder strewn bays where they nest in the crevices. I remember Michael Brooke, who was the warden of Skokholm at that time, mist-netting the birds at night (they are nocturnal visitors to their colonies) in order to ring them. They looked so delicate in the hand. But back to today it was like this that I had a great desire to see the ‘stormies’ out at sea in the daylight hours in their true element. As is the case with many species of the ‘petrel’ family they are no great lovers of the land and only utilise it to raise their single chick annually. At other periods of the year they ride out the great storms deep out in the ocean. The author and naturalist Ronald Lockley in the introduction to his book the ‘Flight of the Storm Petrel’ gives a vivid first hand account of how when he was on board a ship in the North Atlantic he witnessed the birds cope against the elements in hurricane force winds. The book is well worth reading if you can get hold of a copy. From our boat I watched these birds in awe and with great admiration. We saw a ‘bonxie’ or great skua too harrying the other seabirds hoping they would regurgitate their last meal of fish. We were well on the edge of the deep shelf and out of sight of land save for the tall pinnacle of the Smalls lighthouse standing solidly on its lonely rock a few nautical miles distant to the North.

On our voyage home we encountered a couple of other family pods of common dolphin. We also came across something quite disturbing. We caught sight of the carcass of a dolphin species floating on the surface of the sea and around its tail stock there was tied a short length of rope which was clearly the work of man. Cliff and his team formed the opinion that the poor creature was the victim of one of those infamous by-catch incidents which have become so prevalent in Cornish waters and in the Bay of Biscay area and frequently make the headlines and now we were witnessing evidence of this carnage first hand. Cliff Benson thought that the dolphin had probably met its end much further south and had drifted this far north on the ocean currents. Undoubtedly the dolphin had been caught in a trawler net and being unable to escape had drowned and after the net was subsequently hauled aboard a fishing boat the unfortunate animal was removed from the net and cast over the side. At least a solitary fulmar was making a feast of it eagerly pecking away at the flesh of the carcass! In spite of this unpleasant find I had immensely enjoyed my day and I extend my thanks to Cliff Benson, Janet Baxter and the skipper Nick O’Sullivan for a truly fantastic experience. I have been informed by Cliff that a vessel containing ‘Sea watch’ Foundation ( www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk ) personnel were out in the Celtic Deep that same day and had seen humpback whales! The following day Janet was out on a R.I.B. boat near the Smalls off the Pembrokeshire coast and they encountered a Minke whale. On the 12th June 2006 Cliff Benson was sea-watching off Strumble Head near Fishguard and watched a humpback whale in the sea about a mile offshore which was breaching repeatedly for about 40 minutes! Why go to the expense of flying abroad to far away exotic places to see these great whales when we have them on our own doorstep or should I say in our local pond!

For more information on the work of the organisation ‘Sea Trust’ visit their website on www.seatrust.org.uk

Are you often baffled by those strange animal noises you sometimes hear on your walks in the countryside especially at night? then my tip for recommended reading or should I say listening this month is the ‘Collins Field Guide to Wildlife Sounds of Britain & Ireland’ which includes an audio CD. In it you will find a nice selection of over 50 animal sounds ranging from mammals birds reptiles & amphibians and even insects with voice notes by the author Geoff Sample.

Pembrokeshire and Skomer, May 2006
Pembrokeshire in May is a vibrant patchwork of rich and luxuriant verdant green fields moistened by the salt laden Atlantic winds with hedge banks full of the colour of spring flowers. My wife and I spent a week there during the middle of the month. In my opinion this is undoubtedly the best time of year to visit this magical corner of Wales to get the benefit of seeing the masses of colour provided by the spring flowers. It is also relatively quiet from a tourist point of view. The main purpose of our visit was to embark on a boat trip to the national nature reserve at Skomer island which is without doubt the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Welsh birding ‘hotspots’. Of course the island is famous for its seabirds. There are Puffins in abundance as well as Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Fulmars all adding to a chorus of mixed sounds as they court, jostle and cajole in their active colonies. There are the Manx Shearwaters too but you will not see these fascinating birds on your day trip only their burrows or their numerous carcasses which lie about the island having fallen victim to predation by Great Black-backed Gulls. Some visitors may find this a distressing sight whilst walking around. As you disembark on the island off the boat the warden will warn you of this occurrence it is however part of the natural cycle of life and more likely than not the victims are non breeding or unpaired birds. The returning breeding birds will scoot down their burrows as quickly as possible upon landing called in by their mates. To witness the antics of these mysterious but fascinating birds you would have to stay on Skomer for a night. I would highly recommend you do this but advise you to wait until next year when hopefully the new accommodation block will be completed (details can be obtained from the South & West Wales Wildlife Trust who manage the island). On our day trip to Skomer we also saw Peregrine Falcon, Chough and offshore there were Harbour Porpoise.

But it is the wild flowers that provide the highlight on Skomer in May, the vast carpets of bluebells and red campions and the white of sea campion. Walking through a ‘sea’ of bluebells is an experience not to be missed. If you wish to visit Skomer the boat you need is the ‘Dale Princess’ which leaves from Martins Haven (take the Dale road from Haverfordwest and head towards Marloes). The first boat leaves at 10am and my advice to you is to get there early as only 250 people are permitted on the island each day so if you can manage it join the queue for the boat at least by 9am to avoid disappointment. The boat crossings are very weather dependent so keep a close eye on the forecast the day before. We were lucky enough to have picked the only day that the boat crossed to the island during that week as the weather deteriorated thereafter. To see one of Skomers most prolific residents the Manx Shearwater I had to pay a visit to another part of Pembrokeshire I speak of course of what is undoubtedly the best sea-watching spot in Wales and that is Strumble Head or ‘Pen-Caer’ located 5 miles south of Fishguard. This is one of my all time favourite birding spots. This is a magical location at any time of the year but spend a few hours here during the summer months after daybreak or from early evening and you will see literally thousands of ‘Manxies’ fly past the headland in a northerly or southerly direction to and from their colonies on Skomer & Skokholm. The birds will have been on their fishing forays in Cardigan Bay and the Irish sea areas. Likewise you will see hundreds of auks as well as numerous Gannets, Kittiwakes and Fulmars. If you are keen eyed you cannot fail also to see Harbour Porpoise as this location is one of the best places in Wales to see Britain’s smallest cetacean. During my week there I spent a couple of hours early one morning in the teeth of an unseasonable gale watching with awe the thousands of shearwaters and other seabirds battling to make headway against the fierce winds and making headway they were too in a classic example of what is termed ‘Dynamic Soaring’ which is the method they adopt to make progress by harnessing the energy of the wind to gain lift and momentum. It is little wonder that these amazing Transequatorial travellers can cover such vast distances in a short period of time. Watching all this I was thankful for the shelter provided by the wartime observation building on the head.

You may recall reading in my previous nature notes that earlier this year I had erected 20 nestboxes in a local woodland well I am pleased to report that I examined the boxes on the 9th May and discovered that eighteen of them were occupied and the 2 remaining boxes had traces of moss or wool suggesting that a bird had been scouting around in them. Seven of the boxes were occupied by Pied Flycatchers, three by Great Tits and eight by Blue Tits. I am immensely pleased at the take up rate of the boxes for the first year. Whilst in the wood I sat on the ground and watched a Wood Warbler as it foraged for insects in the canopy of an oak tree above me the yellowish-green plumage of this beautiful warbler co-ordinated exquisitely with the pale green colour of the young leaf shoots of the oak. I was enchanted by its all to brief song delivered as it moved around the tree canopy. Back home House Martins are nesting in in two conjoined artificial nests under the eaves of my house and other pairs are starting to build natural mud nests around the rest of the house. Five other nestboxes around my garden are occupied 2 with blue tits 2 with Pied Flycatchers (the one nearest my house has seven chicks). The box which I have attached to my house containing a nest cam has an incubating Great Tit. We are able to watch live action on the direct link to our TV set. It beats watching the soaps! I suspect that a Tawny Owl or two which have fledged from a nest in a stance of Cypress trees in my garden are having a rough time of it from the other birds. Daily I hear a constant barrage of alarm calls, predominantly from blackbirds, from a section of the trees aimed no doubt at the roosting owls. What hope is there for any solace for the owls! My birding tip for this month is to suggest that you take a look at the organisation ‘BirdLife International’ website www.birdlife.org to read about conservation issues around the World. You can if you wish sign up to receive free e-mail alerts concerning the latest issues. Click on the ‘News’ section to register. Finally enjoy your birding in June which is another great month to get out and about.

Early Spring 2006
Hooray spring has well and truly arrived! The last couple of days I have had the ‘firsts’ of the year, the 1st Swallow, the 1st Willow Warbler, the 1st butterfly which was a Red Admiral, the 1st bumblebee and the 1st frogspawn. I have had a brilliant two days watching birds of prey too.

Today at an undisclosed location in Wales I watched a pair of Hen Harriers soaring and gliding above a high ridge the exquisite pale coloured male performing an acrobatic ‘sky-dance’ display in order to impress the female. On a number of occasions he hurled himself towards the ground from skywards veering off at the last moment. I watched the birds through my scope as they glided above a Peregrine perched sentinel like on top of the ridge this may have been a male bird (tiercel) possibly keeping a close eye on his own eyrie. The Welsh name for the Hen harrier is ‘Bod Tinwen’ (White-bottomed Buzzard). To get to the location I had walked through an area of land known as ‘Ffridd’ in Wales (hill ground which has been enclosed and subjected to some improvement) here there were Meadow Pipits in abundance and I watched a dashing male Stonechat. Yesterday (4th April) near my home I watched 5 Yellowhammers feeding around a sheep trough. The farmer is probably unaware that he is helping to sustain this very colourful bird whose population in Britain has plummeted during the last few years. It needs all the help it can get. Yellowhammers once bred commonly throughout mainland Britain. In my home area they are still relatively common because the habitat which is so important for their survival still exists. How very sad it would be if we were to lose this species from our countryside in the future.

Yesterday afternoon I took a spin to Llanfihangel-y-Pennant in the Dysynni Valley. I watched a Red Kite soaring above the ruins of ‘Castell-y-Bere’ which is situated on a rocky hillock. The castle was built by the powerful 12th century Welsh Lord Llywelyn ab Iorwerth otherwise better known ‘Llywelyn the Great’. A Welshman would realise the symbolism of seeing this bird above Castell-y-Bere. Here was a kite a bird which has survived against all the odds relentlessly persecuted by a succession of aggressors with ill intent to a degree which nearly resulted in its demise as a native species. In many respects its fortunes parallels the struggle of the Welsh nation to maintain its existence in an ever changing World. But enough of this patriotic rhetoric! ‘we’ (the Kite & the Welsh) survive still and that’s what matters. I drove past the castle and made my way towards the ruins of the home of one of Merionethshire’s famous children I speak of course of Mary Jones. Legend relates that in the year 1800 Mary at the tender age of sixteen walked from her home at Llanfihangel-y-Pennant over the hills to Bala a distance of about 25 miles to procure a copy of the Welsh bible from the Reverend Thomas Charles. A monument now stands in the ruins of Mary’s old home to remind all who visit this spot about her epic walk. Just beyond Mary’s home is a fine stance of mature Beech trees bordering the Afon Cadair (river Cadair) with its sparkling crystal clear water its source originating on that famous mountain of the same name. I walked through a carpet of last autumns fallen beech mast which crunched underfoot. I sat momentarily on a moss covered tree stump taking in the peaceful ambience of this delightful place. I watched a Dipper feeding in the stream just yards away from me resplendent in his black coat, chestnut brown waistcoat and white shirt! It came out of the stream and perched on a boulder and was bobbing up and down in characteristic fashion as if curtseying and he looked every bit a country gentleman! (my apologies to the purists among my readers for a touch of anthropomorphism!) The Dipper of course is well adapted to its watery habitat. They literally walk on the riverbed defying the laws of hydrodynamics in search of its favoured invertebrate prey which is the larvae of the caddis-fly. The Welsh name for the Dipper is ‘Bronwen-y-Dwr’ (White-breasted Water (Bird).

Finally that day I paid a brief visit to Craig-yr-Aderyn (Bird Rock) where I saw a pair of Chough. The Cormorants were back on their nesting ledges and there was some comings and goings from the great rock towards the sea on their fishing expeditions. There was no sign of the Peregrines but I had seen a pair on the rock on a previous visit in March. During the exceptionally high tide on the 31st March I positioned myself on a high point in the dunes area at Ynyslas at the mouth of the Dyfi estuary. As the tide ebbed a small flock of waders landed on a spit of land. The flock consisted of several Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and a solitary Turnstone. A Peregrine flew overhead. Out at sea I saw a single Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver, a couple of Sandwich Terns and my 1st sighting of Manx Shearwater this year. I really love this time of year. The spring is such an uplifting season particularly following the hard winter just passed. April is an exciting month for bird migration so my advice to you all is to get out there with your binoculars and watch out for the arrival of our summer visitors.

My reading recommendation this month is Mark Cocker and Richard Mabey’s literary masterpiece ‘Birds Britannica’ published by ‘Chatto & Windus’. I had looked at this book a couple of times before buying it. It was only when I really delved into it that I discovered that it was crammed full of anecdotal tales concerning man’s relationship with birds through the centuries. It’s a great book to keep on your coffee table.

February 2006
Its early March and as I write, parts of Britain are in the grips of winter. I guess its been an exciting week for children with great opportunities for sledging but I’m sure its not been so good for birds. Many will no doubt have perished in the freezing conditions at night weakened by the inability to find sufficient food during daylight hours under the blanket of snow. The cold weather will have caused a lot of bird movements in the country with many seeking unaffected areas. I have particularly noticed an influx of Song Thrushes and Blackbirds into my local patch in greater numbers than I normally see and I have even had Redwing visiting my garden seeking sustenance in the areas free of snow. Meadow Pipits have also been unusual visitors feeding on earthworms. Today my wife and I had fantastic views of a pair of Peregrine Falcons in a deep valley in mid-Wales our attention was drawn to the perched birds by one of them uttering their characteristic piercing calls. Earlier on in the month of February I watched about 300 Golden Plover feeding in a field and mingled in with them were a few Lapwing and Fieldfare. Moles were present too evident by their industrious excavations in the form of ‘molehills’. I imagine that all these animals were feeding on that vastly important member of our Invertebrate fauna- the Earthworm. This creature leads a dangerous lifestyle constantly at risk of ending up as the next meal to a myriad of birds and mammals. There must surely be vast numbers of worms to an acre of land. Did you know that on one acre worms bring to the surface about 18 tonnes of soil per year. Their actions mix, aerate and break up the soil thus improving germination and growth of plant life. So three cheers for our humble earthworm I say! The following day I took a walk in my local woodland with the dog and flushed a Woodcock it flew silently away unseen by the dog. Three Ravens flew noisily above me the leading bird was being pursued and harried by the second raven so I guessed it was an intruder. As I continued walking along the track I heard a couple of barks from a Fox and further on the strong scent of Fox pervaded the air. My dog must have sensed it too because he decided to leave his own mark under a bush looked on by an indignant pair of blue tits!

I visited two RSPB reserves in Wales during the month firstly Ynys-hir at high tide. I made my way down to the breakwater hide overlooking the saltings there were some good wading birds about Dunlin, Knot, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit. On the tenth of the month with my good friend Joe Hawthorne I visited the RSPB reserve at Conwy. We scanned the estuary and saw many Redshank, Ringed Plover and Curlew on the mudflats. We received a warm welcome at the Information centre from Alan Davies and his staff. From the comfort of the centre we watched Water Rail, Reed Bunting and Water Pipit. Alan informed us that the Pipit probably originated from the Alpine region of Europe. I asked him if the starlings were presently roosting on the reserve at dusk and he told me that they had been absent for about a fortnight. Joe and I walked around the reserve and saw numerous duck species on the pools. We discovered the remains of a Lapwing on the path on the river side of the reserve which I surmised was the result of a Peregrine kill which might account for the absence of the starlings perhaps. If a peregrine was regularly visiting the reserve then this might deter them from roosting. We walked further along the path and watched a smart looking duo of Grey Plover on the mudflats. February was a good month for birds of prey too. On the 13th of the month I counted 16 kites fly to a roost at dusk near my home. On the 18th I had brilliant views of a female Merlin on wires near the Leri boatyard at Ynyslas and on the 21st I watched a Goshawk from my house being harried by crows. The frozen upland lakes during the latter days of the month and the beginning of March have caused movements of the local wintering Goldeneye from one body of water to another. This attractive duck is a great favourite of mine I never tire watching them. Sunday 26th was a bitterly cold day at the Nant-yr-Arian Kite feeding station. The kites must have been hungry as there were around 70 birds in attendance at feeding time. I heard a Crossbill near the information centre. On the 18th I had visited the Kite feeding station at Gigrin Farm with 2 clients. It was a superb day and the lighting conditions were brilliant for birding. We waited in the hide at 2pm for the kites to come down in their masses but we had to wait a bit longer as they weren’t ’playing’. It was evident that there were warm thermals in the air. There were many kites around but they were scattered over a wide area of sky. In the sky above Gigrin we watched a tight group of about 60 Ravens in a thermal quite high up and there  seemed to be some social interaction taking place as a group. Dare I say it, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves! The kites eventually came down to feed in their droves appearing as if by magic and we made a mad dash back to the hide to watch the spectacular spectacle of the birds bombing down to pick up the meat one after the other in characteristic form with a background chorus of bird voices as an accompaniment from a host of ravens and crows perched on nearby trees. It was pure theatre!  

January 2006
January 2006 seems to have been a relatively calm and a much drier month than average throughout the whole of the UK. Here in Wales we have experienced a few days which have been crisp cold and frosty which is the kind of invigorating weather I personally favour. In terms of Wildlife watching the highlight of the month for me was undoubtedly the sighting of Otters I have had on two separate days. On the 1st day of January my wife and I were returning from the Tyn-y-Cornel hotel by Tal-y-Llyn lake in Gwynedd and we spotted a dog Otter hunting in the lake near the roadside the animal was oblivious to the passing traffic. If that wasn't exciting enough I journeyed that way on my own on the 23rd of the month and remarkably I spotted another Otter in the lake which I then watched through my telescope for about half an hour. Each time it dived I was able to follow its progress under water by looking at the stream of air bubbles rising to the surface caused by the release of trapped air from the Otters coat. The Otters coat consists of two layers of fur the under layer is short and dense enough to help reduce the contact of cold water with the animals skin so helping to insulate it from the coldness of its watery habitat. The outer layer of the coat is longer and is folded over by the weight of the water so that the air is kind of 'sandwiched' between the two layers. As the Otter surfaces the outer guard hairs stick together in a spiky fashion giving the animal a hairstyle a bit like that of the Welsh rugby player Gavin Henson! I watched this Otter dive and surface a few times until it eventually caught an Eel and it then rapidly swam towards a nearby reedbed to devour its catch away from the prying eyes of other animals (myself included!). I am presently reading an excellent book on this fascinating mammal entitled 'The Otter among us' written by James Williams and published by Tiercel SB Publishing. This book gives a fascinating insight into the natural history of Otters by a man who has excellent knowledge of his subject.

My observation of the Otter on Tal-y-Llyn was greatly enhanced by the fact that I had only recently purchased a zoom lens for my scope from the RSPB reserve at Conwy. It enabled me to conduct a detailed study of the animal without causing it disturbance and affecting its behaviour. RSPB Conwy have an excellent selection of Optics which can be tried and tested before purchase. The warden Alan Davies is often on hand to give his expert advice. The Conwy reserve is a superb environment to try out the various binoculars and scopes available from the very best manufacturers and the birding is always good there too. Within minutes of walking into the visitor centre I was watching 3 Water Rails, Water Pipit, Reed Buntings, Snipe, Teal etc; all from the warmth and comfort of the visitor centre! The Conwy reserve is well worth a visit at any time of the year. My major task during the month was to put up 20 nestboxes in a woodland to encourage species such as Great & Blue Tits, Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts and Nuthatch. These boxes are the standard design with a 32mm entrance hole but they are special in that they are constructed of 100% recycled material (car seats to be more exact!) It is claimed that this innovative design provides excellent insulating properties will not rot and has an extremely long life. So watch this space and I will report back to readers at the end of this years breeding season. These 'Eco hole nest boxes' can be purchased from CJ Wildbird foods Ltd; Their website can be accessed on my 'links' page. If you are considering putting up nestboxes then you should be planning to do it this month at the latest as birds are really showing signs of courtship behaviour now. Of course for those of us lucky enough to have Pied Flycatchers in our local woodlands will have a bit more time to put up boxes because this species will not arrive on our shores from Africa until early April. A couple of years ago I had a pair of Nuthatches raise young in a nestbox in my garden. After they fledged I cleared the box out and within a couple of days a pair of Pied Flycatchers took up occupancy of the same box! I have a selection of nestboxes in my garden and along a tree lined river. The majority are made by the German company 'Schwegler' the sole agents for the sale of these boxes in the UK are a firm called Jacobi Jayne & Company. Visit their website on www.livingwithbirds.com these robust nestboxes are made out of an incredibly tough and durable material called 'WoodcretePLUS' the occupancy rate of these is very high and due to their insulating qualities they provide warmth and are waterproof for winter roosting and are cool during those hot summer days affording extra protection for the chicks. They come supplied with strong aluminium nails to fix them to trees these prevent damage to chainsaws when the tree is eventually felled. If you obtain these boxes please ensure that you do not knock the nail all the way into the tree as in due course the tree will grow around the head of the nail. I have used special fixing screws called 'Arbor bolts' which can be bought from Jacobi Jayne. These have a spring attached which contracts as the tree grows but they are expensive to buy. I also have a couple of very smart Canadian Cedar nestboxes which are obtainable from the same company in one of these I have installed an 'Eco-watch' infra-red nest box camera with a cable extending to my TV set so I am able to watch the proceedings within the box day and night. Last year I was able to watch a brood of Blue Tits being raised which was fascinating. My wife and I spent hours watching the activities within the box throughout the whole process of raising the young it was much better and more educational than watching the TV soaps! There is a vast selection of boxes for you to choose from on the market. Putting up well constructed and securely fixed boxes in your garden or a local woodland provides wild birds with nesting opportunities which may not be available or at least be in short supply due to competition in their natural habitats. I make this plea to my readers please buy wisely from a reputable source such as the ones I've mentioned in this article. Pay a little more for a quality product and do not buy something which is 'cheap & nasty' and may not be the correct dimensions or provide adequate safety to the occupants of the box. Always put the welfare of the birds first. The height at which you place them is not of critical importance but safety from avian and mammalian predators should be a consideration. I normally erect my boxes at eye level to make it easier to inspect them. If possible fit metal plates over the entrance to wooden nestboxes these plates should have a hole in them of the same dimension as the original entrance such as 32mm for example. You can buy these sturdy metal plates from CJ Wildbird foods or the RSPB's 'on line' store. It is an unfortunate fact that wooden nestboxes are attacked by animals such as squirrels and even Great Spotted Woodpeckers who predate on the eggs and young of hole nesting birds. A metal plate over the entrance will help to prevent that occurring. The boxes should be placed in the sector facing through from North to South away from the prevailing inclement weather. A good guide is to study the growth of moss on the trunk of the tree.

As to other 'birding' news during the month of January I have spent a lot of time at the Kite Feeding station at the Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian Forest Centre near Ponterwyd. There have been up to six Goldeneye on the lake and I have had great pleasure in observing the drake Goldeneye displaying to the females, these birds pair off on their wintering grounds before flying back in March to their Fennoscandian breeding grounds. I have also seen Tufted Duck, Goosander, Little Grebe and a visit from a party of Mute Swans on the lake. There have been other continental visitors too such as a couple of Bramblings amongst Chaffinches feeding on the ground below the giant seed feeder provided by the RSPB and replenished by Forestry Commission staff. I have also heard Crossbills. They are often recorded at this location. Then of course there are the kites which are fed daily at 2pm in the winter. The numbers seen have been fluctuating recently due to factors not entirely determined. Their numbers have been greatest during the very coldest of days such as over the past weekend when they have neared the 100 mark providing a spectacular sight. I have also visited the Aber Dysynni area a couple of times last month and have seen the usual array of birds such as Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, Redshank, Turnstone and a single Purple Sandpiper which was a 'first' for me at this location. The Eider Duck males have been showing signs of 'amorous' behaviour and fighting to seek the attention of the ducks. On the Broadwater area I saw a solitary Brent Goose when it took flight I saw that it had an injured right leg. It actually looked as if it was broken. The bird looked healthy enough as it was on its belly when I first observed it grazing the short turf around it. Yesterday I paid a visit to the RSPB reserve at Ynys-hir. The oak woodlands may appear quiet at this time of year but in fact after patiently watching I saw Redwings moving stealthily through the trees, Blackbirds, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker. What I really liked about this walk through the sessile oak woodland on the reserve is that it looked completely natural with an extensive shrub layer which included climbing honeysuckle the bark of which is favoured by the Common Dormouse for nest building. Of course this exquisitely attractive animal with its distinctive bushy tail is an agile climber it is strictly nocturnal in its habits and will be in a state of hibernation at this time of year snugly curled up in a nest at or below ground level. I wondered if there were any in this woodland. I continued to make my way towards the breakwater hide and saw a female Bullfinch, another Goldcrest and a party of delightful long tailed-tits hanging on the end of twigs feeding on the buds. They were like miniature acrobats showing that lovely characteristic 'pinkish' colouration on their plumage. I stood mesmerized as they were in such close proximity to me that if I had extended my arm out I could have touched them. I could have watched them for hours but I needed to get to the breakwater hide as the sun was setting. On the way I saw Teal, Shoveler and Wigeon on the flooded wet pasture as well as Lapwing and numerous Common Snipe. Ravens called in the distance. I met a Scottish couple making their way from the hide and they had seen a Peregrine being mobbed by crows. There were about 50 Knot resting on the waterlogged area of the pasture. On reaching the hide I scanned the Estuary and saltings and saw grazing parties of Wigeon on the saltmarsh as well as a Little Egret in one of the creeks. There were Shelduck on the estuary and another group of Knot busily probing the mud. On my walk back to the visitor centre I checked out some old Otter spraint and got quite close to a group of grazing Wigeon. I also saw Pintail and many more Snipe. On a final note I hope you all took part in the great project in what has been described in some quarters as 'Citizen Science' during the weekend of the 28-29th January and counted the birds in your garden or park for the RSPB's 'Big Garden Birdwatch 2006' event if you didn't then watch out for it next year. It will then be in its 28th year. Happy birding to all my readers in 2006.

Current Nature Notes

Nature Notes 2005