Wales Update

Since my last post the Wales bird list has moved on to 95 and new species are becoming hard to find. Some good species were picked up after visiting a few nature reserves, like, Llangorse, Ynys Hir, Dinas, the riverside at Hay on Wye and another couple of Gilfach visits, as well as a couple of failed dragonfly visits to the upland peat bogs.

Difficult to find species like WATER RAIL, REDSHANK, GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL, LITTLE EGRET, OYSTERCATCHER, OSPREY, PEREGRINE, MARSH TIT, COMMON SANDPIPER and CETTIS WARBLER, (the latter find was a local rarity for Llangorse lakes!) have pushed the list to within 5 species of our target of 100.

A visit to Aberystwith either tomorrow or Monday, to try to find the Choughs and maybe a couple of sea birds will push our list tantalisingly near to our target if we are successful  :-)

Common Sandpiper

SISKIN

Wales continued.......

With heavy rain and high winds predicted late morning, we decided upon a 6am start back at Gilfach Nature Reserve. A decent tally of 37 species were recorded with RED KITE, BUZZARD and KESTREL representing the raptors. A single CUCKOO called, as did a Yellowhammer and a single Dipper sighting was also had. Four singing TREE PIPITS were a joy to hear, the ever present REDSTARTS were hunting down food for their nestlings and 2 juvenile STONECHAT were watched begging for food with their parents in nearby attendance, these being new for the Wales list. Further additions to the Wales list were had, with sightings of MISTLE THRUSH and a singing TREECREEPER in the vicinity of the visitor centre.

With the sun disappearing, we made our way to Builth Wells for a walk along the river, where 36 species were recorded including a female GOOSANDER with 4 young. A COMMON SANDPIPER flew down the river, whilst a COLLARED DOVE was heard and then seen, which was an addition to the Wales list, as was the singing GREENFINCH, this took the list to 75, where it ended for the day. LONG TAILED TIT, GOLDCREST and ROBIN had young on display, plus a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER sang its plain, simple song, but the heavens opened shortly after, bringing a premature end to the days birdwatching  :-(

No photo's today in the poor light, hopefully tomorrow i'll get a few images  :-)