News and Photographs - Archive News - More Welsh birds - to 11^th May 2008

1^st May. A good days birding planned with a second quest to find some Tree Pipits. This time I was successful and the distinctive Chaffinch like start to the song was a real giveaway. Next it was on to Kenfig where a Black-Winged Stilt gave superb views. Seeing as it was the first of May it seemed more than apt to attempt photographing the growing number of Swift that were feeding low over the pool. Also a Greenfinch posed on the gorse for a quick photo. After a quick trip to Margam moors looking for Yellow Wagtail and only finding a nice Stonechat we headed off up the Neath Valley to try and find some proper "Welsh" birds. We headed to Melin Court Falls, where the afternoon light was dappled by the early summer leaves, making the valley below us sparkle. No Pied Flycatchers, but we did find an enthusiastic Wood Warbler who was belting out both the "spinning coin" and the "Pew pew pew" songs.

2^nd May. A free afternoon, so I tried to find some more Welsh birds but this time in England! I drove up to the Forest of Dean and to the RSPB reserve at Nagshead hoping to see Pied Fly and or Redstart. I did get some distant views of both but the real star was my first British glimpse of a pair of Hawfinch high up in the canopy. Well worth the trip even if I only took a total of 10 pictures!

5^th May. A very early start as it seemed the Stilt at Kenfig had been joined by another scarce visitor. Surely enough a single Whiskered Tern had stayed overnight and was feeding over the pool. It gave some lovely views in the grey morning light and eventually rested on a post to which we managed to get fairly close. What a great Welsh tick!

10^th May. A weekend away with the family and a trip to Mid Wales and the opportunity to watch a few nice species. An early walk along the river Severn near Llandinam brought a surprise with a really close view of two Red-Legged Partridge in the mist. Common Sandpiper and Sand Martins were much in evidence but the light meant camera chances were slim. As the sun burned the mist away we headed towards Caersws checking out the shingle banks where we had great views of Little Ringed Plover with flyby views of Oystercatcher, Curlew and Greenshank a bonus. During the day it was a nice challenge to photograph the singing Garden Warbler, a pair of Buzzard that drifted overhead and also the wonderful Pied Flycatcher.

11^th May. A very early alarm and a trip to the great little reserve at Dolydd Hafren. Many nice things around with great views of Hare, singing Garden Warblers, and many Common Sandpiper, Mallard and a few Goosander on the river. The photo star of the morning were several Reed Warbler with great views from the elevated hides down to the small patches of reed below. Just as we were about to leave, a Magpie came to drink and gave a lovely photo opportunity. Then it was back home for some more Pied Flycatcher pictures and also a lovely Goldfinch before heading back home.