Griswold's Birding Year 2016 (1 Viewer)

Had another family day out today. Good to see decent numbers of Fulmars off the cliffs at Rhosilli and just out in the bay were two Gannets plunge diving:t:

152. Gannet

Stopped and had a very decent pint of Gower Gold at The King Arthur in Reynoldstone on the way home as wellB

Rich

And yet another family day out today. Stopped off at Loughor Bridge on the way to Penclacwydd. Some Grey Herons and Little Egrets around plus we quickly got on to a single Whimbrel.

Over at Penclacwydd there were Warblers singing pretty much everywhere. Chiffs, Willow Warblers, Cettis, Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers. Plus a couple of Med Gulls from the Sir Peter Scott Hide.

153. Whimbrel
154. Common Whitethroat
155. Reed Warbler
156. Sedge Warbler

And finished off in the Bryngwyn Newydd for a tasty meal:t::eat:

Rich

First Swifts of the year over the Cimla this morning.

157. Swift

158. Hooded Crow

159. Common Sandpiper
160. Golden Eagle
161. Turnstone
162. Ring Necked Duck
163. Cuckoo
164. Ptarmigan

All on Skye and West Coast of Scotland today.

Rich

165. White Tailed Eagle
166. Bonxie

Rich

Had a day over in Speyside yesterday and added:

167. Crested Tit
168. Red Grouse
169. Osprey

Rich

170. Twite
171. Tystie
172. Razorbill
173. Common Guillemot


All on Skye today.

Rich

174. Arctic Tern
175. Arctic Skua
176. Puffin

All on Handa today:t:

Rich

177. Spotted Flycatcher

Loch Garten this afternoon.

Rich

Lovely morning at RSPB Dinas today. Cuckoos could be heard in the surrounding hills and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming away.

Dipped on the Marsh Tits but there were plenty of other great birds to make up for them. Yellowhammers were feeding by the picnic table and Spotted Flycatchers were along the boardwalk. I could hear at least 4 Garden Warblers singing away. Two were in the tree by the picnic tables. Can't remember seeing so many Tree Pipits, Common Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers on the reserve. They appear to be having a good year. Wood Warblers also present with several heard and a good number of Willow Warblers were also present.

178. Garden Warbler
179. Wood Warbler
180. Pied Flycatcher

Couple of gorgeous dogs also on the reserve. A Field Spaniel that had recently recovered from a broken leg and a Black Lab were very well behaved:t:

Wasn't expecting to anything to the list prior to going to Spain tomorrow but thanks to Dan and Rob on Twitter this isn't the case. Thanks for the directions both:t:

181. Gull Billed Tern Lifer #4 B B B
182. Spoonbill

Time to pack8-P

Rich

Some shots from last weeks holiday. Mostly from the balcony.

And a few more:

Had a decent few hours around Newport Wetlands and Goldcliff this morning. The first time I've been birding in the UK for almost 3 weeks:eek!: Plenty of Reed/ Cettis/ Sedge Warblers around and Common Whitethroats. Also a Cuckoo at the end of Saltmarsh Lane.

Summer plumaged Knot were at Goldcliff along with Summer plumaged Dunlin, Avocets and Greenshank.

Added the following:

183. Bearded Tit
184. Lesser Whitethroat
185. Curlew Sandpiper

Cracking day out with Kev yesterday despite spending several hours on Portland Bill and failing to find the Cuckoo:-C. This was despite the great directions from a fellow Taff at the observatory (cheers Ian:t and some very friendly birders met throughout the course of the afternoon. Sod's law meant that it was seen again this morning in the exact spot that we were for quite some time yesterday:-O

The morning started very well. Left Port Toilet before 5 and headed straight for Ham Wall. Warblers (Garden, Blackcap, Cettis, Sedge, Reed, Whitethroats)singing everywhere with Bitterns booming in the background. A quick stop at the Avalon Hide gave great views of several Marsh Harriers and a couple of Great Egrets. Back on the reserve, and whilst chatting to a photographer from Glastonbury, the first of quite a few Bitterns were seen. Lost a couple of pints of blood to the local Mossies but it was worth it:t:

Over at Meare Heath a Great Egret gave a good size comparison with a Little Egret. The new hide initially I thought was great. The shutter opening system was dreadful however:eek!: Noisy and clumsy - not great.

From here it was over to Greylake. Another Bittern booming along with another Marsh Harrier from the hide. Plenty of Cettis again and a distant Yellow Wagtail was seen upon a bush.

Sat Nav set for Portland Bill we headed here next. Fortunately we passed this place on the way which was a very pleasant surprise. The owners had the most amazingly friendly Border Collie as well:t:

http://www.berecidercompany.com/

Just finished off a couple of litres of their cider and can really recommend themB

Getting a little hungry now we stopped off at Billy Winters, which is next to the boat yard on the road over to Portland. I can recommend the Chimichanga. Filling, tasty, and good value. Staff were also friendly. We also scanned across the road to the Little Tern Colony - seem to be doing well this year judging by the numbers. Common Terns were also fishing in the lagoon there.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Resta...ws-Billy_Winters-Weymouth_Dorset_England.html

Spent an enjoyable but fruitless few hours on Portland Bill. Knowing that I can get home in 3 hours means it'll be on next years agenda but maybe a little earlier in the year. All in all a very good day.

186. Bittern
187. Yellow Wagtail
188. Little Tern
189. Common Tern

Had a cracking day out today with OH. Possibly heard Marsh Tit at Dinas and possibly saw Willow Tit at Cors Caron but I did not have enough confidence in either to year tick.

Sars treated me to a meal at Y Talbot as it was my Birthday in the week - poached salt cod with basil oil, on a bed or heirloom tomatoes, with a herb crust. Superb. The fish was cooked to absolute perfection:t: A perfectly behaved 2 year old Golden Retreiver was also sitting next to the table by us.

A little misty in Carms first thing but plenty of Buzzards and Red Kites were seen on the trip up. Also had a cracking bacon and sausage roll at Martin and Sue's Cabin just outside of Llangadog. Well worth a visit:t::eat:

What a difference 4 weeks make. Common Redstarts and Pied Flys were at Dinas but not as easy to pick up. Large numbers of midges as well which I don't recall before.

The Mountain Road over gave the only year tick in the form of Whinchats. Further good views were had though of Kites and Buzzards with heaps of Pied Wagtails around and a couple of Grey Wagtails. On the pond were a family of Little Grebes. Sars also spotted a male Yellowhammer on the fence alongside the road:t:

Cors Caron was relatively quiet with singing Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats and Reed Buntings the only real birds of note.

190. Whinchat

It was then off to collect the children from their Grandmothers.

Risked the wrath of the other half this morning to duck up to Goldcliffo. Picked Kev up from Port Toilet and set off. Not as many there as expected which suited us fine.

191. Broad-Billed Sandpiper Lifer#5B B B B

And a fine looking bird through the scope:t: