Griswold's UK Birding Year 2019 (2 Viewers)

[ClarkWGriswold]

Just nipped down to Kenfig Pool with the pup and the boys. Had nice, if distant views of a male Garganey.

154. Garganey

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Had my lunch break and Pembrey Harbour today. Becoming a traditional spot for the 1st Wheatear of the year.

155. Wheatear

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Took the pup for a walk up Drummau Mountain this morning. He had fun playing with a lovely Bernese Mountain Dog called Bear. Blackcaps and Chiffs everywhere. Also had my first Willow Warbler of the year.

156. Willow Warbler

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Ducked in to Penclacwydd for my half hour lunch break today. Some quality birds around including a Smew, Avocet, Pintails and the following year ticks:

158. American Wigeon
159. Spoonbill

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

1st Common Whitethroat of the year singing next to the house last Thursday.

160. Common Whitethroat

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

So we headed West on Good Friday. Absolutely brilliant to see the boys and the pup running to the top of the dunes at Borth, and then all sliding down:-O. Lovely to see the enjoyment on all their faces. Borth beach had an area cordoned off for nesting waders and it was good to see all adhering to this - dog walkers included:t:

Nice to see some Common Scoters in the bay along with a very distant Northern Gannet.

161. Northern Gannet

Up at the Dyfi Osprey project Glesney had laid her first egg. Lovely to see breeding plumaged Lesser Redpolls.


162. Osprey


Stopping off at Dinas gave Marsh Tits so a good ending to the day.


163. Marsh Tit

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

No new species on Saturday but sometimes it’s hard to believe how quickly the time goes. Bud celebrated his 1st Birthday with a walk over the dunes to Sker Point. Did have a nice view of a Little Owl though👍

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

So this morning after prepping the leg of lamb for a slow roast, Bud and I headed down to Crymlyn Bog. Had a lovely walk. Plenty of birds around but it was the Warblers that stood out - Chiff, Willow, Cettis, Blackcaps, Reed and Sedge Warblers.

164. Reed Warbler
165. Sedge Warbler

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Whilst making the gravy yesterday my old man was enjoying a glass of wine in the back garden. He called me out to see the 1st House Martin of the year.

166. House Martin

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Got lucky with the timing today. OH was tied up with completing a job application and the boys were happy playing on the PS4. News came out on the WhatsApp group that a Red-necked Phalarope was at Goldcliff.

Off I went. Good to meet Jack whom I follow on Twitter and always good to catch up with Jeff. Some really friendly birders already on site and was soon having good scope views of the Phal. An immaculate summer plumaged Spotted Redshank was also in front of the first hide and a Curlew Sandpiper was in with the Dunlin. By the small car park a Lesser Whitethroat was singing away. This seems to be a good spot for them.

167. Red-necked Phalarope
168. Lesser Whitethroat
169. Spotted Redshank

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

My last day off of the long Easter Weekend. Went down to Sker again with the pup 1st thing. A cracking morning. Heaps of Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat on the yellow path.

Down at Sker Point were my main target - Purple Sandpipers. Pleased to get these as they'll be heading off soon. Had 4 Whimbrel flyby as well which was a bonus.

Back at the pool itself David Carrington had put news out that 3 Common Sandpipers were on the East side. As it turned out we had at least 4, and probably 5.


170. Purple Sandpiper
171. Whimbrel
172. Common Sandpiper

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Headed over to the dry (but windy) side of the bridge yesterday. Stopping at Pilning we couldn't pick out the Citrine Wagtail but had great views of a Blue-headed Wagtail and White Wags. A Wheatear and some Linnets were also knocking about in the field.

Keeping an eye on RBA we then headed down to Westward Ho! I've not been in this area before and it really is a pretty area. Decent chippy too:eat: Locating the house where the Junco was seen we settled down for nerve racking hour and a half wait. Many thanks to the owners in allowing access to their lovely home and hopefully the Otter Trust received a large donation. Thought it wasn't going to show when a cat wondered through the garden but eventually we all had great views. Good to see a couple of familiar faces in the group. A lfer for both myself, and Kev - Slate-coloured Junco.


As Pilning was on the way back home we stopped off again. This time I was able to see the Citrine Wagtail but the view was not great. Yellow Wags and White were also still present. Nice to see a LRP on the walk back to the car as well.


173. White Wagtail
174. Yellow Wagtail

175. Slate-coloured Junco Lifer #7 B B B
176. Citrine Wagtail Lifer #8 B B
177. Little Ringed Plover

A cracking day's birding:t:

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Went for a wander around Garwnant this afternoon. A Whinchat was a little unexpected. Can't remember seeing one there before.

178. Whinchat

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Had a decent walk around Garwnant today with the pup and OH. Great views of a couple of Lesser Redpolls and my first Garden Warbler of the year. Siskins appear to be doing well in the area as well.

179. Garden Warbler

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Set off at 04:30 with my youngest yesterday. First stop was the Forest of Dean and then down to Somerset. Had an absolutely brilliant day and is becoming one of our birding highlights of the year. He's now looking forward to going to Skomer in June and heading back to Somerset at Whitsun.

180! Nightingale
181. Cuckoo
182. Hobby
183. Bittern
184. Swift

Rich

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Went out with the pup today and did the 6 mile loop around Usk Reservoir. Absolutely superb. Warblers everywhere. Tree Pipits prevalent in the first part of the walk and I'm pretty certain a low flying Red Kite flushed a Whimbrel from the edge of the reservoir. Not seen one here before.

185. Tree Pipit
186. Willow Tit
187. Spotted Flycatcher

And then returning home news of 10 Black Terns broke at Kenfig Pool. Picked up my 8 year old from school, bribed him with a MacDonalds, then spent a good 20 minutes watching these little beauties flying over the pool.

188. Black Tern

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Nothing new to add today. Predictably, all the Terns from yesterday had left Sker Point. Good to see a few Whimbrel and Barwits knocking around though.

Looking forward to heading up to Dinas tomorrow:t:

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

I always look forward to a trip to Dinas in Spring and today didn't disappoint. Gorgeous location with great birds. Garden Warblers plentiful along with Siskins, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Kites, Goosander, Cuckoos and a couple of Treecreepers. Added the following to the year list.

189. Wood Warbler
190. Pied Flycatcher
191. Common Redstart

Spent an hour on Garreg Lwyd on the way home but couldn't relocate the Dotterel that had been seen earlier in the week.

Rich

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Got a week off with the family. Will write up properly when I get home. Added some nice year ticks today with my youngest.

192. Woodlark
193. Dartford Warbler
194. Bearded Tit
195. Little Tern

Rich

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

196. Black-winged Stilt