Gwent birding (1 Viewer)

[Ceeege]

Cheers guys! It did take some lightening in Photo Shop and looked better on the camera than on the PC.

Hopefully the bird will stay for a bit and someone can get some better pics though I doubt it'll be me as my wife is due our second child tomorrow!!!!

 

[luke]

Gone today, so no more pics.

 

[The Valley Walker]

Tea Time today 29.04.2009

6 siskins - 4 M & 2 F
4 redpoll
bullfinch M & F
Goldfinch 4
Coal Tit
Dunnock
Sparrow
Chaffinch 2

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Out of county/country/continent...last week one of these

 

[GaryH]

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Out of county/country/continent...last week one of these

Crikey Al, thats a cracker!
Amazing what you can get in Brynmawr.
Gary

 

[mike from ebbw]

Crikey Al, thats a cracker!
Amazing what you can get in Brynmawr.
Gary

LMAO!

It is a cracker though Al.I bet that was one hell of a buzz.

 

[oldgiteggy]

In the garden this morning...a young robin or dunnock?

 

[pie]

Hiya everyone, I have a couple of questions someone might help me with.

Firstly congrats on the subalpine warbler. Gwent is doing really well.
I notice there have been no reports since tues sadly.
I spent all day wednesday popping back between the reported site, the reserve and Goldcliff. It was great meeting lots of new & familiar faces.
My Q is. When I read the details of location (raised bench etc) I thought it was the spot where the A'wabler was located. When I arrived, everyone was waiting by the bench near the woodland. I asked someone if this was the "raised bench" they said "no, raised ground"
This thought niggled me all day so I covered both bases! lol!
Anyway no one saw the Bird, but can someone clarify the location out of curiosity please?

My other question is...
I was desperate to see a Cuckoo & could her two calling. The first at 07.30 deep into the woods toward saltmash but the second one at 5pm was frustratingly close in the fenced off gated wood area!! (I was soooo tempted to..):eek!:
My Q is, do they ever open the gates? or does anyone know where my best chance is of seeing one?

Thanks all :t:

 

[Ceeege]

The "raised bench" was indeed the bench on the raised ground near the copse. i.e. Head to the lighthouse turn left at the sea wall and walk until you get to the copse.

For the best chance to see a Cuckoo, keep on walking past the copse along the sea wall until you get to a gate - go through this and Bill and I were watching one and possibly two Cuckoos down there last week. If your Cuckoo impression is any good then maybe you'll be able to entice one to show a little better but that certainly is the spot.

Good luck!

 

[Ceeege]

In the garden this morning...a young robin or dunnock?

Looks like a young Dunnock to me!

 

[pie]

Will practice my Cuckoo call! Thanks Chris :t:

 

[The Valley Walker]

Sunday May 3rd 2009

All the regulars this morning plus one new visitor......Mr "Oakmagic" himself, Kenneth W Smith. He was up visiting Mike and popped in for a couple of hours afterwards. Think he went away with a few shots (I hope so anyway!!) All played fair apart from Mr Bullfinch who appeared in the tree but something kept him away from the feeder....in typical fashion he appeared with his female partner about 30 mins after Mike & Ken went! Some record shots just taken through the window...not the best but more of a record.

Siskins & Redpolls are still here and Mike is convinced they will be nesting around here....now that would be great to see some youngsters at the feeder eh?

 

[oldgiteggy]

Looks like a young Dunnock to me!

Thanks Chris. Having fledged dunnocks in the garden seems earlier this year...?

BTW. I have just heard my first cuckoo from the garden....at last!

 

[luke]

Glad your cuckoos back, i know you was getting quite worried without your Cuckoo!

 

[oldgiteggy]

Luke, I may have missed the announcement, but have the peregrine eggs hatched yet on Symmonds Rock?

 

[luke]

Not hatched as far as i know, not been at the site today but been in devon instead. No peregrines there though.

 

[luke]

I finally managed to get round to doing a little bit of birding this morning, i needed to remind myself how to find birds in time for the Gwent bird race thats coming up soon.

i wandered round St James where most of the usual species were getting blown all over the place, but no Redpoll. Hopefully it was just to windy for them. The highlight however was my first Green hairstreak of the year!

 

[luke]

Oh... does anyone know a good spot for Spotted Flycatcher? I've not had time to check a few places!

 

[luke]

Just got back from a wet and Spoonbill-less Newport Wetlands, not alot else going on either apart from 5 Turnstone that came in with the tide along with a decent amount of dunlin.

 

[The Valley Walker]

i wandered round St James where most of the usual species were getting blown all over the place, but no Redpoll. Hopefully it was just to windy for them. The highlight however was my first Green hairstreak of the year!

Still got em in my garden Luke...tonight there was abt 4 redpolls and as many siskins....if you wanna come up and have a look let me know.

 

[luke]

I think steves still got them in his garden, so there are a few options. They are usually pretty easy at St James as there a few breeding pairs. But i might just take you up on your offer.

Also, just a reminder to everyone that theres the Pub Gathering this evening.