Gwent birding (1 Viewer)

[mike from ebbw]

Popped up to Newtown this evening for a stroll with the Dog.Nothing unusual about but it looks like they are draining the long feeder pond up the top.This would be a shame and a loss as I have seen Kingfishers overwintering here for the past two years.

 

[mike from ebbw]

One SEO up at Waunafon Bog at 4.30 this evening.Luke I saw your car up there but you had left when the Owl was about.It was hunting on the Western side of the road close to the cattle grid.

 

[luke]

Did you mean me mike?? Its a bit far to travel to look for short eared owls....

 

[mike from ebbw]

Did you mean me mike?? Its a bit far to travel to look for short eared owls....

C`mon,I thought you was a dedicated Birder!

I take it you have changed your car then?

 

[luke]

i got an astra these days but the old car has been scrapped. so it must have been a similar car up there. Hopefully i'll catch up with owl(s) in March when i am going to be in wales for a few days.

 

[The Valley Walker]

Cardi n ponds

Have seen a Red Kite flying above the cardi twic in the last week or so now, no visiable tags on the bird.

Finch flock spotted this morning and upwards of about 40+ I would estimate.

8 Goosander on the top pond this morning.

GS Woodie in the trees that apart very quiet this morning and VERY cold. :eek!:

 

[mike from ebbw]

Popped down the feeders this afternoon for an hour where all the usual suspects were present along with a new visitor,a Treecreeper.
Also finally managed a pic of the Silent Valley Kite.Its been a long time since a Kite flew regularly in that valley so lets hope he sticks around.

 

[The Valley Walker]

Nice ones Mike.... what are your thoughts on the fact it hasn't got any tags?

Meant to say I saw a Treecreeper up the place where Lee has set up feeders in Pen y Fan pond.

Oh aye, just come out of the Waun y Claire in Pontypool ans I am sure I saw a Barn Owl fly past the Car Park.

 

[mike from ebbw]

To be honest Al I dont know whether the wing tagging scheme is still going.They have increased a lot in recent years including expanding their range so I would have thought it hard to keep up with the amount of breeding pairs now with young to be tagged.I would put money on it being ringed though.

 

[The Valley Walker]

To be honest Al I dont know whether the wing tagging scheme is still going.They have increased a lot in recent years including expanding their range so I would have thought it hard to keep up with the amount of breeding pairs now with young to be tagged.I would put money on it being ringed though.

Cheers Mike.

just spoke to Lee...he has been to check the feeders he put up...food on the ground has gone (inc apples I think) and he said there were tits feeding when he got there...also a flock of Redwings in the trees not far from where he set the feeders up so they might have had the apples. :t:

I was going to take the dog up there for a walk this afternoon but had to give it a miss...will pop up there in the week and have a walk about though.

Kestrel over by Bees Knees hovering for about 2 mins not 20 ft above me...no camera as I had the dog but would have had a fab shot had I !

 

[The Valley Walker]

3 male bullfinch in the garden today...and one female.

 

[The Valley Walker]

Wed 17th Feb 2010

Took the dog down SV for a walk today...quiet down there but did see a pair of Green Woodpeckers on the bank near the tram road...little later on a GSW flew past me.


Saw Chaffinch in the garden today...1st chaff I have seen in ages.

 

[The Valley Walker]

Monday 22nd Feb 2010

Walking from the Cardi with the dog today I flushed what I think was a snipe, would this be right?

It is the 2nd time I have seen it in the area...it flew from the grassland outside the fence near the houses and flew into the ditch in the middle opf the field wher the horse used to be kept..I take it that it will stay there until flushed again?

 

[The Valley Walker]

Tuesday 23 Feb 2010

Birding is very quiet atm...not had any feeders up in the garden for weeks as I belived the finch disease was affecting the birds coming to the garden. I did though have one tray that I have kept going..I clean it every day and only put out a small amount which is attarcting mostly Bluts & great tits and dunnock. Last week though I had 3 male bullies in and today 2 female and one male...these finches have looked fine so I am thinking about going back with the feeders...it will take time to get the birds back in but will keep an eye open when they return....not seen any goldies in a couple of weeks now.

Have done some wildlife and bird photogrpahy from the comfort of my home in the last 24 hours though...lol

Sat here yesterday I noticed a lesser blacked gull on the neighbours roof and took a snap through the window and later on I had a couple of mountain visitors on my front garden !! :-O

 

[delia todd]

Goodness Alan where did those ponies come from?

I didn't realise you still had so much snow lying.

It's all happening down there, isn't it LOL

D

 

[The Valley Walker]

Wed 24th Feb 2010

Nothing on my foggy walk up Garnlydan this morning...couldn't not see 10 ft in front of me!

Still only the one tray in the garden but on my return I spotted 3 siskin (1m 2f) in the tree outside...they duly arrived, followed by 4 goldies, M7f bullfinch, dunnockm blakcbird and a song thrush landed in the garden (a 1st although I have had one on the front garden)

Will look to put my feeders back up in the next day or so and see how it goes.|:||

 

[oldgiteggy]

West Wales on the weekend. Got too close to the fulmars!

 

[The Valley Walker]

Thursday 25th Feb 2010 - Spring has sprung

Went over Craig y Cilau for a walk this morning...not much there apart from one of two birds.

Garden welcomed back siskin, goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, dunnock, robin, blackbird & tits. :clap:

 

[oldgiteggy]

No siskins in my garden. :-(

 

[The Valley Walker]

Friday 26th Feb 2010

Wife spotted a goldcrest in the garden this morning :t: Sadly I missed it.....fingers crossed it will be back.

Periodically this morning, Bullies, Dunnockm Blackbirds, Tits n Siskins.


Also, walked back from dropping my card at A&A Garage, passed a house in Glanffrwd Avenue that had a tree full (40+) of goldies and then looked on the wire overhead where there was about another 20...stood n watched for abt 5 mins - nothing but goldies and what a noise!