you never know.The keys are for the big green gates and theres no lock on the smaller one.If you have no joy give us a ring an i will get one copied for you.
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Gwent birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter luke
- Start date
you never know.The keys are for the big green gates and theres no lock on the smaller one.If you have no joy give us a ring an i will get one copied for you.
mike from ebbw
Well-known member
Just came back from walking the dog up St James` forestry.Male Hen Harrier came low over the trees from the mast and was fighting the wind and the rain heading over Tredegar town.I tried my hardest to get a pic even risking my gear with the rain but the AF just refused to lock on!Typical.
mike from ebbw
Well-known member
He was heading towards Rhymney and I have seen them there before whilst waiting for the SEO`s to show.I thought it was a Gos at first until he came below the treeline.I could see that he was light grey all over then with the white rump.Gutted I couldnt get a pic though!
luke
A Welsh birder in Dorset!
Whilst in work this afternoon i saw a smallish egret flying into a field just past maindiff court hospital in abergavenny opposite the falconry centre. went there after work but couldnt find anything. Its the field with all the sheep in. At SO322156 (http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/)
The Valley Walker
Well-known member
This morning's walk produced a green woodie 5 seconds after leaving the house, great stuff. Cardi had 18 BH Gulls and 2 mallards. St Ives pond had 2 mallards, a pochard and 6 goosanders (4F + 2M) which flew west over my head when someone approached the pond. 2 Buzzards on lamp posts just north of Morrisons, one looked like it had a white rump as it flew off....think it was a buzzard though 
House has been busy all day, wifey reports at one time there was 10 LT Tits on the feeders plus a grey & blue tit - well done wifey for counting!
Earlier on I watched 2 coalies on the feeders along with a couple of lovely looking great t's.
Went down the feeders lunchtime and it looks like no one has been there for a good few days. Had a general tidy up and emptied the remnants in the feeders and gave them a bit of a clean out...refilled with the desired mixture (run out of nuts but seeds ok) and sat back....lots of chaffinch about and did see one brambling in the trees but a bloody sheep kept coming inot the feeder and after chasing it away for the 5th attempt I gave up !
Right off to Panteg to visit mum...hope the boys have some good shots
House has been busy all day, wifey reports at one time there was 10 LT Tits on the feeders plus a grey & blue tit - well done wifey for counting!
Earlier on I watched 2 coalies on the feeders along with a couple of lovely looking great t's.
Went down the feeders lunchtime and it looks like no one has been there for a good few days. Had a general tidy up and emptied the remnants in the feeders and gave them a bit of a clean out...refilled with the desired mixture (run out of nuts but seeds ok) and sat back....lots of chaffinch about and did see one brambling in the trees but a bloody sheep kept coming inot the feeder and after chasing it away for the 5th attempt I gave up !
Right off to Panteg to visit mum...hope the boys have some good shots
mike from ebbw
Well-known member
Well we got to Gigrin in the hope of a bright sunny day as was forecast on Valleys Radio this morning.What we got was dark,grey flat light and even drizzle!Got one or two pics but most were just blurry blobs.Plenty of birds about though including the white Kite just before we left.
I was hoping to pop down the feeders this morning Alan just to fill them up before I left at 12.Sadly I was sent on an errand to Abergavenny so couldnt make it.I may pop down in the morning to top up the peanuts.
I was hoping to pop down the feeders this morning Alan just to fill them up before I left at 12.Sadly I was sent on an errand to Abergavenny so couldnt make it.I may pop down in the morning to top up the peanuts.
The Valley Walker
Well-known member
Sorry to hear the trip wasn't as good as you would have liked. I was gutted not to get along. Hopefully things will improve in 2008 and I can get up there soon.
The peanuts will just need topping up a little unless the rascals have gone nut crazy !! Used all 3 kigs of the mix I had but will try and get some more tomorrow. I am hoping to go birding tomorrow morning with my mate Bonkers (the teacher who works with Oldgiteggy) as yet not quite sure where we are going to go - do you fancy coming along, I was thinking of trying Llandegfedd? Just thinking might need to get soem feed before I go if we do end up there?
The peanuts will just need topping up a little unless the rascals have gone nut crazy !! Used all 3 kigs of the mix I had but will try and get some more tomorrow. I am hoping to go birding tomorrow morning with my mate Bonkers (the teacher who works with Oldgiteggy) as yet not quite sure where we are going to go - do you fancy coming along, I was thinking of trying Llandegfedd? Just thinking might need to get soem feed before I go if we do end up there?
mike from ebbw
Well-known member
Would love to come along but Karen is working and as the kids are still off school I will be watching them.
luke
A Welsh birder in Dorset!
A final dash around blaenau gwent to fry and add another species or two to my year list. Gadwall have been reported on the GOS site so beaufort ponds was the first stop. The land around the ponds has been developed really well, they have planted willows and alders plus heather and gorse which seems to be matureing really well. I was suprised to find so many reed buntings! there were at least 9 in a reletively small area. I got to ponds and there were 11 gadwall!!! plus 5 pochard aswell as the usual lot. There was also a kingfisher about aswell. That site has got loads of potential for species like grasshopper warbler, water rail and even dartfort warbler. It really is worthy of being a LNR which its designated for.
Over at semtex there was 3 goosander and at Parc Nant y wyn there was just 15 coot.
Todays birding has brought my blaenau gwent list upto a grand total of 110!!
Over at semtex there was 3 goosander and at Parc Nant y wyn there was just 15 coot.
Todays birding has brought my blaenau gwent list upto a grand total of 110!!
The Valley Walker
Well-known member
New Years Eve.
Was supposed to be going out with a mate but it all fell through so walked the dog around the Cardi...usual BH Gulls (17) and 2 mallards (M&F) and all very quiet after that...the siksins were by the gate as I came out which was nice.
Back home I had some different luck though.....2 Bullfuinch on the feeder but by the time I got the camera they had moved the trees just outside the garden....there were 4 males and 1 female which is the most bullfinches I have seen in one go. In between the Blue, Coal and Great Tits back and forth I also had a couple of visits from the LT Tits...(took a few snaps hanging out the bathroom window) A litle later on I saw a bird on the fence just outside that I could not recognise - I have described it to Mike but to be honest you know me and descriptions...here goes... back marking brown streaks like a dunnock, bib white with a black head (not totally black) and the front was lightish with stripes? Size, smallish thrush??
Anyway, back to my garden birds - goldfinch, yes a goldfinch!!! I was only saying to someone a few das ago how I would love one on the feeder - I was in the kitchen at the time and yes you've guess it, camera was upstairs in the bathroom...by the time I got back up it had gone. I then decided that I would give my feeders a clean and after a trip to the pet shop I took them down and restocked...laso went out and put some seed on the back fence which has quickly been gobbled up by blackbirds, robin & chaffinch.
Have seen the green woodie out there too but just flying past but he/she is in the area so I can hope. Can see goldfinch in the far trees but they have not come in...hopefully they are sussing it out and we might get them full on in the next few days, now that would be a great start to the new year. Greenfinch been on the feeders whilst I was talking to Mike on the blower so thx to wifey for that. I have wondered about putting some feeders in the trees out the back and trying to get the birds in that way but with the low life around here they would get vandalised/nicked...might look at putting some stuff that I won't worry about if they get to it...perhaps a bird table or summat like that and hang some fat balls around.
Was supposed to be going out with a mate but it all fell through so walked the dog around the Cardi...usual BH Gulls (17) and 2 mallards (M&F) and all very quiet after that...the siksins were by the gate as I came out which was nice.
Back home I had some different luck though.....2 Bullfuinch on the feeder but by the time I got the camera they had moved the trees just outside the garden....there were 4 males and 1 female which is the most bullfinches I have seen in one go. In between the Blue, Coal and Great Tits back and forth I also had a couple of visits from the LT Tits...(took a few snaps hanging out the bathroom window) A litle later on I saw a bird on the fence just outside that I could not recognise - I have described it to Mike but to be honest you know me and descriptions...here goes... back marking brown streaks like a dunnock, bib white with a black head (not totally black) and the front was lightish with stripes? Size, smallish thrush??
Anyway, back to my garden birds - goldfinch, yes a goldfinch!!! I was only saying to someone a few das ago how I would love one on the feeder - I was in the kitchen at the time and yes you've guess it, camera was upstairs in the bathroom...by the time I got back up it had gone. I then decided that I would give my feeders a clean and after a trip to the pet shop I took them down and restocked...laso went out and put some seed on the back fence which has quickly been gobbled up by blackbirds, robin & chaffinch.
Have seen the green woodie out there too but just flying past but he/she is in the area so I can hope. Can see goldfinch in the far trees but they have not come in...hopefully they are sussing it out and we might get them full on in the next few days, now that would be a great start to the new year. Greenfinch been on the feeders whilst I was talking to Mike on the blower so thx to wifey for that. I have wondered about putting some feeders in the trees out the back and trying to get the birds in that way but with the low life around here they would get vandalised/nicked...might look at putting some stuff that I won't worry about if they get to it...perhaps a bird table or summat like that and hang some fat balls around.
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mike from ebbw
Well-known member
Blimey Alan thats a hell of an angle to take a pic at!
Usual stuff down the feeders this morning.Chaffs,Brambling,Tits,`peckers etc.Also moved the table a bit closer to the hide and dragged a large mossy log to put below it to catch the bits falling off.Also just saw hundreds of Gulls flying up the valley towards Garnlydan from the comfort of my computer chair.
Happy New Year all and for those out on the pop take it easy.
Usual stuff down the feeders this morning.Chaffs,Brambling,Tits,`peckers etc.Also moved the table a bit closer to the hide and dragged a large mossy log to put below it to catch the bits falling off.Also just saw hundreds of Gulls flying up the valley towards Garnlydan from the comfort of my computer chair.
Happy New Year all and for those out on the pop take it easy.
luke
A Welsh birder in Dorset!
A final mad dash around the borough produced nothing! I went to garnlydan but the fog was too thick, so went to blue lake to see if there were any gulls there but they were flying over in their hundreds, so i started checking them for white winged gulls! i was that desperate for a final tick for the year. i quickly realised how sad this was so went down to rhyd y blew and walked through some of the rush as i still havnt seen a jack snipe, but i saw nout!
I trying to think of a challenge for 2008, i came up with this..... Now that everyones got a long lense, i think it would be fun to see who can photograph the most species in Blaenau gwent in the year?? obviously, the pic would have to be recognisable but wouldnt have to be a prize winning pic.
What do you guys think?
Happy New year everyone B (in a few hours time)
I trying to think of a challenge for 2008, i came up with this..... Now that everyones got a long lense, i think it would be fun to see who can photograph the most species in Blaenau gwent in the year?? obviously, the pic would have to be recognisable but wouldnt have to be a prize winning pic.
What do you guys think?
Happy New year everyone B
(in a few hours time)
mike from ebbw
Well-known member
I didnt think of that Luke.Could very well be but they are Sparrow sized.
A final mad dash around the borough produced nothing! I went to garnlydan but the fog was too thick, so went to blue lake to see if there were any gulls there but they were flying over in their hundreds, so i started checking them for white winged gulls! i was that desperate for a final tick for the year. i quickly realised how sad this was so went down to rhyd y blew and walked through some of the rush as i still havnt seen a jack snipe, but i saw nout!
I trying to think of a challenge for 2008, i came up with this..... Now that everyones got a long lense, i think it would be fun to see who can photograph the most species in Blaenau gwent in the year?? obviously, the pic would have to be recognisable but wouldnt have to be a prize winning pic.
What do you guys think?
Happy New year everyone B
how about not just blaenau but the whole of gwent(also digiscope pics)or just a gwent year list to spice things up.
The Valley Walker
Well-known member
Just had a look on the gallery and you was spot on Luke....just thinking Mike I was looking through the bins and I could have got the size wrong but this was deffo the bird I saw...http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=141859
Now the question I would ask...no reeds that I know of out the back but it is pretty boggy in places - not the normal habitat for the said bird?
Thanks again for iding it - was driving me nuts !!
luke
A Welsh birder in Dorset!
why not both??
luke
A Welsh birder in Dorset!
You find them in any scrubby place, but damper the better. There were two up the blue lake earlier and 9 over beaufort ponds, there often a few up garnlydan where they also breed, same as rhyd y blew.
What do you think the photo idea al..
