Friday 11th May. Back to Essex

Packed up early, car washed and hoovered, breakfast made and eaten and we're off. I've been following the news on Birdguides that the Squacco Heron has moved from Chew Valley to Blagdon Lakes but it's not reported this morning. Despite this I feel the need to take the 30 mile detour once I'm over the bridge. As we drive through Bristol we can't believe the beauty of the Clifton Suspension bridge..what a sight!.

We head for Blagdon as all I know is the bird has been seen at the top end of Blagdon lake.
I can see the lake but it takes a while to find a route in. Once in I find the office and ask the attendant if the Heron has been seen to which he replies "no not today do you want a permit?" now not being tight but I'm thinking I'm here to see the bird he's just told me isn't here and now he wants money.
Any way I pay up and drive the car round to the hide at the top end of the lake where the bird has been seen for a few days. There's a guy with bins in hand and he tells me he's seen it fly into the Willows near by so I plot up and wait. Suzanne makes the coffee as this is now our half way break. An hour later and I'm getting itchy feet. A little crowd has started to gather so I decide to have one last walk along the path and then it moves. I stick the promised arm in the air and the crowd start to walk in my direction as we're all rewarded by terrific views of a terrific bird. When feeding in the meadow the bird appears very brown but when it takes a short flight it reveals that it's wings are pure white and just the body is brown.
I got a distant shot to reflect this.

Great bird and my 226th of the year. 24 NOW REQUIRED FOR MY QUEST TO HIT 250 THIS YEAR.
Off to Scotland on Sunday with the boys with 14 birds on the target list (be happy with ten of them)

But trust me I know that last 24 are going to be hard to find!
Mind you it's taking me to some great places trying.

Squacco Heron Blagdon Lake

10th May and back to Dinas

The weather is bad. Rained heavy all night and the rivers are high.
Suzanne suggests we head back to Dinas so we pack up some sarnies fill the flask and we're off in the drizzle again. An hours drive with views of countless rivers bursting their banks and we're sitting in the car park. I'm thinking should I sit and watch from the car?.it's really wet! A couple pull up and get out..they put on wellies, water proofs long Barbour coats and big Barbour hats and off they go into the hills. I'm not feeling it and having now had Pied and Spotted Flycatcher (225) from the car I'm reluctant to move. After an hour they return and look sodden despite having the best wet gear money can buy....the women says she's off to the pub but if she could see her face and hair she'd not be going near a pub for sure...make up running down her boat and her barnet looking like a birds nest she really needed to go and lie in a hot bath nothing else!.
Another group arrive, five old dears in two cars but all together. They're staying in Newcastle Emlyn near Cardigan and after half an hour getting themselves ready they head off into the reserve and I have to admire their determination as they're out there over an hour but are not impressed when I tell them I've had Redstart, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Red Kite, Peregrine and Cuckoo from the comfort of the car.

Shortly after I see a large hawk drifting over and I'm saying Sprawk but it's huge and I think it's probably Goshawk.

A wet day but we enjoyed sitting together and seeing what we saw.

9th May Road trip around Pembrokeshire

The Blue Lagoon Abereiddy

It's wet again so we pack up a picnic and decide on a road trip. Starting at Cardigan I take a short walk round Teiffi Marsh before the rain gets too drizzly and puts me back in the car. From Cardigan to Fishguard and then along the coast roads. We take in Abercastle which is very scenic, then on to Treflin with it's small waterfall to the beach and old ruins of a mill. Then onto the Blue Lagoon at Abereiddi.
This is an old slate quarry on the coast and it's left a deep lagoon. Fulmars nest hear and it's beautiful.

Treflin

St Brides

Down the coast a little further and we're at St Brides which is really pretty. Small beach, small church and just a great place to sit and watch the world. Suzanne got her book out as I headed off for a short walk in the drizzle. I'll be coming back to St Brides on a better day for sure. We take a quick drive to Dale and then head back to Manorbier for a night of Britains got Talent, Pizza and White Wine....lovely!

Monday 7th May: Owls at Shute

A trip to Fishguard today taking in Strumble head.

Strumble Head Lighthouse

The sky is grey and the air is wet but still very scenic. Gannets and Porpoise from the watch point. Lot's of Wheatear in the fields but very windy so we head back into town and pick up some lunch which we decide to picnic at Fishguard fort which gives great views over the harbour.

Raven

Herring Gulls all around and the usual Corvids and then a close encounter with a Raven which was a real highlight. We crossed the hills and stopped at a Burial Mound which happens to be the biggest in Wales .
Terrific views over the hills and again Raven "bark" as they scan the valleys.

Back at Shute and Suzannes see the Barn Owl fly past the window as she shouts "Owl" I catch it through the kitchen window but it's being chased by Crows so doesn't hang about.
In the evening we have bats over the pond....I don't know bats but one small  black one and one large brown one with black wings.

I'm sitting outside sipping wine (well padded up with jumper and coat on) and I hear a Tawny make one short call before it flies through the garden and into the churchyard. (224)

Sunday 6th May: DINAS RSPB

This has to be my favourite RSPB reserve. An ancient woodland habitat with fast flowing rivers.

Dinas RSPB

I've walked the dog on the beach, cooked the wifes breakfast and we're off nice and early. The wife likes Dinas too so that's a real bonus. The boys have decided to have a day here before the drive back to Essex so we meet on the way. The weather again is fantastic and that is unusual as it usually rains here. About an hours drive from Manorbier through Llandovery to Dinas but well worth the effort. On arrival I bag Pied Flycatcher without leaving the car. (220) A red Kite soars over my head. We take the boardwalk though the woodland and Pied Flycatcher are all around. The usual Nuthatch, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Wren etc all oblige with good views before a pair a Common Sandpipers drop into the stream. White, Pied and Grey Wagtail all show and a Squirrel entertains as it goes in and out of a hole on a tree.

Grey Squirrel

We head round to the stream and Suzanne has seen Redstarts real close while sitting on the bench. We take a while to see if they return but get Dipper instead. I locate a Tree Pipit (221) and get Jim on it, he's well pleased as this is a lifer for him.  We do get good views of Redstart (222)and we can hear Wood Warbler in the trees although everything that shows is either Willow or Chiffchaff to our frustration. Raven and Buzzard soar over head in the valley.



I take a walk back to the car for a coffee break leaving Rob plotted up waiting for Dipper and the Jims doing all they can to get sight of Wood Warbler. On the boardwalk Suzanne spots a SBJ and says "that's not what they're after is it?" And of course it is and I get great views of Wood Warbler. (223) Then I find another Tree Pipit sitting out in the open in a small bush near the car park giving me great views in good light...happy days!. As I'm sipping coffee four Redstart make an appearance and a Marsh Tit comes to the feeder (I put seed out earlier) We debate with the locals Marsh - Willlow? but leave undecided only for Rob to do the work later to establish it was Marsh so no new tick there. A pair of Peregrine fly past over our heads..two really big birds!.
So we say our goodbyes to the boys and as they head home to sunny Essex me and Suzanne head back to Shute for supper. A nice Orange tip dances around the garden as we pull in followed by Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Large White. The sun appears to have woken a few Butterflies at last.

As I'm wandering around the garden I spot a Barn Owl by the pond but it sees me as quick as I see it and with a short stop on the fence it's off. Raven, Buzzard and Sprawk all make fly overs before I head in for a much needed coffee.

A great Days birding and if you like your birds you really should put Dinas RSPB on your annual pilgrimage list.

Saturday 5th May : SKOMER ISLAND

Chough

I'm up early and pick up the boys before 6am in Pembroke. A 75p toll and 15 miles of country lanes and we're in the car park at Martins Haven before 6.30am. We have the Deer Park to ourselves and whilst putting on my coat I pick up 18 Chough feeding on the steps to the park (217) The boys scope up quick and enjoy good views.  We head off down the farm track so as not to disturb the Chough and start counting Wheatear. (They are everywhere and the day count gets boring once past 100) Whitethroat and Linnet entertain along the hedge line. More Shag on the sea once we get to the gate which the boys are pleased with. A pair of noisy Raven "bark" across the headland and settle at Woolpack point where by now there are 22 Chough feeding. Lot's of Auks passing by and a single Manx Shearwater crosses towards the island. (lost or late it shouldn't be out on the sea but it was) (218)
Stonechat, Mipit, Gannet, Fulmar, H.gull, LBB gull and GBB gull all show on the trip across the park.
We check on the boat and are told it'll be a late call if it goes or not with the expected winds but they do decide to try and at 10am we've paid our £20 each (£10 boat and £10 landing fee) and we're making the 15 minute boat trip to SKOMER Island. On arrival we go through the usual list of do's and don't with the warden and then it's off to the farm to check for SEO etc. At this time of the year the owls are on eggs so not very active and we make a quick call to move on. There's a few warblers about as he head down the valley but nothing too exciting. We reach the far side and find several Seals on the rocks and Buzzard soaring out at sea. Together with Puffin (219) Razorbill and Guillemot all rafting and Gannets diving. (Good views out to to Gannetry that is Grassholm) We head towards the Wick and the place is alive with Fulmar, Kittiwake and Auks all taking their place up the cliff edge with Puffins entertaining on the ground at our feet and at times walking right between our legs. Great birds that you just can't get enough off.

Puffin

Whilst at the Wick I see two LBB Gull fighting. One gets the other turned and pinned and shows a superior strength that looks like it could end badly for the other gull as it holds it down by the beak for over ten minutes with the colony all gathering and calling but I'm pleased to say it did eventually let go and they parted. Just surprised me that two birds that appeared to be the same size could vary so much in terms of strength.

The Dale Princess

Satisfied we head back to the boat ramp and board. The "old man" takes a tumble as a wave hits the boat and that's before we've even set off. Proper choppy ride back though and we all got a good soaking but you can't complain after five weeks of rain we get on Skomer with a Blue sky day..that's a blessing.

A quick stop at Martin Sands reserve for Glossy Ibis and a good days birding is done.

Friday 4th May.....down to Shute for a week

Shute Cottage Manorbier

Made the 4 hour drive to Pembrokeshire today. (slight detour only to dip at Chew Valley on the Squacco Heron but a lovely place all the same and great views of Long Tailed Duck and thousands of Hirundines) Arrived mid afternoon and the cottage looks great again. Tucked away between the Castle and the Church with no phone signal and no internet it's a real retreat. The dog asks for a walk to the beach so I oblige before we take a drive to Skrinkle Haven in the evening and I quickly bag Fulmar and Shag for year ticks. (216) Lot's of Gannet and Porpoise about. Jackdaws are still nesting in the cottage chimney and we're treated to Buzzard and Raven over the garden too. The Gt. Spot Woodpeckers are still in and out of the garden as are Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Wren, Blackcap etc.
Meeting up with the boys in the morning for our annual trip to Skomer Island....let's hope the boat goes!