Shortie

A Short Eared Owl was the highlight at Goldcliff Pools this afternoon,it did everything apart from landing on my head.The usual waders about the Marsh Harrier and quite a few Sand Martins.

CLICK BIG FOR FULL EFFECT.

Manche Rouge

Had an email about a coloured ringed Redshank that i reported last April.

This is the birds details.

It was ringed on 13 December 2007 at Larmor-Baden (south Brittany, France) and it is the first record of this bird. 13/12/2007 Pen en Toul LARMOR-BADEN Morbihan France

Up North

Headed up north to uncharted territory this afternoon looking for Ring Ouzels.Note to self (must try harder and more regular).No joy with the Ouzel but the place was ouzing with Wheatear and 20+ Fieldfare.

LRP Goldcliff

Checked out the pools after work today looking for Garganey after 4 were seen yesterday and this morning over at Portbury.No sign tho of any.The 2 Spotted Redshank and 1 Greenshank still there.1 Little Ringed Plover was new in and a nice little surprise.I think it matches the earliest record of LRP in Gwent?2 Rock pipits were up on the wall by the house at the Point.

What is it with farmers and little white buckets,It takes me ages to drive anywhere because every bucket has to be checked that's its not a Cattle Egret.Cant they use a different colour of bucket so i can drive through the lanes without stopping and checking every minute or so.You got to stop and check just in case.

Orchard Pools

A couple of hours at Peterstone foreshore this morning produced 3 Water Pipit and 1 Sand Martin.2 Sand Martin at LR yesterday.Four hours at Orchard Pools Severn Beach this afternoon produced the Firecrest that's been there a while.A right little bugger to pin down but showed the best just before i was going to leave.It responded well to the ipod.

Tree Lover

I cracked and headed down to the bay this afternoon.The Bonaparte's showed after a while and the Little Gull just flew around all the time i was there.A few miles further east and i would have been over the moon.

Americana

Headed out of the county this morning for the American Wigeon thats been at Slimbridge for a while.On show straight away.Headed up to Llandegfedd res in the afternoon for the gull roost but there were more boats on the water than birds.

Tufaup Duck

Went to have a look at the reported Scaup this morning and found this thing.Still an interesting bird tho.Got to have Tufted and Scaup parents involved but who knows it could have anything in it.No Rings and i didn't see it flap its wings.Allowed a very close approach.

How Not To Do It

This is how not to photograph Red Grouse on the Blorange.

1.Don't have your camera ready for when the Grouse fly.

2.Have your camera on the wrong setting.

3.Get yourself into position where the sun is facing you.

Follow these 3 simple rules for pics like this.

Number 3

Shot up to Llandegfedd yesterday afternoon after another new Iceland Gull was Found.(needed it for my Llandegfedd List) but the dam thing flew 2 minutes before i got there.Back up there today to do the roost again.Did get a Yellow Legged Gull flying right over us as soon as we got there,then a different bird then later on in the main roost.Mainly small gulls early on.The majority of gulls didn't start coming in until about 5:15pm when hundreds were dropping in straight to the centre.They also came in really high circled for a bit and then dropped like stones into the centre.This was when the Iceland was picked up.Id did fly up to the west bank fields once but was picked up again in the main roost.Well worth the long walk back up from Pettingale point.Did manage a few snaps but they were pants,and i mean pants.The two Photos below were from Craig yesterday afternoon.Cheers Craig.

Diver Alert

Pacific Diver on the loose somewhere in Wales.Not at Llandegfedd this evening.Although i didn't check Sor Bay or Green Pool.

Harrier Land Again.

Had a walk round Harrier Land again this afternoon and came across these.The Hen and the Marsh had a scrap over Boat Lane.The female flew into roost at about 4pm.
Then waited half an hour in the sunflower field for Barn Owl but it still didn't want to show.

Having a scrap.