First Dip Of 2008

After a text this morning of a Slav grebe at Llandegfedd i nipped up and spent a couple of hours there until it started raining.Couldn't relocate it .Here's a picture of one off Google images.

Also if any staff of the RSPB or CCW read this blog can we have some of these at boat lane and goldcliff.With all the money spent on a new reserve centre one of these wouldn't cost that much would it.Are there any other reserves without a hide in the country.

You could buy one from here.http://www.thaxterswoodenbuildings.co.uk/Bird%20Hides.html

Caspo

Headed up to Throckmorton Tip and lagoons in Worcestershire for the couple of Glaucous Gulls and Caspian Gulls seen the last couple of days.Absolutely freezing cold biting wind but worth it in the end as 1 Adult Caspian Gull 2 2ND Winter YL Gulls and a Barn Owl. Also seen here was a summer plumaged BH Gull.On the way up i had the briefest of views of the Cattle Egret at Fretherne before it flew off and could not be relocated.

Took a detour through usk and found 14 Bewicks Swans between Usk and Llangybi.

Brent Goose

Checked out the fields just south at Llangibby for the bewicks but all i could find was 16 mute swans and 2 shelduck.With limited time i just about had time to check the bulmore lakes within the celtic manor resort.Here to my surprise was a brent goose a small flock of siskin 1 barnacle goose 2 great crested and two little grebe.Also here was 14 Tufted duck and 10 pochards.

Lists

Nothing better to do this evening than tot up my year list.It ended on 266 not to bad but could of done better if i had the get up and go.What to do next Gwent list a patch list or another year list,i think i will just go with the flow and see what happens.

Drive By Birding

If you were down between Nash and Goldcliff Point today you would have witnessed a bit of drive by Birding.

Scanned every field in the vicinity for anything white that moved.No Cattle Egrets anywhere but a few Little Egrets about.Also picked up about 6 plastic Milk Cartons 28 Plastic Carrier Bags an a few news Papers.A bit of road rage as well when i kept slamming on the brakes without looking whats behind.After getting fed up of looking at Carrier Bags i popped into Boat Lane to look for the MEGA Bar-Headed Goose and there he was in all his glory.Didn't stop that long but also picked up the Leucistic Lapwing a Kingfisher and a nice number of Black Tailed Godwits.Also present here were huge numbers of Dunlin and Lapwing.

Black swan

This MEGA was happily swimming around at Boat Lane Goldcliff this morning.Seen another years ago at Ynysyfro Res.Happy Days!!!

Best Bewicks Photos Ever

Managed to snap these Bewicks swans this evening as it was getting dark.38 Mute Swans and 9 Bewicks spread over two fields just outside llangybi.You must agree there the best ever(and some are Bewicks honestly)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone who's stumbled across this blog in the last 11 months.

Last Couple Of Days

Highlights of the last couple of days have been 5 Golden Plover 1 Bewicks Swan(First One For Me On The Levels) 1-2 Water pipits at the end of Boat Lane but vanished as soon as they appeared.Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank at Goldcliff Pools,the Spotted Redshank Stayed for half an Hour but the Greenshak flew as soon as the flap was opened on the platform.Also 4 Great Crested Grebes at Ynysyfro Reservoir 2 of which were displaying to each other.

Strange Goosanders

A quick Look at the flooded field this morning didn't produce no more than 40+BH gulls 3 LBB Gulls and a couple of herring Gulls.Down in the river usk below the vantage point were 5 Goosanders acting strange.Four of them going round in a circle non stop chasing each other.Hmm strange.

96 Hours

Due to Man Flu I've just spent the last 96 Hours of watching back to back episodes of Only fools and Horses,Friends,Everybody Loves Raymond,Top Gear,Scrap Heap Challenge,60 Second Make Over,Car Booty,Phil and fern,Loose Women,Jeremy Kyle and save the best to last Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Gwent Goosanders

I did manage to get out briefly this weekend and this was the highlight.Rain rain floods then some gales more rain gales and work more work then some more rain and gales.

To Much

To much recently of this

and this. (I Drew This Myself Honestly)

Means not enough watching of these.