Let's go back to the 12th of April 2010

After talking about that great visit to Priors Field Primary School in Kenilworth yesterday I should try to get up to date with my travels so I'll cast my mind back.

Cycled to St Davids on the 12th, visited the wonderful cathedral after being told that the boat over the RSPB reserve of Ramsey would be th 10.00am one on the 13th. Can there be a more impressive cathedral view than when you come through the archway from the city [Britain's smallest] and down in the valley there it is? Beautiful!

After deciding upon camping position, went down to watch sun down at St Justinians. Sat on a headland and watched harbour porpoise in Ramsey Sound and yet another lovely sunset.

Heard a grasshopper warbler whilst cycling back to where I was to pitch my tent, on the northern edge of a marshy area aout a mile or so inland of St Justinians. [171]

13th April 2010

Up early to a frosty start with ice on the tent; a feature that would occur in increasing amounts over the coming mornings. Met Andy, a birder from Kent and together we tried to get views of the reeling grasshopper warbler.

The place I had camped in was an artist's creation; a field with various ideas of material use and planting not 'left to nature'. The artist had left a flag flying and a wooden mushroom upon which I sat eating my bowl of musesli. Felt like Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves and kept humming the theme tune to myself. The frontier of my sanity perhaps.

Boat over to Ramsey, meeting 2 children on the way, Ben and Ella whose father has a farm which he uses to help wildlife. Ben's was on a work experience week with the RSPB from school and they both talked with pride about their Dad's gig racing exploits. Had a brief go sitting at the boat's wheel pretending to steer it.

Was met at the quay by Greg and Lisa, the delightful married couple wardens of Ramsey and 2 volunteers; one named Lyndsay, the other a Deputy Head on a working holiday.

Walked alone around this beautiful island, clockwise, enjoying the amazing views on this clear sky day. Many wheatear seen with some males displaying their territorial rights. Also a few pairs of chough and a beach on the west side with 73 grey Atlantic seals on it. Few other birds but 36 plastic puffins seen. These are decoys to hopefully attract real puffins to land and breed.

Sang whilst walking. Well, there were only 12 people on the island at the time. Made up some silly words to the song Oklahoma, in Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird book style.

Here's the first verse :-

Oh for Fair Isle
Where the birds rain down into the mist
Where the sound of chak
Will set you back
As you lift your bins up by the wrist

It goes on in the same vein - have a go singing it and then add your own bits. Want the chorus? You're going to get it  anyway :-

We know that we spent more than a grand
Just to see a tatty warbler in the hand
But when you find
A first for Britain of that kind
Then you'll cry out
You're really great
I love Fair Isle
I love Fair Isle OK
OK OK OK OK
FAIR ISLE

Maybe I should leave it there but there's lots more. Fun eh?

Red deer and rock pipits at the northern end of the island and then goodbyes at the quay. One of the highlights of my trip so far, Ramsey.

Cycled to beyond Fishguard in the evening with thoughts on when the moderately strong N - NE wind was going to stop.

14th April 2010

A long cycle ride today to get to beyond Lampeter but stopped at Wales' biggest burial chamber, Pentre Ifan. Here's a website giving more details on this impressive monument.

http://www.stonepages.com/wales/pentreifan.html

What it must have looked like over 5 thousand years ago.

Lunch at Cenarth after a walk to the river rapids and waterfalls. The local pub was the venue with a large roast beef meal for £3.95. fabulous value.

An attempt to do the blog was foiled by a library only open for a couple of hours in the morning so a look around the town's castle ruins and a short walk along the river had to do instead.

Was getting increasingly disappointed by the amount of plastic rubbish, especially in the streams and rivers. The view from nearly every bridge stopped at wasn't dippers and grey wagtails but plastic bags. One such stop had the view marred by 6 large pieces of plastic and the remains of a dumped 5 bar gate. Sad.

Camped atop the first big hill SE of Lampeter - mistake, it was freezing but the morning brought compensations.

15th April 2010

Compensation was in the way of a cuckoo calling as I lay in my sleeping bag. [172] and the first singing redstart of the year nearby [173].

A beautifully scenic ride to get to the Gwenffridd Dinas RSPB reserve wasn't marred by meeting a Blue nose pub owner. Brummies, they get everywhere. Lovely family from Bournemouth met here too.

Around the reserve in the evening, ostensibly to find Robin Hood's cave; well, the Welsh Robin Hood who actually did exist. One Twm Sion Cati lived in the cave found on the steeply sloping hill that dominates the reserve. I take my hat off to him if he lived in this cave. It was very cramped and damp with a small entrance. Met a smashing bloke here with his son, Paul Blades from Lincoln who's obession is stone circles, standing stones and the like. Brilliant family when I met the girls and paul's wife in the car park later. See you in November!

OK I know I'm still a few days behind but I'm going to nip off and have my breakfast. Today I get the train back to Aberystwyth in order to continue the Biking Birder Experience but I need fuel to warm up. Looking out of the window from my Mum and Dad's here in Warwick, not a cloud to be seen so another very sunny and warm April day ahead. What a contrast to the winter.

See you in a bit

All the best everyone,

Gary

OK It's a bit late but this was last Monday KENFIG NNR 5th April 2010

Down the hill to Kenfig and a first visit for me here since the redhead a few years ago. My first visit there was in 1988 to see my first peid billed grebe. Memories of good birds and a fabulous visit, for a birder, ahead. One who visits the centre is greeted with two of the most lovely people anyone could wish to meet and they were no different for me. Thanks for the bananas!

Down to the first hide with a good number of willow warblers fresh in after a morning of heavy drizzle. Blackcaps, chiffs and cettis in the same area but the number of willow warblers was impressive; seemingly on every bush edging the pool.

Met a fabulous couple to whom every bird was 'cool' and new - Hello Nathan and Jan. Now how did Nathan meet such a cracking girl? How can they have a honeymoon in Peru and on Galapagos. Now that's a way to start a birding marriage. Hope the Bill Oddie book helps you both but I hope you realise that it's mostly tongue in cheek. [BOLBBB] Birders aren't like that really - we're worse.

Left the reserve after exploring the dunes down to the sea, noticing extensive scraping of dune slacks for the rare orchids to be found there, and rode to Eglwys Neuedd, a large concrete bowl of a reservoir just along the M4, not that I went that way to get there. My reward was very close views of a female lesser scaup, a male greater scaup [188] and a male ring-necked duck.

Is this area of Wales the take away place or not? Masses of Chinese TAs, fish and chips emporiums, pizzas; they were everywhere. So what does one do - join them and I had a small fish and chips with a pineapple fritter. [rivetting stuff this blog!]

Camped in a field near Glais, ready to find the RSPB reserve at Clydach the next day.

When will Spring be here?

Best to all,

Gary

The Perfect family! Chew valley Sunday 21st March 2010

I've met them. The perfect family. A family of wonderful, enthusiastic birders with Mum and Dad, Helena and Chris together with a most brilliant 7 year old with a life list of 350, a year list of 324 for 2009 and notebooks that tell of her adventures. Well done Mya-Rose! You're an angel and to run Lee Evans so close last year was fabulous. Have a look on surfbirds for 2009 and you'll see what I mean.

Met Chris at Chew Valley today, whilst spending hours waiting for yesterday's ferruginous duck to show - it didn't. Swallow [159] did though with over 100 sand martins, and an adult kittiwake.

Yesterday had been at Shapwick, as the day before, and saw the long-tailed duck, a female smew, the 3 glossy ibis, 2 great white egrets, a bittern [heard more booming] and 8 whooper swans, with a black swan. Actually although most of these birds were seen on Shapwick nature reserve, one great white egret was at Sharpham. So another RSPB reserve seen and memories of last year's little bittern seen so well and heard even better.

Had visited West Sedgemoor RSPB reserve afetr Greylake and was surprised to find that most of it was a deciduous oak woodland. Great views of nesting herons.

OK - time for bed.

All the best everyone.

Chew Valley again tomorrow. Another attempt at the fudge duck. Then on towards Bristol and beyond.

Saturday 13th March - Holesworthy by Noon

Travelling agian, this time towards the RSPB reserve at Isley Marsh near Bideford, Devon. I must start by saying a huge thank you to Malcolm and Sylvia from Launceston. They rescued me when on Thursday I cycled from Bodmin along the A30 despite tremendous pain in the lower back. Heat pads and voltorol tablets helped but more so did the roll of a towel under the back as I lay on a bed. Thursday, well as well as the back the back brake lock had gone, disappeared as the pin had come out. To Halfords and a meeting with the wonderful specialist, Robin who fixed that and then was good enough to come 6 miles from Bodmin to help when the chain had broken as I cycled towards Colliford Lake. Another attempt to see the black duck, in vain unfortunately. Did see the lesser scaup again but this time on a nearby smaller lake whose name I can't remember but it begins with D!

Wednesday had been spent trying to get my back back in shape in Bodmin. Boots the Chemmists for advice and a library visit to take my mind off the panic of the pain.

Friday, a visit into Launceston for cycle repairs at the superb Launceston Cyles with Nigel giving much needed advice over cycle repair and usage. Too much oil so gear replacement and chain. Tried to see the castle but closed until April. In the church of St Mary Magdeline looked at each memorial stone and particularly the one about the Lawrences. Mum and Dad died around the age of 40 but their 4 children didn't reach that age; 2 died as infants with no age specified and the other two around the age of 20 each. Sad.

Bought a book in the Oxfam bookshop; Bill Oddie's Gripping Yarns.

Malcolm and Sylvia were great company and together we watched the Birds of paradise Natural World programme, followed by the same about Scottish wildlife. Midges, look forward to those this summer!

No I've cycled to holeworthy. The back is not good but must keep on schedule. Any advice for lower back pain? Dr Crutch has texted details of doing the 'cobra' and any other things that people do to get rid of the problem would be appreciated.

As usual please consider donating to any of the charities that I am doing all this for - the RSPB, Asthma UK and the WWT. Details on my website  http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/

All the best everyone.

Gary