Setting Off From Sandwell valley

Friday, 9 April 2010

Clydach & Llanelli WWT reserve Tuesday 6th April 2010

Remember the scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? The one with a view of the Canyon of the Crescent Moon. Well that's the shape of the RSPB reserve at Clydach. OK it wasn't as hot and the trees get in the way of the geology but with a bit [lot] of imagination that's what you've got.

I was down the bottom following the excelent track around the whole of the reserve. Dippers [5] and grey wagtails [7] were the best as the migrants haven't arrived yet but I photographed the mosses and scenes, with a red cup-like fungus to look up.

Over to the WWT reserve at Llanelli, a day early but like Slimbridge a couple of weeks ago, I just had to get there. Well worth it too and maybe this is the best WWT reserve for natural habitats and birds. Maybe not the ge. se numbers but for the areas created over the spoils of industry and farmland it's fabulous. Today I looked around the eastern area with reedbeds, sallow slacks and pools, islands and black poplar woodlands. Lots of willow warblers, chiffs and blackcaps, as well as good numbers of sand martins and swallows. Saw both a bank vole, ignoring me as I sat on a gate and also a water vole swimming down a channel oblivious to me. The water vole was swimming - not the bank vole. More great people to meet here; Nigel the manager and Eleanor the office manager. Both welcoming and wonderful.

Now come on if you haven't been get down there and find some good birds. Families - get down there and get on the bikes [you can get a bike for free to cycle around the reserve], explore the water vole tunnels, feed the ducks and take a wild canow ride. Brilliant place!

Met the local 'Last of the Summer Wine' crew but this had over 10 members, not 3. Thanks Wendell, good to meet you. Greenshank, spotted redshank, a spoonbill and a couple of wheatear on the western scrapes and more willow warblers. Indeed I counted over 60 willow warblers during the morning.

Oh dear time to go. Using the internet at libraries is problematical and I can't seem to get the time to catch up to today [Friday 9th]. Almost there but a couple of exciting adventures coming up to get me over to Grassholm. More details next week.

Have a great 'Spring at Last' weekend everyone,

ATB

Gary

Wednesday

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

Tuesday, 6 April 2010

Newport and Cardiff - American gull to see - eventually.

Another early rise to cycle around the Newport Wetlands reserve. Lots of cetti's calling, blackcap, willow warblers and chiffs as well. Met a local birder, Nathan and 2 'wardens - Chris & Keith. It turns out that the huge reedbeds are not RSPB but there is a cooperative going over the superb visitors centre. Was chuffed that an ex pupil from my Wolverhampton teaching days had come down all the way from the same place. Thanks Steve - great to see you. Not many birds but did have a bearded tit flying over the reeds.

Was photographed for the local newspaper, the Newport Argus, by Dave from Berkhamstead. Afterwards chatted with a very enthusiastic young RSPB warden; a would be twitcher whose name I think was Matthew.

More rain now as I made my way to Cardiff. Found Cardiff Bay and what a difference to when I was last here. Then it was a huge dirty estuary with massive rectangular pits full of seawater and jellyfish. I'd been visiting a friend from college, Susan potter from Penarth. I wonder if she's still there? Met Phil Bristow, another birder but no sign of the hoped for Bonapart's gull despite searching until dark.

Bed & Breakfast in a hotel with an oldie world decor including original Edwardian fittings. Great goal by Ashley Young won the game for the Villa against Bolton and fabulous to see United beaten by Chelsea. OK so the first goal was offside but how many decisions go United's way? Remember Vidic in the League Cup Final? I digress.

Back to Cardiff bay in the morning, late due to 2 [!] punctures. the tiniest piece of grit was the culprit. 11.00am to 3.25 then the gull was found. Worked for that one with it being sunny but cold in a very strong west wind. Bonapart's gull UTB [167].

The rest of the day was spent cycling into the strong wind to try to get as close to kenfig as possible before dark. Met a lovely couple, Chris and Karen from Nottingham at a prehistoric burial chamber. Saw another such chamber as well a couple of miles later and settled down in the tent along a footpath about 3 miles before Bridgend.

All the best everyone

Gary x

Forest of Dean 31st March - 2nd April 2010 When will Spring be here?

A very noisy hide adjacent to a small pond full of smooth newts at Highnam Woods, RSPB reserve nr Gloucester started the day on the 31st of March. An open hide, that it is it has no back but it does have a lot of feeders around it so very close views of titmice, inc' marsh and great-spot woody. The rest of the reserve was walked in pouring rain and a very squelchy underfoot pathway. Interesting swift sculpture along one path. Ravens overhead, 3 blackcap, 1 willow warbler and 3 chiffs seen and heard amongst the expected woodland birds.

Afternoon, reached Lower Lydbrook on the river Wye. Lunch, a tin of sardines and a couple of hot crossed buns shared with some mallard gave a relaxing opportunity to watch a group of hirundines over the river; mostly swallows but also 5 house martins [164]. Also a male goosander was on the water. Had seen some lovely views of the Black Mountains on the way, with them being covered in snow.

Stayed at the beautifully situated Welsh Bicknor Youth Hostel, after visiting Goodrich Castle in the afternoon. For a place to stay away from the rat race there can't be many more lovely spots. Great hostel.

Up early on the 1st of April and out for 6.00am to try to get a lesser spotted woodpecker but no luck. Good dawn chorus though with drumming great spots, singing blackcaps, chiffs and a female grey wagtail by the river. Should have played an April Fool trick on the staff at the hostel but I won't divulge why. Weather was cloudless with a gibbous Moon setting. It wasn't to last.

Was met by Chris, the new RSPB warden for Symonds Yat, at the bottom of the hill and he kindly took the panniers off the bike and I had an easier ride up it. Down came the rain again but not before having great views of the peregrines and a goshawk, which although circling a distant ridge, was seen through a telescope. [165]

Dipped hawfinch at Speech House with it still raining hard and then got mandarins on nearby pools. [166]

A nice walk around a pretty birdless RSPB reserve at Nagshead, well until the rain came down again in bucketfuls. Met Barry the warden, another birder and a rarity on my birding trip. Would liked to have stayed the night here and been there for the dawn chorus but it was pouring and I'd booked a night at St Brievals Youth Hostel. Got there in the dark to find it was a large castle. Bruilliant place and brilliant people staying there. This included a lovely family from Belfast and 3 fabulous Australians; Mark, Janet and Niamh Clemens from Tasmania. Great to meet you.

2nd April, Weather - pouring rain. Joined a tour of the castle/YH and saw the 'oubliette'; a large hole beneath a dormitory where in medieval times they used to throw miscreants in and 'forget' about them. Nice! If you want to see a ghost then stay here. Over 7 different ones have been seen or heard here. Unfortunately I didn't see or hear one. My bedroom, the Gaurd Room is supposed to have a gost that strangles you, or pushes you according to how he likes you. I left late in the morning not having been pushed or strangled but having fixed the broken back brakes.

Cycled down to Bigsweir on the Wye. the last time I'd been here was when I was a teenager and a school organised canoe trip down the Wye. How did we get out of our canoes at this place. The river's tidal here and the banks are immense and muddy.

Tintern Abbey next and the rain stopped as I arrived. Paid a smaller fee that usual because of my English Heritage membership, for now I was in Wales.

A brilliant viewpoint found after a long climb was the next stop. Views over the Wye, Chepstow and then on towards both bridges over the Severn. I just wondered why they don't make the place a little more visitor friendly with a panoramic viewpoint terrace and a cafe. Would be a great place for one.

More heavy showers but at least these were accompanied by superb rainbows, mostly doubles and one was at my feet whilst I sheltered. Where was a pneumatic drill, for the pot of gold was beneath the tarmac path.

Got to Newport Wetlands Nature reserve late in the evening but that's another story.

all the best everyone

Gary x

Tuesday, 30 March 2010

Back to Slimbridge Tuesday 30th March 2010 Biking Birder moves on.....

So after visiting 'my' school yesterday, Rigby hall Special School [hello Kieran!!! - and class 3.3, oh and Taylor Ann, thanks for the Villa cards and class 4.3 - missing you too and all the children and all the staff - missing all of you.] got to Worcester and went to the Cathedral for an hour. Thanks to the ladies at the reception for the donations. Eventually got to frampton where I set up the tent and just as I settled down to read Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book, down came the rain. Me as snug as a bug didn't care and despite heavy rain overnight I slept well.

So Tuesday - awoke to the alarm of my mobile phone at 6.00am and listened to the dawn chorus which today included the first willow warbler of the year and the first singing blackcap.

Now I may have said this before but I love Slimbridge. I went back today ostensibly to but the latest edition of the Collins Bird Guide, which with money off at £15 was a bargain. Indeed if one was to join the WWT at Slimbridge you would get a copy free; now there's a great reason for going and joining.

Holden Tower - 2 willow warblers, 2 wheatear; a male and a female, 2 greenland whitefronts, the pink-footed goose and a distant great white egret. Good list with 27 swallows too and now the year list up to 163. Barnaby Bear and I gave out stickers to children who said hello to him and through the rain I cycled to gloucester where I am now on the internet for free!!! Good old Gloucestershire.

Gave £7.01 to the WWT from my collecting 'tin' from the front of my bike and that together with the £74.00 last week means a tidy sum for the WWT.

Met a lovely young 4 year old with her Mother who said her name was an Ethiopian version of Emily from Bagpuss. She was disappointed at the lack of wood duck but on the way to try to see kingfishers. Another maya Rose in the making. Watch out Maya you've got competition.

Right now to go to Gloucester Cathedral and then on to Higham Wood RSPB reserve. Looking forward to those and then Symonds yat and the Forest of Dean. Should be good. Will I see goshawk and hawfinch. They're why I'm here at this time of year so here's hoping.

All the best everyone,

Gary

PS Councils. .Pplease fill in the potholes

Sunday, 28 March 2010

Sunday 28th March 2010 Rest Day

Well Earth Hour has gone and news of it on the BBC news this morning was brief. I love those images though of major cities around the world doing their bit; Sydney, Paris, Hong Kong etc.

Now I've just seen an advert about Nestle and their rainforest destruction. I haven't had their coffee or Kit Kats for sometime but this reinforces my feelings over their practises. Have a look at it ...

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/kitkat

Great to see the 10,000 birds website [ http://10000birds.com/  ] advocating the same. Boycott Nestle and let them know you're doing so. Maybe they'll stop detroying the rainforest.

So after the hospitality of the Craig family at Chew Valley reservoir, I went around the area again searching for the fudge duck but no luck there. Did see the lesser scaup though up by the dam in pouring rain and with a very strong gale.

Then went to Stanton Drew stone circles. I'd never been here before but considering they are only 10 miles or so from Bristol they are amazing. 3 extensive stone circles with large stones associated with them. The local pub also had 3 large stones in their beer garden. Well worth the visit and I'll be doing some research on them when I can. I'd met some ladies from the US of A here but they asked not to mention who they were until April! OK girls I'll hang on.

Into Bristol and what a wonderful city. I'd only been through it before and that was 30 plus years ago on the way to seeing Villa against Bristol City. Found the recently refurbished youth hostel and then went to both the Art gallery and the cathedral.

Next day off towards the Severn Estuary by following the Avon to Avonmouth and then north to see both Severn Bridges. Found a black redstart at the older of the two bridges and then a phone call from Slimbridge and rain starting to fall, persuaded me to get to the WWT centre a day early.

Met by Sally Monroe once I'd arrived and photographed by James Lees, the warden in front of the Peter Scott bust. Massive works going on around the grounds so despite looking like a building site at the moment, a visit next year, once I'm finished with 2010, will be interesting. Down to the Holden Hide but only the pink-footed goose on view.

An evening with the two Daves and Jane, Dave Paynter's wife was extremely enjoyable and the chilli wasn't very hot.

A peregrine was the first bird seen next day and I had the privilige [that seems to be a running aspect of my trip] of going around the reserve with James Lees in the morning at Slimbridge. There weren't many birds to see, just a fall of chiff chaffs apparent but hearing his stories was the real delight. How can someone find 6 American waders in one day at Slimbridge? James did - semi-p', 2 buff breasts and 3 pecs. He also talked about his time on North Ronaldsay and of finding a Syke's warbler, Calandra lark and a veery. I suppose over the last almost 3 months now I've met 3 brilliant birders and James is one of them. A superbly talented birder and a real inspiration to meet.

On the radio later in the morning, BBC radio WM with Louise Pattersen of the RSPB. A nice phone call from Crutchley, a birding friend from Wolverhampton, said that I was OK and that my Brummie accent sounded strong.

Now it's the final day of my 3rd rest period. I've cleaned the bike and got everything ready for the off tomorrow. I intend to visit Rigby Hall Special School on the way to Gloucester and look forward to seeing colleagues and children there. They've just had their Ofsted. I hope it went well.

Thursday, 25 March 2010

EARTH HOUR 2010 - 8.30pm March 27th It's THIS SATURDAY!!!! Biking Birder

How time flies. Last year the children at the school that I am at the moment away from took part in the International EARTH HOUR. google search -  earth hour WWF  - for details.

Now it's that time of year again when as a message to the World's leaders we're asked to take part in the event that started in Sydney, Australia.

Well I'll be doing my bit and if you can take part, turn off your carbon devices at 8.30pm this Saturday then please register. the link is :-

https://support.wwf.org.uk/earth_hour/index.php?type=individual