Monday 1 April 2013

Back to birding on home turf.

After yesterday's exploits in Dorset, Martin Bevan dragged me kicking and screaming out this morning to look for the Ospreys around the Brecon reservoirs.
First stop was Llwyn-Onn where there was no sign of any Ospreys or infact much else so we decided to move up to Cantref . Arriving at Cantref we scanned the lake and surrounding trees with no luck. Martin however heard a Willow Tit calling and it duly obliged by hopping out onto a branch right in front of us, a new site tick for us.
Next stop was the Beacons where the only birds were the normal Great Crested Grebes and Canada Geese so we decided to try Llangorse.
We duly dipped on Osprey again at Llangorse but there was at least plenty of wildfowl to look at as we enjoyed a cup of coffee ( Martin said thanks Rob for the Old Jamaica Chocolate ). As we got into the car to drive off a male Goshawk with a kill flew into a tree next to the car-park.
We tried all the reservoirs on the way back with the only bird of note was some Goldeneye on the RCT side of Llwyn-Onn,
We then went over Cwm Cadlan and as we came out of the forest onto the moorland our first sight was a stunning male Hen Harrier quartering the ridge to our left, the day was definitely picking up. Just up the road a female Wheatear appeared looking extremely cold and wishing it had stayed in warmer climes.
Hirwaun Industrial Estate was our next destination where we decided to walk the field under Penderyn Reservoir. Within 3 minutes a Snipe and a Jack Snipe we in the bag so to speak and we could go home to a warm fire and hot bath to thaw out..
A very slow start to the day but some very nice birds to finish with.

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