Of Birds & Cake the Blog of Paul: Week in Wales Pt 3

Day 5 Wednesday 9th of May

The weather forecast was still a bit dodge, but we decided to risk it and headed south to visit RSPB Ynys Hir the main target would be Pied Flycatchers and Wood Warblers, we didn't arrive until about 9 o'clock, things didn't start well with the sightings board having no mention of Wood Warblers, it was confirmed later by a member of staff that none have been heard on the reserve this year. I find this pretty sad, every time we have visited in May before, the highlight has been listening to the Wood Warblers singing😢Don't know what the reason for it is, we heard loads of Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers, so perhaps something on their migration route not sure how the population has been on other sites? We heard a few a further North later in the week. The poor start continued as we walked through the woodland on the big slope we could hear various birds but didn't get a view of much. Strangely at the bottom of the slope in Oak Woodland, we were listening too Grasshopper Warblers!! Though as we exited the Woodland it became obvious they were singing in much more appropriate habitat!! Think there were 3 all told, didn't see em obvs!😢

Things finally picked up as we walked along the more open woodland, Margie spotted the first Pied Flycatcher of the year! Hurrah!! Had great views of a Willow Warbler in this location as well!

Pied Flycatcher

Willow Warbler

Some pics of the woodland by Margie below, even in the dull weather it's a beautiful place

Some sort of Fern, lot's of different ones about!

Paths lined with Bluebells

Twisted Oaks

As week walked the reserve we ran into more Pied Flycatchers.

Mr & Mrs

Willow Warbler

Home sweet home, this box was overhanging the path which seemed a strange place to locate it!

We wandered the reserve, couple of sightings of Red Kites a pair of warring male Pheasants but the Pied Flys were the definite highlight!

More Livestock to be negotiated😏

Another Pied Fly

Red Kite

Pheasant battle!

Stonechat

More scenery pics from Margie below!

Think they've spotted me!

Robin

Bluebells, seem to be a lot this year, though could be imagining it!

Canada Goslings, were loads of Canada Geese across the Salt Marsh

We decided, on leaving the reserve, to check out the Dovey Osprey project just up the road, 6 quid each to get in, but you can see where the money has been spent, excellent facilities, we had great views of the Ospreys, loads of Reed and Sedge warbler in the reedbeds/ scrub on either side of the boardwalk.

Sedge Warbler

Osprey

Reed Warbler, not showing great!

Reed Warbler

Margie cheated and got this pic off the big screen, shame about the water droplet!

The café was being refurbished so the only Gluten Free option were Chocolate Brownie and Millionaires Shortbread, I couldn't decide so had both!😂 The plan to save one for later, a plan that failed miserably😏😢!! The staff were all very knowledgeable and it was interesting to see the timeline of the Ospreys, think on our last visit Nora was the female,been a couple since then and they've produced a lot of chicks since as well! Also interesting to hear about the Beaver enclosure on the site though you can't see them in the flesh there was some good video.

With the weather improving we decided to head up the A44 and watch the Red Kite feeding at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, we arrived a bit early, the café here wasn't being refurbed so had a very nice Chilli and Nachos!! There is a large seed feeder on the balcony here and it was caked in Siskins, with a cracking male Lesser Redpoll also joining in! Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch also visited while we were there!

Lesser Redpoll with Siskins

Prefer pics away from the feeders

Chaffinch

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Margie captured some of the sculptures on the site

As feeding time approached the numbers of Kites started to build up, the info board said they get about 150 but it seemed more!

A few of the gathering Kites

Margie captured a bit of the action in this short video!

The Kites weren't the only birds waiting for the feast, a group of Goosanders also hang around waiting for any food dropped into the lake!

Male and Female Goosander

Red Kite getting lower

Once the feeding started the carnage began!

Margie's video conveys some of the frenzy!

It's quite difficult to get good pics of the Kites, the light was fairly dull and the birds are very quick! But I done me best a few pics below!

The Goosanders obviously fed up with waiting for the Kites to drop the food decided to hit the bank although they soon headed back to the water with the Kites zooming in!