Welsh Trip, Week One.

Just back from a two week trip to South Wales and a change of scenery, visiting RSPB reserves, National Parks, many wild places from the Forest of Dean to Brecon and right on to Castlemartin. First called into RSPB Nagshead in the Forest of Dean noted for wild boar, pied flycatcher and redstarts in the large mature oak woodland. No wild boar seen but plenty of evidence of them rooting up large areas of bluebells.

Had good views of pied flycatchers & redstarts.

Moved on to Aberhyddnant Farm nr Crai, where we stayed for a week. A large organic farm with 

many varying habitats from improved grasslands to created wetlands, woodlands to high moorland, noted 42 different species of bird. Visited Usk reservoir on Sunday.

Monday drove into the Elan Valley. An amazing area. More pied & spotted flycatchers, garden and willow warblers in the RSPB Carngafallt. Wheatear, stonechat, grey wagtail and common sandpiper nearby.

Drove on for a while passing more dams, had a cuppa by a high moorland stream watching dippers busy feeding young still in their nest, more grey wagtails and reed bunting.

Adult trout and fry in the stream, perfect.The good weather continued on Tuesday as we visited another RSPB reserve, Dinas. 

As soon as we were out of the car marsh tits and siskins were amongst other birds feeding at close quarters on well stocked tables.

Nuthatches feeding young in a box close to the picnic table we used. Great spotted woodpeckers, bullfinches, chaffinches and more kept coming and going. Another reserve noted for pied flycatchers and many seen along with garden warblers which were very vocal.

Further on through the reserve found a pair of wood warblers busy courting in the tree tops, heard them first with their easily recognisable downward trill at the end of their little song. Amazing bluebell woods there, seems a little later than here in the Chilterns.

Wednesday, a bit of culture, went to Brecon Cathedral, impressive as most Cathedrals are and found the grounds atmospheric and cooling as the temperature was rising and walking around the farm later that day found the redstart were back and displaying well close to one of the many nest boxes the farmer had provided. Also noted spotted flycatchers nest building. Garden and willow warblers were constantly singing. Higher up on one of the small lakes Canada geese had goslings and a little grebe was seen.

Last whole day in this area we went down to Craig-Y-Nos country park, a walk along the river where dippers had fledged and allowed one to get quite close.

Came across movement  in a conifer close by and waiting for a while tree creepers reappeared bringing in food to their nesting place, again great to watch at close quarters. Stewart.
Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.