Short Eared Owl - Asio flammeus

Date spotted: 29th October - All Day

Location: Severn Beach - Aust Warth

Observation: Visited at high tide to see waders which was a success, some close range others further out. Lots about and a very tame Wheatear killing and eating a caterpillar was nice to see! We then had dinner at Aust Warth to try and see the Owl/s which also was a success! We stopped van and seen both of the Owls straight away, coming VERY close at time and within 10 feet but to quick/close to focus. Hunting on whole of field and stayed towards newer Severn Bridge more than other end! Very successful day !

Weather: Sunny but Cloudy, Warm with wind

Other Species: Wheatear, Black-Headed Gull, Crow, Rook, Turnstone, Dunlin, Pied Wagtail, Herring Gull, Wigeon,Tufted Duck, Curlew, Little Grebe, Meadow Pipit, Lapwing, Starling, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Short-Eared Owl, Oystercatcher, Redshank

Fill Up Before The Storm !

Date spotted: 27th October - 2.30PM

Location: From the window - Newton St Loe

Observation: A quick bird watch out of window whilst waiting for the storm to arrive! Quite a few birds around today. Seen a Red Kite driving through Stoford, 34 miles from our house! Closest wild Red Kite we have seen to our house, hopefully a few more years and we will have them in our area!

Weather: Light Rain, Light Wind - Calm before the storm !

Other Species: 9 Goldfinch, 11 Greenfinch, 6 Great Tit, 26 Crow, 1 Red Kite, 2 Wood Pigeon, 1 Magpie, 1 Coal Tit

 

Gilfach, Gigrin + Elan Valley!

Date spotted: 15th October - All Day

Location: Gilfach Farm - Gigrin Farm - Elan Valley

Observation: We got up and headed to Gilfach Farm early, sun was still rising so light to start with was poor but quickly improved. Seen quite a few birds on the feeders in the carpark walking around we seen a bit but all too distant for photographs but a great walk for mushrooms and landscapes at this time of year!! We headed back to Gigrin Farm for the 3pm feeding. Such an amazing thing to see doesn't matter how many times you visit it doesn't get boring!! After the feeding finished (alot quicker than the day before!) We drove around Elan Valley but no much in the way of birds again just landscapes (amazing ones at that!)

Weather: Blue Sky, Warm, Sunny

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Red Kite, Buzzard, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Siskin, Treecreeper, Crow, Raven, Rook, Jackdaw, Robin, Meadow Pipit, Sparrowhawk

 

WWT Llanelli + Gigrin Farm

Date spotted: 14th October - All Day

Location: WWT Llanelli - Gigrin Farm

Observation: Visited WWT Llanelli on way to Rhayder. Has potential but didn't see much as we went at low tide. We then drove straight up to Rhayder through Llyn Brianne and arrived just in time for kites! Amazing to see and alot more than last time we visited! All pitched up and seen from van in space of 15 minutes we seen lots of red kites flying VERY low, sparrowhawk, nuthatch, treecreeper, buzzard, raven. Off to Gilfach tomorrow so will keep you all updated.

Weather: Rain but brightening up to blue sky 2pm onwards

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Nuthatch, Buzzard, Red Kite, Treecreeper, Raven, Rook, Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Robin, Blackcap, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Black-Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 

Species Count - 31 Birds !

100th Blog Post !!

Date spotted: 10th October - 1PM

Location: Newton Park Lake - Zones 1,2+5

Observation: We decided to go on another species count and gladly we beat it by 6 new species!! There was also a Little Grebe on Top Lake which is only a SECOND RECORD for this area! Quite high numbers of birds today and totalling 274 birds !!

Weather: Blue Sky, Strong Wing, Quite Cold In Wind

Other Species: 1 Treecreeper, 1 Meadow Pipit, 8 Blue Tit, 6 Great Tit, 3 Blackbird, 78 Crow, 13 Jackdaw, 9 Buzzard, 11 Goldfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Magpie, 2 Pied Wagtail, 30 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 7 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Wagtail, 30 Black-Headed Gull, 34 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 8 House Sparrow, 2 Robin, 2 Rook, 2 Wren, 1 Song Thrush, 15 Wood Pigeon, 2 Jay, 6 Pheasant, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Collared Dove

Butterflies: 2 Comma Butterfly, 3 Red Admiral, Red Darter, Migrant Hawker.

Species Count - 29 Species

Date spotted: 1st October 2013 - 1PM

Location: Newton Park Lake - Zones 1,2+5

Weather: Cloudy, Some Haze, Warm

Other Species: 3 Greenfinch, 10 Wood Pigeon, 45 Crow, 3 Magpie, 16 Blue Tit, 6 Robin, 1 Blackbird, 3 Buzzard, 1 Mistle Thrush, 6 Jackdaw, 32 Starling, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 6 Great Tit, 6 House Sparrow, 1 Feral Pigeon, 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 1 Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Long tailed Tit, 1 Moorhen, 18 Mallard, 7 Mute Swan, 1 Wren, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 1 Rook, 20+ Possible Corn Bunting (To Be Confirmed)