Keeping it local......

After a day in the garden yesterday and a bit of a deserved lay-in I managed a couple of hours out locally late morning, I was after Spotted Flycatcher and checked out some historic areas but failed on this occasion.
I did however find proof of breeding of Tawny Owl with three well developed youngsters still in the nest hole and a confiding Wood Warbler still intently advertising for a mate, I was only out for a couple of hours but was well pleased with my couple of finds especially the successful Tawny Owls.......

A stroll around the golf course.........

I turned down a couple of offers this weekend due to other commitments, one being a visit to Cotswold Water Park and the other to the Somerset Levels, and therefore stayed local with a visit on Saturday and Sunday evenings to my local golf course in Maesteg.
It's been my 'go to' place in the last few years for Grasshopper Warbler but no such luck on this occasion although I had one 'reeling' but not showing.
There were two Cuckoos present on Saturday evening and I managed to get a few shots of one although I would have liked to have got closer, several other common species were also present including Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Stonechat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff..........

'Woody and Gropper'

Over the Bank Holiday weekend I returned to a local Oak wood and golf course, in the wood I was hoping to refind the male Common Redstart that I had seen high in the treetops on a previous visit.
On the golf course I hoped for better views of Grasshopper Warbler, I had no luck with the Redstart but had corking views of one of two Wood Warblers present and managed to see 3-4 different 'Groppers' at varying distances, there was also a photogenic Willow Warbler which posed nicely..........

Green Heron : 'The Return'

Myself and friend Richard Smith decided to make a return visit to the Green Heron at Llan-mill, Narberth last Saturday 5th May hoping to get some better photos of the Green Heron, us 'toggers' are never satisfied !!
We aimed to get there about 1.00pm when the sun would have moved around behind us so after meeting up at Sarn on the M4 we first headed for Llyn Llech Owain Country Park Nr Cross Hands hoping to connect with a Cuckoo that had been seen there earlier in the week.
Unfortunately we didn't see a Cuckoo but there were several common migrants present including Tree Pipit, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
We pushed on to Llan-mill arriving at about 1.00pm but between arrival and 6.00pm when we left the bird showed only distantly at the back of the pond and spent the rest of the time munching on newts and Rudd in the reeds..........

Grasshopper Warbler : Maesteg

I've been searching several known territories for the last week or two hoping to get some shots of a Grasshopper Warbler but to no avail.
I've found a few and heard them 'reeling' but haven't been able to catch even a glimpse of one until this evening after work when I came across one in a patch of brambles on Maesteg Golf Course.
I waited and waited and eventually the bird showed momentarily but for long enough for me to get a few reasonable shots, unfortunately the light was dire and as a result I had to boost the ISO more than I wanted............