Dippers:River Llynfi,Llangynwyd,Maesteg

Some photos of Dippers taken on Saturday morning 24.April 2010

Twitchmeister Art

Grey Heron at Forest Farm

A touch of the ol' Van Gogh in this painting methinks?

Norfolk Trip List, Winter 2010

A few notable absentees - Great White Egret, Snow Goose, Little Owl, some waders and woodland species and Twite, but a decent haul in 3.5 days.

1. Mute Swan, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
2. Whooper Swan, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
3. Bean Goose, Cantley (Taiga)
4. Pink-footed Goose, Holkham
5. White-fronted Goose, Holkham
6. Greylag Goose, Holkham
7. Canada Goose, Buckenham Marshes
8. Barnacle Goose, Holkham
9. Brent Goose, Cley-next-the-Sea (also Black Brant type at Wells-next-the-Sea)
10. Egyptian Goose, Holkham
11. Shelduck, Cley-next-the-Sea
12. Wigeon, Cley-next-the-Sea
13. Gadwall, Cley-next-the-Sea
14. Teal, Buckenham Marshes
15. Mallard, Buckenham Marshes
16. Pintail, Cley-next-the-Sea
17. Shoveler, Cley-next-the-Sea
18. Pochard, Buckenham Marshes
19. Ring-necked Duck, Whitlingham CP
20. Tufted Duck, Cley-next-the-Sea
21. Scaup, Wells-next-the-Sea
22. Eider, Hunstanton
23. Long-tailed Duck, Holme
24. Common Scoter, Salthouse
25. Velvet Scoter, Hunstanton
26. Goldeneye, Titchwell
27. Smew, Whitlingham CP
28. Red-breasted Merganser, Titchwell
29. Ruddy Duck, Whitlingham CP
30. Red-legged Partridge, Warham Greens
31. Grey Partridge, Warham Greens
32. Pheasant, Hickling Green
33. Golden Pheasant, Wolferton (dodgy hybrids ;-))
34. Red-throated Diver, Salthouse
35. Black-throated Diver, Swanton Morley GP
36. Great Northern Diver, Whitlingham CP
37. Little Grebe, Cley-next-the-Sea
38. Great Crested Grebe, Titchwell
39. Red-necked Grebe, Whitlingham CP
40. Fulmar, Hunstanton
41. Cormorant, Salthouse
42. Little Egret, Titchwell
43. Grey Heron, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
44. Red Kite, nr Corby, Northamptonshire
45. Marsh Harrier, Cley-next-the-Sea
46. Hen Harrier, Warham Greens
47. Sparrowhawk, Burnham Overy
48. Buzzard, Coveney, Cambridgeshire
49. Rough-legged Buzzard, Coveney, Cambridgeshire
50. Kestrel, Coveney, Cambridgeshire
51. Merlin, Cantley
52. Water Rail, Titchwell
53. Moorhen, Cley-next-the-Sea
54. Coot, Cley-next-the-Sea
55. Crane, Hickling Green
56. Oystercatcher, Titchwell
57. Avocet, Cley-next-the-Sea
58. Ringed Plover, Titchwell
59. Grey Plover, Cley-next-the-Sea
60. Lapwing, Buckenham Marshes
61. Knot, Titchwell
62. Sanderling, Titchwell
63. Dunlin, Cley-next-the-Sea
64. Common Snipe, Titchwell
65. Woodcock, Holkham
66. Black-tailed Godwit, Buckenham Marshes
67. Bar-tailed Godwit, Titchwell
68. Curlew, Cley-next-the-Sea
69. Spotted Redshank, Titchwell
70. Redshank, Cley-next-the-Sea
71. Turnstone, Salthouse
72. Black-headed Gull, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
73. Common Gull, Hickling Green
74. Lesser Black-backed Gull, Salthouse
75. Herring Gull, Salthouse
76. Great Black-backed Gull, Cley-next-the-Sea
77. Guillemot, Salthouse
78. Feral Pigeon, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
79. Stock Dove, Coveney, Cambridgeshire
80. Woodpigeon, Coveney, Cambridgeshire
81. Collared Dove, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
82. Barn Owl, Cley-next-the-Sea
83. Green Woodpecker, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
84. Skylark, Hickling Green
85. Shore Lark, Snettisham
86. Meadow Pipit, Cley-next-the-Sea
87. Rock Pipit, Thornham
88. Pied Wagtail, Titchwell
89. Wren, Buckenham Marshes
90. Dunnock, Titchwell
91. Robin, Titchwell
92. Stonechat, Titchwell
93. Blackbird, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
94. Fieldfare, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
95. Song Thrush, Titchwell
96. Redwing, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
97. Mistle Thrush, Hickling Green
98. Long-tailed Tit, Wolferton
99. Blue Tit, Titchwell
100. Great Tit, Titchwell
101. Coal Tit, Holkham
102. Marsh Tit, Whitlingham CP
103. Jay, Holkham
104. Magpie, Choseley
105. Jackdaw, Flitcham
106. Rook, Hickling Green
107. Carrion Crow, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
108. Starling, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
109. House Sparrow, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
110. Chaffinch, Pymoor, Cambridgeshire
111. Greenfinch, Cley-next-the-Sea
112. Goldfinch, Cley-next-the-Sea
113. Siskin, Whitlingham CP
114. Linnet, Cley-next-the-Sea
115. Lesser Redpoll, Whitlingham CP
116. Mealy Redpoll, Titchwell
117. Bullfinch, Cley-next-the-Sea
118. Snow Bunting, Salthouse
119. Yellowhammer, Choseley
120. Reed Bunting, Cley-next-the-Sea
121. Corn Bunting, Choseley

More Kite News

It was about time I headed north for a visit to Rhayader. The now well-discussed and photographed Black Kite has been on show for a few weeks, and presents a good opportunity to see the species at close quarters alongside Red Kite, regardless of its credentials.

A stop-off at Llwyn-onn Reservoir did not produce its annual Water Pipit tick, though a Woodcock flushed at the north of the Reservoir, a small party of Goosander on Cantref Reservoir, and a Goshawk over Erwood produced year ticks for our group.

At Gigrin, we were on the Black Kite within a few minutes, being perched in a nearby tree. Good views through the binoculars and telescopes were enjoyed, and our team photographer snapped away. It drifted off, so we made our way to the feeding area, and took up position outside the hides. There was plenty of activity, with Red Kites, Buzzards, Crows, Ravens and the odd Grey Heron waiting for their grub. A mixed group of Siskins and Lesser Redpolls fed on the Alders behind us.

At 2:00pm prompt, the tractor arrived with its load. Sprinkling this over the ground in front of the hides soon saw the sky full of birds. Buzzards and corvids seem to feed on the ground, whereas the kites prefer to stay aloft, picking up scraps and feeding on the wing.

Black Kite: courtesy of Handy Grouse Imaging

The feeding frenzy lasted around 30 minutes, after which we departed south for Ponsticill Reservoir where an Iceland Gull has been reported coming in to roost in the later afternoon. We arrived at 3:50pm, with large numbers of gulls, already roosting in two large group on the water. We spent some time working through the roost, but it consisted of Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls for the most part. We left with new birds still arriving at the roost as darkness fell.

Kitefest at Gigrin Farm : Jan 2010

Saturday morning 9th January saw myself and Neil meet up at the Harvester car park at Llandarcy to take advantage of the glorious winter weather and head north to Rhyader and Gigrin Farm Kite Feeding Station in the hope of catching up with the recently arrived Black Kite together with the feeding spectacle of the hundreds of Red Kites that turn up for the afternoon feeds.

Both the A465 and A470 were clear of snow as was the B road across the common from Penderyn although the countryside was a picture postcard snowscape.

We picked up two Red Kites as we approached Brecon and another two as we turned off onto the A470 north of Brecon for Builth Wells and as we approached Rhayader the numbers steadily increased.

We turned off the A470 at the Brynafon Hotel who were kindly letting visitors to Gigrin use their car park and made our way along the snow and ice covered track only to find a Ford Mondeo making a valiant but rather foolish attempt to get up to the farm blocking our way.

The driver thought he was in with a chance with a push from ourselves and despite our best efforts he had to concede and make his way back down to the hotel car park.

The Jeep flew up the track effortlessly and we were the first vehicle to arrive,Chris the owner introduced himself and we parked up for a coffee and a bite to eat.

Soon after another two 4x4s arrived carrying yet more Glamorgan birders and out tumbled Paul Bowden,Glyn Roberts,Matt Evans,Mark Duttfield,Rob Gaze,Martin Bevan,Phil Hill and Martin Bell all armed with an assortment of 'scopes,cameras and video recorders.

We made our way along the snow covered track to the hides and scanned the sky and trees which were dripping with Red Kites waiting for the feed to commence,in one of the trees was perched the leucistic "White" kite which has been a regular visitor to the feeding station for a number of years.

At precisely 2.00pm Chris arrived with his tractor and the feeding frenzie commenced with the sky full of acrobatic swooping kites interspersed with a few Common Buzzards,some Ravens and lots of Carrion Crows.

Gigrin Farm is probably the best place in the UK if not the world to see and photograph Red Kites although I don't know if I agree with Andy Rouse's suggestion that "it is too easy and anyone can get a good Red Kite photo at Gigrin".

For a novice such as myself there are probably too many birds in the air at one time criss-crossing with eachother,having said that I couldn't wait to have a go with my new camera and big lens.

I'd only seen one Black Kite previously in the UK which was the Black-Eared Kite over in Norfolk at this time of year a few years ago and was keen to catch up with this bird.

It put in a few fleeting appearances but moved through the feeding field very quickly,but as time went on and the Red Kites started to thin out and disperse it seemed to seize it's chance and was almost the last kite to remain feeding challenged only by the corvids,does that mean it's down the pecking order from the Red Kites and it feels intimidated by their large numbers ?

It made several passes close to the hides and gave amazing views,it really put on a 5 star show.

We filled our boots with some great views and just before leaving the hide the bird perched up in a nearby tree to enjoy what must have been a welcome meal.

The feed came to an end and as the Red Kites dispersed the Black Kite disappeared over the hides prompting us to call it a day and make our way back to the Jeep for a welcome cuppa and chat with the rest of the Glamorgan lads before departing for home.

As we made our way down the track the other lads were on the Black Kite again which had perched up in a tree in a nearby field giving more excellent 'scope views as it sat with several Red Kites.

What a brilliant day out,Gigrin Farm never ceases to amaze me and the facilities there are second to none,to see so many kites in such wonderful snow covered scenery was a treat,but to get such amazing views of a Black Kite as well was really "the icing on the cake".