I see the Gwent Ornithological Society is reporting today, that there were Hobbies catching dragonflies over the lagoons today .. why do I always go there one day to early!!! ;o)
"IT IS SAID THAT LIFE FLASHES BEFORE YOUR EYES BEFORE YOU DIE. THAT IS TRUE, IT'S CALLED LIVING."Death - Terry Pratchett (The Last Continent).
dai casnewydd said: Thanks Ant, much appreciated. I will try and get along and see if I get lucky. I too have seen the Egret at the visitor centre but he has been a bit nervous on the two occasions when I was there and I didn't manage to get a pic. I'll keep trying though! Dai
Thanks Ant, much appreciated. I will try and get along and see if I get lucky. I too have seen the Egret at the visitor centre but he has been a bit nervous on the two occasions when I was there and I didn't manage to get a pic. I'll keep trying though!
Dai
I've got a few to add of the Little Egret to add to Flickr and here next week hopefully! ;o)
My Bearded Tit sighting is quiet a funny story. I bumped into a RSPB Youth Co-ordinator who was there with a local junior school. He told me where to go to spot them, as he had seen one earlier. So I went back to the walkway that goes into the reeds just down from the lighthouse. I then stood, quietly and patiently for a good 15 minutes. I was joined by another chap, who whispered "What have you seen?", so I said that there were bearded tits close by. We both then stood there like lemons for another 15 minutes, got chatting (quietly), and was just about to give up hope, when one bird duly obliged, and landed just beyond the little water iris island.
The whole sighting on last about 5 seconds before it flitted off, not a hope of getting a picture or getting a good look thru the binoculars, but worth it.
I tend to hang around that spot for a good 15 minutes each visit in hope of seeing some more .. not a sausage since! ;o)
Ant
I have met many people down there, and talking to them and almost every one has seen the bird, many on several occasions, guess I have just been unlucky. One chap had come from Bristol and had seen it on four occasions in the one day he was visiting!
Have you been down the saline lagoons past the Farmer's Arms? I saw a peregrine scaring the life out the birds by swooping around but didn't see it make a kill. I was also told by one chap that there are hares somewhere down there.
I have been down to the seawall, but missed the lagoons. Where do you turn in relation to the Farmers Arms?
I would love to get a shot of the bearded tits, I will just have to be patient. I assume they are still there at this time of year and haven't moved on?
Pub on the left carry on past and around the corner then on your right a track turning, over a little bridge into a small area enough for two or three cars. Over a gate and two or three wooden viewing platforms are there on the right. quite a way from the pools and you need bins but you can walk around. I have seen Avocet, Lapwing and as mentioned Peregrine down there.
I'd love just to see a bearded tit let alone photograph one! I think they are there all the year around. I hear there was also a Bittern down there last winter.
I had a feeliing we were in the right place, but the wrong part!
I kept reading about the lagoons there, but I thought that they were the same ones as in the wetlands themselves. Clearly not! May have to go exploring next time I am down there. In fact, I have to go this week to get my brothers birthday present from the RSPB shop!
Worth a visit. Best time I understand is winter but also good in the nesting season too. Spoonbill was spending a bit of time there a few months ago apparently.
Went for a look at where those other lagoons are now. Didn't have time to stop.
I think I know where you are now though. The dirt track that goes over a little bridge yes, not the tarmacked main road over the bridge after the pub?
No bearded tit to be seen the day before yesterday! ;o(
Yep that's it, the dirt track, small bridge over the reen and a small parking area. Go thru the gates and the platforms are on your right, can't miss them. Make sure you take your binoculars!