Great Grey Shrike, Blaenserchan

Couldn't pass by the opportunity to see a Great Grey Shrike today between plans and boy, was I rewarded! Having listened to the stories of other Birders spending hours up their and not spotting it, I was greeted upon arrival by a singing Great Grey Shrike about 40 ft away from the path. 40ft away isn't too bad considering how big the mountain is! lol. I just about managed to get a photo between the dense branches good enough for an ID photo but the closer you got to the Bird the harder it got for photography as the Sun was on the opposite side. I'm happy either way though as it was my first sighting of a GGS and to have it on my patch meant a lot more. 

In other news! The trip brought some other firsts in the form of a Green Tiger Beetle. Having done a little read up on them, it would seem that it is fairly early in the year to be seeing them in March. Typically between May - July for Green Tiger Beetles and though described as common, I've never seen one... Something else described as 'common' is the Common Lizard of which I saw several in various places on the South facing walls. If you look carefully, You'll also notice that the Lizard has what appears to be a double tail... Perhaps a regrowth gone wrong?

Solar Eclipse and more spectacles!

In the last 2 days I've been filming in 4 different Schools but luckily for me they were outdoors which meant I could capture a Redkite in Newinn and it also meant that I got to photograph the Eclipse as all the Kids where enjoying it as part of a school activity. I don't post up any of the Children's photo's online as we have only had permission for them to be posted on Richard Evans website @ Project Nestbox and I wouldn't want to upset any of the parents. We did however have such an amazing day in the sun today putting up their nest boxes on the street. 

If you're wondering how I took this photo of the Eclipse, I was lucky that the school were handing out welding glasses to the kids and managed to get the teacher to hold one in front of my lens for me while taking this burst of photos :). Productivity maxed out today! I will really miss working in the Schools! It's such a joyful feeling knowing that the kids enjoyed themselves and most importantly learnt something about wildlife! 

Canal Walk Pontypool

I had the morning off! So out birding I went and this time had a short visit at Llandegfedd and spent a few hours up the British Mountain where we saw Kestrel, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and much more. I also took a few photo's of my friend Craig's Dog Alfie and below you'll also find some photo's I took yesterday of a Dog called Casper. Starting to actually enjoy taking Pet pictures.. so if any of you would like some actions shots of your Dogs let me know as I'm starting the prices cheap ;)

Llandegfedd Reservoir Update

It is that time of year where we can expect to have a few visitors from passing Ospreys. If you're not aware already, it's probably because I've kept it quiet and only told important people but, last year we had a pair of Ospreys for the entire of April but nothing was done over the winter with regard to repairing the current Osprey platform in time for spring season. All plans to erect our (Project Nestbox) own Platform on the Golf club grounds and the farmers fields were put on hold due to the current developments going on at Llandegfedd. We would want the location for the platform to be perfect and well away from human activity. This is looking to be a dream and very unlikely with all Welsh Waters investments going into public attractions like fishing, water-sports and a cafe. That said, my plans for today where to actually visit Llandegfedd after work to check whether any Ospreys were already present and it looks like Welsh Water have locked the gates with another lock so that key holders can't access. I then noticed that Gwent Ornithology Society had posted on their website that Llandegfedd is going to be shut at 3:30 in the evening and weekends due to 'key holders' leaving the gate open and letting the general public in resulting in a lot of littering. Personally, I think this is terrible... Only a few Key Holders visit Llandegfedd presently, all of which are responsible adults that always lock up behind them. Even I myself turned up to the north end one evening and the gate was open but you wouldn't then go and lock it behind you, just incase it was left open by welsh water for any reason? The only 'litter' I have noticed at the North End car park, hasn't been from the general public, it has actually been from the farmer who had his sheep on the land throughout the winter. He has managed to pile 5 ft of sheep wool over a fence and scattered it all over the car park... It was mentioned in GOS's post online that this will all change come April 1st and everything will resume to the way it was previously with a locked gate for Key Holders only but why they're doing that I don't know because they've said in countless emails that they are opening the North End up to the general public. Only time will tell.. I just hope that the wildlife isn't effected and that we don't loose Gwent's neglected jewell. 

Newport Wetlands Job

I think it is safe to say now that I didn't get any of the Job Vacancies that I applied for at the Wetlands this year. Interviews are meant to be starting this week and I've not heard anything back from them. What a shame! Those Jobs were perfectly made for me. Ahh well, guess it wasn't meant to be. What with my driving starting next week and a possible car on the horizon it can only get better from here. Sorry for the lack of wildlife posts this Month so far, I've been ill and very busy with 4 school documentaries to produce and a lot going on at work. That said, the weather has been pretty rubbish for photography..

Business Cards

I thought I'd splash out on some professionally made cards rather than make my own like I did last time. Even though, the ones I made before were actually pretty darn good and much cheaper so I may just print them myself after this. That said, it is nice to have proper ones to hand to people as I surprisingly use a lot when i'm out and about in the field taking photos, especially since featuring on Tv and being recognised by the locals lol.

Business Cards

Cwmbran Boating Lake

Short walk around the boating lake today to check if the Waterail was still present and it is. I have a feeling that it will be sticking around all year which is great for photographers but it probably won't get much luck with a female. If he does get a female and they breed, I'll be the first one on the scene to get some Waterail Chick photo's! No signs of the Sand Martins being back yet here but it won't be long now I'm sure as they have already been spotted elsewhere along with the first swallow of the year.

Slimbridge WWT

First warm day of the year today! I've seen 3 Butterflies already, Small Tortoiseshell and White along with a Brimstone. Bumblee's and Wasps are all starting to emerge and we've already had lots in the Garden. Slimbridge in great weather was just a bonus for photography but not much activity from the Birds I would have liked to photograph today. Ideally would have liked to get some closer shots of Lapwing but compared to our last visit the numbers where right down. I have a feeling that the bright sun may have triggered a responce in most wading Birds to start looking for their breeding grounds. A Robin stole the show today as you can see below and I made the most of having some of our most common Birds like Jackdaws up nice and close. 

Update

A couple hours of Sun this morning saw 2 new faces on the Canal showing interest in the wildlife. 1 Birder hoped to catch a Goosander but it didn't look like they showed today which was a shame considering I saw them just yesterday in that spot. Another fellow photographer was enjoying the morning Sun but we spent more time talking about gear than actually taking photo's haha. Either way, it was really nice to see others enjoying my local patch even if they didn't quite get what they were after. Like any patch, you have to put the time in to get the results you're after. Sometimes you can just get lucky though :). All I really managed to get was a photo of a Great Spotted Woodpecker from about 50 feet away lol. I'll post it for the sake of having a photo to show! lol Happy St Davids day too! Lets get some Welsh Cakes..

Llandegfedd Reservoir

Not the best day for photography but does that ever stop nature? Well.. Yes it can do lol, the Great Crested Grebes were pretty boring today, mostly tucked up asleep away from the harsh water conditions that the wind brought. I found several large piles of Frog Spawn in the ponds which is a lovely early sign that spring is around the corner. As you can see below I also found yet another sheep skull and in the shadows I not 1 but 2 Field Mice collecting some material for their nest which happened to be a fallen nestbox (of which there are many at Llandegfedd).. Not much on the water today but Greenpool saw several Wigeon, 4 Tufted Ducks and a Woodcock! Those Woodcocks don't have no how to hide and avoid my camera though.