Don't hate me

 I wasn't going to use this image.. but that face is just.... well.. do I... no! I still prefer Red Squirrels. 

What a difference a month makes!

Hard to believe that this time last month I was photographing Toads on the top of the mountain in a T-shirt right? Cold weather has certainly rolled in this weekend and with it, I should expect to see more birds turning up to the feeders. Tomorrow I'll be looking to monitor Llandegfedds feeders for the first official time and I'm hoping I bring back good news. 

Jay Quiff

I've tried so many times to get a picture of a Jay with its crest up! And even though this picture does present the 'quiff' it is a ridiculous crop and I probably won't ever use it other than to show people who they can do. Jays are one of the most expressive Birds in the country! They express themselves not only by posture but their vocalisations go way beyond the typical squawk that you usually hear in the woodlands. They can mimic the sound of Buzzards and just like Magpies, they actually have a beautiful song which you hardly ever get to hear! When you watch them close up in places like Forest Farm, you can hear them making very quiet intricate sounds between each other. Very underrated birds and highly respectable. 

Forest Farm Inspiration

While Llandegfedds Feeding Station is in the making, I've taken the time to get some inspiration from Forest Farm. They have a very successful feeding station with regular activity and plenty of photographers there to lap up the opportunity. Plus, they have Kingfishers. The end. 

Project Funding

Well, I didn't expect this much support! Just yesterday I had another generous donation from a Partner at work.  

image.jpg

As you can see, I put his money to good use!  

I've also just had some fantastic news from Gwent Ornithological Society who accepted my application for a 'Burt Hamar Bursary' that will provide me with just the funding I need to get through the winter and run this project properly. Burt Hamar was one of the founders of GOS and even has a memorial hide inplace at Llandegfedd on the West Bank. I hope I make him and everyone at GOS proud and I'm very much appreciative of their support. 

I'll be setting out tomorrow to re-fill the feeders and assess how much has been eaten. I'll be logging all activity in my time there and hopefully the opportunity will bring a nice photograph or two. 

Many thanks to everyone

Feeder Donations

Would like to thank everyone that has supported my winter feeding project so far and to those who have already donated! I've received 2 bags of seed, sunflowers and general  seed mixtures. I'm looking into getting some official project funding but till that day comes, I will continue to appreciate your support! 

 

image.jpg

Kingfishers @ Forest Farm

Doesn't look like the Great Northern Divers stuck around Llandegedd having only been seen early hours of this morning so having had another hot chocolate at the visitors centre, I headed off to Forest Farm for another session with the Kingfishers. I wished I had my recording gear actually because the Water Rail were putting on quite a show with their vocalisations between each other in the reed bed. The Kingfishers at Forest Farm are really easy to observe this time of year. Despite there being plenty of places to fish on the reserve, there is usually 1 or 2 that actively use the ponds and perches provided by friends of forest farm. This single male came in 7 times during my short time there, each time taking 1-2 fish. Must be plenty of fish in there! 

Hedgehog Care

Having reports of Hedgehogs in the last couple days so please be careful on the roads. Also, if you have any heaps in your Garden, leave them there. You may just have a Hedgehog hibernating in there! 

This photo was taken last August on my street as it was searching for a warm place to hibernate in someones garden. Cutting openings under your Garden fence is also advices as it creates corridors from which the hedgehog has more choice of food. Your Garden is perfect! Slugs, Snails and shelter. What more could a hedgehog ask for? well, maybe a water bowl ;) 

Llandegfedd Feeding Station

Let the feeding begin! If you wish to contribute to Llandegfedds feeding station this winter, please contact me because any help will be appreciated. I'm aiming to treat the local Badgers, Foxes and of course whatever comes in for the seed in the feeders. This is a personal experiment for me as I'll be testing different foods and also feeding methods to deter the Grey Squirells. Or atleast to keep them on their toes ;). Feeders are on a clothes line so that alone will make it hard for the squirrels. 

logs will be used for the many Mice that already visit and different floor methods for fallen fruit will hopefully attract fieldfare, redwing and other medium sized birds. 

image.jpg

If you simply wish to enjoy the feeders, all I ask is that you document any activity and report it to me or post it on Llandegfedd Reservoir Wildlife page so that I can note it down.  

Soggy Success @ Llandegfedd Reservoir

I wasn't expecting much Joy this weekend given the terrible weather as it is really hard to even see anything through the binoculars when its tipping down with rain and blowing a gail! but this really is the best time to get out to Llandegfedd because birds do get blown in from the coast! This weekends weather has been perfect for off shore birds turning up around our coastal line and this is a perfect example of how weather can effect migratory sea birds. 

I firstly set out to Llandegfedd to for-fill a few tasks with the Bird feeder project that I'm running this winter. Welsh Water kindly cleared the feeding station for me so now it's just a matter of topping the feeders up which I'm going to be doing myself. Having done that and got soaked in the process, I hopped back in the car and headed over to the visitors centre so that I could carry on my birding from the comfort of the centre. Had a Hot Chocolate (Highly recommended) and around 13:00pm I spotted a Great Northern Diver! I got the word out as quick as I could and a few birders joined me around 14:00 and come 15:00 another turned up out of nowhere! 

Weather was still pretty bad at this point and they were out in the middle of the Res but this is a personal first for me at Llandegfedd and possibly even a first for Gwent! 

Prior to all this excitement, while I was heading over to the visitors centre, I spotted an Otter crossing the road in the country lanes heading away from Llandegfedd up the main stream that runs into it. I'll be keeping an eye on that particular section of the road from now on! 

I also flushed a Waterail from the North end while putting some food outside of 'Hide 1' left of fishermans car park. 

So overall, despite the horrific weather, not a bad day at all!!