Cwmbran Boating Lake

Starting to make the most of the extra light in the evenings. It's surprising what you can do in that short period where the light is fading. Even when it was completely dark, I was still able to focus on some slow shutter photography on the Avon Llwyd. Upon arrival I spotted a lone bat out in broad daylight. Not quite sure what species yet but don't think it's anything too uncommon. On the water was a single male Tufted Duck amongst the usual and after the light had gone, 5 Goosander came in to roost. 

Dormouse Course with GWT

What a fantastic way to have a presentation! Got to be the best setting I've had for this type of thing! I would have come to this no matter what was on the screen but it just to happen to be really informative too. 

We conducted our survey on the face of the Blorenge Mountain and naturally had incredible views of the Skirrid Mountain and surrounding mountains with Breacon Beacons to the left and Black Mountains to the right.  

The picture below shows a single Hazel nut which is being pushed up in the air by a growing Bluebell on the woodland bed... This was pretty much the theme of todays survey work. There were literally thousands of Hazels to check and despite being educated in finding the right type of evidence, we didn't actually find any signs of Dormouse in this particular woodland. That's not to say they aren't there though, we just didn't find the evidence. 

This goes to show how hard it is sometimes to find species and quick half hearted surveys are not always going to produce an accurate reading of what ecology is living on the land. 

Safe to say though, I had an amazing time on a dry sunny day on the Blorenge and I'm looking forward to any future opportunities to do this type of work. Dormice are a declining and protected species and if found at the nest, cannot be disturbed in any way without a Schedule 1 License. I've never seen one before so have no photographs of my own to show you so here is a link to a fabulous photograph pulled up from Google search. 
 

Afon Llwyd

Short trip to Pontypool Park to see how the Dippers are doing. Most are already well on their way and so are the Grey Wagtails by the looks of the full breeding plumage. Walking this river brings back a lot of memories as a child fishing. The smell of the river is very unique, not unpleasant but not exactly pleasant either: I can imagine it smells a hell of a lot better than it used to though! 

As you can see in the photographs, I experimented a little with slow shutter speeds as I intend on getting a close up, full frame slow shutter shot this year of a Dipper. It's not easy as you need to time it right when the bird is completely still, otherwise you'll get movement in the bird that creates motion blur. 

Good Company

I won't speak too much of the 'Falcon Experience' I had this morning but I will talk about the great company I had on todays outings. Good friend Paul Joy and I share in the odd wildlife trip to random places on what always ends up being an adventure. Here are a few head shots of my favourite owls from the captive owl experience we had today. 

Personally though, as beautiful as the birds were, the latter half of our day was the best and the most 'romantic' haha. Paul and I ended up watching the Sun set at Goldcliff point on the sea wall while experimenting... with slow... shutter photography haha. (Yes I realise how bad that was sounding but it's all good). Here are some of the results from that session. I personally love a good slow shutter photo and for those who aren't educated in photography terms, it simply means: a photograph that has been taken over a long period of time, in this case around 20 seconds. This gives you motion in the water as the sea retreated. 

Blizzard on Mynydd Maen

If only it were a Ring Ouzel you say? Well, I was happy to get anything in this weather! Lens and Camera was soaked, including myself. Luckily had a snow proof coat on today as it really did hammer down up on the top of Mynydd Maen Pontypool. Not much happening up there yet, think it's a little too cold still but on the lower parts of the common, the usual was present, including Green Woodpecker, Starlings, Redwing, Blackbird, Wren, Robin, Dunnock and a single Kesrel. 

Was nice to meet some of the locals that took an interest in my recording gear. As if the large lens on the camera wasn't enough to capture peoples attention, the recording parabolic dish certainly did it. 

Local Spring Arrivals

Signs of spring are growing every day and today was no exception with Yellowhammer in full song back on territory and Curlew returning to some of their upland breeding grounds. Today marks the first day of the year for Upland Curlews (for me) and I've not heard of any other recordings in Gwent of such activity yet so think this may be the first record. I visited several favourite spots locally today and all of which were upland / moorland. Each day I grow to love our uplands more and more as I realise just how important the habitat is for the majority of our wildlife. I went out with an open mind today prepared to take whatever was presented to me and I was pleasantly surprised to find Yellowhammer back on territory singing their hearts out. Spring has already started for some birds. My local Long-tailed Tits are already starting to build their nest from spiders webs, lichens and feathers. 

I've spoken about the Yellowhammer Dialects project before so I won't go into too much detail but if you're interested in sound recording and have any records, even phone recordings, of a Yellowhammer, please contribute to this incredible project - http://www.yellowhammers.net/

I'm the only one that has submitted recordings in South Wales so records here a looking thin despite our abundance of Yellowhammers. It is important to record birdsong for this very reason so please have a look at their website as Pavel is doing a great Job. 

It was my brother that spotted this Curlew flying in from Llandegfedd direction and immediately after he saw it the bird gave off that iconic call giving its identity away. It later on landed in a cultivated field and later flew further north. 

Short-eared Owl / Long-eared Owl

With this wild weather, snow, rain, sun, wind ect, I can't imagine how our Owls are evening managing to hunt. If we get another break in the weather, I may just have another session on these beautiful birds before they start heading off to their breeding territories. 

Slimbridge

Always so much to talk about and so much to show from a Slimbridge visit. I highly recommend the place if you're yet to visit. Plenty of spring activity here too which fighting Coots, Displaying Great Crested Grebes, Wigeon on the move and our Bewick Swans readying for their flight back to Siberia. Male and Female Sparrowhawks were regulars at the Kingfisher hide, though don't expect to get the picture easy! That wasn't the birds playing hard to get, it was the fight you had to put up in order to get thru the crowd of people once you shout Sparrowhawk! I had this really rude Man practically knocking me out of my square hole in the hide just so he could get in on the action. I took that shot below on my tip toes between 7 people who had taken over the seat I was just sat on. How rude! Some people are clearly just in it for the shot. Next time I won't do them any favours and keep my sightings to myself. 

Creative Crops

I do wonder sometimes whether a more creative crop will bring my images to life and give off a little more character. If I were to take Photography seriously and actually sell my images, I think this is the direction I would take to make my images more personalised. If you like this type of creative stuff, let me know and perhaps I'll put up a few prints for sale. 

Fighting with... yourself

Cold day but still plenty of spring signs in the air today. Day started off with this Male Blue Tit fighting with its own reflection in a car mirror. It's something we get often in spring on my street. It's really entertaining watching them try and bite themselves...I wonder if it's just practice for the real thing or whether it actually thinks that there is another Blue Tit on the other side of that mirror...

Long-tailed Tits weren't happy with me today with no Fat Ball Feeder.. The squirrels managed to polish off the last bit I had left too so they had to settle for the peanuts. I did actually find the fat ball feeder in the end.. someone had set it up at green pool hide instead... to my disapproval. 

I intended on recording the sound of the Water Rail today at Green Pool Hide (Llandegfedd) but they didn't perform like they did yesterday. I did however stumble upon this mouse! Which I believe to be a Harvest Mouse as it appeared yellow in colour, had short ears and long tail.. It certainly wasn't like any of the typical field/wood mice I've seen and it wasn't a vole. 
This is a pretty nice find if it is a Harvest Mouse as I know they aren't doing so well in the Uk. This was right next to the Reed Bed so pretty good chance that they are breeding there. I'll keep an eye out for them in the future, hopefully will get a photograph next time round.