BIKING BIRDER I April 5th 2010 Kenfig NNR and onwards deeper into Wales

 

5th April 2010

Yes! We Have No Bananas               Louis Prima

Down the hill to Kenfig and a first visit for me here since the redhead a few years ago. My first visit there was in 1988 to see my first Pied-billed Grebe. Memories of good birds and a fabulous visit, for a birder, ahead. One who visits the centre is greeted with two of the loveliest people anyone could wish to meet and they were no different for me. Thanks for the bananas!

Down to the first hide with a good number of willow warblers fresh in after a morning of heavy drizzle. Blackcaps, Chiffs and Cettis in the same area but the number of willow warblers was impressive. Seemingly there were Willow Warblers on every bush edging the pool.

I met a fabulous couple to whom every bird was 'cool' and new - Hello Nathan and Jan. Jan was what I term a 'sunshine girl', bubbly effervescent and fun. Now how did Nathan meet such a cracking girl? How can they have a honeymoon in Peru and on Galapagos? Now that is a way to start a birding marriage. I gave them a copy of a book from my pannier, the Bill Oddie Little Black Bird Book, which I hoped would  help cement their newfound passion for birds and birding together. I just hoped that realised that it is mostly tongue in cheek. [BOLBBB] Birders aren't like that really . . . they are a lot worse!

Left the reserve after exploring the dunes down to the sea, noticing extensive scraping of dune slacks for the rare orchids to be found there, and rode to Eglwys Neuedd, a large concrete bowl of a reservoir just along the M4, not that I went that way to get there. 

My reward was remarkably close views of a female Lesser Scaup, a male Greater Scaup [188] and a male Ring-necked Duck, a nice trio of ducks.

Does this area of Wales have the most take away food emporia or not? Masses of Chinese take-aways, fish and chip shops, pizza delivery stores, they were everywhere. So what does one do? Well, choose one and tuck in. I had a small fish and chips with a pineapple fritter. Such riveting stuff you find out about my fascinating in this book!
I camped in a field near Glais, ready to find the RSPB reserve at Clydach the next day. It was cold and very wet. Heavy rain kept me awake overnight.
When will Spring be here?