BIKING BIRDER I April 6th 2010 Cwm Clydach RSPB Reserve

 

6th April

Raiders of the Lost Arc theme

Remember the scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? The one with a view of the Canyon of the Crescent Moon. Well that is the shape of Clydach RSPB Reserve. OK it wasn't as hot and the trees get in the way of the geology but with a bit of imagination that's what you've got.

I was down the bottom of the valley following the excellent track around the whole of the reserve. Dippers and Grey Wagtails were the best as the migrants hadn't arrived yet but I photographed the mosses and scenes, with a red cup-like fungus to identify later.

Over to the WWT reserve at Llanelli, a day early but like Slimbridge a couple of weeks ago, I just had to get there. Well worth it too and maybe this is the best WWT reserve for natural habitats and birds. For areas created over the spoils of industry and farmland it is fabulous. Today I looked around the eastern area with reedbeds, sallow slacks and pools, islands and Black Poplar woodlands. Lots of Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaffs and Blackcaps, as well as good numbers of Sand Martins and Swallows. Saw both a Bank Vole, ignoring me as I sat on a gate and also a Water Vole swimming down a channel oblivious to me. The Water Vole was swimming - not the Bank Vole. More great people to meet here, Nigel the manager and Eleanor the office manager. Both welcoming and wonderful.

Now come on if you have not been there yet, get down there and find some good birds. Families! Get down there and get on the bikes. You can get a bike for free to cycle around the reserve. You can explore the Water Vole tunnels, feed the ducks and take a wild canoe ride. Brilliant place!
Met the local 'Last of the Summer Wine' crew but this had over ten members, not three. Thanks Wendell, good to meet you. Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, a Spoonbill and a couple of Wheatear on the western scrapes and more Willow Warblers. Indeed I counted over sixty Willow Warblers during the morning.

OK, I know I have not been able to do the blog for the last .... few days! Wales where the mountains stop mobile signals and where the internet is only available to a traveller such as 'moi' in a library only open for a couple of hours a day but I'll detail those missing days after reporting a brilliant visit to a brilliant school in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
St John's Primary School was visited this afternoon and I had the great privilege in meeting both the school's Eco committee and the School Council; 25 children on the lawn outside the school entrance. So what did we do? Well we discussed why the school was an Eco School. "Helps the planet," said the tall Bazza. "Saves energy," so said the Brilliant Betty. Saves money too, added Fiona and "it's fun," said Gertie, short for Gertrude but may I say that these are not the childrens' real names - just a bit of fun with the kids and they know who they are.
Next we had 'Gladys' find Sid the rainforest frog and she hopped around the lawn demonstrating the way she thought he moved. 'Bill' showed her the proper way, with him pretending to climb a rainforest tree.
Rainforests were discussed and then climate change before they all made the Eco Promise.

So thanks Mrs Wilford, children and staff of St John's. Good luck with the Green Flag.

 

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?