Wales - 4th May 2014.

 

Garganey

 

Avocet

 

Pied Wagtail

 

Willow Warbler

 

Pied Flycatcher

 

 

Meadow Pipit

Marmora's Warbler (Sylvia sarda)-Blorenge, Gwent & Iberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus ibericus)-Wentwood Forest, Gwent. 13/06/2010

Iberian Chiffchaff-Phylloscopus ibericus

After a disappointing start to the World Cup for England there's nothing better than a good old twitch to lift the spirits and a Warbler double header in Wales would do just that. The destination, first Blorenge, Gwent to see only the 5th Marmora's Warbler for Britain and then off to see the long staying Iberian Chiffchaff at Wentwood Forest, Gwent.

I awoke Sunday morning at 6:45am feeling rather groggy but couldn't determine whether it was due to the alcoholic refreshment I had consumed during the England-USA game or just the result or Robert Greens unfortunate error which was continually flashing before my eyes over and over. I figured it would be a bit of both and pressed snooze on the alarm. It went off a couple of times before I thought better of it and turned it off completely finally waking about 8:45am all the better for it, with the missus in tow we set off for Wales.

Blorenge

I arrived at Blorenge as mid-day approached and after finding a place in the car park wandered down the road to the dozen or so birders viewing the area, of course by the time I had finally found a spot to park the Marmora's Warbler had been on show, sung well and now had disappeared and gone silent. Typical I thought but I'm sure it's happened to us all on one or more occasion, I wasn't too downbeat as there was still plenty to hear and see whilst I waited and searched for the Marmora's.

The heather and ferns that covered the hillside were busy with bird activity, plenty of Meadow Pipits on show and often down to a few feet as they perched on the tops of the vegetation, Tree Pipits sang continuously whilst I was there and as soon as one finished singing and returned to it's perch another started. In the distance a Cuckoo could be heard calling every now and then as well a distant Willow Warbler, a couple of Swallows flew through as did 2 Swifts. A male Whinchat appeared and disappeared in front of us only giving me the briefest of views but eventually it did return later and showed very well, a rather tatty male Wheatear also put in a very brief appearance as it searched for food along the roadside bank before flying over the road and down the hillside.

Tree Pipit

I had now been here for 3 hours and there was still no sight or sound from the Marmora's Warbler, birders had come and gone, passers-by had stopped to ask what we were looking at and the weather had changed so many times that I didn't know what season it was. The clouds were slowly rolling across the hillsides towards us, the few blue patches of sky were no more and the wind started picking up. It actually managed to blow over 3 tripods whilst I was there and I'm sure that's got to be some kind of record, I don't ever recall seeing 3 go over on any twitch I've been to.

Meadow Pipit

I'd met a very nice gentleman from Wiltshire who had seen the bird on previous occasions and had returned to see it again today, we had been chatting and trying hard to find the Marmora's to no avail and as 3pm approached I finally cracked. I was dying to point Percy at the porcelain if you no what I mean and as they clouds were getting more ominous I decided that it had beaten me and I would have to come back another time, that and the fact that my other-half was sat in the car and although she had a book with her and is very tolerant I was probably pushing it, I also hadn't told her that we would be going to see the Iberian Chiffchaff on the way home!

I took one last scan across the habitat before packing up my scope, there was still no sight or sound from the Marmora's Warbler so I said my goodbyes. I was sure I would get home and read on Birdguides that the bird was seen just after I left and all I could think about was when I could get back to try again. I wandered back to the car and popped my scope in to the boot, just as I was shutting the boot I noticed a bird fly past from the hillside in front of the car park and over the road. I then heard the Marmora's song and then nearby birder located it, I rushed over and immediately got it in view as it sat in the vegetation singing. It stayed here for no more than 45 seconds before it flew back across the road and in to a small tree on the roadside, it sang again briefly before dropping down out of sight. That's probably the closest I've come to not seeing a bird, in fact I don't think you can cut it much finer. I wished I could have had some longer views and had a chance to get some photos but I was certainly delighted to have finally seen it and if it remains I will probably return to Blorenge.

Meadow Pipit

So after all the excitement I left Blorenge slightly relieved and headed towards Wentwood Forest, Gwent in search of the Iberian Chiffchaff. On arrival at the Cadira Beeches car park a Wood Warbler could be heard singing from the opposite side of the main road, just as I was about to go in search of the Iberian Chiffchaff I met another birder who was returning to see it, this made life much easier as he led me straight to the area where the bird frequents and as we approached the area the Iberian Chiffchaff could be heard singing.

Edging our way along the path we soon came to a copse of small trees and could hear the Chiffchaff in a young Silver Birch in front of us, all of a sudden the bird appeared towards the top of the tree before flitting out of sight on the far side of the tree where it stayed for a few minutes continually singing and giving brief views through the foliage. Every now and again it would make its way through the tree canopy and in to view snatching a few flies as it went, after a few minutes of getting quick views here and there it perched in full view and began to sing giving us amazing views. Incredibly it stayed still long enough for me to grab a few photos before flying to a nearby oak tree where it began singing while flitting round the tree.

Iberian Chiffchaff-Phylloscopus ibericus

It would be easy to overlook this bird without hearing it call and in contrasting light the bird looked very different, when it was in the open the yellow tones to the top of the throat/breast, flanks and vent were evident, the white belly and green hue to the upperparts as well. The supercilium is generally quite bold and in good light the yellow tones can be seen towards the front of it but in dappled shade the bird looked much darker and the yellow tones were less obvious.

Iberian Chiffchaff-Phylloscopus ibericus

Iberian Chiffchaff Song

It was very active whilst I was there, continually searching for food, singing and even the odd preen here and there. Elsewhere in the wood both Garden and Willow Warbler could be heard singing and nearby a Common Whitethroat's scolding call could be heard. The weather then took a turn for the worse and the rain started to gently fall, I decided to make a hasty retreat and said farewell and thank you to the Frampton birder making it back to the car just in time, it then proceeded to chuck it down most of the way home.

So the day could have been a lot worse, I could have dipped on both but instead managed to see 2 Lifers. I fluked the Marmora's and got amazing views of the Iberian Chiffchaff, I pulled that one right out of the bag, now if only England could do the same!

Blast From The Past - Pipits & Wagtails.

Meadow Pipit.

Tree Pipit.

Pied Wagtail.

Grey Wagtail.

TABCG Wales Trip - 03/05/09

Avocet

We arrived at Goldcliff to glorious sunshine and parked up in the small car park at the entrance to the reserve. As we got out of the car a Chiffchaff greeted us with it's song, amazingly from the same tree as in the previous two years trips, whether it's the same individual each year is another question but is does seem that it's waiting for our arrival each year!

After we had grabbed a quick bite of food, our scopes and binoculars the group headed through the gate and along the track next to the wetlands getting views of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler along the hedgerows. After assembling at the first screen we viewed the reserve, Avocet, Little Egret, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Redshank & Ringed Plover being the more interesting species present.

Goldcliff

Plenty of Skylark and Meadow Pipit activity in front of the screen with one individual sitting on the post in front of us while it preened, surprisingly no Curlew or Whimbrel which we could normally guarantee seeing.

Meadow Pipit

Viewing the wetlands from the second screen found a single Bar-headed Goose and Barnacle Goose hiding in the grass, presumably both are escapees from Slimbridge. No sight or sound from Lesser Whitethroat which we have been treated to in previous years but did have a Cuckoo calling from the field behind the reserve for most of the visit. we left Goldcliff with the car park Chiffchaff doing his bit and a male Blackcap skulking in the bushes below him.

A short drive and we soon arrived at Newport Wetlands RSPB, from the car park we soon heard Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler calling and after assembling ourselves we headed towards the reserve centre. Whilst I was hoping that the Subalpine Warbler that had been seen the weekend before would still be present I wasn't very optimistic, sadly the Subalpine Warbler hadn't been seen for a few days and although I was disappointed there would still be plenty to see.

Newport Wetlands RSPB

Walking out into the reserve from the RSPB centre we were greeted with a Cuckoo calling long and hard from a nearby tree, plenty of Warblers skulking in the hedgerows which included Blackcap, Common & Lesser Whitethroat. I was tuned in to the Lesser Whitethroat call due to our garden visitor only days before and Roy and I waited for it to show, it didn't and as the rest of the group left us and began to head towards the reserve we left the Lesser Whitethroat hoping to catch views of it on the way out. We caught up with the group at the entrance to the reserve and in good time as a Cetti's Warbler burst in to song quickly followed by another at the other end of a long thicket, we waited and listened to them as they continued their rivalry by song, each bird bursting in to song as the other finished. We had a few brief views and then headed in to the reserve. The reedbeds were a hive of activity and we quickly spotted Sedge Warbler as a singing bird edged it's way up a reed stem in full view, Sedge Warblers could be heard singing throughout the reeds and the gentle breeze often showed individuals as the reeds parted in the wind. We headed towards the East Usk Lighthouse stopping at the first viewing screens on either side of the path that view the waterways, they had little activity with a few ducks but little else until somebody called 'Bearded Tit'. I quickly looked through the scope to find a female at the top of the reeds which soon dropped to the bottom of the reeds and out of sight, it was so quick that most of the group missed it and it was then that everybody searched the reeds intently in the hope of finding another. We didn't have to wait too long and by the end of the visit everybody in the group had one or two good views of them.

Common Whitethroat

Feral Rock Dove

We carried on towards the East Usk Lighthouse crossing over the rubber walkway and through the dense reedbeds on each side, you really get the feel of the reedbeds as you pass over the water beneath you and cross into the reeds. Looking out to sea from the lighthouse we could see the tide was out but there was nothing to be seen across the mudflats, we continued along the pathway hearing and seeing Reed & Sedge Warbler and a few Common Whitethroats put on good shows as they sang from he top of many of the thickets and bushes along the path. Another view across the mudflats and out to sea brought a few distant waders in to view but sadly they were just too far to identify.

Sedge Warbler

We had a long day ahead of us so we headed back to the centre for a quick coffee and use of the amenities before we headed off to look for Dipper at our regular site. Making our way back to the reserve centre we stopped at the viewing screens again where we got fantastic views of a pair of Little Grebes with four young in tow, each adult had two young with them and they dived for small fry below us which they then fed to their young. We continued on to the centre where Roy and I stopped at the hedgerow hoping that the Lesser Whitethroat would show itself, after a few minutes we got some great views as it appeared at the top of the thickets along the edge of the path and then later by the car park.

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Goldfinch

After leaving Newport Wetlands we headed off to our regular Dipper site on the River Usk, on arrival we searched some of the regular spots and after awhile we finally found a Dipper along the river bank. No Goosander or Common Sandpiper this time but we did mange to see Grey Wagtail. The Dipper eventually showed well allowing everybody in the group to get a good view as it preened on a rock on the side of the river and by the time we left we had also seen another flying along the river.

River Usk

Dipper

Our next stop was the Elan Valley, this is one of my favourite locations on the Wales trip and gives an excellent opportunity to see Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler up close. As we entered the pathway up the side of the Elan Valley we soon were gifted great views of a singing male Pied Flycatcher in the trees next to the path, he continued to flit through the trees before being lost to view amongst one of the Oak trees. As the Pied Flycatcher disappeared from sight we were soon picked up on the unmistakable "spinning coin" trill of a Wood Warbler and didn't have to wait long before we spotted it as it flew into the trees in front of us. we hadn't walked more than 25ft and already seen two of the key species of the day and I decided to get the camera at the ready, digiscoping isn't easy here due to most of the birds flitting around in the tree tops and not sitting still for too long. As we made our way along the path and up the hill we soon spotted Redstart, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Nuthatch and Siskin amongst some of the commoner members of the Tit family, a few more Wood Warblers and Pied Flycatchers were also seen and further up the path we managed to see a Tawny Owl in one of the nestboxes

Wood Warbler

On the way back down we added Goldcrest and Treecreeper to the day list and again had great views of Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler, approaching the car park 2 "Kronking" Ravens drifted over the hills. This is where we said our goodbyes before heading for home, the rest of the group headed to the Rhayader hills where they saw Wheatear, Whinchat and Stonechat.

Elan Valley

Photos from previous trips can be found on the TABCG website here http://www.freewebs.com/tabcg