Destination

TRIP REPORT
          A coach party of 28 made the relatively short journey to the Brandon Marsh reserve, just outside Coventry. For those of you still to visit Brandon, don’t leave it too late, this is a little gem of a reserve, not too big and not too strenuous. Gone were the snows of the group’s last outing at Whisby, the day proved to be very good weather wise.
          Despite several reports of Bittern being seen on a daily basis, this was one bird that proved elusive for the group on this visit. What were seen, in large numbers, were Buzzards, using the warmer temperatures to soar over the reserve. There were also signs that the winter troubles were being left behind, with several sightings of summer visitors. Large numbers of Sand Martins, with the odd House Martin, were seen flying overhead. While good views were had of Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, and Swallow. Even the normally hard to see Cetti’s Warbler, was not only heard, but spotted out in the open. In total  63 species were seen by the group, which also included; Great Spotted, and Green, Woodpecker, Redpoll, Nuthatch, and Kingfisher.
         All in all another good day for the group, on, what to me, is a reserve well worth the visit. The only down side to the trip was the delay in getting back to Sheffield. Due to a precarious pylon next to the M1, forcing its closure, the coach didn’t land back in Sheffield until 9.00pm! 

17^th April Ynys-hir
           The base camp for the weekend was the Marine Hotel in Aberystwyth, about 30 minutes away from the Ynys-hir reserve. This meant the group could devote more time and effort in exploring this absolute cracker of a reserve, for me this reserve is a must to visit. This was very nearly not the case, however, as the tight approach road to the reserve almost proved to be impassable. Our coach driver, Alan, deserved praise of the highest order, in not only getting into, but also, out of the reserve. What an excellent display of manoeuvring a coach, well done that man!!
            Once in the reserve, boy what a day! Once again prayers were answered, with temperatures rising after a cool start, and the day was as clear and bright as could be hoped for. Where do we start, on a day that saw the tick list peak at 62. The wooded area just behind the reserve centre was most people’s start point, and what a start point! Blackcap, Willow Warbler, and Chiffchaff all competing and singing away in the tops of the trees, joined by Great Spotted Woodpecker, many Nuthatch, and don’t forget the tiny Goldcrest. But even these sightings were bettered by Pied Flycatcher, and Redstart, who once we got a bead on them, practically shone in the sun, magnificent!
             More evidence of summer’s arrival was made, when some of the group were lucky enough to hear Cuckoo, but were unable to make a sighting. Sightings of Brimstone and Peacock butterflies grew more and more frequent as the day wore on. While on the wood floor the odd Bluebell was to be seen amongst Primrose and Wood Sorrel, enjoying what sun they could get.
              Away from the woods, the reserve gave us sightings of the group’s first Red Kite for the weekend, joined by Grasshopper Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Red-breasted Merganser, Stonechat, and Skylark. The large number of Canada Geese on the reserve, seemed to be on the up, with several Geese seen guarding eggs on the nest.
              There’s the saying, “doesn’t time fly when your having fun”, well that certainly applied to the wonderful day spent at Ynys-hir. Although the group left later than usual, the day just didn’t seem long enough before we were on our way back to the hotel. That’s the second time I’ve visited Ynys-hir, never have I been disappointed, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Just be careful though, if you are travelling by coach!!!  

Exhausted after a good days birding!

18^th April Bwlch Nant Yr Arian
                 The group left the Marine Hotel, more of which later, on another clear, bright, and sunny day, for the short drive to Bwlch Nant Yr Arian. This isn’t a bird reserve, more an adventure playground run by the Forestry Commission, appealing to Walkers. Mountain Bikers, Orienteerers, and, dare I say, Moto-Cross Bikers. But having said all that, and probably putting some people off, it proved to be another enjoyable day. Someone at the Forestry Commission had obviously planned the lay-out here very well indeed. With dedicated footpaths for the differing bodies visiting the centre, keeping each away from another. On arrival, we saw 6-7 Moto-Cross bikers gearing up for the day, and feared the worst. But once they had set off we neither saw, nor heard, them again for the rest of the day.
                   For us birders, and walkers, there are a series of paths around the centre, all differing in difficulty; most of our group chose the severe Red route. We were rewarded with breathtaking Welsh scenery, accentuated in the sunny weather. Like Lake Vyrnwy, we were again made to work for our ticks, managing to catch good sightings of; Raven, Linnet, Siskin, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Lapwing, and Wheatear.
                  What Bwlch Nant Yr Arian does very well, daily at 3.00pm, is to feed the birds, and one bird in particular; the Red Kite. By 1.00pm you could see the odd Red Kite circling overhead, by 2.00pm this number had risen to probably 50 waiting for the man with the bucket. Come 3.00pm all there seemed to be in the air were Red Kites, there must have been close to 150, all hoping for a titbit from the bucket, an incredible sight and end to the weekend.
Waiting for the Red Kite feeding
                 I’m almost done; I can’t leave without mentioning the Marine Hotel, our base camp in Aberystwyth. The Hotel may have had its rough edges, but boy could they feed you, especially those who returned for a second helping, mentioning no names!! The breakfast truly set you up for the day, why can’t bacon always be cut a quarter of an inch thick? Breakfast was followed by Saturday’s evening meal, which was once again bountiful, and most enjoyable.
                The Hotel is right by the sea front, which turned up some excellent views of Sanderling, Turnstone, Common Gull, Oystercatcher, and Common Tern. On the morning of the group’s departure, on a flat calm sea, we were treated to excellent views of not only a Seal, playing with its catch, but, right before departure, a group of 3 Porpoise travelling across the bay. What an end to our stay!

On the whole the weather did behave itself, most of the day, and could have been a lot worse on a reserve where shelter is almost none existent. Our brief stay at Flamborough produced good sightings of Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, and Skylark, but no sign of the recently seen Brown-Browed Albatross.

Onto Bempton, and the expected collection of sea birds, by the dozen. The cliffs were once again packed with Kittiwake, Razorbill, Guillemot, Gannet, and Puffin, all amazingly clinging to the cliffs, and many sharing the ledges with this year’s youngsters. Away from the cliffs the group were rewarded with good sightings of Barn Owl, Yellow Wagtail, Corn Bunting, Linnet, and Tree Sparrows. In all a total of 57 species were ticked off our list, on a most enjoyable day.

Thank you everyone for your attendance, especially to the new faces, I hope that you will continue to come along on our trips. One knock on effect of this support is that I was in a position to drop the cost, from £13 to £11, that’s not easy for a tight fisted Yorkshireman to give money away!!

Seabird City at Bempton