Building a nest

Things have been quiet here, as I haven't been out and about due to moving house.

I'm pretty settled now and have ventured out exploring my new/old surroundings

I went for a nice walk out through Crumlin park and down along the river Ebbw.

In the park in one tree I saw 3 Nuthatch, two Lt Tit, Blue, Tit and Coal tit.



As I passed under the railway towards the river I saw Great Tits

On the river I saw a pair of Grey Wagtails and a pair of Dippers


I also saw signs of Otter spraint which is very promising.


I saw at least two areas where a bird of prey had made a kill firstly a likely Blackbird and then a pigeon, I was hoping they may have been Goshawk, but I have since been informed by Kes more likely Sparrowhawk.

I had some of the best views of Goldcrest I have ever had and then even better views of Grey Wagtail pair from the bridge.




I'm hoping to get out a bit more over the coming weeks and hope to continue my search for the elusive Goshawk. I have heard that you can walk all the way to Ebbw Vale along the river which I definitely want to do.

Hot & Spicy Birds

At new year I went out on to the Avalon marshes with my spiritual mentor Kestrel for our bi-annual wildlife watching expedition.

We set off early on a very cold, crisp, but bright, sunny, winter morning.

We decided to start the Westhay end of the Shapwick Heath reserve, somewhere I hadn't been before. up near Canada farm. 

We headed straight for Canada farm lake hide. There were around 250 teal, pintail, gadwall, wigeon, greylag geese, mute swan, mallard, tufted duck, great crested grebe, little grebe were all showing on the water. There was a kingfisher fishing from a tree perch just to the left, having success considering almost all the water was frozen.


Marsh Harrier went over and got all the Teal up, one of the Marsh Harriers had a Green wing tag, which I believe means its a North West Norfolk bird.



Shortly after seeing the Harriers we could hear a call which I assumed was kingfisher, but Kes guaranteed me was an otter, an otter came out of the reeds just in front of the hide and headed straight towards us, looked right at us turned around and dived under water.


We tried to follow it with our bins. but it vanished, then a little grebe dashed off through the water looking startled a sure fire sign the otter was back. This time there were three moving through the water, likely to be mother and two cubs.

Later further on the reserve Kes was testing me by asking me to ID birds as they flew over I got most right, but he was most surprised when I said Gooseander he grabbed his bins and confirmed I was correct Three male Goosander which Kes hadn't seen here before.


We also saw three different Bitterns and  a Great White Egret.

But the highlight was a tiny Harvest Mouse, up the reeds over the frozen water eating the reed heads, right in front of the hide for half an hour! Kes said he had never seen a harvest mouse here in over 20 years of birding the site.



I also recently made a delicious curry

Sweet Potato & Spinach Jalfrezi, a few people asked for the recipe so it's here if you fancy giving it a whirl.