Spring is definitely in the air and I swear that females of 'all' species are getting frisky!
Anyway I was out today with a couple of guests and like John Davis doing my bit for Welsh
Eco-tourism! My first stop was at Cors Dyfi in Derwenlas near Machynlleth (Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust reserve) in order to inform my guests that Ospreys 'will' breed here this year 'Yes-I am an optimist and I sincerely believe that it will actually happen 'this' year!
We then stopped off at Glandyfi by the old station masters house to have a scan over the Dyfi estuary. We got a common sandpiper, little egret, goosander, goldeneye, all the usual stuff and then the chap living in the wooden house by the gate (called the old chapel house workshop) joined us on the embankment and said 'Would you like to see a water rail' 'Yes please' came the unanimous reply! It transpires that in the winter months water rail feed daily under his bird feeders situated at the rear of his house! They are usually present between November and now but they have overstayed a bit this year so they are still present. So you are welcome to take a look but please stick to a few golden rules. Park just behind the telephone kiosk in Glandyfi (room for 2 cars) go through the gate and walk 'quietly' a few yards down the track towards Dyfi junction (public access on foot only). You will see the wooden house to the right of the gate. The occupier has feeders on the 'backside' of the chalet. Look on the ground under the feeders for the water rail. They are very nervous and easily 'spooked' so 'please' take great care. You will get a good view with bins of course but looking through a scope will accentuate their 'true' colours. They may be gone soon but there is always next winter! They (2 birds max) have been regulars for about 10 years apparently. From here we went to Ynyslas (no sign of the otter on the Leri- rumour has it that he was offered a job in Hollywood! I reckon Iolo has some contacts there!). On the beach opposite Ynyslas turn we counted 13 sanderling and a ringed plover. There were divers, Gt. crested grebes and scoter offshore.
Our next 'birding' stop was the kite feeding centre at Nant-Yr-Arian in Ponterwyd. The birds were hungry today and came down to feed immediately when dear old Janet Morgan (Ceredig's wife) put down the meat on the feeding area. They were not in any great numbers (about 50) but they looked superb in the glorious sunshine. There were goosander, little grebe and a pair of goldeneye on the lake too.
The kites did something today which defied logic. Very often when you visit Nant-yr-Arian you will see kites drop the occasional piece of meat into the lake which they skillfully retrieve 'Osprey Style'. Today this occurrence happened more times than ordinarily just to be classed as mere coincidence and I found myself questioning why that should be so. Do you know I reckon the birds were 'deliberately' dropping the meat in the lake in order to 'practice' retrieving it! Mind you the goosanders and the semi-resident Lesser-black backed gull weren't complaining as they gobbled up a few dropped morsels. Now I've worked in a zoo and I know animals in general are not stupid (having suffered my own personal humiliation at their hands, teeth, paws, beak or hoof!). If I have discovered one thing about animals and that is to keep an open mind about any behavioural traits you happen to witness! I reckon these kites had adopted a new 'game', or adapted a new strategy, to practice, or illustrate, their superb aerial skills or maybe they were just trying to 'impress' their compatriots who knows? You may visit there tomorrow and may not witness this behavior but if you do then please be forthcoming with your opinions on what you think is happening. I have previously watched kites drop leaves or bits of wool and retrieve them before they hit ground surely you could class that as 'play'. I know Peter Davis has coined the phrase 'circus' for a gathering of kites. We know that they "are" show stoppers and perhaps they are playing to the audience in their own inimitable way!
Following our visit to Nant-yr-Arian we made our way to the old mine workings at Cwm Ystwyth where we saw the majestic peregrine falcon at this well known site in a rugged dramatic location to equal anywhere in our fair isles.