Friday 26 April 2024

Purple Heron

 RSPB Ynys-hir

A rather chilly stroll around the reserve again today. Quite a few redstarts singing and a few garden warblers in too. Five swift were over the Ynys Feurig pool with three white wagtails and four Greenland type wheatears. Interesting to see a pair of shoveler at the Marian Mawr pools and another two drakes elsewhere so breeding may occur hopefully. Sorry to say but I have heard rumours that this species is going to be added to the quarry list for shooting on the estuary which is a great shame. On the Marian Mawr pools was a late wigeon and a great crested grebe which is the first I have seen on there in 33 years.
Later, following a phone call from Tom Kistruck I drove to Tre'r Ddol and got picked up by land rover to twitch a purple heron seen at Lodge Farm an hour earlier (found by Tom and David Anning). After patiently scoping reeds for 45 minutes the heron flew out of a ditch and gave great views as it flew slowly into another ditch.

Russell Jones