After a last look at the Ospreys yesterday (3 left, 2 gone.),it was down to the lake for the new arrivals-thought I was hidden behind the hedge until Bazz and Fred’s raucous tones rang out in greeting from the road!

Mother acting as the mobile home , whilst pa brings in the goodies, tho sometimes he doesn’t quite get the size right-but no matter , he just scoffs those himself!!! Occasionally he remembers to give the wife one.Also saw a Kingfisher. BBGull still casting a shadow.

Elan Valley, Afternoon/evening.

A flock of 100+ Finches at Troedrhiwdraen included 80% Linnet, 10% Goldfinch and 10% Chaffinch. Another flock of Finches at Pont ar Elan included 30+ Goldfinch with at least 10 Redpoll. 300 Starling were at Hirnant farm and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were with 30 Canada Geese on Craig Goch reservoir. 3 Kestrels were over Pont ar Elan and 2 Ring-tail/juv type Hen Harriers flew over the Aber mountain road.

The Greenshank was still present this evening feeding along the shore line/mud flats at Pont ar Elan on Craig Goch reservoir.

A Greenshank present today feeding on the banks of Graig Goch reservoir.

“Here comes Dad hope he’s got a fish”. Taken early-ish this morning.

Prompted by a dinnertime call from Carole T…made my way up the lake, met Shirley by the beach no sign of female with chicks but the male made a few sorties around the Island… disappointing or what!!!! but after going for a walk around Llyngwyn decided to have one more look…..the female was way out in the middle of the lake and with bins could make out a bit of movement on her back, nipped back for the camera rather late now 7 ish pm and the pic tells the story ….pretty dim but you can  just make out one of the chicks trying to get a fish down….far too big for the greblet to manage….the male then succeeded in bashing it about and the two chicks got fed…….Hip Hip Hooray at last……Kevs suspiscions were founded

Can’t believe I am penning this (penning??? How old am I?), but today I saw the fem Grebe emerge from the bushes on the island with 2 humbugs on her back!I have been suspicious for a while , but common sense would not allow me to speculate…guys , it’s mid AUGUST!! Well , let’s hope that LBBGull doesn’t get ’em.He got most of the rest! Here’s a pic of the male bringing a fish back for them-sadly , they didn’t emerge for a pic of what must be one of the latest broods on record.

Meantime , Sue spotted a large rat vanishing down a drain outside the M-Jones house and I saw one on the beach. Yuk!

Following a brief excursion to the Lleyn peninsular, we return to autumn in L’dod! Oh dear: the faulty rose- tinted mems or what? We have birds dropping from the sky in the Mid East (48 degrees!), and we range up to 15!

Please tell D Trump, he’s got it wrong-on EVERY count! Well , here we have a Bully family gobbling the sun seeds!

A little more animated today He/She …got a little excited on catching the fish (Looks like a Rudd) hopping about on the post then flew in to the thicket out of sight to gorge the fish down…..good manners or what!!!

 A record this year today for us three yes three butterflies on our budlia..  Peacock, Red admiral, and a white one, all a bit scruffy underside.

Seemed like Autumn this morning with thick mist up here and a heavy dew -an illusion , I hope. Later , a Peacock butterfly on one buddleia and a young Bullfinch on another,plus a fleeting visit from a Sprawk-doesn’t look like my old friend either. Lakeside still holds a Reed Warb family (Heard a Rail squealing the other day too),but the oddest thing was TWO GC Grebes …again! One rapidly vanished into the island bushes …surely not?? LBBGull getting fatter, but BH gulls seem to be absent. Shirley & Dick have a HEDGEHOG visiting up Pentrosfa-WOW! Haven’t seen one here for 20 years.

(via Sarah Edwards) one seen this afternoon at Lover’s Leap (Rock Park).