Our local Greater Spotted mum has already demolished various nestboxes, but she is now pecking into our lawn all day for squishy morsels to feed her brood. I haven’t seen these birds do this before. The nest is in a dead tree just behind our rear fence and it’s full of noisy neighbours!
All posts by martinallandod
Sounds of Happy Valley
Apart from the magnificent bluebells display there, it’s also great place for birdsong in May. Amongst the common usuals (did I just say that??? – tsch!) we also heard 3 to 4 Redstarts, a distant Cuckoo and oberved the song and ‘parachute’ display of the delightful Tree Pipit!
Fighting Dippers!
During a nice afternoon stroll along the Marteg river at Gilfach I suddenly heard a screechy commotion close by: there were 2 Dippers having a serious tussle with locked talons, right there in the water, oblivious to anything else. One bird briefly pulled free and flew off, followed by the other and they continued fighting a bit further along until I lost sight of them. Phew, well that was a first!
Rooks
‘Parliament’ will be sitting soon… 🙂 a few rooks are teaming up and beginning to renovate and rebuild their nests at the rookery near the lakeside restaurant. This is such a nice time of year, to see nature beginning to wake up after winter – bit by bit, here & there, out & about.
Blackbird singing
One was singing, still fairly quietly but unmistakenly, along upper Cefnllys Lane. Hearing the first one always gladdens my heart, it’s my favourite bird song! And all the others – of course 🙂
Mistle – at last!
One was singing energetically from trees near Llandrindod tennis court. First one I’ve heard this winter – it seems to be on the Red List, alas.
Kingfisher at Llandod lake
It was our lucky day! A kingfisher was flying along the shoreline and perching near the woodside fishing platforms this morning. Also 6 goosanders – 2 males 4 females. Goldfinches flitting about in the trees. Song-wise things are getting more lively, with robins, dunnocks, the odd song thrush, collared dove and nuthatch, also blackbirds getting territorial with loud alarm calls about nothing in particular. Anybody heard a mistle thrush yet, or are they caught in killer nets above Cyprus or Malta again?
Woodpeckers in Llandod
Gorse Farm area: I heard a greater spotted drum for the first time this morning. Also hearing a green woodpecker yaffle on a regular basis. Happy new year everyone!
Echoes of spring..
A song thrush can already be heard singing near the tennis courts in Llandod. Puts a spring in your step!
Winter returners
We saw around 5 female Goosanders on Llandod lake, maybe more as didn’t have bins on me. They looked slightly ‘unfinished’, rather mottled and not quite so natty. Could they be this years young birds perhaps? Any chance of pics, Kev?
Silent August is over
Not mindblowing news, I know, but the Robins are singing again. Cheering the place up a bit. And new flocks from the North will be on their way here soon!
Happy Valley
A Green Woodpecker was belting it out non-stop there this afternoon: definitely a laugh-a-minute guy! A Cuckoo joined in later on, it’s amazing how far this simple song carries. Redstarts were singing everywhere too.
Skylark
Today we noticed our first singing Skylark, not far from the Craig Goch dam in the Elan Valley. Always nice to hear!
Things are singing in the rain.
At last, I heard my first Mistle whistle down by the lake! Our local parliament of Rooks have begun renovating last year’s nests, generating a nice croaky sort of hubbub. Collared Doves are cooing, Dunnocks sing along in with the the ever present Robins and the odd Coal Tit peet-choo. The Mallards marriage market is also in full swing with much communal circling, whistling and chest raising. Was there a distant glimpse of a Great Crested Grebe on the water, or is that an early fancy? I’ll wait until Kev’s latest.
Lollipops and a newcomer
Six LTT’s visit us regularly, and a colourful male Pheasant strutted past our back garden patch yesterday which was a first.
Very sad news
I was appalled to read about this. What is this country coming to 😦
Woodpecker
I’m not sure if this is odd, but I heard a woodpecker drumming these last 2 days. What’s that about?
Long Tailed Tits on the move
A sizeable flock visited today but too quick to count.
Still a few bird sounds
Spring concert has almost gone now but there are still a few sounds out there. Three young bullfinches were flitting about and wheezily yelling for food near the council buildings. A song thrush is still belting it out at the lakeside woods. Morning songs includes chirping sparrows, wood pigeons and collared doves. Chiffchaff still heard singing.
Two not so common birdies
A pair of Pied Flycatchers are seen near the garden and a Greenfinch was heard from Llandrindod tennis courts. This year we put up extra nestboxes in the woods behind us, and are taking part in the ‘No Mow May’ campaign, to protect invertebrates. Every little helps.
Pied flycatcher at Llandod golf club
A female bird flitted past and perched in front of me this afternoon.
Dippers
Spotted a pair at Shaky Bridge this morning, good close views and one had caught a small tiddler. Also a Goldcrest was singing in a small patch of conifers near the trig point.
Green woodpecker
Opened the window early this morn and, although distant, the unmistakable call rang out again and again. Also seeing a pair of bullfinches and LTT’s regularly still.
Good news!
Mistles heard singing from the tennis courts and Hillside Lane 🙂 🙂
Oh Lollipop…
You make my heart go giddy-up… Around 10 long tailed tits stormed the garden, tails waving in the wind. We’re obviously ‘on the route’ now.
Siskins – at last!
Four briefly turned up this morning, the first for donkeys years.
Mistle thrushes anyone?
Why am I not hearing any mistles singing this year? Are they going extinct? I so miss their beautiful song.
LTT’s
At least 7 lollipops visited us today. Dificult to count exactly as they’re so skittish. It only needed the arrival of one starling and whoops they were gone.
Song thrushes singing
Yep, they are brushing up on their technique but it’s definitely begun!
Woodpecker drumming
This week I opened the bedroom window and heard a distant but distinct drumming sound, which could only be one thing… Spring is on the way!
Radnor Bird Blog 