Recordable Birds

With our early winter T.T.V. bashing behind us we are now back to Bird Tracking: another version of the B.T.O’s game, How many birds and species can you find?

This morning we returned to our patch in the Lampeter Vale, Waundwrgi, where, during a two-hour circuit of the farm’s boundary, we logged 37 sp. A good total for what is predominately an area of damp woodland low down beside the River Marlais.

Notable on today’s list was a single Goss keeping the many nervous Wood Pigeon in the Vale on the wing. 4 Willow Tits, a very reportable species and regular around the rotten wooded areas, which fortunately, even in these days of shortened daylight, find time to reveal their presence with their nasal buzzing calls. Redwing were very much in evidence, Fieldfare few. Water Rail made their presence known with frequent bouts of squealing, and Woodcock (2) revealed their presence only when about to be trodden on. Interestingly, both Woodcock were found in clear felled areas.

On a negative note, Tree Creepers have not appeared on any of our recent walks, and numbers of Long-tailed Tits in a flock appear to be reducing rapidly. Is winter taking a grip?

And in response to Steve’s question below, yes, we do believe this is the case.