We kept it local last Sunday with an afternoon walk around the patch. On our way out we took the opportunity to top up the garden feeders that are really taking a battering now that winter is on its way. Bird numbers are starting to build up once again and it's only a couple of days before they empty. I dread to think what it will be like when the Starlings return and the temperatures properly drop. One of our most regular visitors are the Blue Tits which are becoming increasingly tame. This one was hopping around in the bush next to me as soon as the feeders were back in place.
Up on Goppa Hill the usual Bullfinches and Jays were present but I was over the moon to spot four magnificent Red Kites soaring overhead. This is the first time in a good few months that I have seen these birds back together (assuming they are the same four that I have seen here in the past).
The Kites were ranging widely over the valley but every now and again one would approach within a few meters. Truly a great sight and one that I will never tire of. It was also nice to see a pair of Ravens, the first since our return from Norfolk.
Next it was over to Bryn-bach-Common where three Skylarks and several hundred Starlings were feeding. I suspect that there were also a few Redwing in attendance but we never got views clear enough to be absolutely sure. What we couldn't miss were two species of bright yellow Fungi, both of which are new finds for me. The first is known as Golden Spindles (Clavulinopsis fusiformis) and is a lover of short grassland.
The second has the frankly brilliant name of Yellow Brain Fungus (Tremella mesenterica) and was found on a piece of rotting Gorse.
We eventually finished up with a climb to the top of Cefn Drum and its summit cairn. With the Bracken dying back and browns replacing the luscious greens its not hard to tell what time of year it is. The only things out of place were our sweating brows. Is this really November?
Up on Goppa Hill the usual Bullfinches and Jays were present but I was over the moon to spot four magnificent Red Kites soaring overhead. This is the first time in a good few months that I have seen these birds back together (assuming they are the same four that I have seen here in the past).
The Kites were ranging widely over the valley but every now and again one would approach within a few meters. Truly a great sight and one that I will never tire of. It was also nice to see a pair of Ravens, the first since our return from Norfolk.
Next it was over to Bryn-bach-Common where three Skylarks and several hundred Starlings were feeding. I suspect that there were also a few Redwing in attendance but we never got views clear enough to be absolutely sure. What we couldn't miss were two species of bright yellow Fungi, both of which are new finds for me. The first is known as Golden Spindles (Clavulinopsis fusiformis) and is a lover of short grassland.
The second has the frankly brilliant name of Yellow Brain Fungus (Tremella mesenterica) and was found on a piece of rotting Gorse.
We eventually finished up with a climb to the top of Cefn Drum and its summit cairn. With the Bracken dying back and browns replacing the luscious greens its not hard to tell what time of year it is. The only things out of place were our sweating brows. Is this really November?
5 comments:
well, glad neither you nor the birds have brain fungus. was a bit worried in reading your post title. :)
That's what I miss from my visits to Wales; the Red Kites soaring overhead.
Excellent capture Adam.
Lovely images Adam... It looks like a lovely place to wander about.
The Kites are lovely to see and your flight shot is superb.
I have only seen one Red Kite in Cheshire but there have been quite a few sighting.
I have seen them in numbers in Mid Wales though... a fantastic sight.
Lovely shot, Adam. And the birds look great against a blue sky; let's hope we see some this weekend!
TexWisGirl - lol. I do wonder about my own brain sometimes.
Keith - Red Kites are hard to beat I agree. It's amazing to think that in recent history they were almost extinct.
Andrew - it's a great place and Kite numbers are increasing across the UK now. Won't be long before they are a regular sight everywhere!
Jeremy - thanks. I'm always up for some more blue sky.
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