GOP

Wales again, another ABB, the Glaslyn Osprey Project in Snowdonia. If you're in the region it's the perfect diversion, and though the nest is over a mile away from the viewing area the RSPB's scopes give great sights of these majestic birds that can't fail to thrill. The project has its own blog, check it out here.
Yes, that is Snowdon in the background there, the pointy peak centre left.

More intimate views available at the ABB site through the CCTV set up above the nest.

Top stuff.

Day of the Nidifiers

It's been marvellous outside day, shorts and shirt-sleeve weather already. The birds are feeling it too. The GCG pair that were displaying a while ago have finally begun nest building, about time too, it's been three weeks since they were weed slapping. Elsewhere on the reservoir the Black Swan appears to have abandoned its latest nest. This was the same bird that raised a clutch last October/November which had to be rescued when only two survivors were left. The rangers were readying themselves to take the eggs this time and make sure the invasive species is discouraged from spreading, thankfully that's not necessary for now. I don't think any of them fancied taking on the job with such mean-spirited swans defending their eggs.

A pair of Shelduck arrived last month. I don't know that they've ever bred but each year we yet a couple of them. That could be ready to change with the way they're prospecting the tern rafts.

At the old pit there was more activity. A second Little Ringed Plover has come in, and a third Redshank, a pair of which mated - the male was on there quite a while!
And the Gadwall have claimed their patch. Over the winter there were two pairs happy to share the lake, today the male of the resident pair was very energetic in seeing off the neighbours. Impressive stuff it was too, like a scrambling Spitfire every time the second pair circled above.

Nifty Nesting

It's the breeding season, and every year our local TV news programming features ducks nesting in pubs and robins rearing in red post boxes.
Well, I've found a quirky nidifier of my own.

Travel along a winding farm road and under a disused rail bridge, and you just may find this Grey Wagtail. Running water is some distance away, which only increases the unlikelihood of the nest.

That's the hole under the R. Could these be politically-minded birds? Anarchists even?
I felt uneasy about the location of this nest. The country road gets more traffic than it really deserves, and surely it would only be a matter of time before a terrible tragedy.
That's why it was with more than a small amount of relief I found several days ago that the pair appear to have moved elsewhere.