Straying off the local patch - a visit to the Dyfi Osprey project

On a brief holiday to Machynlleth for a few days, one of the trips we made was to the nearby Dyfi Osprey project, a reserve managed by the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust. The site has been home this summer to adult Ospreys Monty and Glesni, and their three now successfully fledged chicks; Merin, Celyn and Brenig. 

We visited on the 3^rd August, hedging our bets as to whether we would see the Ospreys at all, knowing that the chicks would have already fledged, and that they therefore may not be so easy to spot. When we arrived we went straight over to the main hide - a newly built and impressive structure with 360 degree views, from where the nest used this summer is only 200 metres away. Scopes are in place pointing towards the nest, and great views of the birds can be had... assuming they are there to see! The adult female Glesni hadn’t been seen that morning since the previous day, so we felt very fortunate that whilst we were there in the afternoon, she returned and could be seen perched close to the nest. One chick, (probably, we were informed, the middle chick Celyn) could be seen in the nest and heard begging for food. 

Adult female Glesni (on the perch) and one of her chicks, (probably Celyn) in the nest

Screen shot of live stream taken 10/8/15, youngest chick Brenig standing

The hide looks out over the nesting platform the birds have used this year as well as other nearby perches used by the birds and an additional nesting platform. There are also cameras trained on the nest and perches, and the visitor centre is equipped with a screen to show these images which are also live streamed - I have enjoyed watching (as well as listening) to the birds several times since our visit.  

 

Info board in main hide

It was interesting to read through the details recorded on the information board for example of the dates of the arrivals of the adults returning from Africa in early April, to the dates of the eggs being laid (commencing less than two weeks after their arrival at the site), and finally to the successful date of all three chicks fledging some two months later.

Although the Ospreys were undoubtedly the highlight of this visit, it was also a delight to see several young common lizards, only 6-7 cms long, lazing on the raised edges of the boardwalk in between rain showers. 

A beautiful animal, though perhaps a less welcome sight was that of a mink. Similar in shape to our native stoats and weasels, these animals typically have a much darker, almost black coat of fur, and are also considerably larger and bolder. The mink which reside in the UK are American mink which are natives (unsurprisingly) of North America. These animals have their ancestry in fur farming and have established themselves here as a result of escapes as well as releases from these farms. (Fur farms were abolished in the UK as recently as 2000.) They have had a very negative impact on populations of some native species, for example by their predation of [now uncommon] Water Voles. 

Young common lizard

Another young common lizard!

On our way towards the exit we briefly stopped in the hide closest to the visitor centre which offered great views of birds visiting the giant seed feeders there. Amongst the usual suspects of Great and Blue Tits, were good numbers of finches – as well as the familiar Greenfinches and Chaffinches, there were several smaller, less commonly seen finches such as Siskins and Lesser Redpolls.

Juvenile Siskin

 

Aberdovey

A quick stop in the small coastal town of Aberdovey one evening offered the opportunity to watch some of the antics of the local gulls, the ones I saw mostly being Herring gulls of different ages with their wonderful calls (which to me epitomise the sound of the seaside), as well as Black-headed gulls with their distinctive shrieks and squawks. Newly fledged Herring Gull chicks begged incessantly for food, raising their heads to shout to their parents, then ducking back to hide behind flowers close to what I presume was their nest site, several metres up a cliff face and adjacent to the main road through the town. 

A juvenile Herring Gull 'hiding'

It saddens me to hear in the news the talk of potentially culling gulls in seaside resorts where they have been labelled a 'nuisance'. Whereas I have every sympathy with anyone who may have lost a pet as a result of an attack by gulls (if, indeed, there is any truth in these recently reported stories), surely, with a little more understanding and common sense (they are after all large and strong birds and can be [not unlike ourselves] protective of their vulnerable offspring) people could learn to respect and appreciate these masters of the skies, and thereby limit any negative encounters, rather than what seems to be the default setting of some to automatically call for a cull of any and all wildlife that may pose them the slightest inconvenience. 

Contrary to what the tabloid press might have us believe, Herring Gulls have in fact been subject to significant declines in their numbers over recent years, and as a result are in fact a Red listed species meaning that they have been designated the highest status of conservation priority. I previously lived by the sea for a number of years and the worst that ever happened in my relations with these birds was a poo landing on my shoulder. Once! What a sad visit to the seaside it would be if it was quiet of their classic cries and cheeky chip-stealing antics. 

Adult Herring Gull

Adult Herring Gull at sunset enjoying the convenient perch of a car roof