In the hills.

I decided not to travel too far from Llandrindod and have spent the last two days at Bishops castle. Its very hilly. I like it, its green and pleasant. The site I'm at is called Daisy Bank its very good, my only complaint is that the washing machine and drier are not good enough. They are not industrial machines. The site is very well organised and extremely pretty. A little expensive at eighteen pounds a night but I think worth it, They have wifi capability for two pounds a night and free TV hook up for all the five terestrial channels and two sky channels.

I have been plagued by bad weather but today I was determined to make the most of whatever chances I had. A fellow on the site pointed me in the direction of Welshpool and a small nature reserve on its outskirts. Formerly a gravel pit it has been changed into a reserve by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust. The reserve is called Llyn Coed-y-dinas nature reserve.

I could not believe how many different birds there were there. Mute Swan, Cormorant, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Mallard Duck, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Reed Warbler, Woodpigeon, Canada Goose, Blackbird and Song Thrush. Little ringed Plover and Sedge Warbler had also been seen earlier but I did not see them. Now this may not sound a lot but it is, if you compare it to what I saw at Teifi Marsh which was a much bigger reserve.

Woodpigeon Chick came on the nearest Island.

Black Headed Gulls were there in plenty of numbers, with some sitting on nests. There were a large number of juveniles too.



There was a pair of Lesser Black Backed Gulls on one of the Islands with a chick, here it is.

"Look Daddy I've climbed a mountain"

The Common Sandpiper just appeared from nowhere.

Immediately infront of the hide, which I want to add was in fantastic order, was a reed bed, it came almost up to the front of the hide. This chap or chapess was too close most of the time to catch with my 600 but I did get a few of it, here's one.

I wished for better light, I may return tomorrow when I leave and head for Lake Vyrnwy, of Spring watch fame, it's only up the road.