STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

My Diary

A trip to Mid Wales. (day 3)

Our last day started at 05.45 am, where for a change I met Allan and Steve in the car park, driving down to the Dipper Bridge, and now knowing where the Dippers liked to hide, we immediately found the male on a rock in the small tributary to the main Elan River. It was under a road bridge, where I am sure they had a nest, and occasionally ventured out onto the main Elan River. A few photos were taken, but mainly the bird was in the shade, but being hard to get out in the open, we were just glad to get any photo opportunity at all. As we arrived on the bridge, we saw the Female Goosander with her 4 chicks, and like yesterday, Steve, Allan and I got in front of it, unseen we think, but never saw it again as we walked back along the river trying to meet it head on. Strange, but there must be 101 places that it can hide away from our lenses, and once again it did. Mike arrived, bleary eyed, and we stayed with the Dipper until just before 8.00 am, then returned for breakfast, and then checked out of our hotel afterwards. If anyone is planning a trip to this area, all four of us can recommend the Elan Valley Hotel as an ideal place to stay, situated about 3 miles from Rhayader, and Gigrin farm, 6 miles from the Gilfrach reserve, which in my opinion is the best reserve that we visited on our trip, and stands on the bank of the river Elan, which is a great place to see nature within 20 metres of the hotels front door. The food was excellent, the beer as good, and the prices were very reasonable as well. (I am not getting paid at all from the Elan Valley Hotel for this diary entry). We spent the day back at the Gilfrach reserve, where 2 Dippers were seen from the Otter hide, and they continually travelled up and down the stream in front of the hide, returning with nesting material to their nest under the bridge, sprucing it up for their second clutch. We had learned from the reserve warden yesterday that they had successfully reared a first clutch. Although little light got down to the bridge, occasionally a bird would land on a rock upstream, in front of the hide, where there was enough light to get a few nice images of the bird. The pair of Pied Flies was still there, the Female incubating her eggs and the male returning periodically to bring food for her. If the Female was out of the box when he returned, he would perch right outside of the hide and eat the food himself. All within 5 metres of our watchful eyes in the hide. Eventually, we went up to the visitors centre, where we saw the Tawny Owl again, and whilst looking for Redstarts, we noticed a flock of Siskin’s, high in a tree. With these Siskin’s were 10 to 12 Crossbills, an unexpected bonus for us all, and we were able to get a few photos of them. We caught up with a Common Redstart, and there were Siskin and Nuthatches on the bird feeders outside of the visitor centre building. Although the centre was closed due to interviews taking place, the lady that worked there still found time to make us a pot of tea, bringing a huge smile to Mike’s face, which we had whilst photographing the Crossbills. After saying our goodbyes, and a further 30 minutes back in the Otter hide to check on the Dippers and the Pied Fly pair, we set of on the 5 hour journey back to Kent. It was only an hour before an enforced Tea stop was needed, Mike needing a top up, and then the long silence on the M4, with Allan, Mike and Steve all in the land of nod. Thanks to the staff at Gigrin, whom put on a great service with the Kites, Buzzards and Ravens, the staff at the Elan Valley hotel, an excellent place to stay, and also the Warden and the lady that staffed the visitors centre at the Gilfrach reserve, who went out of their way to make our two visits as good as they could be. We definitely would have missed the Tawny Owl without the help of the warden. Also thanks to Steve, Allan and Mike for mailing the trip a memorable three days, probably the best of our jollies yet.