NPN May trip - final update

Itinery;

9.00am gather at Elan Valley reserve centre (note small car park charge of £1) - Blue V on this map (not arrowed car park on reservoir road!)for 9.30 walk up zig zag path in relic oak woodland - target species pied flycatcher and wood warbler, other common woodland birds plus redstart and tree pipit present but tricky to photograph.

I know how hard it is judging traffic getting to this part of Wales, so for any latecomers, I will leave some rough guides to get to the the woodland path. Look out for blue Mercedes.

Lunch at centre cafe

post lunch - 2.30pm more of the same or walk down river Elan looking for dipper and grey wagtail.

Reconvene for 3.00pm feeding at nearby Gigrin farm (note standard charge of £5 for ordinary hides, I have booked 2 places in teh two new photographic hides at £10 a place and will share the costs on day) map for red kites, 5 species of corvid and buzzard

Final update

I've had no luck in sourcing more mealworm before today so I have been unable to put out any feeders. Leaf cover is just about perfect - oak trees in emerging bud. Lots of Redstart and Wood Warbler displaying, but Pied Fly in very low numbers compared to previous years. Still another couple of days makes all the difference. Also present today good numbers of Willow Warbler, displaying Garden Warbler, Tawny owl (see end post) (and cute chick still in tunnel nesting box), a pair of Spotted flycatcher (new nesting box appeared for them)and tree pipit.


Mike

Mike,

All been well I'll be there. Looking forward to it.

Thanks,

Rob

Mike,

I hope to be there as does Isabel but she's quite happy in one of the normal hides

Adrian

I'll be there.



Paul

Ross and I are planning to be there

Hi i plan to be there also. not been before, what are the details for this trip I.E Location and time for meeting.


Thanks
Mark Green

Mark

Updated first the initial post with timings and streetmap OS map links

it was a good trip last year and i'd love to join u guys again but my schedule just doesn't permit these days! Good luck, good hunting!

Mike,

Sorry - Ross and I are going to have to drop out of this one. After a recent knee operation Ross doesn't fancy the "knee banging" oportunities in th main hide (can't say I blame her).

Mike,

We've had a slight change in plans - we will have to miss out on the morning events but will be there for the Gigrin part. Sorry about that

Adrian

Hi still planning to be there for the whole day, really looking forward to this :-)

Cheers
Mark

Mike,

I'm still in it for the whole day.

Rob

An unexpected encounter today on the zig zag slope, a sunbathing tawny, unfortunately we were both surprised by the encounter so I didn't have time to frame without some intruding dead branches

I intend to be there all day as well, looking forward to meeting you all.
Eric

Nice Tawny Mike. Last year the chicks had just branched the day before we were there. Sounds like we've got plenty of potential targets anyway. CU all on Saturday.



Paul