I know it is early doors yet, but could people keep me posted of likely numbers to attend so I can liaise with Chris at Gigrin farm over hide availability. Incidentaly I spy that they are going to build a dedicated tower hide for photographers this year, but it will only hold 2 people......
I haven't built up a full itinerary yet, but it is likely to be along the lines of
(i) Insomniacs meet on River Wye for Dipper/Grey Wagtail/possible flyby Goosander - I have a site in mind if I can find it again.....
(ii) 9 ish meet Elan Valley reservoir centre (note it is a pay and display car park)to spend morning on the oak wood zig zag path for Pied Fly, Redstart, Tree pipit and possible Wood warbler
(iii) lunch at the centre facilities
(iv) depending on time possibly drive to north of reservoir to a farm where can get good low flyby views if the local Kites are performing
(v) re-assemble at 2.30pm at Gigrin for afternon with Kites etc
I will reccie just before the visit to put together the final itinerary - FWIW the morning session is dependant on leaf bud progress in the oak woodlands, as it has been a cold spring it should hopefully be OK this year with little leaf cover giving good chances of displaying birds
Mike
Posted by szekiat chan on April 1, 2006 at 5:35 PM
anyone from london going for this? Poor, non driving student here....
07:30 ish meet at Bryn Wern Bridge - leave A470 at SO016 574 (just south of Newbridge on Wye), park on minor road beyond bridge SO009 565 - spend an hour on river - Dippers are pretty well guaranteed here
09.00 for 09.30 Elan Valley - leave Rhayadar west on B4518, the visitor centre is at SN928 646 (pay and display car park) - the zig zag path up the wooded hill starts at SN931 647 accessed over the old iron bailey bridge
Lunch then repeat or take a view to try further round reservoirs
regroup 14.30 to 15.00 at Gigrin Farm, Rhayadar - SN980 678
Due to work commitments I probably cannot recce until Wed or Thursday before the mtg, but that will give better feedback of Elan conditions.
I aim to leave Reading at 05:00 promptly if anyone need a lift or wants to share a car, pls contact me sooner rather than later
Mike
Posted by Graham Bailey on April 23, 2006 at 1:13 PM
Hi Mike,
According to my calendar the 8th is a monday - just checking you didn't mean the Sunday.
No problems, they may find morning sessions a bit tricky unless they have big lenses, minimum of 500mm will be a pre requisite, but that is UK nature photography for you! Gigrin should restore confidences tho'
I aim to be at Dipper site by 7.30 am, but given the traffic and distance I am travelling don't be too alarmed if it is nearer 8.00 am.....
Following todays dry run visit I realise that the Dipper site details are wrong – Oops sorry Peter! Whilst it looked right on the OS map, I found it was the wrong site – more later, the good news conditions at Elan are perfect, little of the leaf bud has broken and the morning sun is perfect , good numbers of Pied Flycatcher and some very obliging Wood and Willow Warblers – Redstart numbers were low, the earlier the better for Redstart display but I visited latish in the morning and it became apparent that bird activity died down after about 11 and was very quiet by noon – the typical mid day lull…. Gigrin was strangely quiet, only 1 buzzard and only about 50 Kites…..So……
I propose a revised schedule to maximise time at Elan Valley
Meet at Elan Valley for insomniacs at 8.00am or second wave of not so keen at 9.00 for 9.30 – Car Park at Elan Valley visitor centre SN 927 647 pay and display charge is £1
Revised Dipper site from lunchtime onward or drive round reservoir if conditions favour landscape - I located a site near the visitor centre where the adults are feeding chicks away from the nest in tussock grass on river bank – the river is wide and shallow but I had adult birds within 30 feet or so with little effort – Dippers can be found at the bridge east of visitor centre at SN 955 667
Discussion
8 repliesI haven't built up a full itinerary yet, but it is likely to be along the lines of
(i) Insomniacs meet on River Wye for Dipper/Grey Wagtail/possible flyby Goosander - I have a site in mind if I can find it again.....
(ii) 9 ish meet Elan Valley reservoir centre (note it is a pay and display car park)to spend morning on the oak wood zig zag path for Pied Fly, Redstart, Tree pipit and possible Wood warbler
(iii) lunch at the centre facilities
(iv) depending on time possibly drive to north of reservoir to a farm where can get good low flyby views if the local Kites are performing
(v) re-assemble at 2.30pm at Gigrin for afternon with Kites etc
I will reccie just before the visit to put together the final itinerary - FWIW the morning session is dependant on leaf bud progress in the oak woodlands, as it has been a cold spring it should hopefully be OK this year with little leaf cover giving good chances of displaying birds
Mike
07:30 ish meet at Bryn Wern Bridge - leave A470 at SO016 574 (just south of Newbridge on Wye), park on minor road beyond bridge SO009 565 - spend an hour on river - Dippers are pretty well guaranteed here
09.00 for 09.30 Elan Valley - leave Rhayadar west on B4518, the visitor centre is at SN928 646 (pay and display car park) - the zig zag path up the wooded hill starts at SN931 647 accessed over the old iron bailey bridge
Lunch then repeat or take a view to try further round reservoirs
regroup 14.30 to 15.00 at Gigrin Farm, Rhayadar - SN980 678
Due to work commitments I probably cannot recce until Wed or Thursday before the mtg, but that will give better feedback of Elan conditions.
I aim to leave Reading at 05:00 promptly if anyone need a lift or wants to share a car, pls contact me sooner rather than later
Mike
According to my calendar the 8th is a monday - just checking you didn't mean the Sunday.
Graham
T
Graham
No problems, they may find morning sessions a bit tricky unless they have big lenses, minimum of 500mm will be a pre requisite, but that is UK nature photography for you! Gigrin should restore confidences tho'
I aim to be at Dipper site by 7.30 am, but given the traffic and distance I am travelling don't be too alarmed if it is nearer 8.00 am.....
Mike
All,
Is there anymore for the morning. Given the start time it would be nice to let Mike know.
How many people intend attending in the afternoon only?
T
Following todays dry run visit I realise that the Dipper site details are wrong – Oops sorry Peter! Whilst it looked right on the OS map, I found it was the wrong site – more later, the good news conditions at Elan are perfect, little of the leaf bud has broken and the morning sun is perfect , good numbers of Pied Flycatcher and some very obliging Wood and Willow Warblers – Redstart numbers were low, the earlier the better for Redstart display but I visited latish in the morning and it became apparent that bird activity died down after about 11 and was very quiet by noon – the typical mid day lull…. Gigrin was strangely quiet, only 1 buzzard and only about 50 Kites…..So……
I propose a revised schedule to maximise time at Elan Valley
Meet at Elan Valley for insomniacs at 8.00am or second wave of not so keen at 9.00 for 9.30 – Car Park at Elan Valley visitor centre SN 927 647 pay and display charge is £1
Revised Dipper site from lunchtime onward or drive round reservoir if conditions favour landscape - I located a site near the visitor centre where the adults are feeding chicks away from the nest in tussock grass on river bank – the river is wide and shallow but I had adult birds within 30 feet or so with little effort – Dippers can be found at the bridge east of visitor centre at SN 955 667
Gigrin Farm unchanged – meet up at at 3.00pm