Trip to Wales: Aberystwyth, Ynys hir and Red Kites

In April myself and a colleague went over to Wales for an animal behaviour conference, so we took the ferry and drove from Holyhead down as far as Aberystwyth, taking in part of Snowdonia National Park on the way and some good opportunities to bird watch. So have a look at some of the birds we saw and managed to get a picture of.

A Canada Goose

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Ynys Hir nature reserve

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite with a windmill behind

Kite close up

My best shot of a nuthatch

The best shot I could get of an Osprey

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite

A very vibrant Redpoll

Couple of Siskins

Blue tits have fledged

Well it was hard work and I did lose a few to disease but overall it was a good experience if not completely exhausting. So here are some pictures of how the little blighters looked before they went into the big aviary.

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So It’s all over for another year! Thanks for the interest…

Days 5-8

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Day 4

Things have settled into somewhat of a routine now. Feeding times can vary from 15 minutes to a whole hour. Some of the older chicks refuse to eat sometimes so I have to take them into my hand and “persuade” them to eat, in the Italian/American sense of the word 🙂 .

No not really, it involves putting a droplet of water on their bill and then wait for them to open their mouth and shove some food in. some of the younger one too require some persuasion but I’m proud to say that all is going well and everyone is fit and healthy with the possible exception of me.

Everywhere I go in the house I hear the sound of birds chirping, then I get paranoid that one might have escaped. So I rush back and do a quick headcount, honestly I’m going stir crazy.

So for the latest pictures head here, I didn’t post any yesterday as it was a busy day and I didn’t get time.

Day 3 & 4

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Day 2

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Day 1

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