Gwent day trip for Yellowthroat in march 2012

Long billed Dowitchers

Brian asked do we want to go to Wales to get the Common Yellowthroat? Answer you bet, So meet up at 5am for 180 miles to Gwent. Got there at 7.30 and drove around a bit then asked a local to steer us in the right direction, very helpfull bloke. we climb a big grass hill and 3 birders are looking at a bush and we think great but they tell us it's not been seen for a good hour. So we spread out round the group of bushes after a litte while Brian calls out he's got it, Round we go and get really nice view's a really nice little bird a lifer for us all. Jim & Brian want to go and get the Lesser Scaup . So off we go it's 15miles so we stop on the way at a nice river and get Grey Wagtail I already had one this year but the boy's needed it for a tick, Jimmy then spotted a nice Dipper going in  & out of a nest, alway's nice to see dipper's.

Lesser Scaup

On  to Cosmerton Lake Glamorgan. we are told at the vistor centre it 's not been seen today but we don't give up that easy we go on to the second lake and Brian find's it right away, he's good at spotting is Brian, just as well because I never see anything first. Back to good old England we do 90 miles to Meare Heath because we hear some long Billed Dowitchers are there, As we walk along we see a few guy's with telescope's looking out and when we get up to them we're pleased to find 2 Dowitcher's walking about in full view. Now time to head home, What a great day we also saw at least 28 buzzard's and a few red kite's on the trip. Got home about 5 o'clock tired but ready for the next trip.