Well, the brief spell of spring like weather we enjoyed at the beginning of last week abruptly vanished and was replaced with a bone chilling wind and plummeting temperatures that put paid to the trickle of migrants that had begun to appear on the Welsh coast. So, as we sit here in the cabin with the heating back on still dressed in our winter woolies, we are yet to add wheatear or sand martin to our 2013 list. The poor weather has coincided with a busy time for us, so not much birding has been done apart from the day to day observations as we go about our daily chores. Red kites are very much in evidence, wheeling around in pairs or small groups calling constantly, as are the buzzards. Steffi had another hunting short eared owl whilst commuting into Aber on Monday, and we had a new tick for the garden list when we had pairs of curlew heading east up the valley on consecutive days. In the garden itself, and around the immediate area, siskin numbers seem to be growing, with at least a dozen coming to our feeders every day, and larger groups feeding on the woodland edge behind Bryn-y-goch, and goldcrests are being very vocal. The male sparrowhawk had a succesful strike at the feeders this afternoon as one more tit was despatched to avian heaven.
On the river, the dippers continue to entertain, and are regularly joined by grey wagtails but as of yet theres been no sight of the kingfishers we had here last year.
Plenty of frog spawn in the temp pools by the river, though what this recent cold spell will mean for it is anyones guess.
Across the river the heronry is in full swing and the raucous croaking and squawking coming from it is becoming the backdrop to our life.
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