Wales: Dinas 12 June

After having to endure a horrendous 9 hour 50 minute journey to Wales (normally a 6 hour journey) lon Wednesday 11th June (hour queue to Dartford Bridge) accidents on the M25 and three accidents on the turn off to the M4 and around Reading and Newbury I needed some good birding the next day. On June 12, Mum and I visited the excellent RSPB Dinas reserve. having first seen Nuthatch come down to food scrapes in Mum's patio. On the journey there 1 Red Kite seen near Carmel, one Red Kite seen by Manordeilo. At Dinas, along the boardwalk just 30 yards from the car park I heard a Redstart singing and along the main boardwalk on the left hand side 2 Pied Flycatchers brought food to a nearby nest box often perching on branches nearby giving good views. The other side another 2 Pied Flycatcher seen plus a Nuthatch. Reaching the wood, I heard the trill of a Wood Warbler and looking across I saw up to 3 Wood Warbler showing reasonably well here. The target was Redstart and we had view of around 7 male Redstarts and 3 female Redstarts along the left west path. A pair of Redstarts was seen on the hill path initially and a newly fledged juvenile was perched on a branch, further along another juvenile Redstart was seen fairly high up in the tree against the sun, whilst in the wood, I hard and saw 3 male Redstarts were singing. One gave really good views and posed quite well for the camera. I also heard Tree Pipit also. A Beetle was seen on the path plus Wren and Song Thrush and Siskins were heard on a couple of occasions. By the river Grey Wagtail was seen too. Back on the boardwalk the Pied Flycatchers showed again by the nest box and a lovely male Redstart was sprawled out appearing to sun itself on the left hand edge of the boardwalk path. Driving back another Red Kite was seen at Manordeilo.