Dinas RSPB = right time, right place

On Wednesday 19th May, at RSPB Dinas, on a lovely sunny day, although there was some cloud in the sky whilst driving up but by the time I reached the reserve proper at 10am, the sun was shining and the car park was almost full. Walking down the boardwalk, a group of photographers had gathered and I positioned myself at a spot would yield some good results and I wasn't disappointed! Several Pied Flycatchers were seen including 1 male visiting 2 nest boxes and up to 8 male Pied Flycatchers seen on the reserve and 3 females, totalling 11 Pied Flycatchers in all, a wonderful tally. A male Redstart seen further along and a total of 9 male Redstarts seen and 3 accompanying female Redstarts all mostly along the left hand side of the wooded hill. With several male Redstarts seen along the fence, some singing from trees in the woods, a pair of Redstarts by a scrubby bit along the hill, and a a female Redstart investigating a sunlit log at the end. 7 Nuthatches were also seen including one by a tree very close to the boardwalk, a Great- Spotted woodpecker was feeding on the grass and then flew up to a tree. Whilst the sun lit up the grass beyond revealing a hunting Song Thrush later joined by a second Song Thrush. A Spotted Flycatcher also seen by the boardwalk and another second Spotted Flycatcher seen around to the left edge of the hill. Up to golden 3 Bank Voles scurrelling about (1 by the boardwalk and 2 seen by the path on the left hand side of the woods. 3 Tree Pipits were heard and 1 Tree Pipit seen flew down to the ground at the end part of the wood too. 2 Wood Warbler trills heard only at the end of the wood just before the waterfall area. A ground beetle was seen on the path just before the boardwalk again and Marsh Tit was seen, the mournful "peuu" of Siskins heard and one Siskin seen atop a tree and almost back to the car park, 3 Garden Warblers were seen in a tree, one singing and one relatively showy bird too. Hearing at the feeding station, a Yellowhammer regularly visited. There was a big log and I viewed from the edge of the car park and regular visitors were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, 5 Goldfinches, 2 House Sparrows, Dunnock, a Nuthatch, a Great- spotted Woodpecker, a Rat that ran through from the back and first a female Yellowhammer then a second Male Yellowhammer too. Finally on driving back, leaving at 5.30pm, I saw a fine Red Kite (a belated first seen in Wales for this trip) perched close in a field and driving back it had already flown up and circled around, a further 2 Red Kites seen on the wayback including one Red Kite over Llandovery, a female Bullfinch flew over the road just before the hilltop village of Rhamirdiryn too. A really great day, why do I find Wales is consistently better than my local patches back home???