Glorious Spring Weather.
13th April 2025
Migrant birds are now starting to come into the Brecon Beacons. Early visitors like Chiffchaffs and Sand Martins have been here for a couple of weeks, Blackcaps and now Willow Warblers are singing. Barn Swallows are also here in small numbers and a Cuckoo was reported singing this week- nice and early.
After an unusual spell of glorious spring weather which has lasted for a couple of weeks I decided to walk up onto the high ‘Beacons’ to see if any Ring Ouzels had arrived, the weather has been perfect for birds to migrate on light winds and warm air. As I made my way up the mountain very early, with no one around, (just as I like it), the usual Stonechats appeared and a couple of Barn Swallows flew overhead, a Peregrine Falcon called from on high but I didn’t see it, but reliably Ravens played on the light breeze.
After reaching the valley top and walking along the ridge to where I usually see Ring Ouzels, (although never guaranteed), I could hear nothing, which was disappointing. I carried on for a hundred yards and I could see a single male Northern Wheatear which sadly disappeared quickly. A little further on I saw a bird in a very small pool in amongst the rough grass and amazingly I could see it was a Ring Ouzel bathing. How this very small and shallow pool had retained water during this exceptionally dry spell intrigued me somewhat, but nevertheless there it was. Unfortunately after seeing me the Ouzel flew off and quickly disappeared, but at least I knew there was one bird around.
I settled down on my favourite spot in the heather overlooking a large gulley and poured a cup of coffee and opened up my pack of sandwiches, which were very welcome because I hadn’t eaten anything since the previous day. The only sound was a pair of Skylarks singing as they hovered above me on the warm air currents, and as I sat there, in repose, on the soft springy heather on a glorious spring morning with all sound from the outside world removed, I began to realise how lucky I was to be able to do this. Normally I have to put on another layer at this point but the weather was so warm it really was quite remarkable.
A minute or so later I could hear a soft ‘Chuck Chuck’ the contact call of a Ring Ouzel. I put my coffee down and got my camera ready and yes there it was in a small Whitebeam tree which hung precariously to the steep cliffs on the side of the gulley. It wasn’t close but I could see through my binoculars that it was the same bird I had seen bathing because it was still wet.
I took a few shots before it flew off again and disappeared. I spent a very pleasant hour at this location, however, the Ouzel didn’t return, and I neither saw nor heard any other Ouzels which was puzzling given the perfect weather on the day and over the previous two weeks. I hope more will arrive and this is not a sign of a bad summer for these lovely but fragile birds.
After an unusual spell of glorious spring weather which has lasted for a couple of weeks I decided to walk up onto the high ‘Beacons’ to see if any Ring Ouzels had arrived, the weather has been perfect for birds to migrate on light winds and warm air. As I made my way up the mountain very early, with no one around, (just as I like it), the usual Stonechats appeared and a couple of Barn Swallows flew overhead, a Peregrine Falcon called from on high but I didn’t see it, but reliably Ravens played on the light breeze.
After reaching the valley top and walking along the ridge to where I usually see Ring Ouzels, (although never guaranteed), I could hear nothing, which was disappointing. I carried on for a hundred yards and I could see a single male Northern Wheatear which sadly disappeared quickly. A little further on I saw a bird in a very small pool in amongst the rough grass and amazingly I could see it was a Ring Ouzel bathing. How this very small and shallow pool had retained water during this exceptionally dry spell intrigued me somewhat, but nevertheless there it was. Unfortunately after seeing me the Ouzel flew off and quickly disappeared, but at least I knew there was one bird around.
I settled down on my favourite spot in the heather overlooking a large gulley and poured a cup of coffee and opened up my pack of sandwiches, which were very welcome because I hadn’t eaten anything since the previous day. The only sound was a pair of Skylarks singing as they hovered above me on the warm air currents, and as I sat there, in repose, on the soft springy heather on a glorious spring morning with all sound from the outside world removed, I began to realise how lucky I was to be able to do this. Normally I have to put on another layer at this point but the weather was so warm it really was quite remarkable.
A minute or so later I could hear a soft ‘Chuck Chuck’ the contact call of a Ring Ouzel. I put my coffee down and got my camera ready and yes there it was in a small Whitebeam tree which hung precariously to the steep cliffs on the side of the gulley. It wasn’t close but I could see through my binoculars that it was the same bird I had seen bathing because it was still wet.
I took a few shots before it flew off again and disappeared. I spent a very pleasant hour at this location, however, the Ouzel didn’t return, and I neither saw nor heard any other Ouzels which was puzzling given the perfect weather on the day and over the previous two weeks. I hope more will arrive and this is not a sign of a bad summer for these lovely but fragile birds.