Not much birding going on lately, but we did have a few days in Wales in June when we caught up with a couple of our old favourites, in the form of Redstart and Pied Flycatcher, at Ynys Hir. We also visited the Dyfi Osprey Project where we saw the Ospreys, Monty and Glesni, who were brooding two chicks. A big bonus while we were there was seeing a Redpoll, a lifer for us! I presume it was a Lesser Redpoll as they are the most common. On our way back from Wales we stopped to watch the Red Kite feeding at Nant y Arian. It’s similar to the feeding at Gigrin Farm but is different as it is in a mountain and woodland setting and the birds are fed on an island on the other side of a small lake.
Back in Brewood, we have had a good range of species visiting the feeders at our caravan, including Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Starling, Red legged Partridge, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie and a couple of Buzzards flying overhead quite often. We also have been visited by Rabbits, Squirrels and a Hedgehog. When staying at my Mum’s at the weekends, we have 
enjoyed watching up to four Foxes who seem to have taken up residence in Mum’s jungle-like garden. We have been working to clear the jungle, doing a bit each week, but it is still very wild which seems to suit the Foxes. There are plenty of birds that seem to like the garden/jungle too, including House Sparrows and Starlings which we haven’t seen here for a few years, so that is good news.
I am getting plenty of great photos from Spain on my Facebook UK and Spain Bird Group. It seems our friends on the Costa Blanca are getting out and about and seeing plenty of Rollers and Little Bitterns in the El Hondo area, and Stone Curlews and a Great Reed Warbler at the Clot, amongst other things. The reports and photos from Bryan’s outings with Trevor and Mark are making me 
quite envious! We are off to Northumberland soon where we are hoping to see lots of seabirds and a few farmland species.