Monday 11 January 2016

Forest Farm Nature Reserve, Cardiff, Wales

I hadn't realised quite how long it has been since I last wrote a blog, it's not that I haven't done anything, on the contrary I've done a lot and not got around to writing it up.
I was inspired to write this one after I'd revisited the Forest Farm Nature Reserve on the northern outskirts of Cardiff. I'd been a few times before but had only ever taken the same, relatively short route around it. This time I got talking to someone in the hide and he informed me of another part to the reserve which I'd not known about and has improved it considerably for me as a place to visit.
It first came to my notice a couple of years ago when my daughter who lives in Cardiff did some work there repairing paths etc as part of her employers commitment to offer staff the chance to volunteer for projects in the community. During her time there she saw a Kingfisher and was sure I'd be interested in a visit - now I can't keep away!
The reserve straddles the last remaining section of the Cardiff -Merthyr Canal in a piece of woodland consisting mainly of Beech and Oak. There are two hides overlooking small reed pools and a third hide - the recent discovery for me, at the old farm buildings which was Forest Farm.

The two reed pools offer a very good chance of seeing Kingfishers, as does a walk along the canal, but this is less productive if you want to photograph them. Both reed pools have perches for the Kingfishers, but the second of the two hides - further along the path from the canal, is better, being closer to the water, and can give excellent photo opportunities. 

Unfortunately during my various visits I have only managed to see Kingfishers along the canal, and this time for the first time at the 1st hide. Looking at the Friends of Forest Farm Flickr site Flickr photos it is easy to see that I've been unlucky not have seen them closer but it is all a question of time.
I went there 3 times during my recent visit to Cardiff and during those visits I saw quite a variety of birds, a full list is shown at the bottom of the blog. What made the difference this time was a visit to the hide at the old farm. There are numerous feeding stations and consequently a large number of field and woodland birds were visiting. The arrangement of feeders and sticks and logs wasn't perfect for photography but did give very close views of lots of birds.

Because of the almost constant arrivals and departures of birds from the feeders it wasn't a great surprise to see a Sparrowhawk swoop through the gap, this time without catching anything, but obligingly sitting in a nearby tree for a minute or two.
A short walk from the farm takes you to the Taff Trail, a long distance footpath along the River Taff, or turning off it, back into the nature reserve. I'd been told that there were a couple of Goosander on the river so as I left I took this route and sure enough, fishing along the edge of the river was a male Goosander. The light was quite poor so I was on a high ISO and low shutter speed, but I did manage a couple of shots.
It's not often you get the chance for a photo with a Kingfisher and Goosander in the same shot, but here is one from the river - a little distant but a record shot none the less.
For details of the location of the reserve, see the link Forest Farm location and from the site you can read more about it.
Species list for January 7th, 8th 9th.
Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Bullfinch, Reed bunting, Heron, Nuthatch, Coal tit, Great tit, Blue tit, Buzzard, Robin, Mistle thrush, Song thrush, Blackbird, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Wood pigeon, Collared dove, Dunnock, Mallard, Snipe, Moorhen, Goosander, Jay, Greater spotted woodpecker, Goldfinch, Chaffinch.
Goldcrest heard and others saw a Bittern but unfortunately I didn't see it.