Cossack Chiffy and more birds in poverty.

Whilst on a Welsh foray recently, helping our local infiltrator of the RSPB deal with an elderly scratchcard addict, I was fortunate to witness the following possible Russian oligarch flitting around looking for insects in the coastal spa resort of Merthyr Mawr. These bully boys often over winter here with a few of the greener local ladies and we did witness some of their brash nature as they expelled a hungry Firecrest for wearing too much eye make up! Unfortunately this guy was saying nothing so we couldn't get total confirmation of his origins (so we had a bloody good guess from his outfit).

Merthyr is a remote place and is hidden in secluded sand dunes, in fact, we had to ask some locals how to find it after we had become disorientated by the sunshine (yes real sunshine). Once we got the dudatronometer set correctly we found the correct area and crossed the small bridge (trip trot, trip trot) avoiding all trolls (luckily Rooney was on his way to Wembley) and went about our business scanning bushes for signs of the spa residents. This guy plays it carefully and sent out a forward party of long tailed tits to check us out but eventually he let us near enough to get this rare photo.

Vlad (not his real name else the birding mafia will have me!)

A warning, to those of us with dodgy ankles, all the paths at Merthyr are hard work. They consist of deep sand and consequently it took us an age to cross 1.5km to the spa entrance. By the time I returned to my car I was in agony. Luckily the RSPB train their staff for such eventualities and pain relieving gel and a support bandage were applied by this trusty cohort (the things some birders will do to get out of paying petrol money eh!?). Oh by the way, he did meet his quarry, Glen a local aged RSPB follower appeared out of nowhere once we reached the spa.

Once recovered news came out of the elusive yank duck at Cosmeston. Well it's elusive to me but not to any of the locals. Sure enough after a great search it was found not to be there. It only took me 1000 attempts to see it last year too!

More disturbingly the recession has hit this site too with scenes like the one below becoming common. These birds were taking food from any passer by and often squabbles broke out as the hunger just overcame these sorry individuals.

Begging is common in this Welsh community.

SPAT Back at Ya!

OK, After much deliberation (and pestering from birding cohorts) the SPAT blog is up and running once more after some well earned rest (mainly pie eating and ale drinking) from the rat race.

New additions to our blogging arsenal are Dudecam ,this mainly is used for taking high quality images of birds but also has a tendency to bring to light "Dudes in Action" (a little bit like "world in action" but taking Dude politics very seriously) and also we now have penetrated the heart of the Robin Stroking Pensioners Bingo club (society of sorts) by sending in our Welsh "spy in the pie" birding scratchcard sales man, LEEMEE, to sort 'em out and feedback on their freemason like rituals and ways.

So to start us off I thought I would produce an iconic image of Britain in recession.....



A destitute Robin begs for food at a well known wetlands centre.