I visited Hensol in the evening after work , hoping to see Nightjars. At a small lake in the forest I heard splashing in the water near the edge of a reed bed. Through my binoculars I could see five or six huge fish twisting and splashing in the shallow water. I could see their fins and tails sticking up above the surface and from glimpses of their backs as they rolled over, I though that they were carp. I also saw a Coot and a Moorhen on the lake.

There were birds singing everywhere in the woods. I could hear Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Chiffchaff and Chaffinches. At one point I was standing still in the wood watching a Wren taking food to it's nest when a Buzzard landed nearby and started 'mewing'. It flew off into some conifers so I followed it. It had a nest high in a conifer near to where I had seen it land. The male and female Buzzards were now in the trees above me and both of them were 'mewing' incessantly because they had spotted me and didn't like the fact that I was near the nest. I tried hiding under a bush but they knew I was there and wouldn't go the nest for fear of giving away it's location. I decided to leave them in piece and they didn't stop calling until I was out of the area.

Shortly afterwards I disturbed a Tawny Owl that had been roosting in a tree. It flew off but landed on a branch nearby and I had a tremendous view as it just sat there staring at me with it's big, round, blue-black eyes.

I didn't see any sign of Nightjars at all but it was still an excellent couple of hours birdwatching.