The Mawddach Valley volunteers have been busy again. Last week the last of the new nest boxes were put up ready for the pied flycatchers, who will be returning from their west African wintering grounds in mid-April.
Although there were no summer migrants on the reserve last week, a red admiral butterfly flew past us up the main Coed Garth Gell track. The reservoir was very noisy with loads of frogs spawning. Birds are singing more than a few weeks ago and great-spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, bullfinch and lesser redpoll were all seen.
This winters Rhododendron treatment work is beginning to show dividents. The leaves of treated plants are beginning to turn yellow. Hopefully by next spring native plants will be growing in the place of this agressive non-native plant from the Himalayas!