Tuesday 23rd October - Thursday 25th October 2012

October 27, 2012 • Leave a Comment

Three Days Birding in Wales

Tuesday 23rd - the Lleyn Peninsula & Foryd Bay

Up very early as is my wont, I was on my favorite patch of the Lleyn peninsula as it came light. It was misty murky and shutter speeds were struggling even at 640 ISO. I set off from the little grassy car park towards the cliffs. I could hear a raven 'clonking' as I call it somewhere nearby. I spotted him on a post and crept along behind the stone banking. They are very easily put up. Nice image in the available light.

Raven Bardsey Island looked darkly mysterious in the dawning light.

Bardsey Island I soon met a few more friends of mine probing for grubs. Two were on the path in front of me. [Only one in view in the photo]

Chough I see he has two colour rings. I met another pair some way off.

Chough They took off and came past me along the cliff top edge. You can see from the bill that recent digging has been happening.

Chough Chough Later on my walk a couple of ravens were mobbing a buzzard some way off. One of the ravens circled round me.

Raven Raven After that it was breakfast and taking my mother-in-law shopping. In the afternoon I went to Pwllheli and Criccieth but saw little of note so I crossed the heights of the peninsula and dropped down towards Foryd Bay south of Caernarfon.

What's this?

Curlew Quite confusing at first! All pictures are of the same co-operative bird.

Curlew Curlew A meadow pipit popped up on the stones next to me.

Meadow Pipit The road follows the almost landlocked bay for some time. I then took another narrow lane near the White Tower caravan park and stopped to watch the brent geese. Dark and pale-bellied forms present. The books say upto 100 birds gather in winter. Well you can re-write that one! How many do you think are in this photo? And there were other groups; lots of wigeon and pintail too.

Brent Geese

Wednesday 24th - Back to Rhayader

Or more precisely my third visit to Gigrin Farm to see the red kite feeding station at 3pm [2pm in winter]. The journey was trying to say the least as an accident necessitated huge diversions each way. However the birds were as spectacular as ever although, as all week, the light was poor. Often my photos are just too blurred as I could not get the fast shutter speeds needed as the kites swoop in. Still, there are some good ones and here they come. Come in number 42!!

Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite If the kites land, it is only very briefly.

Red Kite

Red Kite Sadly, one bird crashed and probably suffered a broken wing, something I hadn't seen happen before.

Red Kite Someone came from the farm and threw a large blanket over the bird. It didn't struggle and he was able to pick it up and carry it away in his arms to the aviary where it would be examined later.

Red Kite Red Kite The buzzards do land and stay on the ground, often being 'buzzed' by the kites! Buzzards come in quite a colour range as you can see!

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard

Thursday 25th - Put up more Bunting!!

For me the best of all experience was up on the limestone pavement of the Great Orme near Llandudno. My wife and I called there on our way down to Wales for lunch but didn't explore as we were short of time. But it helped me get a feel for where might be best to go. On the Thursday morning I was up there before the dog walkers. It was cold, dull and misty. After a while I gave up and went looking for surf scoter at Llandulas [3 attempts during the week and all fruitless although I scanned hundreds of scoter.] One definite velvet scoter seen in flight.

The lapland buntings then came up on the pager so I decided to go back. That was lucky as I met a wonderful man who told me he had seen the pair and explained it would be almost impossible for me to find them. But he took me about half a mile until he said: 'Nice and slow from now on!' We walked in mini steps in long grass and gorse and heather mix. Suddenly I saw something scuttle in front of us. Lapland bunting at close range.

I was also told where to go to see a single snow bunting that had dropped in. I found him near the top cairn. I sat on the cairn side and watched the bird edge a little closer.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting Funny stuff gorse ulex europaeus - in North Wales you can find it in flower all year round. Even on a bitter October morning.

Gorse In an adjacent field a magpie was sheep riding - perhaps looking for insects. He spotted me and looked rather sheepish!!

Magpie I decided to head back towards Llanengan, again driving via the Foryd Bay road. I stopped to check the wildfowl. A man was walking out on the mud to dig for bait. Suddenly he put up a flock of curlew. I realised they were coming straight at me. I grabbed the camera as they almost passed overhead.

Curlew Curlew There is a very dark muddy area at low tide near the hide and I photographed this egret and the very black pied wagtail from the car.

Little Egret Pied Wagtail I said the best came last. Well here it is: a small selection of lapland bunting images, taken at about 12 feet! The grass does get in the way!