Saturday 31 May 2014

Llanfendigaid, Day 7.

Sadly it was time to return home today but I couldn't drag myself away without an early morning session with the redstarts.  Unfortunately the light wasn't the best, but the birds were incredibly obliging, especially the male, which afforded plentiful opportunities for photography.  All too soon it was time to return for breakfast, packing and goodbyes.  Still unable to head straight home, we stopped for coffee and cake in Dolgellau, where I had excellent views of pied and grey wagtails feeding fledged chicks.  Unfortunately the birding lens was packed away in the car and inaccessible.

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Apart from the first image which is a dunnock and the last which is a shot of the 'big house' all other images are a redstart fest.  The redstarts were nesting in the back of the far building in a hole in the wall in the final image. Just in front of the left hand telegraph pole.

















Friday 30 May 2014

Llanfendigaid, Day 6

Up and out at 5.00 this morning and off to Dolgoch falls in the hope of photographing pied flycatchers.  Although it was dull and gloomy when I set out I could already sea the sky exploding with colour as the rising sun painted the lowering clouds red and orange.  Kicking myself for only taking telephoto lenses, I stopped and took a shot of Bird Rock with the dramatic fiery sky behind.  Once at Dolgoch I had it all to myself, the only sounds being the rushing of the water in the river and the thunder of the falls and bird song all around.  The aim was to photograph a pair of pied flycatchers that were nesting right beside the footpath to the first falls.  Yesterday I had watched from a distance as the birds continued feeding the chicks with people standing right next to the tree.  The birds were already busily attending to the day's business when I arrived but there was not enough light for photography so I wandered a little further up the path and found a grey wagtail feeding in the river and yet another pair of pied flycatchers nesting in a box.  As the light improved I moved back down to my first spot and spent a very pleasant hour or so with these beautiful birds.  Lighting was challenging as the birds were in shadow but the background was brightly lit.
Eventuall it was time to return for a quick breakfast before heading out with Heather, John and Heln to drive back up past Dolgoch and beyond Tallyllyn lake to the start of the Mynfordd path up Cadair Idris.  I have climbed Cadair on several occasions and it is a favourite of mine so I was looking forward to the day.  Conditions were good, although hazy, so distant views were not clear but views of our mountain and Llyn Cau were dramatic.  We were lucky enough to spot a red kite drifting above us on thermals as it scoured the mountain side for food.  On the descent we witnessed a helicopter rescue.  Apparently a dog had either fallen or gone down into one of the steep gullies near the summit and it's owner had followed, also becoming stranded.  We completed the walk in time for a welcome cup of tea and then stopped for a 'shandy' on the way home.

An excellent day.

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Juvenile Dipper
Pied Flycatcher, Female
Pied Flycatcher, Male
Pied Flycatcher, Male
Pied Flycatcher, female
Pied Flycatcher, male
Pied Flycatcher, female
Pied Flycatcher, female
Cadair Idris
Butterwort
Cadair Idris, looking into Cwm Cau
Cadair Idris, looking into Cwm Cau
Cadair Idris, looking into Cwm Cau
Cadair Idris, looking into Cwm Cau
Cadair Idris, looking into Cwm Cau
Cadair Idris, looking into Cwm Cau
Cadair Idris, looking into Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Cadair Idris and Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Cwm Cau
Nearly home!

Thursday 29 May 2014

Llanfendigaid, Day 5

Again, a better morning than forecast.  My day began with a pre-breakfast session with the redstarts.  I managed to secure images of both birds, although the female is more accommodating.  It is really peaceful sitting here on my pile of breeze blocks watching the comings and goings of these stunning birds with the only sound the cronking of ravens up the hill.  At one point the local farmer appeared with his two collies in the next field.  It was pure delight to watch the skilfull manner in which the dogs, with only a few commands from the farmer, separated the sheep from the indifferent cattle and herded them through the gate at the top of the field.  After half an hour or so my stomach reminded me that it was time for breakfast.
In the fullness of time various parties set out for their different activities and Heather and myself wandered down to the beach and estuary.  Heather wanted to finish a drawing she had begun and I was content to photograph oystercatchers and the sedge warblers in the marsh, thick with flag irises, behind.  It is amazing how the coast has changed over the years: recent storms have scoured the sand to leave a beach of boulders, many of which have been tossed onto the machair behind.
After lunch of home made chicken soup and cheese on toast, we left to buy BBQ charcoal in Tywyn and enjoy a honey ice cream before heading to Dolgoch falls where we caught up with Edward Thomas, one of the little trains on the Talyllyn Railway.  It was then time for a walk up through the wonderful oakwoods, which were flush with ferns and, seemingly, alive with pied flycatchers.  We watched chaffinches, blue tits and pied flycatchers all feeding chicks.  My plan is to return at 5.00 am tomorrow to photograph the pied flies when it is quiet.
On our return to the 'big house' it was time to fire up the BBQ ready for the return of Les Jeunes.  I used to think that fire was a man thing, but I'm coming to the conclusion it's a wrinkly man thing!!  BBQ dispatched it was time to move en masse to the old pine tree on the headland for a repeat of the group photo that was last taken about 20 years ago.  As I type, a chocolate fondu is being prepared, so a good end to yet another excellent day.

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Oysetercatcher
Oystercatcher
Redstart female
Redstart female
Redstart female
Restart female
Redstart male.  Both birds occasionally favoured a nearby
telegraph pole for a perch.
Redstart female.
Redstart Male
Redstart Male
Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Edward Thomas
Edward Thomas
Edward Thomas
Dolgoch Falls
Detail of old oak tree
Fern opening
Dolgoch Falls
Dolgoch Falls
Looking towards the Lleyn Peninsular at sunset