Mike's Natural Musings: Llanfendigaid, Day 5

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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