The Cowshed Day 3

Our day started early today with a swim before breakfast.  Fancying a walk, after breakfast, we set off across the fields intending to walk along the beach to the estuary.  Annoyingly the cliff path has been eroded by the sea so much that the path has been closed.  It makes one wonder how long the railway is going to last.  A second local walk also thwarted we launched off in the car with Helen and John to look for a cafe for lunch in Fairbourne. Again thwarted, we continued to the George III pub at Penmaenpool where we were successful on the lunch front.  The views of the estuary and old wooden toll bridge from here are excellent.  Returning to Fairbourne we enjoyed an excellent walk along the sea wall and the inland bank currently protecting the village from flooding to the station at Morfa Mawddach.  Fairbourne is very vulnerable to tidal inundation and a decision has been made to eventually abandon it to the sea as sea levels rise, a warning to all low lying coastal areas.  Our now continued over the spectacular railway viaduct over the Mawddach Estuary to Barmouth.  The views to Cadair Idris were wonderful.  We arrived at Barmouth station just in time to catch the train back to Fairbourne.  An excellent day after an unpromising start.

The Cowshed Day 2

The weather forecast for today was not good so we were happy to have chilled out day.  Strictly cach up was high on the agenda along with a swim in the morning.  How lovely it is to wander across to our own heated pool - luxury.
After a sandwich lunch Steve and John went off to play golf while the rest of us caught the train into Aberdovey.  We are ideally situated for this excellent single track train service which runs all along the coast to Pwhelli one way and to Birmingham New Street the other.  The ladies hit the Aberdovey shops - all ten or so while I wandered photograhically.  While heading to the pier, I could hear the deep  sonorous ring of a bell.  Thinking it was a buoy I scanned the estuary but could see nothing; anyway it sounded closer.  Nonplussed, I continued photographing and gradually moving along the pier when my attention was drawn to the ringing bell again. It now seemed to be coming from under my feet.  More determine now  I found some steps leading under the pier and was delighted to find another Time and Tide Bell; the twin of the Mablethorpe one except suspended by iron rods below the pier with the tide-activated pendulum hanging beneath it.  Had the tide not been in I would never have known it was there.  Deciding to do a little more research I have discovered that there is one at Morecambe which we will visit next time we are at the caravan and also one at Great Bernaray which, if our plans come to fruition, we shall be able to visit next June.  Exulting in my good find I joined the shoppers for tea and cake; in my case a deliciously moist coconut slice.  Regrettably the treacle tart wasn't unveiled until we were leaving, still, it avoided an agonising choice.  There was just time left for a wander along the beach for some more photography before catching the train back to Tonfanau. 
Not only were things quiet in the bird world, it was very quiet on the people front in Aberdovey.

The Cowshed Day 1

After a long day's travelling from one side of the country to the other we arrived safely at Llanfendigaid to a warm welcome from our two sets of friends.  We have stayed in the large house of Llanfendigaid with children and grandchildren over the years but this time we are enjoying a 'wrinklies' holiday in the excellent 6 person Cowshed  over the road, a farm out building conversion.  The evening was spent catching up with our friends over our evening meal before an early night.
I was up early this morning go for a run, or what passes for a run nowadays.  Gone are the days when I would run the full six mile circuit, but I was delighted as I never thought to turn here again.  After a lazy morning I launched off with my camera down to the beach and the beautiful estuary of the small River Dysynni.  Surprisingly bird life was conspicuous by its absence and the only thing I got from carrying the 'birding lens' was a bad back,  further confirmation that I need to part exchange it.  It was, however,  beautiful: foaming green sea with superb views across to the Lleyn Peninsula and inland to the mountains across the expanse of Broadwater.  Although not the best birding morning, gulls were plentiful and there were small starling flocks feeding on the freshwater marsh and pasture land.  A heron gave good views as it flapped slowly over.  A very different feel to early May mornings. 
I took the lens back to the car and while the ladies walked on the beach John, Steve and myself walked down to the estuary and over the new(ish) pedestrian bridge over the Dysynni for some photography over the salt marsh of Broadwater towards the mountains.  A group of three red breasted mergansers gave good views.

Walk to Pye's Hall to watch the Big Spring Tide

This week has seen the highest Spring Tides of the year so it was with interest that Heather and I were up by 5.30 for an early start to watch the tide flowing up the creek of the Seven Towns Great Eau through where the sluice at Pye's Hall had once been.  When we arrived at the Stonebridge car park we nearly had it to ourselves with only one or two dog walkers about.  It was a beautiful, if chilly (5C), morning with mainly clear skies and a scattering of clouds.  The sun was not yet up as we made our way along the inland sea bank built in 2012 to create the new anti-flood coastal realignment zone.  From the top of the bank we could see out across the salt marsh which was well flooded and beyond to the white water of the large breakers foaming on the sand banks.  It was not long before the sun rose above the back of cloud to dispel some of the early chill.  Out along the bank there is a really wild and solitary feel; a real 'sense of place'.  Eventually we reached the old sea bank giving us a view not only over the realignment area, but across the vast expanse of the saltmarsh all the way up to Cleethorpes, where we could make out the sentinel of the dock tower in the distance.  Walking now towards Pye's Hall (once an actual grand hall, but long since demolished) we were in a watery world with the salt marsh on one side and the realignment zone on the other.  Not only could we see water all around, but we could hear it too: the constant roaring of the surf on the distant sandbanks and the quieter, more muted, but hurrying trickle and gurgle as water flooded the marshes.  When we arrived at Pye's Hall the scene was amazing, with the tide being squeezed through the gap with rips, eddies and whirlpools; a white water kayaker would have been in their element. The sounds of birds were all around.  In the distance the constant piping of oystercatchers and the incessant cries of that sentinel of the marsh, the redshank.  The harsh calls of the numerous black headed gulls formed a background with the occasional courlie of the curlew, one of my all time favourite bird calls.  Skeins of pink footed and Canada geese flew over treating us to their wild yelps.  Squadrons of ducks kept flying in to form flotillas on the water and, best of all, a peregrine falcon, the fastest of all birds, rent the air just above our heads.  In the winter the coast and salt marshes are good hunting grounds for this supreme apex predator, the immense wader flocks forming their food supply.  Large numbers of little egrets were busy feeding.  These stunning white members of the heron family have gradually increased in number and are now counted as resident breeders; it doesn't seem many years ago that the nearest location to see these birds was in Normandy.  On arriving back at the car we were surprised to see it full: busy with ramblers and birdwatchers come to watch the tide.  Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust wardens were there, too, presumably to establish the seal wardens' hut; the first pups will be born this month.  Even the seasonal tea and burger van had arrived.