Mike's Natural Musings

Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Llanfendigaid, Day 4.

A much better day for weather than the forecast gave. Dry and overcast with some excellent skies and even, occasionally some sun. I began the day across the road with half an hour with the redstarts. Within five minutes I had pictures of both. After breakfast Heather, myself and Helen and John (2/3 of the wrinkly contingent) walked down the lane to the tiny Tonfanau station on the single track line that runs along the coast from Pwllhelli, eventually to Birmingham. It is a request stop, so to catch the train you have to put your hand out to attract the driver's attention. All very pre Beeching!! The plan was to catch the train to Aberdovey and walk back along the coastal path. Whle we were waiting a couple of pairs of choughs again provided entertainment. We quickly arrived at our destination and enjoyed pottering around the town resdicovering old haunts. After lunch we set off along the beach to Tywyn and what a spot; a huge expanse of golden sand and estuary backed by high dunes and, behind those, mountains. On the way, we passed the newly exposed remains of a fossilised bog with beautifully preserved tree stumps. Our route took us along Tywyn sea front, where we stopped for a cup of tea, before heading out over the salt marsh to Broad Water, part of the Dysynni Estuary. Here we had wonderful views into the mountains to Bird Rock and Cadair Idris. Once back at the railway line, we crossed the newly built pedestrian bridge, part of the Welsh Coastal Path, where I photographed the superb display of sea pink or thrift. We ended our walk by pottering along the road back to Llanfendigaid.

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Redstart, Male.

Redstart, Male

Redstart, Female

Aberdovey Pier

Aberdovey

The Dovey Estuary and Mountains beyond.

Aberdovey Beach

Fossilised Forest

Thrift, Tywyn

The Dysynni Saltmarsh with Bird Rock and Cadair Idris behind.

Broad Water

Thrift, Dysynni Estuary

Dysynni Estuary

Thrift, Dysynni Estuary

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Llanfendigaid, Day 3

Not such a good day of weather today; some sun but also a fair amount of cloud and some heavy rain. Again the party split into various groups and families depending on activity: cycling, golf, TallyLlyn Railway for the Peter Duncan Day, shopping. As the wrinly ladies opted for shopping I was let off the leash so, after a lazy start Ispent some time trying for more shots of the very busy redstarts and then drove into the hills to photograph Gregennen Lakes with Cadair behind. Although only in the farm yard access to the caravan site across the road, there was loads of bird activity and I managed shots of pied wagtails, juvenile robin, dunnock and wren as well as the redstart female. The male was busily backwards and forwards as well but flying in on a different trajectory so he didn't perch on the gate today. The woodpecker and nuthatch were active in the trees round about and I headr a tawny owl but could find it for the life of me and it must have been in the tree above!! Unfortunately the trip to Gregenne was blighted by heavy rain but I did manage one image. After the evening meal it stopped raining and the sun came out so I trekked up the hill behind the house for some sunset shots. I was delighted to be accompanied by the sights and sounds of three corvid species: ravens calling up the hillside, crows and best of all, a pair of choughs displaying noisily close by. Sadly the sun went down with a whimper, despite looking encouraging.

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Pied Wagtail

Female redstart

Female Redstart

Female redstart

Female Redstart

Juvenile Robin

Wren

Gregennen Lakes

Sunset

Llanfendigaid

Long exposure shot post sunset.

Monday, 26 May 2014

Llanfendigaid, Day 2.

Although today turned into a fabulous day of weather, it began inauspiciously, so when I woke at 5.00 for an early morning visit to the estuary,and it was dull and drizzly, I rolled over and enjoyed another hour's sleep. Later, though, after an early breakfast, it was very definitely brightening up so Heather and I headed off down to the beach. A quick walk down the lane and a clamber over the railway line took us to the superb machair-like grassland next to the mouth of the Dysynni, with its attractive wet area lush with yellow flag irises in flower and a dense reed bed. The reeds held a good number of sedge warblers singing scratchily, but lustily, along with good numbers of reed buntings. The grassland, cropped to a fine lawn by sheep held wheateears, meadow pipit, pied wagtail and oystercatchers. On the beach were herring and black-backed gulls, curlew, godwit and a male eider. Making regular fly pasts were pairs of gooseanders. While I pottered about birding and photographing, Heather enjoyed the tiime drawing. It is so beautiful and peaceful down there I could stay for ever.
Eventually it was time to drag ourselves back to the house where late breakfasts and coffee were still the order of the day. Gradually people wandered off to fill their day: the young ones either heading to Aberdovey or Barmouth beaches with their children and the young roadies out for a long ride on the bikes. The female wrinklies went into Twyn and the remainder of the party cilled in the sun. I decided to head up to the headland to photograph the rabbits. At first the scampered back to the burrows, but when I settled down quietly with my back to a tree, they eventually ventured out to feed once more, allowing for some pleasing photography. I then went to try for the pied wagtails in the farm yard and was amazed to find a superb pair of redstarts carrying food, presumably to a nest somewhare close by. I made no attempt to locate it and contented myself photographing them on a picturesquely rusted gate as they approached. What stunning birds these are, especially the male. It is a species that I never have the opportunity to photograph at home, as they are birds of the west of the country.
It was soon time for a mass exodus to the beack for the traditional beach BBQ. In days gone by our children were irrepressibly excited by this activity and now they, in their turn, enjoy their children's excitement. Funny though, how the wrinklies are still in charge of the fire and catering. A wonderfuil time was had by all though, and the evening ended with a fabulous sunset, which silhouetted the Lleyn Peninsular on the horizon, making it appear to float of the calm sea.

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