Photos:
Southstack lighthouse
Juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers, The Range
14th September
Out most of the day with Karen today. We went to Betws-Y-Coed (another place we used to stay) and I ate the largest mixed grill I have ever seen at the Royal Oak. I could barely walk for the rest of the day and Billy, hiding under the table, ate at least half!
We had a pit stop at Padarn Country Park (Llanberis) which is a slate mine museum next to a lake. The world’s supply of Chiffchaffs seemed to be in the numerous willows and just once I caught a brief glimpse of a warbler which even now I would struggle to put a name to. I initially thought juvenile Barred but it didn’t seem quite right (I know, wrong time, wrong place) and the little sod buggered off, never to be seen again. I still have no idea what I saw. I did see some Siskins, a Jay and 7 Ravens.
When we landed back at the cottage late afternoon I headed straight back out to South Stack for a “quick hour”. This eventually turned out to be three hours and got me into a bit of bother. Anyway on the road up to the reserve was a flock of 80 or so Goldfinches. A quick wander round Ellin’s Tower and a gaze out to sea revealed nothing other than 8 Choughs and a Raven. Back at the car park I plonked myself down on the grass on a gloriously sunny evening and sat just watching the world go by.
Suddenly one of the RSPB wardens bolted out of the place and came over to tell me about some interesting birds seen on The Range. He roared off with me following close behind. The interesting birds were a stunning couple of juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers which showed intermittently amongst the heather. Also here was a large flock of Meadow Pipits and with them was a largely summer plumaged Lapland Bunting. We watched the BBS’s for an hour or so and then the light fell. Cracking birds! Back at the cottage I looked across to the opposite cove and saw a Little Egret fly past.
Out most of the day with Karen today. We went to Betws-Y-Coed (another place we used to stay) and I ate the largest mixed grill I have ever seen at the Royal Oak. I could barely walk for the rest of the day and Billy, hiding under the table, ate at least half!
We had a pit stop at Padarn Country Park (Llanberis) which is a slate mine museum next to a lake. The world’s supply of Chiffchaffs seemed to be in the numerous willows and just once I caught a brief glimpse of a warbler which even now I would struggle to put a name to. I initially thought juvenile Barred but it didn’t seem quite right (I know, wrong time, wrong place) and the little sod buggered off, never to be seen again. I still have no idea what I saw. I did see some Siskins, a Jay and 7 Ravens.
When we landed back at the cottage late afternoon I headed straight back out to South Stack for a “quick hour”. This eventually turned out to be three hours and got me into a bit of bother. Anyway on the road up to the reserve was a flock of 80 or so Goldfinches. A quick wander round Ellin’s Tower and a gaze out to sea revealed nothing other than 8 Choughs and a Raven. Back at the car park I plonked myself down on the grass on a gloriously sunny evening and sat just watching the world go by.
Suddenly one of the RSPB wardens bolted out of the place and came over to tell me about some interesting birds seen on The Range. He roared off with me following close behind. The interesting birds were a stunning couple of juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers which showed intermittently amongst the heather. Also here was a large flock of Meadow Pipits and with them was a largely summer plumaged Lapland Bunting. We watched the BBS’s for an hour or so and then the light fell. Cracking birds! Back at the cottage I looked across to the opposite cove and saw a Little Egret fly past.
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