Rhyl Airshow 29/08

A digression from wildlife again, here are some pics from Rhyl Airshow on Saturday!

Taking every chance we can to see the Vulcan fly before she sadly retires.
XH558:

and the rest from what was a nice but small airshow:

Around Aberaeron

Following our day at Ynys Hir we were watching the local news that evening and saw an item about Dolphins in Cardigan Bay, so we decided to head down to New Quay on the following morning after breakfast.

We decided to just go for an hours trip and managed to get on an 11am boat. Of course no Dolphins were seen but it was a lovely hour out in the un-forecasted sunshine. There were a few birds about although the cliff nesting sights were empty with the Guillemots, Razorbills long gone. We did see some birds though, Fulmar, Shag, Kittiwake, Gulls and some patrolling Gannets. A couple of Atlantic Grey Seals did show themselves plus on top of that it gives a great view of the wonderful coastline.

After the boat trip we decided to explore the coast a bit and were looking for a way to get close to the National Trust Dolphin Watching Shelter but instead ended up in a delightful little cove that we had seen from the boat, this was called, Cwmtydu, how that is pronounced is anyones guess, so if there are any welsh speakers out there some tips would be appreciated! Anyway it was a lovely coffee stop and we chilled out for a while getting the directors chairs out of the car and scanning the sea for any passing Dolphins, again they were elsewhere.

As we left Cwmtydu we headed up a country lane into a heavily wooded area, suddenly from nowhere, there was a Goshawk flying along the lane ahead of our car! It kept pace with us right in front of the windscreen for about 15-20 seconds, then turned into the trees, turning in and out of them in true Goshawk style before disappearing, brilliant.

Next stop was the nearby National Trust property of Llanerchaeron where we first had lunch (and coffee) before going for a river walk through the woods. Within a few minutes we spotted a Dipper doing what Dippers do before it shot off down the river Aeron and away from us, another good find. The trail we wanted to follow was closed due to nesting birds with a sign saying it would open again on the 1st September. Some advance notice of the closure would have been good as we then had to back track and find another route.

Bird life was very sparse in the woods, we had hoped to find Treecreeper and Nuthatch, but no luck with those, the only 'new' bird for the trip was a Coal Tit. However luckily just before we left the river and headed back towards the car park we did find a Grey Wagtail. Very nice.

So after the NT walks we drove down to Aberaeron and had a look around the harbour and went for a walk along the sea front.

The pretty harbour only contained Herring and Blach-headed Gulls, plus some foraging Starlings. The sea front walk added some Oystercatcher, Jackdaw and a Curlew to our list for the day.

So a great couple of days with lots of variety. The Redstart, Osprey, Goshawk and Dipper being the highlights. We would certainly go back and explore some more, but when, it's tough fitting in everything we would like to do!

A visit to Ynys Hir (RSPB)

Last week saw us trek over to mid Wales and 3 nights on  a Group On deal in a village just outside Aberaeron. The weather wasn't looking great so we thought we could dodge the rain and use the numerous hides at RSPB Ynys Hir to stay dry.

In fact it all turned out rather well! It was definitely a wet start to the day so we took it easy and had a 45 minute drive up to Ynys Hir. This was our first visit to the reserve and luckily for us it had more or less stopped raining when we arrived, so after chatting to the volunteers we set off for the short loop that takes you the closest to the river Dovey estuary. Just as we got to the first hide the heavens opened for a real down pour:

So we had no choice but to sit it out and watch the Little Egrets, a solitary Black-tailed Godwit,

a Little Grebe and a couple of Herons around the pools, while we had a coffee of course. The fields behind this hide looking out to the distant estuary were full also full of Canada Geese. As the rained eased after about an hour some small birds made an appearance, Goldfinch in the bushes along the bank to the right and some Stonechat in the scrub on the land separating the two pools.

As soon as the rain stopped we went to the next hide over the other side of these pools picking up a Reed Bunting on the way, but little else was seen.

We detoured then through the trees to the hide nearest the river again there were plenty of Egrets and Canada Geese, plus Oystercatchers and a single Common Sandpiper. We had another coffee here and waited with the only other additions being 3 male Goosander:

The dull weather and distance from the birds was making photography difficult so there won't be many pictures in the post I'm afraid!

After this the weather improved slightly and we took the opportunity to complete the loop and start the walk around the woods and boardwalks and check out the other hides. On the way we came across a young male Redstart, this was our first of the year so that was good, but not showing well enough for a photo so we just enjoyed watching. Shortly before this we had seen our first Red Kite on the reserve although we had lost count of the number we had seen on the drive to the reserve.

We eventually got to the hide and had a late lunch, again not a lot to trouble the score board, a couple of Teal in front of the hide, but then in the distance I spotted a bird of prey on a distant post, so put the scope on it. We were delighted to see an Osprey tucking into a fish, so nice of it to join us for lunch.
Even though we had good views through the scope this photo is just for the record. I think you can just make out that it is an Osprey!

Once we had finished our very late lunch the weather started to look a bit ominous so we decided to head back. So our Ynys Hir list comprised:

Black-headed Gull
Black-tailed Godwit
Blue Tit
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Collared Dove
Common Sandpiper
Curlew
Goldfinch
Goosander
Great Tit
Greater Canada Goose
Grey Heron
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Osprey
Oystercatcher
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail
Red Kite
Redstart
Reed Bunting
Robin
Shelduck
Stonechat
Swallow
Teal
Willow Warbler
Woodpigeon

Upton Warren 12/08

We took our good friends Wendy & Tim to Upton on Wednesday this was a first time visit for them, hopefully it won't be the last. However the day didn't get off to a great start as we 'saddled up' at the sailing centre car park, I realised I had left my camera in the living room at home. I felt decidedly strange without it, but never mind, you have to look on the bright side I could concentrate on looking for birds and having a chat.

We toddled down to the flashes and I have to say the water level was very low, keeping the birds a distance from the hide which was a shame. The two Avocet families were still there and the Little Ringed Plover youngster was showing quite well at times, now I wished I had my camera!

Three Curlew were sunning themselves in the grass on the far shore which was nice plus a few Green Sandpiper were about as well, a first for the year for us I think. I cursed not having the camera again when a Snipe proceeded to wade nicely in the open to the left of the hide and again when a pair of Linnet landed in front of the hide. Thankfully we hadn't forgotten the coffee that calmed me down.

After a good hour or so we walked back and popped over to Webbs for a bite to eat before heading over to the Moors Pools. We visited all the hides over the course of the afternoon. A highlight was the single Barnacle Goose not a year first, but a first for us at Upton. We had a flashing glimpse of a Kingfisher but it didn't stop and a brief view of a Water Rail playing hide and seek in  front of the concrete hide.

Another highlight was a Hobby being driven off by a Common Tern parent over the other side of the moors it was a very good day all in all with plenty of birds seen and good company.

Upton list for the day:
Avocet
Barnacle Goose
Black-headed Gull
Blue Tit
Bullfinch
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
Common Sandpiper
Common Tern
Coot
Cormorant
Curlew
Dunnock
Gadwall
Goldfinch
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Greater Canada Goose
Green Sandpiper
Green Woodpecker
Greenfinch
Greylag Goose
Hobby
House Martin
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Linnet
Little Grebe
Little Ringed Plover
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Pied Wagtail
Reed Bunting
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon
Sedge Warbler
Shoveler
Snipe
Stock Dove
Teal
Tufted Duck
Water Rail
Willow Warbler
Woodpigeon

Rainham Marshes RSPB

After a great night out with our Son for his birthday we called in at Rainham, as we usually do on our way back to the Black Country time permitting. We spent about three hours doing the circular walk around the reserve.

As you might expect at this time of year it's very quiet all the birds have done their bit, the youngsters have fledged and the parents are recovering and hiding away as much as possible, getting ready to migrate or stocking up for the winter. Yes, only 139 days to Christmas as I write this!

Anyway I think the must abundant species on the reserve at the moment are Goldfinch, Starling and Coot! There were large flocks of Goldfinch and Starling zooming around the reserve, so they are the exception to what I have just said! I have just realised despite the large numbers I never got around to taking any snaps of them!

Upon further scanning there were quite a large number of Lapwings about including what looked like a fair amount of juveniles, so breeding for them on the reserve must have gone well.

Other birds showing well were Grey Heron and Little Egret:

So with birds apart from Coots and this Little Grebe

not posing these Marsh Frogs obliged:

Then of course there were plenty of Butterflies about, these two posed in front of the hide,
Comma:

 Peacock:

We also saw Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Large White (of course!) and others which we have no idea what they are!

We finished off sitting outside the visitor centre in glorious sunshine with a cup of coffee followed by an ice-cream, where these two Collared Doves posed:

Our Rainham day list:
Black-headed Gull
Black-tailed Godwit
Blue Tit
Carrion Crow
Collared Dove
Coot
Cormorant
Gadwall
Goldfinch
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
Greylag Goose
Herring Gull
Hobby
House Sparrow
Kestrel
Lapwing
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Pochard
Reed Warbler
Shelduck
Shoveler
Snipe
Starling
Swallow
Woodpigeon
Wren

Another Walk along the Canal near Kinver

We set off on Wednesday for a walk from Stourton to Kinver and a bit beyond with the promise of a nice sandwich at the Vine for lunch. The weather was ideal not too sunny although as you might expect in July the birdlife wasn't that abundant and the undergrowth from the canal towpath prevented any clear views of the river. We paused at the usual Goldcrest spots but nothing today!

The only regulars in the normal spots were the Moorhens and Mallards, but we did get good views of a Green Woodpecker whilst having coffee on the only bench between our car and Kinver.

A nice sighting was this Grey Wagtail that showed very well at Hyde Cottage:

Whilst having lunch at the Vine (and a very fine 'real' ham and mustard sandwich was had) we had fleeting views of a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard but that was it. The most unusual bird of the day was the domestic Guineafowl in one of the gardens about a mile further on from Kinver! (Doesn't count of course)

Otherwise it was only regular garden birds about until we saw a Blackcap on the way back to the car,

So another great walk with a few decent sightings.

Leasowes Park

After doing some shopping at B&Q the other day we called in at Leasowes Park on Mucklow Hill, something we haven't done for a long time, we had forgotten how lovely the place is. We just went for a short walk without bins but I did have my camera.

There wasn't much about. although we were surprised to see this Moorhen still on the nest, must be a second brood:

Apart from this Buzzard,

there was only the expected birds around, Magpie, Crow and Woodpigeon in the trees and Mallard, Moorhern, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Mute Swan down on the pond. There were small birds flitting around but without the bins nothing came close enough to identify for certain. A lovely walk none the less.

Isle of Skye and a bit of the Mainland (The Tour Part 3)

We had a good crossing from Tarbert to Uig on the Isle of Skye, spotting some distant Dolphin on the way as well as plenty of sea birds, including our first and probably last Puffins of the year, this distant shot is just to remind us that we did see some!

Once on Skye we headed south to our hotel on the Sleat peninsula. The weather turned quite nasty whilst driving down, so we took the opportunity to put our feet up for the afternoon and listen to the pouring rain. We had a lie in as well the next day, as the weather was still foul. We did eventually venture out and spent a few hours down at Kylerhea where the Forestry Commision have an Otter Hide and the RSPB have just this year set up a hide as well. We spent a good couple of hours in the RSPB hide where a very friendly RSPB chap and another couple kept us entertained whilst we waited for a White-tailed eagle that allegedly shows up regularly just before high tide to make the most of the Mackerel that get swept into the channel between Skye and the mainland. They usually come when the spot the Gulls congregating and fishing. Of course the Gulls came fished and went away but the Eagle didn't show! This was the view from the RSPB hide.

Once the tide had turned we took the 15 minute walk in the mizzle to the Otter hide. This ovelooks a stretch of shingle and rocky beach where some 4 years ago we saw our first Otter. In fact the weather was identically awful then too, but that was October! Anyway at least the Otter didn't disappoint us!

 We also actually managed a few new bird species for the trip  adding Bullfinch, Goldcrest and Tree Pipit to our haul from the Outer Hebrides.
After Kylerhea we explored the Sleat peninsula and by late afternoon the weather turned glorious, so much so we stopped for an ice cream at Armadale. So back to the Hotel.
The next day we packed up as our next two nights were at a B&B in Staffin on the north of Skye. However we had booked that day to go out with a wildlife guide, the start point of which was in Portree a good stretch on our way to Staffin.

All in all it was frustrating day that initially got off to an excellent start. Our guide took us (and the other 6 members of the group) to a little bay at Camastianavaig where he knew a family of Otters lived. There we saw a female Otter with two youngsters and then a fourth Otter, another female, as well. For once I just watched as with the bins and scope we had good views but it would probably have been too much even for my 500mm lens!

We then searched for Eagles and had distant sightings of both Golden and White-tailed, but not close enough to photograph. After this we headed to the sea Loch Ainort where a small pod of Pilot Whales had been spending some time:

That was brilliant a first for us and everyone else in the group.

The rest of the day whilst very good was focused on Eagles and Otters, we would have liked a bit more time spent on other bird and wild life. Luckily I spotted some Dipper as we were driving alongside a small river, I managed to get our guide to stop and got a couple of pictures:

The other highlight of the day happened when we stopped to look for Eagles again (no luck!) but just after we get back into the minibus there was some commotion in front of us in a field. A Hooded Crow was trying to catch a Weasel! The Weasel was ferocious in defending himself even when another Hooded Crow joined in! We were all so enthralled by what was happening I forgot to get the camera (even though I was holding it!) Happily the Weasel made good his escape.

We arrived back in Portree about 5ish and zoomed off to our next bed in Staffin.

Another mixed weather day four our last full day on the islands, so very much an explore day to see as much of the north and west of the island as we could, hopefully picking up some wildlife on the way. We started with a walk to 'Coral' Beach at Claigan a good 4 mile round trip in mainly decent weather apart from hunkering down on  the beach for a 15 minute downpour!

We enjoyed watching a Seal having a mad half hour splashing about and throwing kelp around

Mustn't leave out the less 'exciting' birds, this Herring Gull posed nicely in the daises

with the Ringed Plover just behind.

As I said the weather was mixed, this just highlights it...

So that is Skye done apart from the drive south on the next morning to cross the bridge back to the mainland. (For those of a more ornithological bent I have put a list of our Skye sightings at the end of the post._

On our way off Skye we passed the Loch with the Pilot Whales, so we stopped for one last look:

So over the bridge and time for a coffee stop and admire the view:

Then carry on to Edinburgh to stay with our fabulous Daughter and be joined by our equally fabulous Son! With a short stop on the way to visit our favourite Ospreys!

Apart from having a brilliant time in Edinburgh with Jen & Mike we also managed a trip out to RSPB Loch Leven:

Loch Leven is a lovely reserve with some well located hides and screens and was Tufted Duck central on the day we visited!

So that about wraps it up apart from a climb up Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh,

 Queens Garden Party at Holyrood,

and a walk along the Water of Leith that added a Grey Wagtail to our list for the trip!

Skye bird list:

Arctic Tern  ("Sterna paradisaea")

Blackbird  ("Turdus merula")

Black-headed Gull  ("Chroicocephalus ridibundus")

Bullfinch  ("Pyrrhula pyrrhula")

Buzzard  ("Buteo buteo")

Carrion Crow  ("Corvus corone")

Chaffinch  ("Fringilla coelebs")

Common Sandpiper  ("Actitis hypoleucos")

Cormorant  ("Phalacrocorax carbo")

Curlew  ("Numenius arquata")

Dipper  ("Cinclus cinclus")

Fulmar  ("Fulmarus glacialis")

Goldcrest  ("Regulus regulus")

Golden Eagle  ("Aquila chrysaetos")

Goldfinch  ("Carduelis carduelis")

Great Black-backed Gull  ("Larus marinus")

Great Tit  ("Parus major")

Grey Heron  ("Ardea cinerea")

Greylag Goose  ("Anser anser")

Herring Gull  ("Larus argentatus")

Hooded Crow  ("Corvus cornix")

House Martin  ("Delichon urbicum")

House Sparrow  ("Passer domesticus")

Lapwing  ("Vanellus vanellus")

Mallard  ("Anas platyrhynchos")

Meadow Pipit  ("Anthus pratensis")

Oystercatcher  ("Haematopus ostralegus")

Pied Wagtail  ("Motacilla alba")

Raven  ("Corvus corax")

Razorbill  ("Alca torda")

Red-breasted Merganser  ("Mergus serrator")

Red-throated Diver  ("Gavia stellata")

Ringed Plover  ("Charadrius hiaticula")

Robin  ("Erithacus rubecula")

Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon  ("Columba livia")

Rock Pipit  ("Anthus petrosus")

Rook  ("Corvus frugilegus")

Sand Martin  ("Riparia riparia")

Shag  ("Phalacrocorax aristotelis")

Shelduck  ("Tadorna tadorna")

Siskin  ("Carduelis spinus")

Skylark  ("Alauda arvensis")

Song Thrush  ("Turdus philomelos")

Starling  ("Sturnus vulgaris")

Stonechat  ("Saxicola torquatus")

Swallow  ("Hirundo rustica")

Tree Pipit  ("Anthus trivialis")

Wheatear  ("Oenanthe oenanthe")

Whimbrel  ("Numenius phaeopus")

White-tailed Eagle  ("Haliaeetus albicilla")

Loch Leven bird list:

Blackbird  ("Turdus merula")

Black-headed Gull  ("Chroicocephalus ridibundus")

Blue Tit  ("Cyanistes caeruleus")

Buzzard  ("Buteo buteo")

Carrion Crow  ("Corvus corone")

Chaffinch  ("Fringilla coelebs")

Common Gull  ("Larus canus")

Coot  ("Fulica atra")

Curlew  ("Numenius arquata")

Gadwall  ("Anas strepera")

Great Crested Grebe  ("Podiceps cristatus")

Great Spotted Woodpecker  ("Dendrocopos major")

Great Tit  ("Parus major")

Greenfinch  ("Chloris chloris")

Grey Heron  ("Ardea cinerea")

Herring Gull  ("Larus argentatus")

Jackdaw  ("Corvus monedula")

Lapwing  ("Vanellus vanellus")

Lesser Black-backed Gull  ("Larus fuscus")

Little Grebe  ("Tachybaptus ruficollis")

Magpie  ("Pica pica")

Mallard  ("Anas platyrhynchos")

Moorhen  ("Gallinula chloropus")

Mute Swan  ("Cygnus olor")

Peregrine  ("Falco peregrinus")

Pied Wagtail  ("Motacilla alba")

Pochard  ("Aythya ferina")

Reed Bunting  ("Emberiza schoeniclus")

Sedge Warbler  ("Acrocephalus schoenobaenus")

Shoveler  ("Anas clypeata")

Skylark  ("Alauda arvensis")

Swallow  ("Hirundo rustica")

Teal  ("Anas crecca")

Tree Sparrow  ("Passer montanus")

Tufted Duck  ("Aythya fuligula")

Woodpigeon  ("Columba palumbus")

Wren  ("Troglodytes troglodytes")