11 birders met at Brunswick
Station and set off for Wales in a minibus, with Chris doing the driving.
On arrival we were joined by two
more from the Liverpool group and 3 people from Ellesmere Port. What a treat we had in store! Near the visitor centre we saw Chaffinch,
Robin, Siskin, Buzzard and Coal Tit.
We started walking the blue
trail. Very soon we came across a female Pied
Flycatcher,darting back and forth to a nestbox, beak full of nesting material. It kept us entertained for quite some time,
collecting twigs, some were difficult for the little bird to manoeuvre into the
box. And where's there's one, we soon found the male.
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| Female Pied |
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| Male Pied |
Soon afterwards we saw a
resplendent Redstart a Nuthatch and a very smart Pheasant strutting his stuff!
Up in the forest,we came across a lovely clearing
with wonderful views. A Tree Pipit was seen flying between a tree and some
rocks. Very soon it landed on a radio
mast and was renamed the Mast Pipit, so a new one for all of us!!! The farmer came up in his quad bike, one hand
on the bike, one round his dog, but he still managed a wave. He left a very happy flock of sheep after he
gave them food.
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| Male Redstart |
A copse in the same area gave us another wonderful sighting of a Redstart on a post.
Always on the look out for a moment of light humour, Arnie appeared on edge, 'don't do it Chris Everton will soon regain their form' !
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| The prankster |
Suddenly a Peregrine Falcon came
into sight over the hilltop and a very high flying Cormorant followed by Ravens.
we continued the walk and soon came to the woods, there had been a great deal of clearance so not the prettiest place to be. Piles of newly felled logs and a stumpy wasteland ahead, still the pied and grey wagtails of the area were quiet happy with the area, flitting about, no doubt the clearance had uncovered lots of insect prey.
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| Logging |
Shortly after another highlight of the walk, Arnie's wonderful hearing picked up the song of a Wood Warbler a short metallic tick that accelerates into a trill that is reminiscent of a coin spinning) and after some pishing it appeared for us all to ogle. Such a pretty bird, a lovely yellow colour with gleaming white underparts.
And at last our quarry, high up in the sky, a Goshawk scanning the forestry below, alas no closer view. One day we'll see this vivacious sweeping effortlessly through the canopy.
After lunch we ventured onto the lakeside hides. On the path to the hides , a dipper was spotted flying down a woodland stream . The weather was on the turn, a heavy down pour the precursor for the rest of the day perhaps a reason for the hide birdlife to be quiet with the exception of once again a delightful pair of Pied Flycatchers, chasing each other back an forth over the woodland enclosed pool at the top of the lake.
The heavens opened once, time for a hasty retreat to the minibus in the hailstones and so back to our Liverpool home.
Rhodie
Pics - Neil P
Laura
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