Hee hee! What a great day to take off work. No nine to five staring at a load of computer programmes just glorious sunshine and lungfuls of fresh spring air. So off I yomped around moorland at World's End just to the north of Llangollen.
Having specifically gone to look for grouse. I was having no joy, apart from virtually treading on probably the highest pair of red-legged partridge in Wales, when a passing buzzard spooked up one of the black variety. Get in! I'd heard them earlier eerily bubbling away in ventriloqual fashion, but, as with previous visits, merely assumed I was going to miss out on them again.
Soon after a peregrine flew over and then, thanks to doing my homework and listening to the birdsong recording forum, I detected a small flock of crossbills amongst siskin.
Following a Ginsters pasty and a Lucozade at an Esso station, I set off for the River Dee to track down this year's personal birding nemesis viz. a kingfisher. After a splendid riparian walk of some two hours, (nearly ruined when I got charged by some lunatic cow presumably on acid), the turquoise little blighters had continued to elude me. Consolation came in tons of buzzards, grey wags, chiff-chaffs and g-s.woodpeckers and it was spiritually uplifting to see wood anemone and primrose blooming so I'm not complaining.
With Chester City not playing until Monday (watch us lose on SKY folks!) it'll be more of the same tomorrow hopefully. Until then, I'm off for a few beers.
Having specifically gone to look for grouse. I was having no joy, apart from virtually treading on probably the highest pair of red-legged partridge in Wales, when a passing buzzard spooked up one of the black variety. Get in! I'd heard them earlier eerily bubbling away in ventriloqual fashion, but, as with previous visits, merely assumed I was going to miss out on them again.
Soon after a peregrine flew over and then, thanks to doing my homework and listening to the birdsong recording forum, I detected a small flock of crossbills amongst siskin.
Following a Ginsters pasty and a Lucozade at an Esso station, I set off for the River Dee to track down this year's personal birding nemesis viz. a kingfisher. After a splendid riparian walk of some two hours, (nearly ruined when I got charged by some lunatic cow presumably on acid), the turquoise little blighters had continued to elude me. Consolation came in tons of buzzards, grey wags, chiff-chaffs and g-s.woodpeckers and it was spiritually uplifting to see wood anemone and primrose blooming so I'm not complaining.
With Chester City not playing until Monday (watch us lose on SKY folks!) it'll be more of the same tomorrow hopefully. Until then, I'm off for a few beers.
