Chewbaxter
Reformed "Bird Ignorer"!
Birding In Anglesey - 7th April, 2009
Here's the story.
Well what a day - up at 05:15. Made a flask of tea (well... I didn't make the flask, that was there already - but I did prepare the tea and filled the flask with it). Set off just after 06:00 - got some petrol, then some essential caffeine (bottle of coke) - then SatNav all set, off I went.
Got there no problems... well, except for one incident where the SatNav decided I was in the middle of the sea(!) so I just switched it off and on again, and there I was back on the 'A' road.
So first I went to South Stack - the RSPB Information Centre was closed, so I decided to have a mooch up the cliffs for a while, and over to the lighthouse.
Numerous steps led me to the lighthouse which was also locked up - so a steep climb back again (all this whilst carrying my scope, bins, tripod, camera etc. either over shoulder or in my sportsbag).
Saw plenty Hering Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull - but nought else.
On my way back, I saw people going to open up the lighthouse... but I was knackered, so back I went to the Information Centre.
At the side of it looking over the cliff to the water below where two chaps with 'scopes - I said 'howdo' and got chatting, and they kindly pointed out a Razorbill to me - I got my 'cope set up and saw it - great stuff!
Then some Fulmar which were nesting on the cliffs - magic.
Then - tragic!
My ruddy 'scope fell over (cheap tripod I blame) and the 'mount' on the thing snapped!
Luckily it was a clean break, and the scope lenses etc. were intact, so not to worry.
The two blokes asked me if it was okay, and I told them it would be a doddle to fix and thanks for asking.
Then, almost nonchalently one said:
"Oh - there's a Puffin down there."
Now... I've been desperate to see one of these birds 'for real' - seen them on ducumentaries etc. and they fascinate me - and, it was my whole reason for having this day trip in the first place!
So... the chap set his 'scope for me to see when I asked him and...
It'd moved out of vision.
So his mate located it, I quickly dashed over to view and...
Nothing.
BUT...
Third time lucky and there was this wee black & white 'tennis ball' of a thing bobbing up and down in the water... and once I'd focussed in on it, I could clearly make it out - a Puffin indeed!
And then - another one flew into view and landed next to it! Excellent stuff!
Shortly after, three Guillemot were on the water - again, one of the gents kindly let me get a closer view through his 'scope (mine cowering in the sportsbag awaiting surgery at the time) - great sight to see!
I thanked the two fellers for their help and how chuffed I was to have seen my first Puffins - speaking of 'chuffed' - they told me that there were also Choughs in the area, although I hadn't seen - which is a pity - but they said they were pleased for me re: the PUffin thing (see? Birdwathcers ARE nice people!).
I then went into the visitors centre, and still overflowing with enthusiasm, told the two RSPB girls working there - they wrote down the Puffins in the 'sighting' register.
Had a good natter about where I'd come from and what I'd seen/what we get in Lancashire - including birds at Martin Mere such as Avocet, Hooper Swan, Marsh Harrier etc.
One girl showed me a live cam. they'd got set up showing inside part of the cliff where a Chough was nesting and kept bringing in materials - nothing seen whilst I was there, but interesting all the same.
Before I came away I saw a Carrion Crow mobbing a Lesser Black-backed Gull - at one point it was flying 'on its back' as it attacked - the other bird soon scarpered!
Then went on to Beaumaris as I was hoping to go to Puffin Island - alas, the chap running the cruises wasn't there today - a lady in he shop on the pier told me... she added that the sea would've been too rough anyhow.
Whilst there I went and bought myself some superglue - got the mount on the 'scope mended a.s.a.p. - and, I have to say, I'm hapy to report that it's (almost) as good as new - next time, I'll make sure to keep a tight grip on the ruddy tripod!
I went back to the pier and sea front - whilst there I saw some Jackdaw and a plenty Herring Gull - the latter I got some pretty decent photos of, which I'll post in the Gallery section when I get chance!
I recorded some of this on my mobile to include for my next 'live' Birdpod... alas, the battery went on my 'phone (don't know where it went to, but it wasn't for coming back) - so a good chunk of it didn't get done - but in the spirit of keeping it real - I'll nip out with my dogs in the next couple of days and finish it off - I'm not doing an 'in the studio' one for this week.
In total - more than 5 hours driving time, over 200 miles travelled - came home knackered!
Was it worth it?
Well - what do you think?
Neil.
Here's the story.
Well what a day - up at 05:15. Made a flask of tea (well... I didn't make the flask, that was there already - but I did prepare the tea and filled the flask with it). Set off just after 06:00 - got some petrol, then some essential caffeine (bottle of coke) - then SatNav all set, off I went.
Got there no problems... well, except for one incident where the SatNav decided I was in the middle of the sea(!) so I just switched it off and on again, and there I was back on the 'A' road.
So first I went to South Stack - the RSPB Information Centre was closed, so I decided to have a mooch up the cliffs for a while, and over to the lighthouse.
Numerous steps led me to the lighthouse which was also locked up - so a steep climb back again (all this whilst carrying my scope, bins, tripod, camera etc. either over shoulder or in my sportsbag).
Saw plenty Hering Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull - but nought else.
On my way back, I saw people going to open up the lighthouse... but I was knackered, so back I went to the Information Centre.
At the side of it looking over the cliff to the water below where two chaps with 'scopes - I said 'howdo' and got chatting, and they kindly pointed out a Razorbill to me - I got my 'cope set up and saw it - great stuff!
Then some Fulmar which were nesting on the cliffs - magic.
Then - tragic!
My ruddy 'scope fell over (cheap tripod I blame) and the 'mount' on the thing snapped!
Luckily it was a clean break, and the scope lenses etc. were intact, so not to worry.
The two blokes asked me if it was okay, and I told them it would be a doddle to fix and thanks for asking.
Then, almost nonchalently one said:
"Oh - there's a Puffin down there."
Now... I've been desperate to see one of these birds 'for real' - seen them on ducumentaries etc. and they fascinate me - and, it was my whole reason for having this day trip in the first place!
So... the chap set his 'scope for me to see when I asked him and...
It'd moved out of vision.
So his mate located it, I quickly dashed over to view and...
Nothing.
BUT...
Third time lucky and there was this wee black & white 'tennis ball' of a thing bobbing up and down in the water... and once I'd focussed in on it, I could clearly make it out - a Puffin indeed!
And then - another one flew into view and landed next to it! Excellent stuff!
Shortly after, three Guillemot were on the water - again, one of the gents kindly let me get a closer view through his 'scope (mine cowering in the sportsbag awaiting surgery at the time) - great sight to see!
I thanked the two fellers for their help and how chuffed I was to have seen my first Puffins - speaking of 'chuffed' - they told me that there were also Choughs in the area, although I hadn't seen - which is a pity - but they said they were pleased for me re: the PUffin thing (see? Birdwathcers ARE nice people!).
I then went into the visitors centre, and still overflowing with enthusiasm, told the two RSPB girls working there - they wrote down the Puffins in the 'sighting' register.
Had a good natter about where I'd come from and what I'd seen/what we get in Lancashire - including birds at Martin Mere such as Avocet, Hooper Swan, Marsh Harrier etc.
One girl showed me a live cam. they'd got set up showing inside part of the cliff where a Chough was nesting and kept bringing in materials - nothing seen whilst I was there, but interesting all the same.
Before I came away I saw a Carrion Crow mobbing a Lesser Black-backed Gull - at one point it was flying 'on its back' as it attacked - the other bird soon scarpered!
Then went on to Beaumaris as I was hoping to go to Puffin Island - alas, the chap running the cruises wasn't there today - a lady in he shop on the pier told me... she added that the sea would've been too rough anyhow.
Whilst there I went and bought myself some superglue - got the mount on the 'scope mended a.s.a.p. - and, I have to say, I'm hapy to report that it's (almost) as good as new - next time, I'll make sure to keep a tight grip on the ruddy tripod!
I went back to the pier and sea front - whilst there I saw some Jackdaw and a plenty Herring Gull - the latter I got some pretty decent photos of, which I'll post in the Gallery section when I get chance!
I recorded some of this on my mobile to include for my next 'live' Birdpod... alas, the battery went on my 'phone (don't know where it went to, but it wasn't for coming back) - so a good chunk of it didn't get done - but in the spirit of keeping it real - I'll nip out with my dogs in the next couple of days and finish it off - I'm not doing an 'in the studio' one for this week.
In total - more than 5 hours driving time, over 200 miles travelled - came home knackered!
Was it worth it?
Well - what do you think?
Neil.
