hopster
Well-known member
With the sunny weather, I took a day off from work today and it was a very pleasant day once you found a bit of shelter from the the stiff Easterly breeze. The first thing I saw as I got out of my car was a lone Swallow! My first UK sighting this year and very early I thought, but it makes sense because in early March I was in the Algarve where the Swallows arrived 4-6 weeks ahead of schedule this year. A promising sign for the Summer?
The walk down to the beach winds down through some old growth woods surrounding a small valley and stream as many who know the area will recognise is typical of the Vale. My next view was of a Chiffchaff who sat nicely in one close position for a while which enabled me to get a good look.
Coming out of the woods and along the plain that leads to the sheltered cove there was a lot of bird noise in the gorse and other bushes on my left, interspersed with a blanket of yellow flowers that were luminous in the sunshine. Waiting for while I saw a lot of activity and eventually managed to ID a number of birds emerging from the undergrowth: more Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Stonechat. The latter two were radiant in the direct sunshine which made their colours shine. When that happens I am grateful for my Leica because it seems to do those vibrant colours full justice.
Now at the beach and sheltering for a bit of sunbathing and meditation whilst watching the very high Spring/new moon tide recede. Most of the activity was Seagulls which I have to admit don't excite me because they are omnipresent around here. Perhaps I should take more interest in the different types. Anyway, I could hear other birds without being able to see them. I eventually spotted them at the top of one of the cliffs that forms the cove, collecting in chinks in the rock. A small group of what I assume were Rock Pipits but half of them (presumably one sex) certainly had pinky/red chests. Is that the breeding colour of Rock Pipits or have I seen something else? Water Pipits? They were a long way away but I did have the 12x with me. They seemed like Pipits but it looked like they had a more bulky head, almost like a big Finch. Perhaps I imagined the differing head shape...
Coming back through the woods I saw my first Blackcap (male) since I have moved to Wales - quite a surprise. In fact several of them hanging around on the edge of the stream in the brambles and undergrowth. On the path back I found some trees the right distance apart and set up the camping hammock in order to rest in the dappled sunshine, listen to the wind blowing through the trees and see what else turned up. Along with the usual Rooks and Pigeons overhead, I was visited by a small group of inquisitive Long-Tailed Tits before catching sight of a Nuthatch climbing the trunk of a tree in the middle distance and then disappearing around the far side - and then a flash of red in the binoculars which I managed to follow until it settled was a Great Spotted Woodpecker! Quite an impressive bird and not one I see that often.
Packed up and on the way back to the car I disturbed a Great Tit who looked me up and down before disappearing into the undergrowth.
A very enjoyable, relaxing and productive day in one of my favourite places in the Vale.
The walk down to the beach winds down through some old growth woods surrounding a small valley and stream as many who know the area will recognise is typical of the Vale. My next view was of a Chiffchaff who sat nicely in one close position for a while which enabled me to get a good look.
Coming out of the woods and along the plain that leads to the sheltered cove there was a lot of bird noise in the gorse and other bushes on my left, interspersed with a blanket of yellow flowers that were luminous in the sunshine. Waiting for while I saw a lot of activity and eventually managed to ID a number of birds emerging from the undergrowth: more Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Stonechat. The latter two were radiant in the direct sunshine which made their colours shine. When that happens I am grateful for my Leica because it seems to do those vibrant colours full justice.
Now at the beach and sheltering for a bit of sunbathing and meditation whilst watching the very high Spring/new moon tide recede. Most of the activity was Seagulls which I have to admit don't excite me because they are omnipresent around here. Perhaps I should take more interest in the different types. Anyway, I could hear other birds without being able to see them. I eventually spotted them at the top of one of the cliffs that forms the cove, collecting in chinks in the rock. A small group of what I assume were Rock Pipits but half of them (presumably one sex) certainly had pinky/red chests. Is that the breeding colour of Rock Pipits or have I seen something else? Water Pipits? They were a long way away but I did have the 12x with me. They seemed like Pipits but it looked like they had a more bulky head, almost like a big Finch. Perhaps I imagined the differing head shape...
Coming back through the woods I saw my first Blackcap (male) since I have moved to Wales - quite a surprise. In fact several of them hanging around on the edge of the stream in the brambles and undergrowth. On the path back I found some trees the right distance apart and set up the camping hammock in order to rest in the dappled sunshine, listen to the wind blowing through the trees and see what else turned up. Along with the usual Rooks and Pigeons overhead, I was visited by a small group of inquisitive Long-Tailed Tits before catching sight of a Nuthatch climbing the trunk of a tree in the middle distance and then disappearing around the far side - and then a flash of red in the binoculars which I managed to follow until it settled was a Great Spotted Woodpecker! Quite an impressive bird and not one I see that often.
Packed up and on the way back to the car I disturbed a Great Tit who looked me up and down before disappearing into the undergrowth.
A very enjoyable, relaxing and productive day in one of my favourite places in the Vale.
