So the alarm was set for 3:15 and we were out of the house before 4. Made good time driving through the heart of Wales and arrived at Roach Bridge in about 4 hours.
No issues parking. And the farmer was nowhere to be seen - though I had 2 tenners ready. The walk was short but very muddy. Max only had daps on and almost lost one at one stage
Arriving at site immediately heard the target bird call. And within a couple of minutes it was perched in a tree in front of us. Why can’t all birding be this easy

Had great views before it flew upstream. Max wanted to stay longer to try to get a photo and within half an hour it was back.
117. Belted Kingfisher Lifer #2 And finally a competitor for PFG for my bird of the year.
Only a small group there but some all really friendly. A local couple, birders from Essex, Suffolk, Bridgewater, Cheshire and Manchester. Great for the Manchester birder as he said he’s dipped the Aberdeen bird by one day!
Stopped off at The Green Dragon on our way home. Lovely little pub just outside Welshpool. Max celebrated with a beautiful medium rare sirloin. I had the homemade faggots. Great they made their own but for me, the balance wasn’t quite there.
To top off a great day I watched the game I’d recorded. Having avoided social media all afternoon it was great, and very unexpected, to see us get a victory over the Scots. Happy days.