Bank Holiday Week Catch Up

Have not really posted anything for a while and that's because I have not really been out and about much of late.
I did pop along to the bird fair on the Friday and played with the nice and shiny optics and went along to the talk by Alan Davies and Ruth Miller of the Biggest Twitch fame which was interesting and was much better than been at work.

But to the Bank Holiday!

Lesley was on nights which meant I just had to keep Gem entertained, and preferably out of the house so Lesley could get some well needed sleep.

Sunday found me sitting at Longport by the long gone signal box, when I was younger I spent many a happy Saturday afternoon here watching the Carless Tanks worked by 37's of all sorts, I even got an invite into the box once!
I was here again for 37's, this time of the DRS sort, a pair were top and tailing a EMT service train filling in for drivers whom were working to rule as they don't feel the railways need to operate on a 7 day a week basis and that there 40K salary doesn't cover Sunday working makes your heart bleed.
Any way good on EMT for allowing passengers to still travel by train rather than by replacement bus even better for using 37's. Brought back memories of the loco hauled service to Llandudno that use to pass through Stoke and more so as 425 use to be one of the regulars back then.

37405 at Longport on the Crewe to Derby service train

37425 on the rear of the Crewe to Derby service train fresh from being named Concrete Bob/Sir Robert McAlpine

On Monday I took Gem to visit the steam pumping plant at Claymills near Burton, if you are into Victoria industrial engines its well worth the visit, plenty to see only the single main engine was working out of the four but with the various steam belt driven work shops as well plus a ride on a miniature traction engine it was a good day out. Plenty of train activity was seen which was a bonus . Also being next to a sewage works and open fields there was quite a bit of birds life around. I think the Damselfly is a drab form of the Common Blue.

60099 at Claymills on the Kingsbury to Humber empty tanks

Drab Form Common Blue Damselfly

Having the week off meant we have managed to do a spot of birding, on the Thursday the 29th Aug we headed off for a quick walk around Hanchurch Woods along the path from the Wood Cutters Cottage, being close by its a nice quick place to head for.
Walking along the track we could hear a Raven calling which eventually came into view along with a nice Buzzard perched on a dead tree.
The high light came when a flock of 21 Crossbill came down to settle in a Birch tree and eventually one or two dropped down for a drink in a pool a bit further back from the path.

Crossbill at Hanchurch

In the Night Garden

I did my usual trick and found out about the Night Heron that had turned up at a reservoir in Leicestershire too late to really do anything about it, so I crossed everything I had and hoped it would just stick around till the following weekend, checking last night if it was still there and finding out the positive news, and with directions obtained early in the week the decision was made we were off to the East Mids.

It was not that hard to find Thornton Reservoir and it turned out to be a nice little spot although we walked the long way around to the bird after parking at the wrong side of the dam, well the walk did me some good and the weather was fine.

The bird was partly hidden in a small gap within the trees but we could make it out alright and it did move into a bit better spot to be viewed so we did end up getting quite good views through our scope.

We also got to see it's larger Grey Heron cousin and a Little Egret plus a brief fly past by a Kingfisher.

After this we decided to head for the near by Tropical Bird Gardens as it was only earlier afternoon and no point in heading off straight home, the cream teas are quite reasonable although no clotted cream so they lost points there. Lesley made a new friend as well.

Rudyard Lake

With news of the Caspian Tern being found out about on the 26th Jul all my original plans for the weekend were rather put on hold.

Originally the plan was to to send the morning sat on the end of Crewe station mainly to see the GB staff rail tour to llandudno but that was now on hold awaiting news if the Tern was still around on the Saturday.
A quick check on the computer and we were soon off to Rudyard to do a spot of life ticking.

It took a while to find the road that led down to the Northern end of the lake, on Streetmap it looked like a proper road with a nice car park at the end we were after turned out it was a dirt track with just a bit of a pull over area at the end. No matter we were there and as it appeared every birder from around the area judging by how packed the area was.

We soon found the spot to view the Tern and straight away regretted not taking the scope, but we were taken pity on and a kind gent allowed Lesley and me views through his scope.

Ok they are crap shots but it at least proves I saw it.

After here we headed for the Leek show which was quite a nice way to spend the afternoon.

That evening I decided I still fancied seeing the rail tour so looking up the return times on Real Train Times website it was off to Crewe to grab a few shots of the return leg back to Cardiff.

The 20's looked and sounded great, would have preferred both London Under Ground liveried choppers but that's just me.

Welsh Holiday

We manged to get away for the week at the beginning of July just missing out on the heat wave which was a shame would have been better being able to walk around in our shorts rather than having to wear our jackets but you can't order the British the weather to play ball. We had a good week away so I shouldn't complain that much.

Was more of a family holiday than a birding holiday although we did manage to slip in the odd spot of birding.
Staying near Criccieth at a place called Chwilog in a cottage at Wernol Caravan Park it was a great little spot having no real neighbours to speak of apart from a few sheep and cows. In the evenings we could watch bats and listen to near by Tawny Owls calling. The mornings usually allowed for a view of a Hare or two in the field.

Being in the area it would have been rude not to call in at the RSPB Osprey viewing area at Glaslyn near Portmadog. We manged to see the female plus a couple of the chicks although in the haze it wasn't the best of views but talking to the warden and one of volunteers was great, always a pleasure meeting such dedicated people.

The next chance we had for a spot of birding was a day out on Anglesey, the first port of call was Cemlyn bay always a great spot top visit and worth the drive over the island itself, on getting to the car park by the old buildings it was clear we were going to have the place to our selves which in the end we did. The first birds we saw were 4 Choughs feeding in the field by the car park we saved us looking for them at South Stack.  The next bird on the list was a Ringed Plover feeding in the pool by the car park.
Over on the beach itself we were soon enveloped by the sound and smell of the Tern colony  a get amount of activity was on show added to by the mournful calls of the Seals from around the other side of the head land.

Next it was off to Holyhead Harbour not the greatest of places but holds some great birds in the shape of Black Guillemots in total we saw 8 birds coming and going not that close but good to watch through our bins.

Then it was off to our last port of call South Stack, here we added to our days total with Raven, more Chough, Guillemot, Razor Bill and Kittiwake.

On a visit to Portmadog we decided on a walk along the Cob to gain a few views of the marsh and to just generally enjoy the Sun. Not much about bird wise just a single Black Tailed Godwit on the sea ward side plus a few steamers through including one in Southern style Green.

Heading into the mountains for a drive and a general warder around we came across a few very picturesque areas one holding a nice group of Butterworts I have never seen before these carnivorous plants so I was well chuffed stumbling upon them even if the weren't in flower.

Our last day been fine weather the start of the mini heat wave that spread across the country we headed for the beach at Black Rock Sands. The place is very child friendly and we even added to our bird tally picking up Rock Pipit and Linnet on the beach.

Attenborough

Well it's another Bank Holiday and the weather was fine as well, so it was a question of where to go but not end up in a huge traffic jam, at first we thought about Martin Mere but driving up and down the M6 did not appeal. So it was off to Attenborough and hopefully boost our year list with a few nice and easy ticks.

After just crossing over the railway line into the reserve we pulled over to look at some House Martins collecting mud on a exposed island by the new flood defences a couple of Common Tern where also on the island.

House Martin and I think a Sand Martin on the ground

Common Tern Attenborough

The car park even at 11:00 was not that busy which was quite a surprise and the place can be jam packed.. Crossing over the lake on the wooden bridge a Sedge Warbler briefly showed itself before dropping down into the under growth further along the path a much more showy Garden Warbler was singing it's heart out.

Garden Warbler Attenborough

A Cetti's Warbler gave a quick blast of a call and flew alongside the path and wasn't seen again, Black Cap were also heard but not seen calling from the hedgerow.

Heading up to the Tower hide and just beyond quite a few Common White Throat were seen calling and the odd Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting Attenborough

A Cetti's Warbler put in a very brief viewing although it was still almost hidden in the under growth

Cetti's Warbler Attenborough

A Little Egret Flew over head and settled down to fish in the Wheatear Paddock area.

Along the foot bridge into the visitor centre as we went in for lunch a Reed Warbler seemed to forget that they are meant to skulk around in the reeds and posed on a fence post.

Reed Warbler Attenborough

Lake Vyrnwy

Yesterday was our annual pilgrimage to Lake Vyrnwy I have been coming here since a young lad and have spent many a happy day here and discovered some great wildlife even once stumbling across an Owls nest on the ground by one of the many bridges as a lad.

Any way that's enough wallowing in nostalgia back to the here and now.
As ever our first port of call was the area below the dam we can usually guarantee a great haul of birds around this area and this year was no exception.
We had already heard Wood Warbler by the dam itself when we stopped of to change Gem, although there were no Swift here yet just Swallows over the dam and of course loads of Siskin in the tree tops.
Walking along the river we could again here the distinctive call of the Wood Warbler along with Redstart and Pied Flycatcher all calling plus the usual other woodland species.
Stopping to watch a Treecreeper we soon also found a nearby Wood Warbler and it was quite showy, I even managed to bag a record shot of the bird, so I was well chuffed.

Wood Warbler Lake Vyrnwy

 Carrying on through the wood we found a male Redstart, Nuthatch and Willow Warbler plus a pair of Blue Tits using one of the boxes.
From the road we soon found another Redstart plus a male Pied Flycatcher.

 

Back at the car park below the dam while we ate lunch another Redstart showed along by the River.

Moving around the lake to the first hide we saw well nothing, but got to enjoy the views if nothing else, the centenary hide at the far end was much more productive with a Redstart from the car park plus Chaffinch and Coal Tit. From the hide itself we picked up Grey Heron and a female Pied Flycatcher.

Millersdale

Today found us heading for the Peaks, we at first wanted to head for Wye Dale after a quick call in at Dane Bower Quarry the targets here were Wheatear and Red Grouse  we didn't manage to see any Wheatear last year (I will give you a couple of minutes to stop laughing). Well this year we soon found three males dotted around still not as many as there have been there, Gem enjoyed pulling up grass and spreading a mole hill around the place. We also noted Curlew and meadow Pipit and finally picked up Red Grouse on the drive down in to Buxton.

Traffic into Buxton was mad so we took a circular route to avoid the town centre altogether, getting to Wye Dale the car park and unofficial over flow which is the entrance to the quarry were jam packed so we headed for Millers Dale instead and bagged the last space after someone left.

While we eat lunch we could hear Willow Warbler, Black Cap, Chiffchaff, Great and Chaffinch calling plus we saw a Shrew dash through the under growth.
Walking along the old train line, oh how much better it would be to have actual trains running rather the mountain bikes bombing along the line the sound of various Warblers kept us company although rarely could we actually make them out.
Walking through the now reopened tunnel we could hear Pied Flycatcher calling but again we just could not find the birds in the tree tops.
Heading back for a break by the river on the path to Chee Dale we soon picked up Dipper which darted along the river (our target Wye Dale bird) so no Dipper shots for me but was more then made up for by a very showy Grey Wagtail.

Grey Wagtail Millers Dale