tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70420285570740133382024-02-07T04:36:23.138-08:00Biking Birder Rides Again 2015bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-10147161881807672462015-11-04T01:28:00.001-08:002015-11-04T01:28:40.256-08:00A little near death scenario to keep me thinking.It is now Wednesday the 4th of November. I am in a hotel room just south of Aberdeen being a little nesh as it is raining outside. <br />
<br />
Last Saturday I experienced the worst moment I have ever had whilst cycling. The police are involved but the chances of a prosecution are extremely slim. I can't put any of this onto facebook as my dear Mum is watching my every step/pedal.<br />
<br />
So here's my book text for the day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday
31st October Fresh SE AM to light S PM Very dark, low cloud and
rain AM, very sunny & warm (14C) PM Stunning sunset.</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The ferry is rocking due to the swell and waves as I
awake on the floor of the cinema, my usual sleeping location on the
Aberdeen to Northern Isles ferry.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We dock at 7 and by 7:15 I am cycling through the empty
Aberdeen streets in the heavy rain. My progress is good and before 9
I reach Newborough and spend some time birding the Ythan estuary. A
wader flock, mostly dunlin, reels around like a starling murmuration
before landing on the nearby shore. It is incredibly dark for the
time of day. The cloud seems to be just a few feet above my head. At
least the rain has slowed to a light drizzle. By the bridge there is
a group of forty or so whooper swans. I am too lazy to count them. In
fact I am not lazy, I am just engrossed with being on the mainland
again with trees and corvids, titmice and flocks of birds in the
hundreds. A small plantation on the other side of the road, beyond
the ***** National Nature reserve, has blue and great tits as well as
a number of goldcrests. It has been almost ten weeks since I last saw
titmice. The colours seem extra vivid.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Magpies, two of them; I haven't seen them for a long
time either.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">About five miles north of the Ythan is Meikle Loch, my
next RSPB reserve to visit. I find it easily enough, a small loch
about half a mile from the main road. There are hundreds of
pink-footed geese here and a few barnacle geese with them,</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Back onto the main road a small bird crosses it low in
front of me and dives into the long grass. On investigation a black
redstart comes out and flies along the road before perching on a
fence post near to a hedge. Before I can photograph it it dives into
the hedge. Patiently waiting it eventually does come out and despite
the gloom I get some photographs. Two black redstarts found in two
days and both rare birds in their respective locations.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today is the fortieth anniversary of an immensely sad
day for my family. Forty years ago my four year old brother
Christopher John was killed; run over as he ran to see his Mum and
dad from a child-minders.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I very nearly join him. I cycle along the ****
road and a bus approaches me from over a small rise. To my horrow a
speeding black car comes from behind it to overtake. The driver sees
me and takes no action to try to avoid me. There is no room for me
and the grass verge is only a yard wide before a barbed wire fence.
There is also a rise of almost a foot before one can get on the
grass. I scream “no!” and crash over the handlebars and onto the
grass. The car just misses me and the bike ends up on top of me.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I look along the road and see that the black car hasn't
overtaken the bus. Neither has the driver decided to stop to see if I
am alright. The next passing motorist does though. He comes over and
together we check both me and the bike. My inner thigh is cut and
bruised and the front pannier is completely useless with the
connections broken off. The back mudguard is also broken. At least I
am alive. Idiot!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I cycle again with the broken pannier hanging from the
handlebars. This is by far the worst experience I have ever had on
the road when cycling and I shake as I pedal.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No way can I put this onto facebook or onto the
Bikingbirderridesagain blog; my eighty-three year old mother watches
those and I don't want to worry her. Neither do I phone the police. I
have no car number and am relatively unscathed, despite my bloody
thigh. I do wonder whether the bus company has a CCTV camera which
would have recorded the incident or whether the driver took the
number. Whatever.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I carry on and find brake problems which I fix.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">By-passing Peterhead, I reach Loch of Strathbeg reserve
and after looking at the white-rumped sandpiper present there with a
local birder named Derek (thanks for the use of your telescope,
Derek), I am given coffee by the reserve's warden, Lorna. I am still
very shaky and feel a bit dizzy as we sit and chat.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lorna has recently come to this wonderful RSPB reserve
from Orkney, where she worked for eight years. She has a work party
to go and supervise but she leaves me in the volunteer's house
kitchen to help myself to another cup. I wash up, dry and put away.
It settles me down.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Outside I meet Mrs Meeks, the wife of Eric Meeks who
used to be the RSPB man in charge of all of the Orkney reserves. She
is about to take a school party out but before she goes we look in
the reserve freezer in a long barn and find, not the expected
corncrake that I remember from my 2010 visit but a pristine and very
freshly dead little auk. She takes it show the children.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I go birding. To the Tower Pool hide, by now the cloud
has all rolled away and the afternoon promises to be a very warm and
sunny affair. The view from the hide is extremely beautiful and the
sun gives everything a golden appearance. There are large flocks of
pink-footed geese with a few dozen barnacle geese. Out on the loch
itself there are rafts of wigeon, thousands of them and a few hundred
whooper swans with more arriving. Four raptors pass; female
peregrine, sparrowhawk and merlin and a male kestrel. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As dusk falls and after the best sunset I have seen all
year, water rails start squealing and snipe tazz about. A roost of
one hundred and twenty five pied wagtails comes on and starlings
murmurate. All of this is shared with another local birder, Hugh
Addersee. He is obviously very knowledgeable and a very good birder
and he shares his views on the RSPB at Loch of Strathbeg.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of hours later all is dark and, with a totally
clear sky, the Milky Way is a pathway of stars.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwt_GSHj-5ZCfmji8VXPy0caMjUwyeMxAZQCh6B2-O7s9lwo2HYysiLHgto7z_Ge1FFdpO_FrdJxwW-tBOyt6suRC7POn-aX7EvLTtWEcNx7B32M3Xl0H6dcwQk-58YvxAEWhGuunrP6g/s1600/IMG_9041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwt_GSHj-5ZCfmji8VXPy0caMjUwyeMxAZQCh6B2-O7s9lwo2HYysiLHgto7z_Ge1FFdpO_FrdJxwW-tBOyt6suRC7POn-aX7EvLTtWEcNx7B32M3Xl0H6dcwQk-58YvxAEWhGuunrP6g/s320/IMG_9041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>41.5
miles 1405 feet elevation</b></span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-81266092909278016212015-10-26T15:44:00.000-07:002015-10-26T15:44:04.120-07:00Goodbye Fair Isle.It is time to leave Fair Isle. Overall I have been on this magnificent island for five weeks, with a break to go to all of the RSPB nature reserves on Shetland in the middle.<br />
<br />
Highlight birds :-<br />
<br />
arctic warbler<br />
2 citrine wagtails<br />
pallid harrier<br />
109 yellow-browed warblers<br />
4 common rosefinches<br />
3 Richard's pipits<br />
red-flanked bluetail<br />
lanceolated warbler (my only lifer)<br />
radde's warbler<br />
ortolan bunting<br />
pallas' grasshopper warbler<br />
Siberian rubythroat<br />
Blyth's reed warbler<br />
2 red-breasted flycatchers<br />
Lapland bunting<br />
3 long-eared owls<br />
over 20 short-eared owls<br />
many jack snipe<br />
masses of redwings<br />
bramblings<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wiqXqpZyfPSFfs1Ln6hWvfH0NUPabNODnSuzs2J2O1O68UfNvzU30JWHDz0SNu7wf_UImrFTKhAb2J9GetKMIP7gGDG2yLWL-_fCyoK0AQFPw_4DHjHcFWKkstypS-XwNT22lmpM6jw/s1600/IMG_8373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wiqXqpZyfPSFfs1Ln6hWvfH0NUPabNODnSuzs2J2O1O68UfNvzU30JWHDz0SNu7wf_UImrFTKhAb2J9GetKMIP7gGDG2yLWL-_fCyoK0AQFPw_4DHjHcFWKkstypS-XwNT22lmpM6jw/s320/IMG_8373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
Greeted by very curious fulmars and bombarding bonxies (great skuas). There were 300 of them when I arrived in September; now down to ten.<br />
<br />
Then it is also goodbye to the Bird Observatory staff, the birders and the Fair isle residents. It has been wonderful to see Neil Thompson again, especially when he has been playing one of his guitars.<br />
<br />
Many, many thanks to David, Cairan, Chris and especially Lee Gregory. These four have found all of the major birds over the autumn period and their skill is phenomenal. <br />
<br />
It has been lovely to stay at the Bird Observatory. Such a luxurious bedroom. Such a huge quantity of great food!<br />
<br />
Goodbye to Setter and Pund.<br />
<br />
The Good Shepherd will hopefully (60% chance of going tomorrow - wind and swell depending) be taking me, the 'Lads' and the bike to Grutness. Then it's a cycle to Lerwick to get the ferry to Kirkwall. Repairs to the bike there means that I will have a couple of days to go and see the chestnut bunting before heading for Aberdeen and the journey south along the East coast.<br />
<br />
Year list is 277, 26 more than the previous 'Green' record. Mind you I still maintain that Chris Mills has the purest 'Green' record as he didn't take ferries as I have had to do. Maybe next year I can achieve my dream of 300 as it is looking unlikely that I will do this year. Mind you I still feel it is going to be close. Yes, I am planning to be cycling and birding again next year! Different route, different times and more birding time.<br />
<br />
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-15598308839745130392015-08-09T15:11:00.002-07:002015-08-09T15:11:23.817-07:00It's Just a Perfect Day . . Cairngorms. 9th August
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sunday
9th August fresh SW in the valley, very strong and cold gale
on the mountain tops cloud just touching tops. A few showers
and a little sunshine. Scottish mixture...Four seasons.</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Awoken
by screams of “what's leaking?” in the early hours, Simon the
occupant of the bed next to mine in the youth hostel dormitory,
discovers that the person in the bunk above him has just relieved
himself down onto his pillow! <i>It shines out like a shaft of gold
when all is dark.</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Simon, in disgust, an after using invective to tell the
midnight pisser what he thinks of him, goes and sleeps in his car. I
fall back into my exhausted stupor glad it wasn't me below.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast is superb and Simon comes into the dining area
a little the worse for wear but drier.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Outside clouds are scudding the tops of the Cairngorms
where I will attempt to find ptarmigan today.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Setting off, I cycle around a mile and then push. Real
lycra-clad cyclists pass on their painful lactic acid climbs but I
want to see more birds and enjoy the siskins and titmice along the
way up. A large growth on a pine tree is intriguing, caused by a ****</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The last section is above the treeline and the views
over the glen are superb. Loch Morlich looks so small from here and
Aviemore seems to be no more than a model village.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I arrive at the ski centre and go into the rangers
office to ask for some advice over finding the main target bird,
ptarmigan. Snow buntings I know I will see later in the year,
probably December when I plan to go to the North Norfolk coastline.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Rauri, a younger than me (who isn't?) ranger, is
fantastically helpful and very enthusiastic over telling me about not
only ptarmigan but also ring ouzels, snow buntings and wheatears.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Leaving the office, and after hiding the bike, I start
the long walk up the Cairngorm Hills. The intention is to search the
areas suggested and also reach the summit.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I take what's called the Windy Trail and it is indeed
that with a gale much stronger than yesterday. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On the car park before setting off for the summit, I had
talked with two young German girls from Berlin and here they were
coming down the trail towards me. “It's too brutal,” one of them
told me. “We're going to take the train.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On his way down further up is a silver-bearded gentleman
with expensive binoculars around his neck and a large black dog on a
lead. He turns out to be the bird recorder for the Cairngorms, Peter
Gordon. He has just been to the summit and has seen and heard
ptarmigan up there. He also tells me he had an usual group of five
ringed plover up there. I love meeting birders!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An hour or so later I reach the Ptarmigan cafe and sit
outside for a short rest. A Polish family arrive and tell me that one
can enter the cafe if one signs the book. Well I know that people who
arrive by using the funiculaire can't access the hills but have to
remain inside the cafe but I didn't know that I could go in having
walked up. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I sign the book, enter tha cafe and join the queue. The
Polish family come over and invite me to sit with them. At the table
I enjoy the superb hot chocolate but can't eat the appalling oven
chips and onion gravy. A campaign should be started for real chips!
Anyway the conversation with Cudak and Michal, Jan and Piotr and
another gentleman who's name in my note book I can't read is mostly
led by the eleven year old son. He tells us all the Polish people
have no sense of humour and proceeds, with his brother to relate
various Simpsons episodes with glee. He is very straight yet very
animated.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We talk about favourite films and Poland. They are
mostly from the wonderful city of Krackow; all except Michal who
lives in Calgary, Canada.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An hour goes past quickly and I should be outside
searching for the birds. Piotr braings me a very large coffee just as
I am preparing to leave. Half an hour passes.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am outside. I walk maybe two hundred yards up the
hill. I small rck looks a bit bird-like. It turns around, just the
head peaking out about real rocks. <b>Ptarmigan!</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Five ptarmigan are just over the ridge and slowly walk
away from me, understandably, as I try to get views. Thrilled to get
them at last having failed in 2010 I celebrate in a football goal
style which brings a man to ask why the cheering. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After enjoying bird number <b>249, </b>I carry on up the
hill but not for long, a female <b>snow bunting</b> is almost under
my feet! Bird number <b>250</b> goes onto the list and I sit down to
watch this confiding bird. It rushes around searching for food and
suddenly takes a short flight towards a small bit of tussocky grass.
Behind it there is a juvenile which she quickly feeds with a shrill
brief twip.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The next half hour I spend watching the antics of the
pair and notice that a meadow pipit seems to be following the female
snow bunting around.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">With both birds photographed I proceed to the summit,
take a selfie and explore around the boulder strewn landscape.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On taking a way down half way between each of the two
official paths I turn around to look behind me, for what reason I
don't know but maybe I am lucky to have a sixth sense. There are
fifteen ptarmigan staring at me. More appear from between the
boulders and once again they slowly move away; no rush just a slow
ponderous walk away from the stranger. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am over the Moon! Three target birds had over the last
couple of days and the thought of having to return to the area in
October can be dismissed.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A juvenile wheatear is very obliging as I sit down to
watch it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Time to go back to the ski centre and retrieve my bike.
The weather although accompanied by a viciously bitingly cold wind
has been mostly dry but rain starts to fall heavily. Still it doesn't
last long and I soon dry in the wind.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the bottom of where in the winter The White Lady ski
run ends I find a family of three ring ouzels; two juveniles and what
I presume is a female. She doesn't seem to be bright enough and black
enough to be a male. The white crescent on the upper breast is
pronounced but not pure white. Anyway I photograph all three, notice
that they are all wearing small silver BTO rings and have yet another
species photographed for the year.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There's a gentleman resting upon two walking poles. His
name is Peter, there's been quite a few Peters recently, and a
conversation with him is informative. Peter used to work for Shell in
Venezuela and we share views on the oil issue, fracking and finally
life with arthritis which is why Peter is standing there. He is
incredible in that despite being almost crippled by the pernicious
condition, he still walks the hills, albeit slowly.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It takes me ten minutes to hurtle downhill once I have
the bike again. It is the fastest I have gone all year and an
absolute thrill.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Back at the hostel I am floating with the exhilaration
of both the ride down and the birds seen. I talk to everyone.
Germans, Spanish and a superb French family from a village just south
of Paris, the Feraud family. They are originally from Brittany and
the men wear blue, black and white kilts with long knee-length white
socks. Wide black leather belts and black shirts complete their smart
outfits. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Two Scottish visitors are in the kitchen later, Callum a
ten year old boy and his Mum. “Callum is a Gaelic bird,” he tells
me. “It means dove.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-46221478574567939822015-07-28T08:12:00.000-07:002015-07-28T08:12:10.930-07:00The Outer Hebrides. Stuck there due to ferry break down.Hiya!<br /> I'm stuck on North Uist. The ferry from Lochmaddy to Uig has broken down and they are not sure when it will be fixed. So, an afternoon in a museum and café (hence the Wifi) and a night in a manger. Going to be comfortable. It's either that or the tent as all accommodation is taken by the stranded passengers. If the ferry isn't fixed by the morning then it will mean a cycle to Tarbet on harris to get across to Skye. This is all to cycle from uig to the mainland to see a <span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">very small island that is an RSPB reserve. then it's about face and cycle back to Uig to get to Harris.<br /> Anyway, the last few days have seen me go from Oban to the Outer hebs via Lochboisdale.<br /> The ferry two days ago had lots of great skuas over the sea but I missed the dolphins next to the boat as I was playing cards with a fabulous family from Doncaster.<br /> I did manage to see a minke whale though! My first one.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />Yesterday a short-eared owl flew past me as I cycled just before Benbecula and so became bird number 246 on the list. Just before seeing that thrilling bird a female merlin had flown close by.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /> I camped at Balranald after birding with a lovely Dutch couple, Els and Rik, in the early evening.<br /> Just before rain curtailed my seawatch a female hen harrier came close loking for oystercatcher chicks.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /> The rain lasted fifteen hours and only stopped briefly as I got quite wet as I cycled to Lochmaddy. It stopped long enough for a peregrine to pass by and another female hen harrier was seen almost in the village itself.<br /> After visiting a superb small museum dedicated to the World war One exploits of the islanders, I met a Lincolnshire nature reserve warden and a pale phase arctic skua flew overhead.<br /> OK, hot chocolate to warm me up before my cattle shed night.</div>
</span>bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-87519214674905284762015-06-29T23:18:00.001-07:002015-06-29T23:18:11.450-07:00The Lake District - Half way and only 6 months to go.Well today is the half way point. Over 5,000 miles cycled, 237 birds on the year list, 158 RSPB and 8 WWT reserves visited.<br />The next six months will see me cycling up the west coast of Scotland, going into central Scotland twice to visit Loch Lomond and Abernethy Forest/ Cairngorms, before heading to the north coast via Loch Shiel. Durness to John O'Groats and then onto Orkney in August. September and October on Shetland and Fair Isle and then the long cycle down to Norfolk before finishing in my native West Midlands.<br />It's been a fabulous six months and many thanks to all of the wonderful people I have met. <br />We live in such a beautiful, diverse country and to explore it so completely is a pleasure and a privilege.<br />So a few more miles to go, 63 birds to get, more people to meet and more places to see. Who knows, I may even find Ellie!<br />Thanks everyone. Xx<br />
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bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-90735485676339494462015-06-14T01:21:00.001-07:002015-06-14T01:21:25.107-07:00Sunday morning breakfast reflections. June 14th 2015
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday
14<sup>th</sup> of June Nr York.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sitting
at breakfast with steady drizzle falling, listening to Led Zeppelin's
Whole Lotta Love and wishing I could leap around but knowing that the
other breakfast diners might be a little disturbed. A full English of
superb quality goes down washed with 3 cups of the best coffee.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Frank
Zappa's super fast Cruisin' for burgers next with that delicious
guitar solo. So a French pastry goes in.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Something
more sedate for the next course, I've got to look after my figure
after all; Nick Drake or Pink Floyd to go with a bowl of summer
fruits and yogurt.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">So
my day begins and the thought of the cycling over the Pennines
towards Skipton takes over . . gradually.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
bath first and foot pampering with creams and talcs. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Reflections
in my sonic cave, away from the general chatter overlaid by barely
heard Beach Boys numbers. I prefer to listen directly and not be
irritated by such great songs being used as musical wallpaper.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
PDF arrived yesterday from Jim Royer over in the USA. He's collated a
list of Green Birders with reference to Big Green Years, World
records and Big Sits, Big Green Days etc.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Got
me thinking!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
American dream was taken away by Dorian Anderson last year. His score
of over 600 birds seen during his spectacular Big Green Year cannot
be beaten by me so what to go for once the 300 is had this side of
the Pond?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">World
record..........? How safe would cycling from Lima to Puerto
Maldonado in Peru be. More importantly I think naively, how many
birds would I see? What birds? Los Pantanos to Tambopata and around to Manu.</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Right,
the route's decided upon...... dream on. What a way to get back to
Chontachaka and Chaskawasi.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Meanwhile
. . . </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
could have been a sailor, I could have been a cook . . . . . . </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Can't
keep my mind from the circling skies, tongue-tied and twisted just an
earthbound misfit I.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page for up to date information. -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-63338569814025710812015-06-13T23:29:00.003-07:002015-06-13T23:29:30.374-07:00It's been a long time and so much has happened..... June 13th As I said last time I was this way, as the daylight hours have extended to midsummer the chances of updating this blog have reduced. SORRY!<br />
<br />
So what's happened in the last few weeks? Lots of new birds with great success getting the possible East Anglian birds on the Green Year list. In fact the only possible bird that I missed was golden oriole. Otherwise all from nightingale to honey buzzard were seen.<br />
Rarities included the little bittern at Lakenheath, white-rumped sandpiper at Frampton and a bee-eater passing during a prolonged seawatch at Spurn Point. 3 different red-necked phalaropes can't be bad and a glaucous gull at Bower marshes RSPB reserve on a return trip to south Essex when trying to see the black-winged stilts was unexpected.<br />
<br />
There was also an appearance on the BBC's Springwatch. In the morning I was on Springwatch Extra with Brett Westward. In the evening there was the pleasure of being on Springwatch Unsprung. Chris Packham hosted and the whole experience was wonderful.<br />
<br />
I am now just north of York on the way over to Lancashire where the big trek north really begins. The RSPB Ribble Discovery Centre on Wednesday 17th of June will be followed by Leighton Moss the following day. I'll be meeting RSPB staff at Eric Morecambe's statue that day and we'll be cycling together to the reserve along the route that I wrote about in the May edition of Birdwatch magazine.<br />
<br />
Through The Lake District and into Scotland after a few days for bike repairs and servicing will have me getting to Orkney by early August. Then the following weeks will decide whether I beat the magic 300 total I wish for. Orkney and Shetland may give me the rare birds I need to reach that target.<br />
<br />
Anyway with my total as of today on 235, 32 ahead of where I was back in 2010, I feel positive that I have a good chance of beating the 300.<br />
<br />
Watch this space!<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-55214532330879065912015-05-11T03:07:00.001-07:002015-05-11T03:07:21.043-07:00May 11th The Detail of a MEGA! Citril Finch, Friends and 76 miles cycled.
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Monday
11<sup>th</sup> May</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">At
the moment it's impossible to keep up the blog on a regular basis due
to the following reasons:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">every
daylight minute is either spent birding or cycling. </span>
</div>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Daylight
is now from 5.00am to past 9.00pm so that's a lot of birding time.</span></div>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Opportunities
of getting on the 'net are limiyed in the area of Norfolk I'm in.</span></div>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
fall asleep as soon as I hit the pillow!</span></div>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
am camping at least 3 days out of every 4 and the B and Bs and youth
hostel I have stayed at recently either hasn't had Wifi or it hasn't
worked very well.</span></div>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">So
please forgive me for the lack of updates. I am now in the one place
I have found in Norfolk where there has been a great internet
connection and that is the local library.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I am going to give a detailed account of yesterday first then return
to give the highlights of the days since the last update so long ago.</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">5.00am
up and out to explore Bernay Marshes RSPB reserve. 42 species
including a couple of whimbrel and a lovely, almost calm morning with
sunshine. A lovely change to the previous day's gales. Wind from the
south as well, a new direction that may bring in some new birds. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">My
plan was to enjoy the area, have a good look at the large windmill
and then head off to Cantley and Buckenham RSPB reserves not to far
to the west.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">9.15am,
a phone call from Phil Andrews and all those plans went out the
window. In Phil's usual roundabout style he announced that there was
a lifer for me. Then he said where it was before saying what it was,
not by giving the name but by saying it was a small mountain finch!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Citril
finch I screamed.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
started to pack and say many thanks to Jim, one of the the Bernay
Marshes wardens. Jim, an old guard RSPB warden wih a twitching
history, understood my panic and helped by suggesting the route. OS
maps out, we plotted the way back to the north Norfolk coast, the way
back to Holkolm.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
phone went again.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Antony
Barter, a Birding Clam and another great friend, almost
unintelligible with his excitement and poor signal told me of the
bird. Yes, I did know and I would be on my way soon.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
a very quick up the windmill and down the windmill, I was off over
the dirt track bridleway, over the concrete road after the first
double gated level crossing and, after stopping to quickly see 7
whimbrel, over another double gated level crossing and onto the busy
A47.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Acle,
South Walsham, Wroxham and Stratton Strawless, I cycld through them
like a man possessed. There had only ever been one citril finch in
Britain before, a few years back and that had been on the remote Fair
Isle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Lunch
quickly scoffed whilst sitting beside a main road; smoked salmon,
Maltesers, jaffa cakes, cheese and milk.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Onward
to Corpusty and then Thursford; I had left Bernay at 10.00am and I
kept it in my mind that I would be at Holkham about 5.00pm. Would the
finch still be there. I asked my guardian angels to ensure it would.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Texts
and a couple of VERY IRRITATING phone calls told me that it was. I
could just imagine the chaos there with hundreds of birders making
the trek from Queen Anne's drive along the footpath to the extreme
west end of Holkham Woods. I had been there just a few days ago, all
by myself after pushing the bike over Burnham Overy's sand dunes
looking for a ring ouzel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
wrong turn bit no problem. I told myslef that the road to Wells via
Binham and Warham was probably flatter than the more direct
Walsingham road I'd missed somehow.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Into
and quickly through Wells. Down to Queen Anne's Drive and onto the
public footpath west. Birders were greeted with a hello as I weaved
through them pedalling as fast as I could. A group of 5 straddled the
whole path! “Get out the way! I need this bird!” I laughed at
them. They understood, laughed back and I was through.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
reaching the mass of birders, I went to the first birder. “Where is
it?” “Second sykamore back, to the right on the ground. I
couldn't see it. I could see the Malteser-headed dome of Bart and
rushed over. Jumping on his back, he asked the bloke in front to show
me the bird.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">CITRIL
FINCH!!!! UTB.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">What
a bird, a male, blue-grey nape, green mantle and head, bright yellow
rump, wing bars, yellowish orange breast. An absolute stonking CMF
mega.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
quietly as I could I gave a fist pumping YEAHHHH. Birders around
understood but couldn't have known that I had cycled over 50 miles to
see this and had arrived at 3.45, not 5 o'clock.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">More
Midland friends arrived, Steve Nuttall, Steve Richards and the
cycling birder Eric Phillips. I went to see them and then crawled
under a pine closer to the bird and lay down under some branches to
get my 'record shots' and hopefully the one minute video for Youtube.
The bird wasn't too far away. From my horizontal position I could see
it but standing birders around me couldn't. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Left
of the second sykamore, find the small hawthorn behind a bramble.
Follow the hawthorn trunk up until it goes towards 11 o'clock and
then when it goes to 12 again look behind. It's on a small bit of a
sandy bank.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
photographed what I could see. I videoed it too. I watched this mega
of a bird.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Time
to celebrate with Bart and the immensely brave Steve, another Birding
Clam. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
more local birder whom I had met at Weeting Heath, Ollie was there.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
were the Midland friends mentioned before.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
birder, Bert Mitchell, talked of his 20-odd visits to Fair Isle and
had known of Gordon Barnes. We talked about him and I promised to try
to send him a copy of Gordon's autobiography, 'An Unforgettable
Challenge'.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
gentleman with a BTO jumper came over, I recognised the face bit
couldn't remember the name. “Hunstanton,” I said. It was Steve
Neuman from Hunstanton. In 2010 Steve and his wife Anne had put me up
for the night and then accompanied me to near to here back in late
November of that year to see a rough-legged buzzard. Replete with
views of the citril, the Clams, Steve and I wended our way back
towards Queen Anne's drive with birders who knew of my travels
stopping to say hello, to say that they were following me on the net
and in a couple of cases giving donations.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">One
such birder was a lady, Joan, who had come with the famous Lee Evans.
She came and sat on a bench where the Clam, Steve and I had stopped
to give Steve a well deserved rest. Another brder to ask how I was
getting on was Somerset birder, Julian Thomas. We talked about what I
had put on the Somerset bird blog back so long ago when I had cycled
through there and laughed together at how I had gone to the wrong
lake to get a ring-necked duck.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Donations,
laughs and chat, the mood was definitely celebratory.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Phil
Andrews, the brilliant birder and bloke who texts me all of the news,
and who had phoned me to say of the citril in his cryptic manner
arrived and quickly went past after a quick chat. He needed the bird.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
at the Clams car and just before they sped off home, the Craigs,
Chris, Helena and Mya.Rose arrived all the way from Chew Valley,
Avon. The famous three shook hands and posed for photos before
quickly heading off. They needed the bird.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">News
came from Phil via a text, a wood sandpiper was at Stiffkey Fen about
8 miles away. Had to see it and did. Bird number 219. What a day!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Also
if you could please make a small donation to any of the charities
that I am supporting then please click on the links to the right. I
know I put this onto the end of every blog posting but I really get a
boost from every donation. The RSPB, The WWT, Asthma UK and
Chaskawasi-Manu. I would be so grateful if you could make a donation
however small. Thanks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">All
the very best everyone. Love to you all xx</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-41377982428263445222015-04-26T23:04:00.003-07:002015-04-26T23:57:09.508-07:00Eastern Moors RSPB - National Trust Partnership 23rd April<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Thursday
23rd April</span></span></div>
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<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Up
the hill to Eastern Moors RSPB Reserve with the continuing fabulous
weather making the views lovely despite high pressure haze. Along a
dry stone wall edge of the huge reserve I met one of the RSPB
workers, Alex, working at removing old barb wire strands. He told me
some of the things he knew about the reserve and pointed the way to
the reserve offices. Through a gate and a push along a grassy path, I
then met a couple of dog walkers, Graham and Gill, who obviously
loved the area as they said they came regularly. Sam their dog loved
it too, soaked and muddy and shaking it all over us all. Graham told
me about one of the stone circles, yes one of them; there are a few
around the moors and walked back with me to make sure I didn't miss
the small path to the nearest one.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Walking
and pushing the bike along the path a very small dark butterfly went
past me. I thought it was a brown argus but couldn't re-find it to
photograph and confirm.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
stone circle consisted of around 20 small rocks with a diameter of
about 15 meters.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">To
the office where the RSPB project manager, Rachel and Danny the site
manager were painting the walls of one of the offices. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Taken
into another office for a coffee, Danny explained to me about the
cooperative nature of the project, cooperation between the RSPB and
The National Trust. Together they manage the Eastern Moors, a much
larger area at almost 2,500 hectares than I'd thought with more
upland areas coming into the management plans in November. I was
given a booklet about the importance of the site and its future was
fascinated by the prehistoric history as well as its natural.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eastern-Moors/477428625631148</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Outside
I went around to the site of a large damaged dam, breeched to remove
the reservoir that used to be there a few years back. Not big enough
to supply the water needs of nearby Sheffield, the dam had been
opened up as maintaining it under EU laws was prohibitively
expensive. Now there were just a couple of small pools with croaking
frogs and a couple of reed buntings.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Down
the path to head to the main road, I found a whinchat, bird number
190 for the year, and heard willow warblers in an area of birch
trees. Away over the moor I counted 96 red deer and found 15 more
later.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
met a birder, Pete who said that he regularly birded this path. Then
it was to another stone circle with a large burial cairn behind it.</span></div>
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<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Down
to the main road I met a birder who said he'd just had a female ring
ouzel back at the dam. So cycling back along the main road back
towards the offices, I went over the cattle grid, saw a male redstart
here on a hawthorn and searched with Pete, who'd also come in search
of the ouzel. We found 3 wheatears in the area but no ring ouzel. So ended my visit but it is definitely on my list of 'must go back to' reserves.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;">On
the road again and a superb ride down to Ladybower reservoir and
south to Bakewell and beyond. The day ended with me camping in a
small woodland about 2 miles from Bakewell, the night being
punctuated by a pair of tawny owls on branches just above the tent
calling ke-wick constantly until I shone my torch to watch them for a
while. Beautiful birds with a star-filled background.</span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page for up to date information. -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-70190884683984273192015-04-26T10:00:00.001-07:002015-04-26T10:00:12.304-07:00Bolton to Hathersage. Catching up on the blog despite no WiFi in the tent!
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Tuesday
21st April</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Early
morning ride through Bolton. I didn't want to see Bolton School.
That's where my late wife went and I didn't want to go through the
memory trail in my head at that moment.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
was Bolton School!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
nearing Radcliffe I came across a visitor's centre for the
Merseyside, Lancashire and something else Wildlife Trust. Got to have
a drink, I went in. There was a fantastic group of old age pensioners
there for a social and a walk around the local nature reserve.
Brilliant idea and wonderful people.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
it was through Oldham, meeting a lovely Muslim girl pushing a
pushchair beside me as I pushed up the hill to the town centre. She
was a Brummie and she put a donation in the robin. Great!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I had just bought a pair of cycling sunglasses and after I reached
Dovestone RSPB reserve, I realised I had left them in a Nationwide
branch in Oldham! I'd had them for all of 20 minutes. Twit.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh
I forgot to mention stopping for lunch in Heaton park, the largest
council-run park in Europe I was told.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Dovestone
is a large pair of reservoirs surrounded on all sides by high hills
with steep rocky cliffs, very imposing and impressive. I cycled along
the dam wall and the pathway around to the second dam where a road
took me back to the Holmfirth Road.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
long push to get to the top, is this a photo of a turkey?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Over
the moor and down into Last of the Summer Wine country, I camped up
after enjoying chips and fish from Compo's cafe.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday
22<sup>nd</sup> April</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
long up and down cycle ride to Hathersage where I spent the night at
the youth hostel there.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
why can't the whole of the country lane network be treated as if it
were part of the Tour De France? The tarmac along the sections that
had been used in such a way had perfect, smooth tarmac and painted
slogans of support for the fans favourite cyclists.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
one downward stretch of such tarmac I came across a group of 4 OAP
birders who were looking for pied flycatchers. We didn't see one but
I did find a beautiful male redstart, bird number 189.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
highlight of the day was meeting two walkers both before the pub and
at the pub. Andy and Kevin were obviously brilliant best mates to
each other and their company and banter for over an hour was superb.
A pub, The Strines, with over 40 peacocks, strange how the carbon
twitching world went crazy over one Lady Amhurst's pheasant when
there are breeding Indian Blue peacocks everywhere.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page for up to date information. -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-67026307612644978862015-04-26T09:59:00.000-07:002015-04-26T09:59:31.529-07:00Liverpool to Marshside & Hesketh Bank RSPB Reserves and Martin Mere WWT Reserve.
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Saturday
18</span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;">
April</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
the road again! A bumpy cycle along the dockside road to Seaforth and
views of the reserve through the fencing. In 2010 I hadn't been able
to see much and it was only after I'd left that the news of a
Wilson's phalarope came out. No news of such a quality bird today and
I instead enjoyed close vies of a male wheatear.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgNksOcilEiw_7cSD7YXAeWFs8TXod6ACwQShHbAseWAxdc1JRKTMYAYrh18AoTLXgUXsovfsECPcuZT_OtgY8WMoazpyPj8z5_BzWfh1xAirZKGmG4YU-6p3sGwKjVYUlUH8s9QfYak/s1600/IMG_6411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgNksOcilEiw_7cSD7YXAeWFs8TXod6ACwQShHbAseWAxdc1JRKTMYAYrh18AoTLXgUXsovfsECPcuZT_OtgY8WMoazpyPj8z5_BzWfh1xAirZKGmG4YU-6p3sGwKjVYUlUH8s9QfYak/s1600/IMG_6411.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Down
to the beach to see the Antony Gormley statues and along to Hightown
with beautiful sunny weather and a few willow warblers in bushes. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
reached Freshfields and went down to the red squirrel reserve to see
the little tykes. Quite a few of them about and lovely to see.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Sunday
19</span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;">
April</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Up
early from my wild camp tent and soon on the way to Southport via a
cycle path that skirted Ainsdale sands.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I lived in Southport way back in 1978 and was keen to see the
changes. First one noted was the massive spread of spartina grass on
the seashore. In 1978 the saltmarsh grasses had stopped around the
area where there used to be a sand-winning plant at the end of
Marshside Road to the north of the pier. Today the whole of the beach
length to Ainsdale, with the exception of a short area near to the
pier, had extensive grass areas. I wonder how much higher the beach
is nowadays compared to the 70s. I remember being told that the
Ribble Estuary, for which Southport is at its head, is rising as
London is falling supposedly due to the wobble that Britain is
experiencing geologically. I wonder if that's true? Google!!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Other
changes included a new cafe on the end of the pier and coastal road
improvements. A large multiplex cinema on the seafront; now that
hadn't been there before.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
reaching the start of the Marshside RSPB reserve, I stopped to look
over a wet grassland area and immediately heard a whitethroat, bird
number 184. A couple of ruff going into summer plumage were
attractive birds and with the continuing sunshine, birding was going
to be pleasant.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">To
the visitor's centre and no presence of any RSPB staff, I looked out
over the reserve. Avocets, summer plumaged black-tailed godwits and
quick fly through merlin together with a few swallows were amongst
the masses of black-headed gulls and their clamour.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Leaving
the bike at the centre I went over to the track the lorries used to
take to win the sand and walked to the tide's edge. This was where
the RSPB staff all were together with a group of people watching as
the tide was swiftly coming in, inundating the saltmarsh. Today's
tide was going to be one of the year's highest and cover most of the
marsh at its height. </span></span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Large
flocks of waders were going past, mostly dunlin and grey plover and
on the sea there was a small group of eider, 3 males and 2 females. A
pair of red-breasted mergansers flew past.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I hadn't looked over the whole of the wet grassland area that I'd
seen the corner of earlier in the day so I walked over to view that.
A first year little gull added another one to the year list and a
group of passing house martins added another. A pair of adult Med'
gulls and more waders in summer finery, I enjoyed the birding and
company in the hide overlooking the area before retrieving my bike
and set off north.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Villa!
The FA Cup semi final against Liverpool. My team were at 1 – 1 when
I found a pub at Banks that had a large screen and food. Carvery
bought, I sat amongst the friendly Liverpool fans glad to see me in
my celebration of 1982 Villa shirt. Were they thump! The Everton fans
amongst the crowd were chatty but 2 Liverpool fans were a little
1970s with their comments.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Villa
were the better team. Now that was a shock. Grealish took the ball
forward, passed to Delph who turned inside 3 defenders and banged it
in. I politely clapped. No I didn't. I went spare! GOAL!!!!!!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
actually got out of the pub at the end of the match unscathed.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Monday
20</span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;">
April</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Off
to Hesketh Bank RSPB reserve, a simple flat road and a gorgeous day.
Soon there and up the bank to the bus shelter-like viewing position.
From there I could see over the maturing habitat that has been
created by making a breech in the sea wall nearer to the Ribble
Estuary. The hope is as that sea level rises due to climate change
(not for the better!), high tides will bring sea water into the area
making a new extensive saltmarsh. So far so good as when I last
visited here, and slept on the bench in the shelter, the landscape
had just been scraped and was bare and muddy. Now with grasses
dominating, the landscape had improved. Birds seen were rather sparse
but it was low tide. 6 white wagtails, the sub-species of our British
pied wagtail, were seen and a couple of male wheatears. A few
swallows were also seen but little else. A local birder told me that
a dog walker who'd let the dogs off the lead had disturbed a pair of
grey partridge. They would have been a year tick.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Off
to Martin Mere WWT reserve, quickly reached on flat roads over the
Moss. Along roads I knew so well from when I used to live in
Southport, I went past a farm and saw a couple of alpacas! Memories
of Peru. Hello Chontachaka! Hello Chaskawasi-Manu. Hello Mani &
Katia and the boys! Love to you all.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Into
Martin Mere WWT reserve and after a quick photo for their facebook
page etc, I was off birding. A new to me walkway around the large
reedbed behind the harrier hide brought me a couple of year ticks,
common whitethroat and a yellow wagtail; the latter on the biological
filters of the sewage works there. This I saw by climbing onto a
fence post to get a view of the beds.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
best thing though was a fabulous stoat that was charging towards me
as I scrambled for my camera. I eventually managed to get a short
video sequence of it before it disappeared down a small dark hole
very close to me. As I turned my camera off. It popped up vertically
to check me out. What a photo that would have made.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
it was to all of the hides skirting the mere itself, ending up at
what I know as the Miller's Bridge hide. I was in there for over an
hour when a strange text came from Phil Andrews. Spotted Crake,
Martin Mere, seen from the hide I was in . . . all alone. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
ran out to see whether anyone else was around. I wanted that spotted
crake. No one around. I ran back to the In Focus shop and received an
explanation. A photograph of a spotted crake being disturbed by a
stoat a couple of hours ago had just been posted on Rare Bird Alert.
With just 10 minutes before closing time there was no chance of
having a go for the bird. I left and started cycling for Bolton.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page for up to date information. -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-77389319956571473082015-04-23T10:21:00.001-07:002015-04-23T10:21:26.846-07:00Last Days in Northern Ireland and a Day at Hoylake, Wirral
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Saturday
11</span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;">
April</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She
did too. Shirley brought me my breakfast suffering from a hangover.
She had no knowledge of meeting me the night before. I have that
effect on women!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Three
Frenchmen joined me for breakfast and only wanted bread. My 'pigeon'
French came in handy as they spoke almost no English. They were over
here for a rugby game.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Another
cycling day; too many of those recently. 35 miles to get to
Ballycastle to catch a boat across to 3 RSPB reserves on the
wonderful Rathlin Island. The first part of the road took ages as it
was a long rise to the top of a high hill, not steep but too much for
me to cycle up setions of it. On top there were 21 large wind
turbines. I love them and think they enhance the scene. You may feel
different but I remember blowing colourful smaller versions of these
when I was a child. 21. I had plenty of time to count them as I
pushed the bike up the hill.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Down
the other side was superb, long and not too steep, it was one of
those perfect downhill stretches.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
shelter under trees as a heavy hail shower quickly passed and then on
to wards Ballycastle. Good to see that Ballycastle existed again on
the direction signs. Back in 2010 all Ballycastle signs had been
painted over. A Catholic town in a Protestant area, so I was told.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">About
3 miles before the town I came across a Land Rover with a Help The
Heroes poster over its bonnet. A coffee and cake morning in the local
community hall. How could I resist?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Into
the hall where tables with plates of cakes were arranged, I was
immediately greeted by a friendly group. They wanted photographs of
themselves with the stranger who had just strolled in. The stranger
obliged with a bit of fun.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Coffee
and cakes for a donation and a chat; I found out that some of the
lads including father and sons were going to drive their Land Rover
around parts of Europe to raise money for the Help The Heroes
charity. They were also going to have a dinner for the same, tonight
in fact.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
leaving I was given 2 packets of scones and a plate of cakes. They
had so many spare and asked me to take more!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Into
Ballycastle and after a bit of a wait, onto the boat over to rathlin
Island. The sea was extremely rough and a conversation in the sitting
area with a lady from Oxford who had moved to Rathlin quite a few
years ago had to be stopped for me to get some air. Outside where I
could see the sea and cliffs I had no problem. If I had been inside
that cabin any longer I would have up chucked.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Outside
on the car deck I sheltered behind a large trailer full of gravel,
hoping that the thing wouldn't suddenly become loose from its
moorings, as seawater splashed over it. The views of both the high
Antrim cliffs and the oncoming Rathlin Island were spectacular as the
boat lurched left and right in the swell.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Onto
the quay and with the gale from the right I carefully cycled around
the harbour and found Rathlin Island hostel, a superb hostel with a
large kitchen overlooking the sea, a comfy lounge and usual bunk bed
dormitory. As I placed the bike behind a stone storage building, a
pair of chough went past. They briefly landed in a field next to the
hostel before heading off towards the southern end of the island. I
didn't know it then but these are the only pair of chough on the
island.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Into
the hostel, I met Sean, the co-owner and after a chat and a coffee I
went for a walk to try to find the mythical Golden Hare.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Out
into the still very strong wind, at least there was a lot of sunshine
and from the top of a cliff on the east side of the island, I could
see the Mull of Kyntyre easily. I'll be there in July.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
the way up the cliff there had been a flock of 30 odd greylags, a few
hooded crows and a lot of meadow pipits. I had also seen over 20
Irish hares, a sub-species of the mountain hare. Amongst the 20 there
had been 2 candidates for the golden hare. Is there more than one on
the island these days? These two were a lot warmer in colour than the
others. Maybe.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
better find, well to me anyway, was as I walked along a pathway along
the cliffs of the east side. I found a flint arrowhead! It was white,
completely smooth on one side and a ridge on the other gave two
surfaces. Its sides showed signs of working that gave it the sharp
edges it had required thousands of years ago.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">To
find one myself was thrilling and more than made up for the one I
gave away five years ago.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
to the road that leads down to the southern end of the island, I saw
tufted duck on pools, a stonechat and the chough pair again. They
were now feeding in a field of sheep just north of the largest lake
on Ronvoolin RSPB reserve. The walking had been tough in the gale but
the views made it all worth while. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
didn't go all the way to the end of the road, the sun was going down.
So I didn't get to the area next to the small black and white
lighthouse there. Instead I got to where I could see it against the
Antrim cliff backdrop and turned back. I followed the road all the
way to the hostel and relaxed with a plate of fairy cakes and a
drink.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday
12<sup>th</sup> April</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
much calmer day with plenty of sunshine, the island looked wonderful
as I cycled almost unladen towards the seabird centre at its west
end. Birding all the way, a couple of lesser redpolls allowed some
photographs. In the harbour over 90 eider were gathered, the males
making their Frankie Howard pursued lip calls as they raised
themselves from the water in display.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
group of Atlantic grey seals were resting on the rocks with turnstone
and ringed plovers by them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Up
the steep hill and onto the higher plain I stopped at the RSPB
viewpoint, an area devoted to the pair of chough. From this elevated
position, the view was even better than down below and using my
binoculars I could make out the famous ropebridge at xxxxxxxxxxxx</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
over miles I eventually came around a corner to see the small croft
used by the RSPB to house the volunteers that come in the summer.
Here the tarmac road changed to bumpy stones and so I got off and
pushed the bike for the last mile to the being built seabird centre.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Just
before I rounded the last corner 3 wheatears gave me the first year
tick of the day. Bird number 181. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">With
fencing around the hopefully soon to be completed seabird centre, I
left the bike against the gate and walked around to the highest point
to look over the extremely high cliffs here. I knew what I would see
but was still excited by the prospect.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
was the old lighthouse on its prominent platform, closed at the
moment but full of memories from my last visit. There were the tall
stacks but here there was a major difference to 2010. There were no
auks. Not one! Hundreds of kittiwakes yes but not the ten of
thousands of guillemot, razorbill and puffins that would be there
soon. They were still all out at sea. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Immediately
in my head I changed my reserve itinerary! Bempton would have to be
visited in June. I needed an auk fix of Bempton proportions.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Auks
may not have been there but the views were fabulous nonetheless.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
retracing my tracks I stopped off at a house belonging to one of the
RSPB people on the island and so met Alison. Over coffee she showed
me her collection of Stone Age implements and a dolphin skull. It's
great to meet people who collect these sort of things. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
down to the harbour eventually to collect my things from the hostel
and catch the boat back to Ballycastle. Actually I felt a little
guilty at not staying longer on this wonderful island but the needs
of the year list meant that time was at a premium.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
a much smoother passage than the previous day, with a couple of close
manx shearwaters seen, I cycled to and met a great
couple in a pub that advertised Bed and Breakfast. They were both
passionate cyclists and so the next hour was spent talking cycling.
No bed available after a pint that I actually enjoyed, Shipwick I
think, I went to the next hotel and enjoyed a comfortable night.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Monday
13<sup>th</sup> April</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I shouldn't have called in that pub and I definitely shouldn't have
had a night in a comfy hotel. That had not been the intention. “Get
as far as you can along the road to Larne before camping,” I had
told myself. The weather is perfect so get the distance covered.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
hadn't and the weather Gods were going to make me pay for it. A
strong gale in the face. Cloudy with a band of heavy rain as well. I
made progress as well as I could and got to Larne after a few painful
hours.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Along
to the far end of Larne Lough to look for an American duck, a
green-winged teal. Instead of finding that I found a pair of birders
who told me that just a few days before the bridge that we were now
standing on had been the scene of birding chaos. Police had been
called to control the crowds vying for views of the vagrant.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
rarity causing such a fuss, an avocet.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">With
much improved weather, still windy but now with some sunshine, I was
cycling back to the main road to head towards Belfast when a motorist
stopped me and asked if he could take some photographs of me and the
bike for the local Larne newspaper.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Castleferrgus
and a few birds on the beach to watch, pale-bellied brents and golden
plover; the latter sporting spangling summer plumage. Then to Belfast
dock for the overnight ferry via a cycle way.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Tuesday
14<sup>th</sup> April</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Straight
from the docked ferry I went along the cycle path around the north of
the Wirral. I knew this path well. It's the one I had cycled more
than once in parts before heading for Northern Ireland. I was on my
way to have another attempt at seeing surf scoter. Up to 7 had been
reported from Hoylake beach in my short absence.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">No
sign of the laughing gull as I went past New Brighton's marine lake.
Recently it had started to to go across the Mersey to Seaforth Docks
nature reserve, adding to their extensive list of American birds. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Arriving
at Government Road, Hoylake, I hid the bike behind some buildings and
walked out to the distant tideline. There were already two birders,
Lyndsey and Gareth from near reston, searching through the scoter
flock but the sea was just too rough and the birds just too far out
to be able to get a fix on any likely candidate. After a couple of
hours of trying, with Lyndsey being very helpful to my cause by
saying “your need is greater than mine,” when lending me her
telescope, it was decided to have a break and try again later at low
tide. The weather forecast for then was sunshine and less wind so
hopefully better conditions for viewing.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
around 12, I met another birder as I walked out further than before
named Andy Vincent. He was actually going back to his car but turned
around to 'have another go'. At the tideline now were a few birders
all searching for the surfies. Lyndsey and Gareth returned and just
after, with a much flatter sea and a bit of hazy sunshine, Andy
shouted out he'd got one. Between turbine 13 and 14 from the left.
Then I found it! It was to the right of turbine 14, level with a
distant gas platform. Other birders got onto it as they say and so
bird number 182 was added to the list and what a good one too, a '54'
no less. I texted my birding friends and was told that a hoopoe had
been seen first thing in the morning at Thurstaston but not since.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
pair of surf scoter were then found and seen by all, not the best
views of this great little American duck I'd ever had but adequate
and on texting Phil Andrews I received the reply that 3 was 2 more
than I needed.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
leaving to head towards Liverpool for a few days rest I retrieved the
hidden bike and started to cycle along the seafront road. After just
a couple of hundred yards, Andy Vincent stopped me. He had been to
look for little owls nearby and had found one. With his directions in
my head I found the spot and indeed, there was a little owl difficult
to see amongst the branches and leaves of a low down bush next to a
large cracked willow. Bird number 183 seen and photographed, the owl
became my Facebook heading photo for a week or so, a gorgeous little
introduced bird.</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-64109572981470154342015-04-12T23:29:00.003-07:002015-04-12T23:29:38.286-07:00Long Cycling Days. Armagh to Limavady.
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday
8<sup>th</sup> April</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">A
superb breakfast served up by the 'there's lovely' Alice. Goodbye and
thanks to her and Dermot for a lovely night's stay and the long ride
to Aghatirourke RSPB reserve began. At least the weather was
continuing to be very kind to me, sunny and warm with just a little
wind coming from the south west.</span></span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Puncture!
Just before the Republic of Ireland border, reasonably soon fixed
despite there being two small holes.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
mileage signs caused hilarity just before this happened. 11 miles
then 10 to go to Monaghan, then 11 again, back to 10 and finally back
to 11. I'd travelled 4 miles during this time and where they had gone
for the sign makers I don't know.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Into
and straight through Monaghan, into and straight through the
Republic, I had no time to sightsee this time. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Blackcap
singing in a thicket to the left and as i'm back in Northern Ireland
I can count it on the BOU year list, number 179.</span></span><br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Willow
warblers! Bird number 180 and conveniently sitting atop a small bush,
photographed too.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Off
onto a very small country lane and the largest gravelled tarmac ever,
more like pebbles. No chance at cycling over it, off and push to the
top of the hill.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Across
the bridges of upper Lough Erne and around to the lane to take me to
the ridge top that is Aghatirourke RSPB reserve.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Leaving
my panniers under a hedgerow where I had camped back in 2010, I went
up to the top and along to the end of the tarmac road. Skylarks,
meadow pipits and a lone female stonechat were the only birds on the
expanse of moorland that makes up the reserve. I walked up the
nearest hill and looked all around, hoping to see an irish red
grouse, a sub-species of the version in the rest of the UK. No such
luck but the views were tremendous as the sun started to go down to
the west.</span></span><br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Back
to my stuff, tent up and a very peaceful rest under a star strewn
sky.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Thursday
9</span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;">
April</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Up
and packed early and off downhill and along the main road to
Enniskillen for breakfast at a roadside cafe.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Off
to the north west and along that side of lower Lough Erne, the views
soon became amazing. Once again the weather made the waters blue and
the islands shine.</span></span><br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">At
a garden beside the road I stopped to photograph an alien! As I
laughed at the sight, the lady owner of the garden and large
bungalow, Clare came around the corner and suggested I looked to my
left.</span></span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
was in tears laughing. Look at the dog.</span></span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Clare
was joined by her husband, Dennis and the next hour was spent
enjoying their company over a coffee and biscuit. Fabulous couple, so
in synch with each other, I really enjoyed meeting them both.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Around
to the north coast of the Lough and down to the RSPB sign that states
that there are 39 management reserves around the Lough! I explored
this one, impossible to go to the others, the RSPB puts them all
under the banner of Lower Lough Erne reserve.</span></span><br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Summer
migrants had been around in force today with 59 singing willow
warblers, 7 blackcaps and 8 chiff chaff doing the same and 8 swallows
seen. No birds of prey today. The last one was a sparrowhawk that I
saw yesterday. Where are they all?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">To
Kesh and then towards Castlederg, I stopped at a derelict Primary
school building and went around the back to camp in private. Sad to
see a grave in the playground for a teacher who had died at the early
age of 23!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Friday
10</span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;">
April</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Another
day cycling. I'll be glad when the balance shifts towards the birding
side of the tour.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Through
Castlederg and then on towards Strabane. Just before there, at Sion
Mills I saw the church that had Jesus and his disciples above the
entrance and I knew I'd been this way before.</span></span><br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Strabane
and a foot-long sandwich at Subway with Wifi to catch up with
facebook a bit.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">On
the way out of the city I found the musicians again, now fenced off.
In 2010 I had fallen asleep against a grassy bank here and not had
anything knicked whilst I slept, thankfully.</span></span><br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Into
'Derry to sort out a couple of financial matters and then to Lough
Foyle. High tide at this RSPB reserve and very few birds. A number of
mute swans were all really.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">To
Limavardy and into a pub B and B for a room, I was accosted by a
couple of drunk girls who made me blush. I won't say how! There was a
lot of drinking and laughter for a wake being held there after the
funeral this morning. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Accosted
again, this time by Shirley. “I'm making your breakfast tomorrow,”
she told me.</span></span><br />
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-77043778153834369892015-04-11T14:54:00.001-07:002015-04-12T22:50:09.972-07:00April 5th to 7th Belfast Lough to Portmore Lough. Both RSPB Reserves with a day at Castle Espie WWT reserve as well.<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday
5<sup>th</sup> April</span>
</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
how much fun can one have at an RSPB reserve? Answer a lot! I'd got
up early and cycled, after a breakfast seated at the table with two
young Germans from Bremen, To Belfast Lough RSPB reserve. A new
visitor's centre greeted me as did a delightful Polish girl named
Monika. <span style="font-style: normal;">Once inside I met Heather
and Hilda and they were soon joined by Pete and Pamela. No Chris, the
warden. It was his day off and gutted as I was that he was not
there, as I had had a brilliant time with him last time back in 2010,
there was nothing to be done about that and so we all had a good
natter, a coffee and a look at the birds. Monika went out to the
front of the centre and put out a lot of corn. This brought in around
50 black-tailed godwits, many in summer plumage. They were so close.
Brilliant. I don't know of any other RSPB reserve where you can see
so many of these wonderful birds just yards in front of you.</span></span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
high tide approached I searched through the gull flock as Monika
reported that there had been a glaucous gull present during the week.
No glaucous but I did find a sandwich tern, the first tern the
reserve had had this year. A new bird for the year list. Number 177.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJJgI63CVrWEUlFPUDqB8LtQPv3BvN0RdVamfL1Fe6Bv3Le7ZROarpErMyW3y3xkWuEIqRyc-qS5w4BJ10cIGSja8ErQpC-q6CVsRlXaeuMz3bW941eBDn3ayAHiZ7L1gLtWIdN7Wyso/s1600/IMG_5382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJJgI63CVrWEUlFPUDqB8LtQPv3BvN0RdVamfL1Fe6Bv3Le7ZROarpErMyW3y3xkWuEIqRyc-qS5w4BJ10cIGSja8ErQpC-q6CVsRlXaeuMz3bW941eBDn3ayAHiZ7L1gLtWIdN7Wyso/s1600/IMG_5382.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Another
birder found a second year Mediterranean gull, a few black spots on
the primaries and a not bright red enough bill.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKGSbAHPaTLvJ4bsYF3ncRUZZE1-ZTq-0TQRW-ABZl19H6a4u0ZAas3I5mT-KVsPjB6uPYzM0VKfpwwyBFSBvH6SzCN5E-bjw_6A9U1sYG1fs2HHIFNldNwX7qKXD0FVTUatjBsXQYo4/s1600/IMG_5431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKGSbAHPaTLvJ4bsYF3ncRUZZE1-ZTq-0TQRW-ABZl19H6a4u0ZAas3I5mT-KVsPjB6uPYzM0VKfpwwyBFSBvH6SzCN5E-bjw_6A9U1sYG1fs2HHIFNldNwX7qKXD0FVTUatjBsXQYo4/s1600/IMG_5431.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
family arrived and I gave my camera to the children to take some
photos. Blow me if both Mum and son, Scott proceed to take brilliant
photographs of the godwits!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeITGxEepua-NeppFgjfpunQS829T080-apph0skl7Cufx_tkxL85a1-Lmj-OBw0VTThxM6bMzf_XMqFqIHIhM9Xu3iiZTrQoAMFJ5pLa_iiU6n4OpvZirpldjMDhyphenhyphen_jA8GTEkwuFVS0/s1600/IMG_5412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeITGxEepua-NeppFgjfpunQS829T080-apph0skl7Cufx_tkxL85a1-Lmj-OBw0VTThxM6bMzf_XMqFqIHIhM9Xu3iiZTrQoAMFJ5pLa_iiU6n4OpvZirpldjMDhyphenhyphen_jA8GTEkwuFVS0/s1600/IMG_5412.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Other
than the birds we all had a lot of fun and I would advise anyone in
the Belfast area to visit the reserve. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Monday
6<sup>th</sup> April</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Having
cycled the Greenway from Belfast to Castle Espie the evening before,
and after having camped beside the scenic Strangford Lough with a
stunningly Turneresque sunset, I arrived at Castle Espie WWT reserve
just before opening time. </span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Immediately
met by the tall and beautiful Sarah, the manager; photographs were
taken with the bike and the staff and breakfast followed. There can't
be a better view from a nature reserve cafe than the one here at
Castle Espie. With a blue sky and views over to Strabo, the
Rapunzel-like tower atop a hill to the east, the view is superb and
the red-breasted and rooss' geese added to the scene.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Easter
Monday and fun of a different sort to yesterday. Today was hunt the
Easter Bunny, a not too difficult task meant for children but I had
to win a lolly! Cryptic clues led to each of the 3 feet tall bunnies
subtly hidden around the reserve. I collected my clue sheet and
pencil from a wonderful member of the WWT staff, Audrey and set off
on the hunt.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjw-bTc_3CMjZnLzNgD9WXR3OQzP_OMWjLRvdAG_5ZFyPjBfpJQpSlDkMRc0o2jiSssY8EoxwLg_5EU2PA-WC8swHyl5JZB84CyvBf0Ltxkyl1wydEyyQuRRcZCPy2lxr6J_vvM8W8hI/s1600/IMG_5585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjw-bTc_3CMjZnLzNgD9WXR3OQzP_OMWjLRvdAG_5ZFyPjBfpJQpSlDkMRc0o2jiSssY8EoxwLg_5EU2PA-WC8swHyl5JZB84CyvBf0Ltxkyl1wydEyyQuRRcZCPy2lxr6J_vvM8W8hI/s1600/IMG_5585.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Number
one was beside a large stand of pampas grass in the bird feeding
areas, number 2 beneath a bridge. The laughter and enjoyment of
hundreds of kids with their families was great to see and so what if
the WWT choose to engage children in such a way, with the emphasis on
families, I for one applaud them. Get the families and kids to enjoy
being outside instead of being in a box watching a box.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoSKXDjcCd9AwWhsBdED34HmfcIn1rwY1CrdmJ-xioqTJUmSa3TP_lrbqbPcSlWjPj6lY_6DCp4fBrbAe5MH5rLqV-MnbiR4Cv7hyAe4qRt5eyb0PCCiAJrGJeFO6Fu3hQ925o-AAiLY/s1600/IMG_5583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoSKXDjcCd9AwWhsBdED34HmfcIn1rwY1CrdmJ-xioqTJUmSa3TP_lrbqbPcSlWjPj6lY_6DCp4fBrbAe5MH5rLqV-MnbiR4Cv7hyAe4qRt5eyb0PCCiAJrGJeFO6Fu3hQ925o-AAiLY/s1600/IMG_5583.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Of
course it is a nature reserve as well and at the first hide there was
a black-tailed godwit with 4 colour rings on, two on each leg. That
was on a man-made scrape. Out over the lough from the same hide there
were a good number of pale-bellied brent geese and 8 whooper swans,
both remnant flocks from much larger numbers in the winter. Castle
Espie has over 35,000 pale-bellied brents in winter, Now that would
be both a spectacular sight and sound.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKA5fu16RAm4hrxcLyL-yim6aXV1zgsE5kQQEfdDAy1EXe5_DXehRKmY0UWr4TlqnWofDNgyIwAh-SlzIrvE3lPkOSWKDNpnZHiORSrIKIkk3v9xe-yi9r-JVbSMf4Dxvm_5UMZx5ZFU0/s1600/IMG_5618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKA5fu16RAm4hrxcLyL-yim6aXV1zgsE5kQQEfdDAy1EXe5_DXehRKmY0UWr4TlqnWofDNgyIwAh-SlzIrvE3lPkOSWKDNpnZHiORSrIKIkk3v9xe-yi9r-JVbSMf4Dxvm_5UMZx5ZFU0/s1600/IMG_5618.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Through
the stone age area with it's beautifully made stone age house, it was
full of people enjoying a story-telling session and a queue outside
showed how popular this attraction was. </span>
</div>
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<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
in 2010 I was given a real middle stone age flint arrowhead. I ended
up keeping it for all of 6 days. A wonderful family, the Irwins from
Portadown, put me up for the night. This was after they'd met me at
Oxford Island where an American ring-necked drake was on the immense
Lough Neagh. They had gone home from there and brought me a picnic!
Anyway I stayed with them 2 days later after visiting Portmore Lough
and their young son was fascinated by the arrowhead. I gave it to
him. I'd always wanted such a relic and here I was giving it away.
You never know though, spark a child's interest and where could that
lead. Much more important than me having it in a box or pocket.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Over
to a beautiful new since my last visit glass box atop a hill. With a
terrace outside and superb views over the Lough, Inside there was a
long queue of children waiting to have their faces painted. I had
wanted mine to be done but instead I counted the geese. There were
over 150. The tide was rapidly coming in and the geese were along the
water's edge.</span><br />
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<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">More
bunnies found, I moved the factory into position and looked into the
chimney base. </span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Up
into the woodland area with it's playground facilities covered with
children, the area I wanted to explore was unfortunately cut off for
development purposes, a new attraction for this superb place.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Along
the path with masses of wood anemones, little grebes on the lake and back to the centre to claim
my prize for having found all Easter bunnies, a lollipop soon given
away to a child making an Easter bunny for herself with one of the
staff, Bayley.</span><br />
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<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
fabulous lunch of broccoli and chicken bake taken from the cafe with
the superb views and around the reserve again as the crowds left in
the late afternoon.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
thoroughly lovely day. I have always thought that one of the best
sounds in the world is that of children's laughter and there had been
plenty of that. Lots of families playing together and lots of money
going towards the WWT's conservation work. Brilliant.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
that the clock's have gone to British Summer Time and it stays light
until 9.00pm, I have the opportunity to have a full day's birding
then get the cycling done later on. Tonight I cycled past Lurgen and
after the sun had gone down, find a place to camp that follows my
rules.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">1. No
one can see me in my tent.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">2. No
one can tell I was ever there after I have left the next day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I had a problem with the later because I had been enjoying the
cycling so much it was almost dark when I found a place that followed
the first rule. I had found a woodland and quickly found a small
glade in which to set up the tent. Only problem was, it was full of
wild garlic flowers and even I could smell them as I crushed the
plants! Oh well, needs must.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXkePKXx0vVf_H0wion-HaU7Hq3B3LjcPmrdZgE7tFhRTw54CvVRQb_r4tXW1T3aVd8ESo-NtehZxaosYLEOU4w2jCSjq7KPpepLwWA9iUlfpDxIph7tofKLERhyH-5L0lKhk4ns6hqI/s1600/IMG_5677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXkePKXx0vVf_H0wion-HaU7Hq3B3LjcPmrdZgE7tFhRTw54CvVRQb_r4tXW1T3aVd8ESo-NtehZxaosYLEOU4w2jCSjq7KPpepLwWA9iUlfpDxIph7tofKLERhyH-5L0lKhk4ns6hqI/s1600/IMG_5677.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Tuesday
7<sup>th</sup> April.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
didn't take long to get to Portmore Lough RSPB reserve in the
morning; another morning of blue sky, sunshine and no wind. Three
days in Northern Ireland and I had hardly seen a cloud! I was being
extremely lucky with the weather!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">An
Irish hare in a field just by the entrance, a new mammal for the
mammal year list as it is related to the mountain hare and not the
common variety.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOltr9p3xPjw_aQdtPP2m7agv8GdPu3hl1plwQn7NGTKSb2Ymh9bzaycVQBpZ1bKgfwPXxBItBKs0mzQ52W_v5e6WzjvdzXqcpYyp53777sH2ZExVhCiT88Jd_rH2kNRUPGzdu_1_Ntr8/s1600/IMG_5680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOltr9p3xPjw_aQdtPP2m7agv8GdPu3hl1plwQn7NGTKSb2Ymh9bzaycVQBpZ1bKgfwPXxBItBKs0mzQ52W_v5e6WzjvdzXqcpYyp53777sH2ZExVhCiT88Jd_rH2kNRUPGzdu_1_Ntr8/s1600/IMG_5680.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Straight
through the gates and instead of the straight ahead stare as last
time, I met a face I remembered from the that visit. Laura had been a
volunteer here back in 2010. Now she was the warden.</span></div>
“<span style="font-size: medium;">You
won't remember me.” she said. I did. She had fallen into the lough
when we last met as she pushed the boat that I was in out over the
water.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
also remembered the rather pneumatic girl noisily engaged in some
sort of energetic, frantic sporting activity on the front seat of a
small car and the small man beneath her submerged in her ampleness!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
had just cycled onto the car park late in the evening to be
confronted with this sight and had a choice; do I stop to enjoy the
free show or cycle past as if nothing was going on. I looked straight
ahead and cycled past. It wasn't to be the last time I came across
such a display but the funnier one I'll tell you about that time when
I come to that part of the world. One clue, it involved a broken
glass and a bottle of red wine.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Into
the new wooden building where I had camped before and into the office
to meet 4 lovely young girls. Now how come it hadn't been like this
when I had been on residential RSPB reserves when I was their age.
Instead back in the 1970s I had been with a group of all boys at each
reserve I volunteered at. Life can be cruel!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Coffee
and chat and then out to bird watch. I thought I caught site of a
little egret, a very rare bird for the reserve for this time of year
but waiting for it to come out of the distance ditch for half an hour
didn't give any more views. What were a lot easier to see were the
tree sparrows and a lot of them there were too. One of my favourite
birds, they were everywhere when I was a young man but now so few are
left.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYt55picJBRheyNA6vv0jpbXq4dftevFBeLZjeFPwNbGztVj1vUmlDO_cLmDtqFtMzteJngzzTwN3sOI5zKszDi9Uc5h8KniAfu1Z6XIHwAQ9llZUtSEuPIN0e1PZSDMIPe6g1qj1k1I/s1600/IMG_5688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYt55picJBRheyNA6vv0jpbXq4dftevFBeLZjeFPwNbGztVj1vUmlDO_cLmDtqFtMzteJngzzTwN3sOI5zKszDi9Uc5h8KniAfu1Z6XIHwAQ9llZUtSEuPIN0e1PZSDMIPe6g1qj1k1I/s1600/IMG_5688.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Down
the extended broadwalk past many tree sparrow nesting boxes and down
to the hide with a Swarowski telescope lent to me by Laura. The views
over the almost perfectly circular and huge lough were beautiful with
it's blue waters reflecting the blue sky. 2 whooper swans were
amongst the commoner mutes and lots of great crested grebes with
flocks of the commoner ducks. Visitors came and went and I enjoyed a
couple of hours peacefully watching the scene.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU48fK61DTB2WVFopMC4VPiq9NyMlwfNiMG5pvZr9fGK5C7hW78eUF4SWLxgb4nHCUQ3UjbZ6aT6Ll85plo5s4ZO3G2Nv4v-axb_01WTNcOsgcA4yeohkc9tQ5bMMvoOLcuvAiRVpAu6Y/s1600/IMG_5719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU48fK61DTB2WVFopMC4VPiq9NyMlwfNiMG5pvZr9fGK5C7hW78eUF4SWLxgb4nHCUQ3UjbZ6aT6Ll85plo5s4ZO3G2Nv4v-axb_01WTNcOsgcA4yeohkc9tQ5bMMvoOLcuvAiRVpAu6Y/s1600/IMG_5719.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
up to the office, I was going to explore the field edges. Instead I
spent the rest of the afternoon cutting the grass around the picnic
benches and pathways. This freed up the girl to count the lapwings,
over 80 of them. Lapwings not girls.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">So
I had been at Portmore Lough and done work on the reserve again. Back
in 2010 I had helped put branches into the lough's mud for the terns
to roost on, had assisted with the creation of a ramp way for small
tern chicks to climb onto when they had fallen off the tern breeding
platforms and had driven the caterpillar tracked vehicle to access
the marshy areas where Connix ponies grazed. I had also met Mr Poots,
the Northern Ireland Environment minister and his daughter on that
previous visit. She had wanted to come and see the ponies. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0J351OVwFMoKJOmCb1kJTr8HeRvNTJSqvwq-i84ZDj5H6fsZJxhbSw1AxkitKKm-fb1TzZHqkq6Odca8_9iKmElp0BajN-WQKSQ3-02zqMBUGgreUIF5czk26kLWgWHhhhTihNLKAFQ/s1600/IMG_5775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0J351OVwFMoKJOmCb1kJTr8HeRvNTJSqvwq-i84ZDj5H6fsZJxhbSw1AxkitKKm-fb1TzZHqkq6Odca8_9iKmElp0BajN-WQKSQ3-02zqMBUGgreUIF5czk26kLWgWHhhhTihNLKAFQ/s1600/IMG_5775.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">One
last thing about Portmore Lough and something that I think is amazing
despite the fact that almost no one knows about it, especially the
local people I asked. Portmore Lough, so the theory goes that seems
to fit all the data, was made about 1500 years ago by a Men in Black.
Superman-like meteorite strike! Yes, this huge circular water-filled
hole was made by an air burst meteor. Now if this had happened in
England I feel there would be more fuss about it than over here in
Northern Ireland. After all it is about the same size as the famous
Arizona meteor crater.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">It's
not every day you visit a meteorite crater.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Leaving
the reserve after I had booked a night's accommodation at a 29 miles
away B and B at 5.30pm, I was a little worried that I might not get
there before dark at 9.00pm. I arrived at a superb B and B at 8.00pm
despite having a gear problem on the way. Go Gary!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-31234847886806938082015-04-06T08:05:00.004-07:002015-04-11T13:29:26.064-07:00A Dip and a Year Tick. Hoylake to New Brighton, April 3rd & To Belfast April 4th<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: medium;">Friday
3<sup>rd</sup> April</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAUYmSCfKsTG_u03F4MqRLh6nP3aWU1rYI61wo7xyG2ZrnOMbYMGHQ_O3gTG9BmAogZoXTK2rlFvSQvag39xKgMAaKpKvvKe3H2qludiFSBePm4-IXOjkOVAx6YRA3G-m4xLUWMrGGi4/s1600/IMG_5117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAUYmSCfKsTG_u03F4MqRLh6nP3aWU1rYI61wo7xyG2ZrnOMbYMGHQ_O3gTG9BmAogZoXTK2rlFvSQvag39xKgMAaKpKvvKe3H2qludiFSBePm4-IXOjkOVAx6YRA3G-m4xLUWMrGGi4/s1600/IMG_5117.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: medium;">Out
into the rain early to try for the surf scoter, it meant leaving
everything at the hotel and walking a mile plus out to the water's
edge. Walking across the flat sands of Hoylake, it was clear that the
chances of the surf scoter were very slim and so it proved. On
reaching the sea the scoter were still a long way off in sporadic
groups and there was no way I was going to see the special one.</span></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pVk-YYvPQ05skdOkq27Eo1QQvvY0-UAzBlJSKMHYrq9PVw5fwB57LgtEa-DXy15L4rvN7scR-ZNeSkcWqc5TRWXMPv4-0G-BC_JrjlJY8hyphenhyphenwbUlv0RI3PPfpGILM9mJwnfszZAojCaw/s1600/IMG_5130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pVk-YYvPQ05skdOkq27Eo1QQvvY0-UAzBlJSKMHYrq9PVw5fwB57LgtEa-DXy15L4rvN7scR-ZNeSkcWqc5TRWXMPv4-0G-BC_JrjlJY8hyphenhyphenwbUlv0RI3PPfpGILM9mJwnfszZAojCaw/s1600/IMG_5130.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
did see very close sanderling though and I videoed a distant flock of
waders as they proved to be about 750 oystercatchers as they flew
past and beyond towards Hilbre Island. A youtube moment.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">With
the tide coming in I backtracked all the way to the seawall and sat
in a shelter there hoping that the rain would stop. It did to some
extent but then the fog came in! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsjo4EeIK-fAgJaeJcImOswY1f0AKTK5m5Vr5CqxwJ4XUyR9TpGer1dhn9nYZr3lATK2wzzOVBQAMmalDTzc2sBGnUSBL8v0EzjlBmRkOAntIu1Y-kbv9eRiiL3StXVA2oj1hCs53GPU/s1600/IMG_5165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsjo4EeIK-fAgJaeJcImOswY1f0AKTK5m5Vr5CqxwJ4XUyR9TpGer1dhn9nYZr3lATK2wzzOVBQAMmalDTzc2sBGnUSBL8v0EzjlBmRkOAntIu1Y-kbv9eRiiL3StXVA2oj1hCs53GPU/s1600/IMG_5165.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
collecting the bike and stuff and having seen no improvement in the
fog, I decided to cycle to New Brighton. At least I should get the
laughing gull that had been there for a very long time.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Cycling
there was easy as a cycle path went along the top of the Wirral the
whole way. I did stop a couple of times; once to photograph a lone
purple sandpiper and then to look at a dead guillemot.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFSu9SEzDnlzbq7p6C6gYytjW1k6Sd1EeXywHSyyt9irpI8gBPjyQcBrcXAV8T8Y1i8JGQe6EhI7pJu8pm_I_ZDDy_ZXw_vIKNhr8TokVl3GSU6mEUZhfIdTFOhrwu-Cr4HDaQ7H5NjE/s1600/IMG_5181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFSu9SEzDnlzbq7p6C6gYytjW1k6Sd1EeXywHSyyt9irpI8gBPjyQcBrcXAV8T8Y1i8JGQe6EhI7pJu8pm_I_ZDDy_ZXw_vIKNhr8TokVl3GSU6mEUZhfIdTFOhrwu-Cr4HDaQ7H5NjE/s1600/IMG_5181.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31nOJFRn0kG0VXEF_zWScL03kFTaIbproqlC3c3l4XXIeEhauN4cJmBZTEj-DLlbQ-KnV0noVHd17NDs-kZ4ccyvkGwIrVpb_JI7ccc_bdwHJCBMNCZD9yDdGQZaoJl_Xd9T00rBYK7M/s1600/IMG_5193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31nOJFRn0kG0VXEF_zWScL03kFTaIbproqlC3c3l4XXIeEhauN4cJmBZTEj-DLlbQ-KnV0noVHd17NDs-kZ4ccyvkGwIrVpb_JI7ccc_bdwHJCBMNCZD9yDdGQZaoJl_Xd9T00rBYK7M/s1600/IMG_5193.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Arriving
at the marine lake at New Brighton I scanned the water and pontoon
where the laughing gull was supposed to be practically a full time
resident. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
wasn't there.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
texted friends.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sit
and wait. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
did.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Well,
no I didn't. I cycled around the lake to look over the Mersey and the
Fort area. High tide, almost no beach and fog so thick you couldn't
see the other side of the estuary. On occasions you couldn't see one
end of the marine lake from the other.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
sat by a cafe.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Someone
put out some chips.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Laughing
gull on the year list!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_QfQ6hsPNIk-9IL79S6GfipXq9QEv8PGGhFyAeGxe3cAelBfHL820N_bjDfLDnYgDWo1SMVoqCvIaNLH-nFS_myTXoCEc0q3F3xJyDmuf0uRuuOqXZ9yf45OJ4aWKAmWQE9EC5mqsqQ/s1600/IMG_5236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_QfQ6hsPNIk-9IL79S6GfipXq9QEv8PGGhFyAeGxe3cAelBfHL820N_bjDfLDnYgDWo1SMVoqCvIaNLH-nFS_myTXoCEc0q3F3xJyDmuf0uRuuOqXZ9yf45OJ4aWKAmWQE9EC5mqsqQ/s1600/IMG_5236.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
landed on the pontoon and walked through the large flock of roosting
waders. The waders were 50:50 redshank and turnstones with 8 purple
sandpipers in one corner.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J25Z7EvSnFY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J25Z7EvSnFY</a> </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Replete
with photographs and videos of the laughing gull, bird number 176, I
cycled to Seacombe and found the B and b I had stayed at back in
2010. It didn't seem to be in business anymore and I ended up cycling
back through the rain to the Travelodge over looking the marine lake
at New Brighton.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Saturday
4<sup>th</sup> April.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
why couldn't yesterday have been like this? Sunshine came through the
window of my hotel room and the sky was clear and blue. The laughing gull was there again, sitting amongst the waders. A group of people were releasing an injured cormorant onto the marine lake to stop any dogs from harassing it. They'd just found it floundering about on the beach. A couple of the men then stripped off! They were about to have a swim in the lake.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWBr3W-Do67M5cM9R6iowypXotS7qtZPv7lG4L3jmCd0bD3zWhROjaNO5hb56cvnnLZbhnO7Hs0cCBrZUa8UHdrgu_Sp4NyKangtEIlsqnt8Li-5yksHh2cKS_4BBlDFtnfmdcdfZF8U/s1600/IMG_5280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWBr3W-Do67M5cM9R6iowypXotS7qtZPv7lG4L3jmCd0bD3zWhROjaNO5hb56cvnnLZbhnO7Hs0cCBrZUa8UHdrgu_Sp4NyKangtEIlsqnt8Li-5yksHh2cKS_4BBlDFtnfmdcdfZF8U/s1600/IMG_5280.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
quick cycle along the Mersey with wonderful views of Liverpool and
down to the Stena Line ferry. With the bike quickly stowed away, one
had to get on a double decker bus to get onto the ferry. That was a
first.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
cabin with ensuite. I am being a bit indulgent this time. So after
watching the sea as we went out into the Irish Sea I went and had a
shower and a couple of hours kip. Interesting how it was only common
gulls out at sea around the Mersey mouth.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyvM_0YMcGepkScl_FGXbl51N8qgU5IFjWZRi3l993BEIW9P98iM6s6aNMC_Qfao-TrfY-lo8cyxC3MVLc_ZrGfA8B0lZZANThICZYCJwH3oYvRRPbLlF51ZSJVJkUsBkm_74oSakH2c/s1600/IMG_5319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyvM_0YMcGepkScl_FGXbl51N8qgU5IFjWZRi3l993BEIW9P98iM6s6aNMC_Qfao-TrfY-lo8cyxC3MVLc_ZrGfA8B0lZZANThICZYCJwH3oYvRRPbLlF51ZSJVJkUsBkm_74oSakH2c/s1600/IMG_5319.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I had hoped that the Wifi onboard would give me the opportunity to
catch up with everything. No chance, it was slow and intermittent.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoPxiESmXI4-LutbPmvWrJWEm55nu0zeblQkxSJSdtN-akMynrDH_sRX7_acKzCxZmWD7kbptExxTvDb8yfOzQ3T6HxNZ1UZlj5jhk1CoCJZY_FOhSP92VusBHRK32LV7pI0g76KGQY8/s1600/IMG_5322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoPxiESmXI4-LutbPmvWrJWEm55nu0zeblQkxSJSdtN-akMynrDH_sRX7_acKzCxZmWD7kbptExxTvDb8yfOzQ3T6HxNZ1UZlj5jhk1CoCJZY_FOhSP92VusBHRK32LV7pI0g76KGQY8/s1600/IMG_5322.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Dinner
on board with views over the bow as we passed the Isle of Man. The
sea was almost flat, just the smallest ripples and birding was a bit
slow; just a few guillemots, mostly in pairs with a few manx
shearwaters and kittiwakes. There was also the odd adult gannet.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Off
Copeland there was few harbour porpoise and then a number of eider as
we turned in towards Belfast Docks. A couple of great northern diver
flew past and a few black guillemot and shag were nearby.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9vI6nPDtShsF4dno8hHtY-GrENXaH-0lGT5n8NMl8bvArpB8-GvyzK51Mb3hyzlerC8lf2x5HVys-iEbThHNK5gNrvAic8fojjBPplNiooshDiHx0F-jIAAzAExf2jNJOh_jgDiUcdw/s1600/IMG_5333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9vI6nPDtShsF4dno8hHtY-GrENXaH-0lGT5n8NMl8bvArpB8-GvyzK51Mb3hyzlerC8lf2x5HVys-iEbThHNK5gNrvAic8fojjBPplNiooshDiHx0F-jIAAzAExf2jNJOh_jgDiUcdw/s1600/IMG_5333.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Belfast!
How good to see the huge mural on a large block of flats, Vernon
House, across from the first traffic lights you come to on the Shore
Road, of a balaclavaed paramilitary man has been removed since my
last visit but a shame that Vernon House's sign of welcome has also
gone. More of a shame to me though was a huge mural on a building
nearby. Just concentrate on the left and forget the right.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuC7AYd_XK_yl41LLWI7n8bKtweFLt2ttEkoA145Saprz-YjIjmAg9jFCfgstm3GuOBSxUnQcZqLSwuwWDIUK_4Hyzn3IGrp2fXJ1jze8Q310OOfi9-an3GM9rP5aGRkVKFLnIDGe2rs/s1600/IMG_5367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuC7AYd_XK_yl41LLWI7n8bKtweFLt2ttEkoA145Saprz-YjIjmAg9jFCfgstm3GuOBSxUnQcZqLSwuwWDIUK_4Hyzn3IGrp2fXJ1jze8Q310OOfi9-an3GM9rP5aGRkVKFLnIDGe2rs/s1600/IMG_5367.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpDRose0FrPMNs0DMpLy7_aAb8oi9cV6oGZcRFFHilD1IloVKEv0xBfUK4Jq2TkzeqeI5QRK9e10ZqrjygQQNMAR6vhCdAWJJA_4qznX1bHfTaU2OoeURhn8C1ptMYkyP7yaCCU-B2fU/s1600/IMG_5271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpDRose0FrPMNs0DMpLy7_aAb8oi9cV6oGZcRFFHilD1IloVKEv0xBfUK4Jq2TkzeqeI5QRK9e10ZqrjygQQNMAR6vhCdAWJJA_4qznX1bHfTaU2OoeURhn8C1ptMYkyP7yaCCU-B2fU/s1600/IMG_5271.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-64881553151051310712015-04-05T00:13:00.004-07:002015-04-05T00:13:57.233-07:00Thursday 2nd April Burton Mere RSPB Reserve
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Thursday
2<sup>nd</sup> April</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUbzXvKbkvAnng9otzaiK4_R2VbqiGByQczkswBOhvqV6TgAEac8rPuJIw0knL0KwOgD6cpCwRJpt691Rf1cz-YncIbLuKk8wK8i7Oxw_SF-tYuRYiQgJIJviv04AsUhdXNwLgehKAkY/s1600/IMG_5040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUbzXvKbkvAnng9otzaiK4_R2VbqiGByQczkswBOhvqV6TgAEac8rPuJIw0knL0KwOgD6cpCwRJpt691Rf1cz-YncIbLuKk8wK8i7Oxw_SF-tYuRYiQgJIJviv04AsUhdXNwLgehKAkY/s1600/IMG_5040.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
day at one of my favourite RSPB reserves (aren't they all?) and one
with a lot of memories from 40 years ago. Burton Mere RSPB reserve, a
part of the Dee Estuary complex which includes the Inner Marsh farm
area was the site for today's itinerary. </span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Goodbye
to the wonderful Steve and Margaret and of course Lucas, then a cycle
over the Dee estuary bridge and a chance meeting with two lovely
cyclists, John and Janice who were waiting for their son, Clinton
Butcher who's doing a sponsored cycle ride for a homeless charity in
Cambridge.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.wintercomfort.org.uk/">http://www.wintercomfort.org.uk/</a>
</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">If
you're in the Cambridge area you may want to take part in their event
on Star Wars Day, May the Fourth. Take a look here. Good fun to be
had by all. Now where can I get a costume for that day?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.wintercomfort.org.uk/news-and-events/">http://www.wintercomfort.org.uk/news-and-events/</a>
</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
must have talked about cycling and travel for about an hour! Great
couple.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Off
the main road onto the cycle path, I left that to look for swans in a
field beside the sailing pool here. There were swans but only mutes,
34 of them. Down to the end, I tried to enter the reserve via the
back door so to speak and came across padlocked gates. A quick turn
around and a cycle for a couple of miles around fields took me to the
Puddington lane for Burton and I soon arrived at the RSPB visitor's
centre. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0Bqs3tMjDYk5pyZEomJx8lSdh60NfjrEEAReMwwgI4lAp7YbN46jg_mNwqjgdKdjqFY_5YqJSb32pHZ_Agk2Ny6WER2hPNky3pxCWovHytT5wPbnGdncolaVYguDJi1j3O5gnX6Qbcc/s1600/IMG_5106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0Bqs3tMjDYk5pyZEomJx8lSdh60NfjrEEAReMwwgI4lAp7YbN46jg_mNwqjgdKdjqFY_5YqJSb32pHZ_Agk2Ny6WER2hPNky3pxCWovHytT5wPbnGdncolaVYguDJi1j3O5gnX6Qbcc/s1600/IMG_5106.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">What a lovely welcome! Two lovely RSPB ladies (aren't they
all?), Deborah and Joan came up to me and Joan said, “Where have
you been? You're late!” I have to admit to being 4 days behind
schedule but I was surprised that they knew that. All in fun, they
gave me a hot chocolate and a large cookie. Well, almost gave me a
large chocolate. I do tend to use my arms a lot to expound when
pontificating and Joan came up behind me when I was doing so to
Deborah and a young RSPB man named Josh. My arm crashed into Joan
and the hot chocolate went everywhere! Second embarrassing moment in
two visitor centre visits. Oh well.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
then met Derek, another RSPB staff memebre and put the bike and lads
away in a safe place and settled down to bird. The centre looks over
lagoons and the expanse of meadow and reedbed. Someone found a very
distant merlin sitting on a fence post, only my third of the year.
Good start. I sat down and looked out. Pintail, gadwall, shovelor,
lots of avocets and many more black-tailed godwits. A peregrine flew
around. Two ladies next to me, Sandra and Lynn from Runcorn were
beginners and asked for ID. Instead of saying that was such and such
I opened the field guide and asked them to find the bird. Shame they
didn't share their pickled onions as we birded together.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkgJ9I6Fh1r_fly0wzZiuOvlntjp88ChVgujNKeVvykWkmQhhXKfokKs26wXLA0ur544qyupWvJYQ9EStP90URoquyN6Kn7M6eyjtF-YI03MLyUrha9ciUcQjUoD0LAxNS9VgNYLoj9c/s1600/IMG_5041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkgJ9I6Fh1r_fly0wzZiuOvlntjp88ChVgujNKeVvykWkmQhhXKfokKs26wXLA0ur544qyupWvJYQ9EStP90URoquyN6Kn7M6eyjtF-YI03MLyUrha9ciUcQjUoD0LAxNS9VgNYLoj9c/s1600/IMG_5041.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Off
out around the reserve, past the bird feeders and through the area
with fish ponds and trees, I went down the trail to the first hide to
look out over the lagoons here. Not many birds, just a couple of
avocets with shelduck. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPI_hU2pOlOuZrXetwITC2KmcoY1B60Y6Rl2c7P4CEktU4mVp2vFeMFRbAXuMrmc7HCVzBZb-IL6IdfgV2pyZ14EIOE6LGORvk1mcNLffS4NZqTBm15ezmdSDj6ZpMr5izkeWQ_-Er6c/s1600/IMG_5050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPI_hU2pOlOuZrXetwITC2KmcoY1B60Y6Rl2c7P4CEktU4mVp2vFeMFRbAXuMrmc7HCVzBZb-IL6IdfgV2pyZ14EIOE6LGORvk1mcNLffS4NZqTBm15ezmdSDj6ZpMr5izkeWQ_-Er6c/s1600/IMG_5050.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-y2pXp8HZhi2p3QRDcJamPiY6VjOjA-hY6fdfatwENlCuRa6C7hs-ZJlEUAzkDKxcXIr62JUAK5btJTIHoDyoIiwz_RSfOyEPnVj8G19XwEoTuIWEMAQ2L8REIQ5NUR0S5nuG_5-SQ9Q/s1600/IMG_5065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-y2pXp8HZhi2p3QRDcJamPiY6VjOjA-hY6fdfatwENlCuRa6C7hs-ZJlEUAzkDKxcXIr62JUAK5btJTIHoDyoIiwz_RSfOyEPnVj8G19XwEoTuIWEMAQ2L8REIQ5NUR0S5nuG_5-SQ9Q/s1600/IMG_5065.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next along a new section of path leading to a great
broadwalk around to the Inner Marsh Farm section. Here I met Colin,
the Dee Estuary RSPB site manager and Geoff who together are the most
fabulous and respected RSPB people. Together with a couple of
volunteers they were fixing a pathway to the next hide. Great to see
them both again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOGxmDrf2x8UJqmn4S31S1wfmrBYueEEkPe3XSQmxqCtIZFFN7X9vRaFk0kPDosP0xNTMzBXlrub82QMhXamRT5Se7VI8SILGyw8r3K9go5fzID7yP087vNcmlBPzAjyFGMDCQ-ZcvpY/s1600/IMG_5085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOGxmDrf2x8UJqmn4S31S1wfmrBYueEEkPe3XSQmxqCtIZFFN7X9vRaFk0kPDosP0xNTMzBXlrub82QMhXamRT5Se7VI8SILGyw8r3K9go5fzID7yP087vNcmlBPzAjyFGMDCQ-ZcvpY/s1600/IMG_5085.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Down
to the hide and a look out over the area, I remembered the last time
I cycled here and had an argument over Man United with a birder in
this very hide. It almost came to blows! I met the same bloke a few
weeks later coincidentally in Derbyshire where he came over to me and
acted like he was my best friend!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
to the centre, I'd seen 52 different species, once again a great
total as the summer migrants aren't in yet.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7D5KRFxbZtRB8yRN2gbSkprYPhPCYll0wuuqCkftkk9kpp_tkeJMDk7RYuOA-Yii1Zu2Z2M-nGfwuN3viruEwQ1NeXYvZ1R14cnDuFYoTnGXEIA3riu2nkp1CDQswxm1ji2si-BK4GQ/s1600/IMG_5107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7D5KRFxbZtRB8yRN2gbSkprYPhPCYll0wuuqCkftkk9kpp_tkeJMDk7RYuOA-Yii1Zu2Z2M-nGfwuN3viruEwQ1NeXYvZ1R14cnDuFYoTnGXEIA3riu2nkp1CDQswxm1ji2si-BK4GQ/s1600/IMG_5107.JPG" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Another
brilliant RSPB reserve with lots of developments ongoing, wonderful
staff, great birding. Perfect!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
rest of the day was sent cycling to West Kirby via Parkgate.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3445MHw9zKoR3FGY7-Hp5x9fxWLVGPUn9Yu9y0NHS1vfyWIxLd5JZ0i4RR5HjKSPo6hfQ-c8oLhhyy-KMjI4HFOjQQ8UFELUY8lGtzvXQbPwgvxCtJ954SmwtZNHnjFvtVXN8VQMOuE/s1600/IMG_5114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3445MHw9zKoR3FGY7-Hp5x9fxWLVGPUn9Yu9y0NHS1vfyWIxLd5JZ0i4RR5HjKSPo6hfQ-c8oLhhyy-KMjI4HFOjQQ8UFELUY8lGtzvXQbPwgvxCtJ954SmwtZNHnjFvtVXN8VQMOuE/s1600/IMG_5114.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
memories? 40 years ago this area had been my birding patch and
cycling around all of the area brought back lots of memories. The
marsh had changed a lot being a lot drier than back then. Lagoons and
muddy areas had gone and the rookery near Burton had gone too. Mind
you I don't remember any cettis warblers and there were a few of
these as I carried on.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Parkgate,
the place where chips had flew so long ago as my first hen harrier
came over. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-34444161885108827432015-04-04T12:56:00.001-07:002015-04-04T12:56:15.154-07:00Conwy RSPB reserve, Rockcliffe Raptors and Black Grouse. March 30th to April 1st.<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Monday
30<sup>th</sup> March.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Up
early, tent packed and a couple of hours birding around the RSPB
reserve before being found by a couple of local birders. Sand
martins, the first of the year, four of them. There'll be more summer
migrants soon. Two minutes later a swallow. Did I lie?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Around
a corner and into the warden, Sarah, She was riding a bike going to
open the hides. After an hour or so's more birding she found me and
together we went to the cafe where, joy of joys, I was given a bacon
sandwich and a hot chocolate. The staff at the cafe were
fantastically friendly (Thanks Dave, Margaret and the fishnet lady, Jayne!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAGMpxuOR_IHAt_bXcrkIB_vz1RZqtO8qdtioV9CC8n6zARJXqQ2EDI1LODzJKBjYjiWTLHsmuDhoLTXcdBi44nwJdTDMZQBZM7_yGP3Yp99yQAfXKUN0ezZ5vfmZP2BToBa7xoyvjeE/s1600/IMG_4646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAGMpxuOR_IHAt_bXcrkIB_vz1RZqtO8qdtioV9CC8n6zARJXqQ2EDI1LODzJKBjYjiWTLHsmuDhoLTXcdBi44nwJdTDMZQBZM7_yGP3Yp99yQAfXKUN0ezZ5vfmZP2BToBa7xoyvjeE/s1600/IMG_4646.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
RSPB volunteer, Jo came and sat with me and she nearly jumped out of
her skin when I leapt up and shouted sparrowhawk. I was munching my
sandwich and saw what I took to be a sparrowhawk on a caged bird
feeder out through the window. In the past I have seen sparrowhawks
hang on to the squirrel-proofing cage around a peanut feeder and
reach inside to grab a blue tit. That's what I thought I was looking
at. It was a pigeon! Sorry Jo.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8Vq5ehhgYuVPUym0BrlHqJb78MNkDgY67cYiIZ3M0Gx_2mbRRacTd1giAgISVnqDIsgrhbOKTQS_tctg6HfXMYZHojB1dX5v9zEx8dsB1Zdw7AV54pE7PoE8c_jncvE5EkKdirTqJuE/s1600/IMG_4587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8Vq5ehhgYuVPUym0BrlHqJb78MNkDgY67cYiIZ3M0Gx_2mbRRacTd1giAgISVnqDIsgrhbOKTQS_tctg6HfXMYZHojB1dX5v9zEx8dsB1Zdw7AV54pE7PoE8c_jncvE5EkKdirTqJuE/s1600/IMG_4587.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
family from Bourneville sat next to me and had a chat for a while. Hi
John and Becky and of course hello to Gladys & Ethel (not their
real names), their two young children. Lovely people John said he was
a publisher with some books on how to make hats. <a href="http://www.how2hats.com/">Www.how2hats.com</a>
</span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">More
swallows from the cafe windows and after a long walk around the
reserve I had seen 36 bird species. Not bad for a pre-migration
morning.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTm20BOQOip3LR44tbkXmyTZAz1FI6vQGHcRKs0GzQyqPFQtJt01eDB5p32KgUurvSCfommqGN_6EMVDMo6W0N_HoAG6Km_Bnok43G4V9gBWmRK3opy4Z5ZErVNRa1pEixTgD0fTj3D_U/s1600/IMG_4599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTm20BOQOip3LR44tbkXmyTZAz1FI6vQGHcRKs0GzQyqPFQtJt01eDB5p32KgUurvSCfommqGN_6EMVDMo6W0N_HoAG6Km_Bnok43G4V9gBWmRK3opy4Z5ZErVNRa1pEixTgD0fTj3D_U/s1600/IMG_4599.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
met some of the RSPB staff at the visitor's centre and we took a
couple of photographs for prosterity.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAjaebqH771i_QmwjeEKbiCJDkxkf7L93KgIcmsO5umZ1ZEMpPg3FVY7s5xeSRMgJ9xyxs1_e3pWL9lNMzkSnGkpYO_7hynzQXdagtve6mYb-JK0vrffuBKEnuTdyiJE4iHga-5XNCZY/s1600/IMG_4651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAjaebqH771i_QmwjeEKbiCJDkxkf7L93KgIcmsO5umZ1ZEMpPg3FVY7s5xeSRMgJ9xyxs1_e3pWL9lNMzkSnGkpYO_7hynzQXdagtve6mYb-JK0vrffuBKEnuTdyiJE4iHga-5XNCZY/s1600/IMG_4651.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Leaving
the reserve I cycled along and remembered that I needed to get the
gears properly adjusted. As if by magic a large cycle shop appeared
and half an hour later the bike was fixed and advice was given to
give it a good clean.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
cycle path along narrow country lanes to Rhos on Sea and in some
moderate rain I cycle around the bay to Old Colwyn. Leaving the great
cycle path here, I found a pub that did accommodation and leaving
everything there, including the bike, I walked in the rain down to
the seashore and along to a headland with a concrete shed-like
building there. I was there to look for the surf scoter reported
there. Instead I found a young man sheltering in the filthy concrete
shed tucked in a not too substantial sleeping bag. The inside of the
shelter was mud, discarded cans and rubbish and . . . well not a good place to
be. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8bxg3zq3X6uzKHOHpCFO7sCbCr_Kl5a64jfV88aLZ0wkb0Z_Q5XdF4zPaVAXbk8cWRZEj84tysIia_hzknGiLJPE74Y3eDW73Y8bzjzW-OnUYtflanmf6q8VCGnW4c4fj51ZQ8sD5M4/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8bxg3zq3X6uzKHOHpCFO7sCbCr_Kl5a64jfV88aLZ0wkb0Z_Q5XdF4zPaVAXbk8cWRZEj84tysIia_hzknGiLJPE74Y3eDW73Y8bzjzW-OnUYtflanmf6q8VCGnW4c4fj51ZQ8sD5M4/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">For
the next hour I searched for the scoter in impossible rainy
conditions and listened to Pete, for that was his name as he told me
why he was there. Homeless, moneyless and lacking in family, Pete was
walking to Chester having been told it was only a few miles along the
coast.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">By
the time the seawatch session was over I had decided that Pete
deserved a bed and a meal. He had both and breakfast at the pub/hotel
and a train ticket to get to Chester. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Tuesday
31<sup>st</sup> March</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">What
a fabulous gale! It blew me to the point of Ayr. Who needs pedals?
So after another attempt at seeing the surf scoter at the Old Colwyn viewpoint and after seeing thanks to the scopes of two birders from Mold, Chris and Gary, a couple of velvet scoters amongst the hundreds of common (bird number 174 for the year), it was a quick transit of the North Wales coastline. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dxx5-hw9nUK2YqpOKCaIVnHw76WtxyP8XcDVGEMhmV2qG6wxUC6_-yFWov4aHt3c-8A_C9XtlgAnicbakNMa2c4MpKN_6Mo95SuQWU_vhKb7XqJpvMGwX8o3Akn8nKRQUUq-JdBNb7U/s1600/IMG_4771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dxx5-hw9nUK2YqpOKCaIVnHw76WtxyP8XcDVGEMhmV2qG6wxUC6_-yFWov4aHt3c-8A_C9XtlgAnicbakNMa2c4MpKN_6Mo95SuQWU_vhKb7XqJpvMGwX8o3Akn8nKRQUUq-JdBNb7U/s1600/IMG_4771.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After failing to see the surf scoter, it was off to Abergele to see the very easy to find Iceland gull. It was sitting on the pebbles. It was good to see, not just because it is a beautiful rare bird but also because I had only seen the sub=species Kumlein's so far this year. This made it a full species year tick and made up for the one that didn't turn up on the last evening of 2010.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmXty1QbCQyr0bwpsuE9paWFxrdlVUBC8lRSb3mDZtQXFU33zjLD4TanDAa4ovmwTX5KZMMvMRquCFe7qSKJ-r2p05_eoIw_f9Fao42p3wzzDXRb1zVb5bs7IlLoNXunvR5w8rS08BEM/s1600/IMG_4871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmXty1QbCQyr0bwpsuE9paWFxrdlVUBC8lRSb3mDZtQXFU33zjLD4TanDAa4ovmwTX5KZMMvMRquCFe7qSKJ-r2p05_eoIw_f9Fao42p3wzzDXRb1zVb5bs7IlLoNXunvR5w8rS08BEM/s1600/IMG_4871.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The occasional heavy shower came along and to shelter from one I was given a seat in a van of a group of fence fixers; six great
lads who had a good level of banter, some coffee and my biscuits.
They even had a whip round for the charity box. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKud3mNMUKdAM7NA9UKrTB0U-1gdeUpx_DEUHZz7F1LSJDR6oBj0mpTJhZBu2RgLo0y4RhRXodMZJjJ2tLmKIa8DIjHMsIf7xtoeGT4EKnXMpcZayHYWdv5sEsAOfCRPpPlVU_rtqAyM/s1600/IMG_4911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKud3mNMUKdAM7NA9UKrTB0U-1gdeUpx_DEUHZz7F1LSJDR6oBj0mpTJhZBu2RgLo0y4RhRXodMZJjJ2tLmKIa8DIjHMsIf7xtoeGT4EKnXMpcZayHYWdv5sEsAOfCRPpPlVU_rtqAyM/s1600/IMG_4911.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Shower
over it was out and along a concrete sea wall before reaching
eventually the golf course just east of Prestatyn. At the eastern end
I realised I'd slightly gone past a sea wall that leads to a sand
dune area belonging to the RSPB. Turning back into the wind was
phenomenal and no way could you cycle into it. Leaving the bike, I
walked back and did a video diary to record the moment.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Lunchtime and an admission, I love egg and chips ( never chips and egg as Shirley Valentine says!) and a superb café provided the best of both with proper frozen garden peas. Real chips, not the frozen variety and lovely people serving it up. A perfect seaside café. Thanks.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMoqpUxSuJjD1L9js7tdJvpYzVQ8jGtBV_nW5rFDA2FBkZoCktIHdvzfbu8Pnb1Sahf59wVgVyPOjqvcS5-TW0AVPshcMlMDySelXE7klk4O4QtfoCTX_dPhZZBjasbfITskR755jqJs/s1600/IMG_4915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMoqpUxSuJjD1L9js7tdJvpYzVQ8jGtBV_nW5rFDA2FBkZoCktIHdvzfbu8Pnb1Sahf59wVgVyPOjqvcS5-TW0AVPshcMlMDySelXE7klk4O4QtfoCTX_dPhZZBjasbfITskR755jqJs/s1600/IMG_4915.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgte65S2Kf11wtN_Z3Pb7KtZcy2tkZ839b9WP6UGOsCwbcjLBhT-RFHPGjnd9xnJmhdKU22KwMeRhHmCzVgbeL_Tse4UUpTJWMogu2NTuOuHwj6mD4QdlNKXRmxGQyQbXCv487UIjoxBnM/s1600/IMG_4916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgte65S2Kf11wtN_Z3Pb7KtZcy2tkZ839b9WP6UGOsCwbcjLBhT-RFHPGjnd9xnJmhdKU22KwMeRhHmCzVgbeL_Tse4UUpTJWMogu2NTuOuHwj6mD4QdlNKXRmxGQyQbXCv487UIjoxBnM/s1600/IMG_4916.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tGg9KZb2czxJsKylEX3aBtbiJxu52_nV-G3mWNdSgCxXXHXqeYwbT1dZMBPQHdp9CK6hdYGVk_S2DeM1-CD78D5HjHznR1nQK0zNfApLnWaKoYG1LWHyUMGn5Z1ZxCmkpwG4QVKNFuk/s1600/IMG_4917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tGg9KZb2czxJsKylEX3aBtbiJxu52_nV-G3mWNdSgCxXXHXqeYwbT1dZMBPQHdp9CK6hdYGVk_S2DeM1-CD78D5HjHznR1nQK0zNfApLnWaKoYG1LWHyUMGn5Z1ZxCmkpwG4QVKNFuk/s1600/IMG_4917.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
to the point of Ayr and the bird hide overlooking the area as yet
another heavy shower fled past. They may have been heavy but they
only lasted a few minutes as the wind blew them over the Dee.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Birds
were a bit sporadic as it was low tide but a few little egrets braved
the gale and some teal.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtC2Aw0MBm0H_wSP3IBW7aSTJS-5ehF7lnAvGOKbsU583yEYXsY7AFkraOXNITVv20ZbVQvoEynNXI7fVRtMIFSf0YxlRVwdsgDxnUQfAdAYNkghso_rk7kSoFF9LBTbGd4z1LWFsYpY/s1600/IMG_4935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtC2Aw0MBm0H_wSP3IBW7aSTJS-5ehF7lnAvGOKbsU583yEYXsY7AFkraOXNITVv20ZbVQvoEynNXI7fVRtMIFSf0YxlRVwdsgDxnUQfAdAYNkghso_rk7kSoFF9LBTbGd4z1LWFsYpY/s1600/IMG_4935.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
onto the main road towards Flint I cycled to Connor's Quay and found
the library to find Steve and Margaret Dewsnap address. I had met
them both when I had got lost trying to find the way over the new
bridge over the Dee north of Connor's Quay. I had stopped at a small
row of cottages and knocked on a door. Steve ran out as soon as he
saw me blurting out, “You're the man with a robin on your bike!”
Indeed I was and am. Steve had only just seen about my travels on te
internet the night before when he was looking at the osprey site at
Glaswyn and here I was on his doorstep. A fabulous, amazingly
coincidental meeting. Steve and Margaret run Rockcliffe raptors, a
bird of prey rescue place and have a collection of 13 birds they look
after in large aviaries in their garden. We've been friends ever
since that day and they had invited me to stay the next time I was
passing.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Well
I was passing now and with heavy rain falling I found out that I had
practically cycled past their house 2 miles before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Cycling
back, house found, the evening was spent with them both and their
superb grandson Lucas, named after George Lucas as his Dad is a Star
Wars fan, First thing was to see the birds again' the daft barn owl,
the ever hooting eagle owl, the female kestrel and others.</span><br />
<a href="http://rockclifferaptors.co.uk.websitebuilder.prositehosting.co.uk/">http://rockclifferaptors.co.uk.websitebuilder.prositehosting.co.uk/</a><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Such
fabulous people. Life is a privilege.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday
1<sup>st</sup> April</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Off
with Steve for some birding at the Connor's Quay nature reserve, I
cycled, he drove a van. I had to stay Green in case I saw a new bird
for the year. Good job I did for there was a twite on view straight
away from the tower hide.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0cN70U7eUa2DLSvULlkAFb5TKpb_NLesLf9IBeFV9-utg65NjRqdANFAnZvJ4htvFst6RI4oGd9FCgAzxCkFjWsludeV1HlOfO9Xpst-CeWVNkljFpRpFNVbZW7AwZgEdznmRUohdY4/s1600/IMG_4971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0cN70U7eUa2DLSvULlkAFb5TKpb_NLesLf9IBeFV9-utg65NjRqdANFAnZvJ4htvFst6RI4oGd9FCgAzxCkFjWsludeV1HlOfO9Xpst-CeWVNkljFpRpFNVbZW7AwZgEdznmRUohdY4/s1600/IMG_4971.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
long chat between Steve and myself and a twite fanatic named Richard
I think for the next hour as the tide came in and left. Then it was
down to each of the superb hides on this great reserve. At £15 a
year membership of the Deeside Ornithological Club is a snip. What a
patch to study. Brilliant.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
at Steve and Margaret's I was allowed to hold a tawny owl, my
favourite owl.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjvcN1h0DmgUzVNJ5WT-PV8HNkrW1xW8prFKuWrfRdLOc3BU41AcApl1FxtgF_QlaTm9S4M_k39bM8AgBZPKSCr0jkJENVXFDqwYlE6m5vhRulRDRUGQ_VAv2yD7s8CNy9y-82Hym8jU/s1600/IMG_5006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjvcN1h0DmgUzVNJ5WT-PV8HNkrW1xW8prFKuWrfRdLOc3BU41AcApl1FxtgF_QlaTm9S4M_k39bM8AgBZPKSCr0jkJENVXFDqwYlE6m5vhRulRDRUGQ_VAv2yD7s8CNy9y-82Hym8jU/s1600/IMG_5006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Then
it was off to Llandanog Forest to look for Black Grouse at the RSPB
viewpoint there.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Let's
just say it took 4 and a half hours to get there and only an hour and
a half to get back. Imagine the long, mile after mile climb and the
knuckle whitening rapid descent in the dark.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Great
fun and I saw 4 black grouse males feeding too as well as 3 flying
red grouse. Brilliant, 2 year ticks taking me up to 175.</span><br />
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<div align="center">
</div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-31796970503221162232015-04-02T23:25:00.001-07:002015-04-02T23:25:59.941-07:00Morfe Dinlle, Malltraeth and Valley Wetlands, South Stack and Off To Conwy A weekend on Anglesey. March 28/9th.
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Friday
27<sup>th</sup> March.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Breakfast
early with a lady. Angela who was on her way back from Swansea to
Liverpool. She talked about a school in The Gambia that she supports
with her husband, wullingkamma nursery.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=o.199029231789&ref=mf">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=o.199029231789&ref=mf</a>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
breakfast it was out into the sunshine and a long day spent cycling
to the next almost inaccessible RSPB reserve west of Caernarvon,
Morfe Dinlle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
road taken went past the entrance to Portmerion. No time to visit
this time, the focus on this year's Biking Birder is birds. “This
birder gloriously vindicates the rights of the birder to bird and the
assembly rises to you, Sir!" to quote The Prisoner . . almost.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE-EMinj69o">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE-EMinj69o</a><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Through
Porthmadoc and up yet another long, steep section, I eventually found
a superb old railway line, now a cycle track. This took me down to
where a turn off took me through a few small lanes down to the edge
of the reserve. Not many birds to see over the saltmarsh area, I took
a footpath along the eastern edge to get a better view. The best
birds I suppose were a few little egrets but it looked good for
breeding lapwing, if they can keep the aerial predators away.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZTU8TMP7WG3iD3Mia29QSdoNeubBHltGjItV5jaQBY6IISL5qpiHum0EUNvei2VEONFyuIfZ2YKdcZmOElv2cNmTGTp3s2lm9Cf4SCQhvXAtXYbtqAGuu9RxCf8ivufeAtWtFyHFT5k/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZTU8TMP7WG3iD3Mia29QSdoNeubBHltGjItV5jaQBY6IISL5qpiHum0EUNvei2VEONFyuIfZ2YKdcZmOElv2cNmTGTp3s2lm9Cf4SCQhvXAtXYbtqAGuu9RxCf8ivufeAtWtFyHFT5k/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
I went around the bay to a hide overlooking it to have some lunch.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Why
do some idiots vandalise hides? Sad individuals with sad little
lives, this hide had had part of its information boards smashed.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MFgSXOtRAZ8Lr8tbHH-PuQ50okUltP-yU5fazDPHuoYMTkgQlE4t3mCWoenho8dUS5_rGzorra9wkj5MxB6BBAEjLvPVkVnV9djHNzIH99HUKL4rMqPmZvXBe4a1pz19sS0TayDU6so/s1600/IMG_4390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MFgSXOtRAZ8Lr8tbHH-PuQ50okUltP-yU5fazDPHuoYMTkgQlE4t3mCWoenho8dUS5_rGzorra9wkj5MxB6BBAEjLvPVkVnV9djHNzIH99HUKL4rMqPmZvXBe4a1pz19sS0TayDU6so/s1600/IMG_4390.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Quickly
through Caernarvon, no time for a castle visit and along the cycle
path to the Britannia Bridge over the Menai Straits. Not sure if I
was really allowed to cycle on the road, an older gentleman on an old
sit up and beg bike suddenly went past me as I photographed the view.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCnt5GV2Z8SgtMb9xu7xgJEjcIkoNiDpGdpZr-AAEwlzNTSWRP7523Es50BMgff7MJAq0FrqaVR-qOS42f7RaaOfS8-IlQ9tc1a4VPnQboHH5b9n-a59zpkHa199U9ArU-2-_1fPa1Hk/s1600/IMG_4400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCnt5GV2Z8SgtMb9xu7xgJEjcIkoNiDpGdpZr-AAEwlzNTSWRP7523Es50BMgff7MJAq0FrqaVR-qOS42f7RaaOfS8-IlQ9tc1a4VPnQboHH5b9n-a59zpkHa199U9ArU-2-_1fPa1Hk/s1600/IMG_4400.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvPMW1JtB0FYoYDoBiUow-uhMLulLgsonpIvnjLw4yFhOBkePn4DSax0UgDAkpAzpppgJD60mBJ4XCoRmYhs4aUokC87ULfiFuW6WmAMsim-GI4nNANZWinVvEb_aIWg9PuZk4hv6og0/s1600/IMG_4403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvPMW1JtB0FYoYDoBiUow-uhMLulLgsonpIvnjLw4yFhOBkePn4DSax0UgDAkpAzpppgJD60mBJ4XCoRmYhs4aUokC87ULfiFuW6WmAMsim-GI4nNANZWinVvEb_aIWg9PuZk4hv6og0/s1600/IMG_4403.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">To
Llanfairpwyl . . . . . . . well you know the rest and can say it
in perfect Welsh can't you? Have a look at the photo </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gJTMmpQMyhkXHZsO9iJMeJi4BFD3KzpdIV7xebJ1TiBuHxQgmHqnvNOINsargaCWCqVOiXYp9QTMF4CbqEvza0tknaOiPiACu23JG8r4-LdFOBnHCISPemaSLTTuWFzwB4SYPt9XZjg/s1600/IMG_4409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gJTMmpQMyhkXHZsO9iJMeJi4BFD3KzpdIV7xebJ1TiBuHxQgmHqnvNOINsargaCWCqVOiXYp9QTMF4CbqEvza0tknaOiPiACu23JG8r4-LdFOBnHCISPemaSLTTuWFzwB4SYPt9XZjg/s1600/IMG_4409.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">or click on the
youtube link and try it out. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BXKsQ2nbno">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BXKsQ2nbno</a>
</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Catchy
little tune. I'll be singing it later on the bike. Watch out for the
last few notes. Deep breath required.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Cream
tea with sarnies, scone with jam and cream, another cup cake and a
coffee for a fiver. Great.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqN-cASZVBsgbF7Gwo7PRkX11NYQuj5WG2lU3kP6DVdeuROnnltuRe9pECVPycB5edSkipXqIEYs6MlFhqJDw8j0mtU_gc5TzdGwJPhh9eQ83Rnv_uz_EvP0pKZftLdFV9rtBKPx14X0/s1600/IMG_4414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqN-cASZVBsgbF7Gwo7PRkX11NYQuj5WG2lU3kP6DVdeuROnnltuRe9pECVPycB5edSkipXqIEYs6MlFhqJDw8j0mtU_gc5TzdGwJPhh9eQ83Rnv_uz_EvP0pKZftLdFV9rtBKPx14X0/s1600/IMG_4414.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
I cycled along the A5 until reaching the cycle path that went along
the large dyke bisecting the large RSPB reserve at Malltraeth
Marshes. More little egrets, a few ducks, water rail and a cettis was
my birding reward for a long day cycling.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Saturday
28<sup>th</sup> Marsh</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
night in the tent again with strong wind and heavy rain to keep me
inside for a while in the morning, the rain faded and I packed up in
a north westerly gale and started the cycle to the next RSPB reserve.
The going was a lot tougher than yesterday with the wind in my face
or from my side for most of the day. It took some time to get to
Valley Wetlands and any birds had the good sense to hunker down and
stay out of the gale.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfjUJyIExGo5HTb1IhyphenhyphenxvdpzpSQOF80JhNgIAdgJAPHtiHXSCPFodweP_epmyFvm6XJ_shy0oyhMJX_9-TtzTatyxqdOTZ85yEw42Ru-4pozMnSEH_tbMBmj-RdFFs6qLIapKmtBoHDk/s1600/IMG_4452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfjUJyIExGo5HTb1IhyphenhyphenxvdpzpSQOF80JhNgIAdgJAPHtiHXSCPFodweP_epmyFvm6XJ_shy0oyhMJX_9-TtzTatyxqdOTZ85yEw42Ru-4pozMnSEH_tbMBmj-RdFFs6qLIapKmtBoHDk/s1600/IMG_4452.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Onwards,
I went past a hotel a few miles before and thinking it would be daft
to carry on the struggle against the wind with a fully laden bike I
called in.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">To
South Stack with a lighter bike, I didn't quite fly there but it was
a lot easier. As I pushed the empty bike up the steep raod towards
South Stack I saw an injured chough in a field with a few jackdaws.
It had an injured right leg and was hobbling around the field probing
for leatherjackets I presume. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97nNxzpI2JN0mcSw1KWvDbTIHbP70TAJeGe-TJffwP5b1M2EZNQSL1nF44BPyzGIwobOC3SSJFh4NcjIcB3MMlS_04iQ6KALGC71ce-nwQtOWLvqGTJi37FzVlSNBltdG7hMrbpKDbD0/s1600/IMG_4472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97nNxzpI2JN0mcSw1KWvDbTIHbP70TAJeGe-TJffwP5b1M2EZNQSL1nF44BPyzGIwobOC3SSJFh4NcjIcB3MMlS_04iQ6KALGC71ce-nwQtOWLvqGTJi37FzVlSNBltdG7hMrbpKDbD0/s1600/IMG_4472.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
sun had come out too and after meeting people at the visitor's centre
and after having seen a couple more chough at the bird feeder outside
the cafe window, I went down to the Elgin Tower and met Dave, the
RSPB greeter. He was a smashing bloke and a keen birder. He said he'd
been told I would be arriving soon by a young girl named Mary a few
days before. Thanks Mary!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlNy-sgTjonzXcuHAlPr-9pf_ojr6N0LLmmXs7cfXNo_sJaC8IJdjIr1Do0HnUQFlWOccIQoBMPi7vrjlr7RAsayLqxxF1qahIQZjQ5bhGg-izTuhXaSVqgn727XIEchtmnbr2tMX1f4/s1600/IMG_4486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlNy-sgTjonzXcuHAlPr-9pf_ojr6N0LLmmXs7cfXNo_sJaC8IJdjIr1Do0HnUQFlWOccIQoBMPi7vrjlr7RAsayLqxxF1qahIQZjQ5bhGg-izTuhXaSVqgn727XIEchtmnbr2tMX1f4/s1600/IMG_4486.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Seawatching
from the comfort of an armchair, and after seeing a close male
peregrine through an RSPB telescope, I soon found a couple more year
ticks to add to the chough. They were a few razorbills sitting on the
sea and 7 passing manx shearwaters, 6 heading south and one who
wanted to be different heading north. Good on him. Year list now on
168.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrK79HA0IpTSQyfDb6nfkT_6hR5KHaz_huqaODxISTrjGi9hM-emzygJlKaEJkVgbD7hDXGCoRyUb4Idyk40KiOhx4WXnLiXp8qWwa5r8_O6IsjVEu6Xoke7nwyimGjOW-8C4ywOverA/s1600/IMG_4501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrK79HA0IpTSQyfDb6nfkT_6hR5KHaz_huqaODxISTrjGi9hM-emzygJlKaEJkVgbD7hDXGCoRyUb4Idyk40KiOhx4WXnLiXp8qWwa5r8_O6IsjVEu6Xoke7nwyimGjOW-8C4ywOverA/s1600/IMG_4501.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
at the visitor's centre the RSPB staff allowed me a photograph of
them. It's always wonderful to meet people who such enthusiasts for
nature.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYAmktgaEyUGYv5c4UYWTYyxLwH-NC_DSybIZBpWxfIQ8PcLPnU2xnFoBexYeAWCCQrDuveqQVbpJ4l_VO-1HBtamwO4H0S1lfTzcjF41b7X__CJBsd0cNYMDN_70bbB1vvSjEVmvpPU/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYAmktgaEyUGYv5c4UYWTYyxLwH-NC_DSybIZBpWxfIQ8PcLPnU2xnFoBexYeAWCCQrDuveqQVbpJ4l_VO-1HBtamwO4H0S1lfTzcjF41b7X__CJBsd0cNYMDN_70bbB1vvSjEVmvpPU/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">With
the wind behind me, it was a quick ride down to the breakwater and
there 3 black guillemots were reasonably close. Bird number 169.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-T1WovE0WMx4uBOHQtNCTpfXGDTRkpm1QGKc4vTMijJykrjxJltesWxvc0kCvJg2f8yezT2HAf7aoxFyEe9ge_E4txZi9f1DXLS2lRv3InxgyYqz53AUwK5kex8de6DB43zk6YLmBJUU/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-T1WovE0WMx4uBOHQtNCTpfXGDTRkpm1QGKc4vTMijJykrjxJltesWxvc0kCvJg2f8yezT2HAf7aoxFyEe9ge_E4txZi9f1DXLS2lRv3InxgyYqz53AUwK5kex8de6DB43zk6YLmBJUU/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
there are a few RSPB reserves that I can;t get to and therefore I
have to be happy if I can see them from any vantage point. These are
the remote islands such as Grassholm off Pembrokeshire seen a few
weeks back. Today I could only see The Skerries RSPB reserve from
over the waves from the breakwater and the day finished with a 4 RSPB
reserve day.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Also
a 4 year tick day, Spring will soon make that become a daily
occurrence as hopefully soon the migrants will come flooding in after
an almost becalmed March. Bring it on.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday
29<sup>th</sup> March</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
spent the day cycling from Anglesey to Conwy. A puncture to repair
and this was a real puncture, a small hole in the inner tube easy to
feel as the air came out. Easily fixed and the first real puncture of
the year as the others I feel were due to the broken pump I was using
before/</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Then
a gear cable problem left me with only one gear on each block until a
repair increased that to 4. Not the whole range but better than
before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Both
minor problems quickly sorted, I cycled along the old A5 back to
Llanfairpwyl............gogogoch and beyond to a viewpoint over
Chruch Island and the old Menai Suspension Bridge.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ375zcqimsYpHdkxOcqGsDCRpQK5kNtQTCTJWYoCYDkMSHrFx7ziKF-5Dy-FXchUtWLKYymPCoJFQu1yZm8c9xMcYsM18IxhJN5qsnfGkC6xCUm0sWx8MH-f4NZoOgPU9HsDIhu22-0/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ375zcqimsYpHdkxOcqGsDCRpQK5kNtQTCTJWYoCYDkMSHrFx7ziKF-5Dy-FXchUtWLKYymPCoJFQu1yZm8c9xMcYsM18IxhJN5qsnfGkC6xCUm0sWx8MH-f4NZoOgPU9HsDIhu22-0/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
in 2010 I had cycled down to the island to remember a biology field
excursion there many years ago. On arriving at the island I met a
young girl with a pushchair and a toddler and when she said hello I
blurted out ”Gosh you've got beautiful eyes!” Nothing meant by it
other than the truth, stunningly green Irish eyes. Luckily she just
laughed and we chatted for a while.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">This
time it was straight over the bridge and into Bangor's Morrisons to
buy some doughnuts. Morrisons do the only supermarket doughnuts that
are any good and a packet of 5 big jam ones reduced to 30p was just
what I wanted. Actually for the price of a Costa(lot) coffee I bought
the doughnuts, a litre of milk and two milkshakes. I know which I
prefer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Through
Bangor and onto a cycle path along the way to Conwy. Past Aber Falls
without going to them, The views from the roads over to the Great
Orme and Puffin Island were occasionally bright and superb followed
by times when they were both gone as heavy showers passed. Only one
got me but a few minutes sheltering in a bus shelter prevented a
soaking.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
last section of cycle path was away from the main road and along the
estuary's edge.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzEkRrofJxgqOneVA1pot-wWzYrROUS2R3i99mp9PaO6BLJhXJQqzrn61SrquhaTnS27A4pEzJnLez4va0RIDHhxpOmr-3mD783Me049RdtMQUCyn3lC0yhgY9M8X7YhYejYchyphenhyphenl583A/s1600/IMG_4560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzEkRrofJxgqOneVA1pot-wWzYrROUS2R3i99mp9PaO6BLJhXJQqzrn61SrquhaTnS27A4pEzJnLez4va0RIDHhxpOmr-3mD783Me049RdtMQUCyn3lC0yhgY9M8X7YhYejYchyphenhyphenl583A/s1600/IMG_4560.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Arriving
at the RSPB reserve I explored around its estuary edge and the
lagoons viewable from there before camping for the night. It had been
a windy showery day yet beautiful with the views of the Menai Straits
and the North Wales coastline.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-41118748084939359912015-03-31T00:03:00.003-07:002015-03-31T00:03:48.491-07:00Morfe Dinlle, Malltraeth Marshes, Valley Wetlands and South Stack Nature Reserves - 27 and 28th of March.
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Friday
27<sup>th</sup> March.</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Breakfast
early with a lady. Angela who was on her way back from Swansea to
Liverpool. She talked about a school in The Gambia that she supports
with her husband, wullingkamma nursery.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=o.199029231789&ref=mf">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=o.199029231789&ref=mf</a>
</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
breakfast it was out into the sunshine and a long day spent cycling
to the next almost inaccessible RSPB reserve west of Caernarvon,
Morfe Dinlle.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
road taken went past the entrance to Portmerion. No time to visit
this time, the focus on this year's Biking Birder is birds. “This
birder gloriously vindicates the rights of the birder to bird and the
assembly rises to you, Sir!" To quote The Prisoner . . almost.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tra3Zi5ZWa0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tra3Zi5ZWa0</a><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Through
Porthmadoc and up yet another long, steep section, I eventually found
a superb old railway line, now a cycle track. This took me down to
where a turn off took me through a few small lanes down to the edge
of the reserve. Not many birds to see over the saltmarsh area, I took
a footpath along the eastern edge to get a better view. The best
birds I suppose were a few little egrets but it looked good for
breeding lapwing, if they can keep the aerial predators away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
I went around the bay to a hide overlooking it to have some lunch.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ciWdGqiBV65JBx-Dk3NUw4GpteveNLG7dR8Sk8pvet2YupU9QrrHcM4t1bdPexL-qsbPNcV56PtG83wyYLD7cfKviE5CjkkrULvvnQoymXHsJVSO-chyhds54FAYJiW2fEgcDxa_W5Q/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ciWdGqiBV65JBx-Dk3NUw4GpteveNLG7dR8Sk8pvet2YupU9QrrHcM4t1bdPexL-qsbPNcV56PtG83wyYLD7cfKviE5CjkkrULvvnQoymXHsJVSO-chyhds54FAYJiW2fEgcDxa_W5Q/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Why
do some idiots vandalise hides? Sad individuals with sad little
lives, this hide had had part of its information boards smashed.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Quickly
through Caernarvon, no time for a castle visit and along the cycle
path to the Britannia Bridge over the Menai Straits. Not sure if I
was really allowed to cycle on the road, an older gentleman on an old
sit up and beg bike suddenly went past me as I photographed the view.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">To
Llanfairpwyl . . . . . . . well you know the rest and can say it
in perfect Welsh can't you? Have a look at the photo or click on the
youtube link and try it out. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzKeILQ13_8Gy3XoVuOEtkdGKY1zLU8Beq6J7dSl4DgFW6aNhAbVGFqXTYg2xpMXcTybV0bCfqsH4e3WNnN1rReAF0Y0Tr6V3510ykkxztRdkg1KHGxocyOLWTqXU_qTSp0jA7zkBc6Y/s1600/IMG_4409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzKeILQ13_8Gy3XoVuOEtkdGKY1zLU8Beq6J7dSl4DgFW6aNhAbVGFqXTYg2xpMXcTybV0bCfqsH4e3WNnN1rReAF0Y0Tr6V3510ykkxztRdkg1KHGxocyOLWTqXU_qTSp0jA7zkBc6Y/s1600/IMG_4409.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BXKsQ2nbno">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BXKsQ2nbno</a>
</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Catchy
little tune. I'll be singing it later on the bike. Watch out for the
last few notes. Deep breath required.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Cream
tea with sarnies, scone with jam and cream, another cup cake and a
coffee for a fiver. Great.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
I cycled along the A5 until reaching the cycle path that went along
the large dyke bisecting the large RSPB reserve at Malltraeth
Marshes. More little egrets, a few ducks, water rail and a cettis was
my birding reward for a long day cycling.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Saturday
28<sup>th</sup> Marsh</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
night in the tent again with strong wind and heavy rain to keep me
inside for a while in the morning, the rain faded and I packed up in
a north westerly gale and started the cycle to the next RSPB reserve.
The going was a lot tougher than yesterday with the wind in my face
or from my side for most of the day. It took some time to get to
Valley Wetlands and any birds had the good sense to hunker down and
stay out of the gale.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDDXnImwoccS31wj1peevSJnA8HHpm_rJhTZfhkkX6LrqCZmONNi09yfyB5wXt8tvEeZCI_PBfKmdeZRavNg0R6ytWg9UuYBwb1UV-uXM1VYHSkgClODu7cmet-cyd_fPV7_aBb9QTaU/s1600/IMG_4452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDDXnImwoccS31wj1peevSJnA8HHpm_rJhTZfhkkX6LrqCZmONNi09yfyB5wXt8tvEeZCI_PBfKmdeZRavNg0R6ytWg9UuYBwb1UV-uXM1VYHSkgClODu7cmet-cyd_fPV7_aBb9QTaU/s1600/IMG_4452.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Onwards,
I went past a hotel a few miles before and thinking it would be daft
to carry on the struggle against the wind with a fully laden bike I
called in.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">To
South Stack with a lighter bike, I didn't quite fly there but it was
a lot easier. As I pushed the empty bike up the steep raod towards
South Stack I saw an injured chough in a field with a few jackdaws.
It had an injured right leg and was hobbling around the field probing
for leatherjackets I presume. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7OgWSea80WBarF2_jyEuQTU4YYScAKICtsYpShxqd2Sj8z9OKrY-ITcmS6Xr9b3XfsEiRlc5AiNYYyotvoJhTaad3O9dzkNx4VaBrtvdWSOaSuT7RmCQx2tkp8jrYOdXQfzqZME73_Q/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7OgWSea80WBarF2_jyEuQTU4YYScAKICtsYpShxqd2Sj8z9OKrY-ITcmS6Xr9b3XfsEiRlc5AiNYYyotvoJhTaad3O9dzkNx4VaBrtvdWSOaSuT7RmCQx2tkp8jrYOdXQfzqZME73_Q/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
sun had come out too and after meeting people at the visitor's centre
and after having seen a couple more chough at the bird feeder outside
the cafe window, I went down to the Elgin Tower and met Dave, the
RSPB greeter. He was a smashing bloke and a keen birder. He said he'd
been told I would be arriving soon by a young girl named Mary a few
days before. Thanks Mary!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Seawatching
from the comfort of an armchair, and after seeing a close male
peregrine through an RSPB telescope, I soon found a couple more year
ticks to add to the chough. They were a few razorbills sitting on the
sea and 7 passing manx shearwaters, 6 heading south and one who
wanted to be different heading north. Good on him. Year list now on
168.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoOSyQK2fA4b3GifgCqKKZ34_EBKHI2VH4rHsVnmu3CEp5-TUiDFcQtL1N5UQEx_0pDQ3nTfD67-bu5Sqq2x0D7q0RhAMGn-P8B_ZYKmlRCHrXvYPtIQqQ6lK_siz4VIL7P0KyL_GWME/s1600/IMG_4501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoOSyQK2fA4b3GifgCqKKZ34_EBKHI2VH4rHsVnmu3CEp5-TUiDFcQtL1N5UQEx_0pDQ3nTfD67-bu5Sqq2x0D7q0RhAMGn-P8B_ZYKmlRCHrXvYPtIQqQ6lK_siz4VIL7P0KyL_GWME/s1600/IMG_4501.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
at the visitor'scentre the RSPB staff allowed me a photograph of
them. It's always wonderful to meet people who such enthusiasts for
nature.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYiYNs1byfbjrOsvb7a8t2t3Q-d5qwKv5oaw2dxlULTb9ZIFyVw2T0VunBwkojH-E0E8xHTZS89hRMayCx2E57SePLLbB5uJoWTbPOtqCK86sNcie832aC0tHDFzqV4-TVSYdnihwp_s/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYiYNs1byfbjrOsvb7a8t2t3Q-d5qwKv5oaw2dxlULTb9ZIFyVw2T0VunBwkojH-E0E8xHTZS89hRMayCx2E57SePLLbB5uJoWTbPOtqCK86sNcie832aC0tHDFzqV4-TVSYdnihwp_s/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">With
the wind behind me, it was a quick ride down to the breakwater and
there 3 black guillemots were reasonably close. Bird number 169.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40_0SDArO7htjHC6NkoJl1wSavxDfqDXMVIX0tCYOxD6-u6CnNeHQTAw_diybNjWV9tudQuNcIYHYAp6PSHfTAbavXprmc49WaIOT9qBvDTKCDNO8g1WqfYhRwtZQgLoI9qWo8_pvpmo/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40_0SDArO7htjHC6NkoJl1wSavxDfqDXMVIX0tCYOxD6-u6CnNeHQTAw_diybNjWV9tudQuNcIYHYAp6PSHfTAbavXprmc49WaIOT9qBvDTKCDNO8g1WqfYhRwtZQgLoI9qWo8_pvpmo/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
there are a few RSPB reserves that I can;t get to and therefore I
have to be happy if I can see them from any vantage point. These are
the remote islands such as Grassholm off Pembrokeshire seen a few
weeks back. Today I could only see The Skerries RSPB reserve from
over the waves from the breakwater and the day finished with a 4 RSPB
reserve day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhids0gaB3_LBDU1hOhMo4X59cviEtN1ffQ9IYAJjDq-SQLJTSeb9tDKvYC9RJZBMwSf7jTnlij1bsuDYEI8jZuFlkSb2JrUzS3gmsEnhqQk2PQqFaVugzEvm3enHTOmhtXqlfoB2oPg/s1600/IMG_4520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhids0gaB3_LBDU1hOhMo4X59cviEtN1ffQ9IYAJjDq-SQLJTSeb9tDKvYC9RJZBMwSf7jTnlij1bsuDYEI8jZuFlkSb2JrUzS3gmsEnhqQk2PQqFaVugzEvm3enHTOmhtXqlfoB2oPg/s1600/IMG_4520.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Also
a </span><span style="font-size: medium;">4
year tick day, Spring will soon make that become after an almost
becalmed March. Bring it on.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Also
if you could please make a small donation to any of the charities
that I am supporting then please click on the links to the right. I
know I put this onto the end of every blog posting but I really get a
boost from every donation. The RSPB, The WWT, Asthma UK and
Chaskawasi-Manu. I would be so grateful if you could make a donation
however small. Thanks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">All
the very best everyone. Love to you all xx</span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-32994579761128197822015-03-29T02:24:00.003-07:002015-03-29T02:24:42.897-07:00Machynlleth to Maentwrog. 24th to 27th March. Barn owls!
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Tuesday
24<sup>th</sup> March.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
journey back to Machynlleth to collect the bike, panniers and carry
on towards Lake Vyrnwy was uneventful and surprisingly comfortable on
the Virgin train with fewer people on it than the day before. Goodbye
to Josh at Wolverhampton and onto Shrewsbury, eventually reaching
Machynlleth at 3.00pm. I collected the bike, loaded up and had a
pleasant cycle ride towards Lake Vyrnwy. In fact it was lovely
despite a quick shower that had me sheltering from the hail in an old
sheep barn. Now there were two barn owl boxes inside with a lot of
pellets but no way was I going to disturb the occupants despite
needing them for the year list.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
seemed like the whole route was uphill but with a light breeze behind
me I breezed my way up.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
was determined to get to Lake Vyrnwy and so as darkness fell I
continued onto a B road. It was beautiful with the stars bright and a
crescent Moon to the west. Beneath this was a very bright planet
which one I don't know. Orion was to the east of the Moon and all
were occasionally covered as yet more showers passed.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Indeed
another shower had me sheltering this time in a car port.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
I pushed the bike after the shower up yet another hill a barn owl
went past like a huge white moth in the cycle's lights. A year tick,
165 and a reward for not disturbing those nest boxes earlier.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Another
barn owl came off a post as I passed it later on.</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday
25<sup>th</sup> March</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3fyEStV-zDj0vXcH0N5KYPo8urYcxPCqvQMHHGp6du2EVpJcXD4U11ZXHQLqLJxan0YLyqT5XD3na4JgjcRFv3Ql61imcryFx8z_jnISnW88sM_P1418pfn-iFlSsqZJZoCJ9YmR8bY/s1600/IMG_4051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3fyEStV-zDj0vXcH0N5KYPo8urYcxPCqvQMHHGp6du2EVpJcXD4U11ZXHQLqLJxan0YLyqT5XD3na4JgjcRFv3Ql61imcryFx8z_jnISnW88sM_P1418pfn-iFlSsqZJZoCJ9YmR8bY/s1600/IMG_4051.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Awoke
to birds, lots of them. Nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers,
titmice and chaffinches. Really pleased with the photos of a coal tit.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUdJ-kYvgTsZbTd8pMUkUQANEw2qoDUwv6osPJCGoeC2TO2VSmXOLUcVDNVgkj83ADyzM2JPYvTVKdFWrC5YrRqvkelanfovZuq-Dd2bA-zIxTf6sJkKI6EDV2bWgfTodtAhHC_2T4Ps/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUdJ-kYvgTsZbTd8pMUkUQANEw2qoDUwv6osPJCGoeC2TO2VSmXOLUcVDNVgkj83ADyzM2JPYvTVKdFWrC5YrRqvkelanfovZuq-Dd2bA-zIxTf6sJkKI6EDV2bWgfTodtAhHC_2T4Ps/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
walk around the RSPB reserve's trail gave misty views of the huge
lake and then walking to the dam the sun came over a hill and bathed
the area in sunlight. A female goosander was swimming and diving for
fish in the pool at its base.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM19K_NP1dINJMGEFv52GQoHc3MJdlH1P0Zrqi2wDNMYS_pYATXTlIykOKUj6cewzs3KRQaYyDTSRXc4PTWGNC1mX-c0LtGJQ9mUHh93DQecI3koAwIq_qgx_HAy5VSyIbxJf26hMJmA/s1600/IMG_4054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM19K_NP1dINJMGEFv52GQoHc3MJdlH1P0Zrqi2wDNMYS_pYATXTlIykOKUj6cewzs3KRQaYyDTSRXc4PTWGNC1mX-c0LtGJQ9mUHh93DQecI3koAwIq_qgx_HAy5VSyIbxJf26hMJmA/s1600/IMG_4054.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
meeting all the RSPB staff at the RSPB shop and after having taken a
photograph of them all, I cycled along the western edge of the lake,
hearing siskins and goldcrests along the way.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRdxwf45qeuBzmDhB5h5_bx5faA8Mm9dO0vjZzYdQSB2v7DqMNK6soOIVuixe8LfOxrlN3ngo4D-pbMTSyXnBztXAFYS0veiseoJahd690jrBCwdGYPj8xhB4UFfB4chS5mg6C2vcDIc/s1600/IMG_4203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRdxwf45qeuBzmDhB5h5_bx5faA8Mm9dO0vjZzYdQSB2v7DqMNK6soOIVuixe8LfOxrlN3ngo4D-pbMTSyXnBztXAFYS0veiseoJahd690jrBCwdGYPj8xhB4UFfB4chS5mg6C2vcDIc/s1600/IMG_4203.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPyf35gdtfkBwXE6RZqSSPcji_sWDCAxsI1mqgSjdb5QqgXNXB8bQT1iwHhFy4zWl3-S7nTne5FzappWq9m8w5AYlmbZwnwe4zoSlsL7sVqTkreuFv0g_cLeD3-umC-Bi29C93x0D7N8/s1600/IMG_4204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPyf35gdtfkBwXE6RZqSSPcji_sWDCAxsI1mqgSjdb5QqgXNXB8bQT1iwHhFy4zWl3-S7nTne5FzappWq9m8w5AYlmbZwnwe4zoSlsL7sVqTkreuFv0g_cLeD3-umC-Bi29C93x0D7N8/s1600/IMG_4204.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Then it was the big
push to reach the moorland top. Last time in 2010 I had had wheatear
and ring ouzels up here. None were around on this too early date.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKAbUur6Zh-w-uH1c0VvK3tF31UZVN-XSdjq45qbqxQZq6cJTObKewM8COm5osdst-06-l3VY4o-PTzH-rVNil_EFumJPn9l22kD79pmbFIXBWzySz_Odu2XKFciIq1AobHS2x6_rWk4/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKAbUur6Zh-w-uH1c0VvK3tF31UZVN-XSdjq45qbqxQZq6cJTObKewM8COm5osdst-06-l3VY4o-PTzH-rVNil_EFumJPn9l22kD79pmbFIXBWzySz_Odu2XKFciIq1AobHS2x6_rWk4/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
hill down towards Dinas was terrifying yet exhilarating when i'd
survived it. The thought of what would I do if the brake cable
snapped whilst descending such a steep hill came to mind. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa9rTKOJqxUdjdmdTrCWlUhPOHpQUIKH672lhjxd5NNSPJFHpGMbNIT4Qi6y3mPHze-xDeeRk0sXrjJJKoFMIHYvJYUbbhCpD9xBbpRCnvUegOIXgqITH9GG3BJe-ZUGVMLb0McH4vGY/s1600/IMG_4241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa9rTKOJqxUdjdmdTrCWlUhPOHpQUIKH672lhjxd5NNSPJFHpGMbNIT4Qi6y3mPHze-xDeeRk0sXrjJJKoFMIHYvJYUbbhCpD9xBbpRCnvUegOIXgqITH9GG3BJe-ZUGVMLb0McH4vGY/s1600/IMG_4241.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
day was beautiful and the scenery marvellous. I reached Dinas and met
a woman from Castlecroft, Wolverhampton as I enjoyed a hot chocolate
at a pub.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next,
after a couple of miles towards Dolgellau, was another huge push up
another long steep hill. Snow topped some of the hills around it and
the sun was starting to disappear behind the biggest.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKpHy-pe65KyKXIozMqruBGZo4hyphenhyphenELcnYDVy0DQmoHogsO4UCrWz1aBhN0DaYGH7vKTMzJNVyEUqNysOc89wtn-eDeVbyRKWWG5ktFNVYOAYSEB2UM_DqkW8C89PFRfbHqmlMKXsjxDU/s1600/IMG_4257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKpHy-pe65KyKXIozMqruBGZo4hyphenhyphenELcnYDVy0DQmoHogsO4UCrWz1aBhN0DaYGH7vKTMzJNVyEUqNysOc89wtn-eDeVbyRKWWG5ktFNVYOAYSEB2UM_DqkW8C89PFRfbHqmlMKXsjxDU/s1600/IMG_4257.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Down
the other side was fast and smooth, like skiing I thought at the
time. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Into
Dolgellau itself, I searched out the church but no hawfinches were
there, unlike back in 2010 where I had ticked them off for the year.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Finding
the cycle track along the estuary, I crossed via the wooden toll
bridge to get to Coed Garth Gell RSPB reserve and walked it's steep
tracks for an hour or so after hiding the bike and stuff behind a
large hedge. An oak woodland on the northern side of the valley, the
reserve gave wonderful views over the estuary towards the snow-capped
mountains to the south, Cader Idris I think.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUSA2I-n3RyQQw8Hdc2KJxWyzuR-hiWfZUWjOkBvmszDPMvUWN5mo1Mu6JF4YN6r8VMeCsSCbccKhtDpeoJePsJdeKlE5OrGiD79vYC3xQ9-_Z27BrrehonEYHga40LQSC1g7U69v2Kk/s1600/IMG_4273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUSA2I-n3RyQQw8Hdc2KJxWyzuR-hiWfZUWjOkBvmszDPMvUWN5mo1Mu6JF4YN6r8VMeCsSCbccKhtDpeoJePsJdeKlE5OrGiD79vYC3xQ9-_Z27BrrehonEYHga40LQSC1g7U69v2Kk/s1600/IMG_4273.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
over the bridge and further along the cycle path, with a couple of
miles to go before getting to Barmouth I decided to camp at a picnic
spot right by the estuary.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrhCb3KQuXNrIJBPdJVXr4VbFzmj7QCrCWeb4Dfs2YGMR8HddwipRpddhesyWkvvB2AmSzT0zQuqgOSGkePqh1dyMwPYtOXpzoznaTa9nWMyIIcG7RWozn4fynnRYQX7NHvsjkDxDKYQ/s1600/IMG_4283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrhCb3KQuXNrIJBPdJVXr4VbFzmj7QCrCWeb4Dfs2YGMR8HddwipRpddhesyWkvvB2AmSzT0zQuqgOSGkePqh1dyMwPYtOXpzoznaTa9nWMyIIcG7RWozn4fynnRYQX7NHvsjkDxDKYQ/s1600/IMG_4283.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
was a beautiful calm evening with a few waders and a couple of little
egrets for company. Gorgeous.</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Thursday
26<sup>th</sup> March</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXQkAlceLKWW6bsSPh-o8iYYglD-hPNSn8wOIBS_1UijAKnvk3i-k2TVNobtD1x2kJu9fbj6qlNQNFR-BOgdPHEPhuj89CrntTSeaaCbhNe1zdyCjqR7bEOcz_QnY2JcTA7kK_sNFXHY/s1600/IMG_4284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXQkAlceLKWW6bsSPh-o8iYYglD-hPNSn8wOIBS_1UijAKnvk3i-k2TVNobtD1x2kJu9fbj6qlNQNFR-BOgdPHEPhuj89CrntTSeaaCbhNe1zdyCjqR7bEOcz_QnY2JcTA7kK_sNFXHY/s1600/IMG_4284.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">What
a night! 2.00am, the tent felt like it was going to be ripped from
the ground. The trees sounded as if they were going to fall and crush
me any minute and the noise of the heavy rain on the tent was adding
to the cacophony.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sleep
was sporadic due to the noise and the rain didn't stop until about 9
o'clock.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Decamped
and dry, I cycled to the next RSPB reserve, Coes Arthog Bog. A lot of
management work had been very recently done here as a large area had
been cleared and ditches improved to increase the water level. It'll
be good to come back in a couple of years to see how it matures. I
love to see management work and see how interactive the RSPB are with
their reserves.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdF9E63J7WmHTpWL4yo0-Ew1y5ornGCLC9jaq6H9GkDabdOd7YReNTW8s6fBLL7FUMLTnsyP9jYZU2vnBxvdDDtBk5cap14qwhl1L5f5fAGikfBG245vBbVefsYFsjQ5TXUEmf5fnyDE/s1600/IMG_4291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdF9E63J7WmHTpWL4yo0-Ew1y5ornGCLC9jaq6H9GkDabdOd7YReNTW8s6fBLL7FUMLTnsyP9jYZU2vnBxvdDDtBk5cap14qwhl1L5f5fAGikfBG245vBbVefsYFsjQ5TXUEmf5fnyDE/s1600/IMG_4291.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys842DTEI-AxN3sgUa3qIaEb-aRXGM0Ze8KKFns1aKqEGqeGABotFQu1xcsj4mGPFCVQ35v3AE61yT5okevNxIm7h0pd9nW9GpmVL9jFnrKVzhF0U15jmz9SPeRLL48OALE8hYmXH6t0/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys842DTEI-AxN3sgUa3qIaEb-aRXGM0Ze8KKFns1aKqEGqeGABotFQu1xcsj4mGPFCVQ35v3AE61yT5okevNxIm7h0pd9nW9GpmVL9jFnrKVzhF0U15jmz9SPeRLL48OALE8hYmXH6t0/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwthueiKyGy9HbXUMJr1AG3eJWJIIqE3l8_Bup_nTvfsW9MAa5uh9QC8DaPg9jeXYs_U_UeAsqDqlF9wAb8QkcO9Hub8aI2HN8zNaKMlIbrSlX_Bb2YYSjOezmNga5ilLIliGTeIvekxs/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwthueiKyGy9HbXUMJr1AG3eJWJIIqE3l8_Bup_nTvfsW9MAa5uh9QC8DaPg9jeXYs_U_UeAsqDqlF9wAb8QkcO9Hub8aI2HN8zNaKMlIbrSlX_Bb2YYSjOezmNga5ilLIliGTeIvekxs/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
grey wagtail was searching amongst the dug up earth.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Over
the bridge, again wooden, this time alongside the railway line, I
reached Barmouth and the wind was now very strong and in my face.
Coming from the north, or just west of that, the wind was going to
make things tough.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
breakfast at a cafe on the harbour front at Barmouth, I continued
north towards Harlech and stopped to look over an ancient burial
chamber behind a Primary school that I had seen when I last passed
this way.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0tl6fRGhpm_7KeWh8bU0IdU99WDglm_HsDtKPE07fPlHjFEBaFo4nS8MibIGlcGqxiSewciFc3alLNc4YKNH0sSTgk8Y7aFypFMfe-mBPvO5ZsoBaykaonxjgcPTlMQlnkwPjFwEyw0/s1600/IMG_4329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0tl6fRGhpm_7KeWh8bU0IdU99WDglm_HsDtKPE07fPlHjFEBaFo4nS8MibIGlcGqxiSewciFc3alLNc4YKNH0sSTgk8Y7aFypFMfe-mBPvO5ZsoBaykaonxjgcPTlMQlnkwPjFwEyw0/s1600/IMG_4329.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
views along the Llyn Peninsula and around Cardigan Bay were splendid
and Harlech Castle and beach beyond added the the scenic qualities of
the route.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZYYuqbVeK2DZTrljdY8xwI3pSLxDzlklVWwMOP6kzrTKIp5SDzNjIhUgMi2afFWj0Oa46V6BKTMoNVMx6wRZMFV8xjrdVE4CJ4Lz7dUdh19-9m7EfT4AqtVqb_dLHUcLhI5ia4GgfVw/s1600/IMG_4345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZYYuqbVeK2DZTrljdY8xwI3pSLxDzlklVWwMOP6kzrTKIp5SDzNjIhUgMi2afFWj0Oa46V6BKTMoNVMx6wRZMFV8xjrdVE4CJ4Lz7dUdh19-9m7EfT4AqtVqb_dLHUcLhI5ia4GgfVw/s1600/IMG_4345.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Portmerion,
location of my favourite TV programme ever, The Prisoner (I will not
be pushed, stamped, filed, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.
My life is my own!), could be seen distantly from the road and I
reached a part where there were was a traffic light control due to
road works.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
I progressed along the lane that was open, I noticed I had a van
following me closely but not overtaking. Feeling a little nervous by
this, I stopped and asked the 2 lads in the van what was up. “We
have to follow you.” came the reply. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglYyMQ65qKjjQrWRda2HvaKC9vUw90zQUw5EMoRQreBoalVd_BteAbrifOAxHeK-djNgtjEMDyLXh1KLU5MWNlOPb24wKcO5ulzlul8icH2sAEvie1TsVXvZCy6EpOzHxzZuRTKTZAYw/s1600/IMG_4352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglYyMQ65qKjjQrWRda2HvaKC9vUw90zQUw5EMoRQreBoalVd_BteAbrifOAxHeK-djNgtjEMDyLXh1KLU5MWNlOPb24wKcO5ulzlul8icH2sAEvie1TsVXvZCy6EpOzHxzZuRTKTZAYw/s1600/IMG_4352.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">They were part of the road
works crew and they had to convoy people through the section. They
did just that and I should have asked them what speed I was doing as
I seemed to race through to the end.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
another section of roadworks with yet another convoy system, I came
upon an area very dear to me, Maentwrog. Here, 40 years ago this
summer, I had stayed here at Plas Tan y Bwlch with fellow students on
a Biology Field week. Together a very dear friend, still is after all
this time, Mike 'Roy' Rogers, had climbed the high oak covered hill
to reach the top despite being swarmed by clegs (horseflies). I
remember how we put bracken fronds down our backs poking out by our
heads to try and keep them off us. At the top we'd found a huge
double pipe system with a stairway between that we'd walked down.
Here was the hill. There were the pipes. Great days.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-Uw0PBgw-Z0sfvvVABeS1hfxrg-AceUU7Xb1nGopLEGMPv_3bIHODch2hHYCZVisqqRTn2DLi058Ly9xyoPQTSQCLN6mEFeNtsV6B6nHV7q8xvdyTDmpcoIvHuWOlhAyEyUtMizZ4uo/s1600/IMG_4353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-Uw0PBgw-Z0sfvvVABeS1hfxrg-AceUU7Xb1nGopLEGMPv_3bIHODch2hHYCZVisqqRTn2DLi058Ly9xyoPQTSQCLN6mEFeNtsV6B6nHV7q8xvdyTDmpcoIvHuWOlhAyEyUtMizZ4uo/s1600/IMG_4353.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
I came into the village, I came upon the WW1 memorial and
photographing it noticed a hotel the other side of the road. After
cycling into the wind all day and after such a night camping, I
decided to stay there.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXyCIpv79eCzRGx8NOUfLN0hDmQlxz9Ug6As73D168ZAbB2ybeWwjCcWUELra7m944C6S3AUxeOtoLZwcdNgfDu4fBk8pM9d0i5y_r2HjfxnuDFS2n74uH4lkWZGsGvZKe-Zpe-5pujI/s1600/IMG_4364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXyCIpv79eCzRGx8NOUfLN0hDmQlxz9Ug6As73D168ZAbB2ybeWwjCcWUELra7m944C6S3AUxeOtoLZwcdNgfDu4fBk8pM9d0i5y_r2HjfxnuDFS2n74uH4lkWZGsGvZKe-Zpe-5pujI/s1600/IMG_4364.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
great room and fabulous vegetarian food. A wonderful bath and a
superb relaxing evening. Thanks.</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my Facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Also
if you could please make a small donation to any of the charities
that I am supporting then please click on the links to the right. I
know I put this onto the end of every blog posting but I really get a
boost from every donation. The RSPB, The WWT, Asthma UK and
Chaskawasi-Manu. I would be so grateful if you could make a donation
however small. Thanks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">All
the very best everyone. Love to you all xx</span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-51904949456749415482015-03-28T23:52:00.000-07:002015-03-28T23:52:26.888-07:00An Eclipse, A Lesser Spot and The Who. An Eclectic Mix of Days.<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Friday
20<sup>th</sup> March</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P64kKTwBH7B4FZP9zwJXQfsrkJNNF1Twr2SdgU-Oyw2Zk5BF9BtEE8s6dZAlIlWvcQ_bWOMAFUGup859kIJgG3ZYq-W8qzyb0oj8dXqqMFBp3vWJYTjSZWxlRXc84asJ2Lk4BcOlqA8/s1600/IMG_3874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P64kKTwBH7B4FZP9zwJXQfsrkJNNF1Twr2SdgU-Oyw2Zk5BF9BtEE8s6dZAlIlWvcQ_bWOMAFUGup859kIJgG3ZYq-W8qzyb0oj8dXqqMFBp3vWJYTjSZWxlRXc84asJ2Lk4BcOlqA8/s1600/IMG_3874.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
solar eclipse, 90% so would be good one drew me out of the B and B
before breakfast when it had just started. Three students had welding
glass and passed it over for me to view the chunk missing on the
right side of the Sun. After breakfast around 50 people, mostly
students were on the cliff side awaiting the moment of maximum
coverage at 9.30am. My front tyre was flat so I pushed everything
along to the seafront end and thinking that the repair could wait,
used binoculars to get an image of the eclipse on a white fence post.
Quite a pronounced crescent, I next took photographs using my bridge
camera set at its darkest setting. Even at maximum the Sun was still
very bright but the photographs showed its brilliance and the shape
of the eclipse to the left.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgjmiUFzGRww4TSS1tG_hn32QgnYjVKjW06AhTwfsPghe_gd7z5VENXShRVVOiF643WpkO75cuQWkDRqtMKE4kc_mdwcK6pn7CYZh9OYSydyTd1tyCjUUEFiEY391f2WzSigZUlMxhIw/s1600/IMG_3869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgjmiUFzGRww4TSS1tG_hn32QgnYjVKjW06AhTwfsPghe_gd7z5VENXShRVVOiF643WpkO75cuQWkDRqtMKE4kc_mdwcK6pn7CYZh9OYSydyTd1tyCjUUEFiEY391f2WzSigZUlMxhIw/s1600/IMG_3869.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Some
students had no protection at all. Others were using just a sheet of
paper! More sensible ones had welders goggles and one person had a
steel colander which created fabulous images of the eclipse, a superb
arrangement of crescent suns in a patterned circle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Eclipse
waning away from the maximum, everyone started to disperse and I
started on repairing the puncture. Only I couldn't find a puncture. I
took the front wheel off and took the inner tube out. I pumped it up.
No puncture. Next problem was, once I had deflated it again and
placed it back in the tyre I couldn't get my pump to work. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Leaving
the bike at the B and B, I took the wheel to a nearby cycle shop and
found out that the pump had broken and that there was indeed nothing
wrong with the inner tube. Strange how it was flat as I came out for
the eclipse. Poltergeist!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Pumped
up and raring to get to the next RSPB reserve, I cycled the 12 miles
or so to Ynys Hir. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIrvdZ5XQug3vnqvyy1jpecDfoyYmYvpgfOsQH4CIXD1pjJ_IBGjPRqMcUWGom2o_Kce3btzmcl-Kd-3fqMaGPilm1ktdcQmUbN1guFC91ulOzgs1aPUAHOgJ-1cXPO7a7fvduubAoGM/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIrvdZ5XQug3vnqvyy1jpecDfoyYmYvpgfOsQH4CIXD1pjJ_IBGjPRqMcUWGom2o_Kce3btzmcl-Kd-3fqMaGPilm1ktdcQmUbN1guFC91ulOzgs1aPUAHOgJ-1cXPO7a7fvduubAoGM/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Say goodbye to the bearded Biking Birder</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now this is one of my absolute favourite RSPB
reserves. It is large with a wide range of diverse habitats from oak
woodland to wet grasslands, views over the Dyfi Estuary and reedbeds.
Leaving the bike safely hidden in one of the RSPB garages there, I
walked around to the spot where a lesser spotted woodpecker had been
seen 3 times during the week. I sat beside a tree and hoped. 2 hours
later there had been a number of treecreepers, nuthatches and great
spotted woodpeckers but no lesser.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-YcHFP3kaJtIxWOZO0XuGIYEfvEBcVA-mpuPozWfQ2cFsHvU0eLDzNFl-FwgpBme2m7hb840N_FiaVAhYdjyRbpdW3ZcIyoufpnd1mdw36I4AKzdWnjcsy6mMi5APwFEvf4TEPzeM-o/s1600/IMG_3905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-YcHFP3kaJtIxWOZO0XuGIYEfvEBcVA-mpuPozWfQ2cFsHvU0eLDzNFl-FwgpBme2m7hb840N_FiaVAhYdjyRbpdW3ZcIyoufpnd1mdw36I4AKzdWnjcsy6mMi5APwFEvf4TEPzeM-o/s1600/IMG_3905.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Chatting
with three birders, including the rare nowadays birding reserve
warden, Russell was fascinating as birding chat always is to me.
Russell and the lady opposite who's name I can't recall were talking
about their forthcoming trip to Belarus birding. Great time of year
to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">With
it starting to get dark, I had one last go at seeing the lesser spot,
not seen and retired for the night.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Saturday
21<sup>st</sup> March</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Up
at 5.00am in order to be back at the lesser spot spot, I got there
and almost immediately heard it drumming weakly. Quickly putting the
bike and stuff against the gate I ran to where I could here the
drumming coming from and soon found the little bird on the top most
branch of an oak tree to the right of the path's crossroad.
Brilliant. I punched the air and tried to get photographs. This
proved impossible as the bird was at the back of a mass of twigs and
branches and the camera would not focus on it. Still I was watching
it and onto the list it can go. Bird number 164 and a very special
one as I missed this bird completely in 2010.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
bird flew off over in the direction of the empty RSPB house and so I
settled down in my armchair like spot against the tree again hoping
it would return so that I could get some photos of it. Now this may
sound daft but I feel guilty if I don't get a photograph of each bird
I see. If you remember I missed photographing the ferruginous duck at
Blashford Lakes as I chose to text all my friends to tell them I'd
got it first. Now there are only three that I haven't photographed
out of the 164 on my list so I'm not doing bad on that front.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
I sat against my tree, a visiting birder arrived and I told him of the
lesser spot. Now I had met this gentleman before back in 2010. His
name was harry Pepper and he had shown me my first manx shearwaters
when I was cycling along the seafront by Aberystwyth Castle. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Together
we went down to the Saltings hide to watch a huge tide cover the
grasslands next to the estuary. Listing the birds I wrote down
red-breasted mergansers and goosanders, little egrets and bar-tailed
godwits along with the commoner birds. The tide came in all the way
to the grass covered dyke and pushed the waders onto a stone wall and
a small area of grass on a raised hummock. It was a superb hour or so
watching as everything was covered by the fast incoming tide.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC1UDj5RYpTelu03Hx6A7wzdhWAN310QPei2ijDnM0lZolO0oQ3nB-8-NrHEgkfaoAFPN9OFRTuQy9qiXrZzivh_mA6fmhd6ry9Iyou36CFGq1lOBmgIFefcHKYD6fVPOL-jgnFT9ukc/s1600/IMG_3924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC1UDj5RYpTelu03Hx6A7wzdhWAN310QPei2ijDnM0lZolO0oQ3nB-8-NrHEgkfaoAFPN9OFRTuQy9qiXrZzivh_mA6fmhd6ry9Iyou36CFGq1lOBmgIFefcHKYD6fVPOL-jgnFT9ukc/s1600/IMG_3924.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
the tide receded, we went up to a small hill to get an elevated look
over the area. 8 little egrets were on an island to one of the pools
overlooked by the hides but there was only 3 close raptors; one
buzzard and two red kites. More distantly we could see a few more red
kites over a distant hill with a conifer plantation on it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwAgcOd4DsDaIvwk8ikwkWGIjCfW6PStZ5CePeli870MpPJds5kVhZAUPJ1c-9BLMIqDEU7i6JTl2RywBpxEEyJIFZLr9_ppq6PCgg55oV78ZxirWQL8vhiDfXgfdpduQcMBBrEDn-g0/s1600/IMG_3941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwAgcOd4DsDaIvwk8ikwkWGIjCfW6PStZ5CePeli870MpPJds5kVhZAUPJ1c-9BLMIqDEU7i6JTl2RywBpxEEyJIFZLr9_ppq6PCgg55oV78ZxirWQL8vhiDfXgfdpduQcMBBrEDn-g0/s1600/IMG_3941.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Saying
goodbye to Harry after taking a photo of him, I spent the rest of the
day exploring every footpath on the reserve. A broadwalk over a
habitat creation project area was gorgeous. The area was a conifer
plantation with an understory of rhododendrons. Now it's a raised
peat bog in its early days but already showing sphagnum and rush
development.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Down
to Breakwater Hide with the hope of seeing the reported bean goose. I
couldn't find the flock of white-fronted geese that it was
associating with. The flock had either gone or had moved further down
the saltings to a position out of view from the hide. There was also
a heat haze to make distant viewing impossible.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">No
problem, I should catch up with a bean goose or two later in the
year. The lesser spotted woodpecker had been the better bird to get.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Butterflies
and bumblebees in the warmth of a perfect Spring afternoon. Spring,
the first day of, I spent an hour shaving my winter plumage, my beard
off. I left the trimmings on a picnic bench for the local birds to
use for nest material, Later in the day people enjoying taking the
rise out of my two tone appearance; a sun-tanned upper face, a white
lower.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Peacock
and comma butterflies, a few bumblebees that I will have to put names
to later, I ended my walk on 59 bird species, the best number so far
this year for a day list.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Leaving
the reserve I went north along the A road, beautiful views over the
river were soon stopped by a high stone wall preventing one from
seeing any more. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5aaDaLi1ASpjYM49C5yUY8QFMK48pPnhOzQkSfZRbfO03Rmwx4CjF4_ZrjgPOWjdBZ9Cyc1kC5r9a9QuGzmE4sdJ_l7whrgHcWCZomkBKG-sZEcoyTO_chrRTHyBldG7kTWiEOIXEAY/s1600/IMG_4027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5aaDaLi1ASpjYM49C5yUY8QFMK48pPnhOzQkSfZRbfO03Rmwx4CjF4_ZrjgPOWjdBZ9Cyc1kC5r9a9QuGzmE4sdJ_l7whrgHcWCZomkBKG-sZEcoyTO_chrRTHyBldG7kTWiEOIXEAY/s1600/IMG_4027.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
called in to the Osprey viewpoint place on the Dyfi River and saw
that the video screens and shop was undamaged after an appalling
attack by mindless vandals last week. Apparently they smashed up some
computer equipment and stole about £12. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
cycle ride to Machynlleth followed, just a few miles of mostly cycle
path. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday
22<sup>nd</sup> March.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
day of completing an article for a magazine which will hopefully be
published and a fabulous surprise when a family of good friends
turned up.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
article is about Green Birding around a part of Morecambe Bay. It
contains maps, route and expected species. My first attempt at such
and I hope it is alright and useful. I would love more people to take
up the 'sport' of Green Birding. Doing a day list by cycling has its
proponents, such as Chris Mills and Nick Moran who in 2011 did a Big
Green Day around Norfolk. Unbelievably they saw 144 birds that day.
Incredible achievement and must be a record. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Have a read of the article about their amazing day on Birdguides.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2714">http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2714</a><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sue Rowe on the same
day, a Green Birding Big Day event coordinated by an American, took
on the carbon twitching Lee Evans in their home area and . . .
drew. To me these two achievements epitomise what Green Birding is
all about from the Big Green Day perspective.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
for doing a Big Green Year, well the tactics are different; very
different indeed to a carbon Big Year. My plan is to include all
sites where I can pick up the regular birds that one would expect to
see during a Big Year around the UK. As I travel I hope to pick up
each regions rarities present as I pass. Then certain counties and
islands need to be visited when they are their peak for getting those
40 plus national rarities that I need to beat the British record.
Hence my itinerary includes the month of May in East Anglia where I
will also pick up the regulars I missed back in 2010 due to being too
far north for them. These include hobby (!), nightingale and turtle
dove, Montagu's harrier and stone curlew. Then the Autumn is spent on
the Northern Isles; August is for the Orkneys with both September and
October on Shetland. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">When
cycling to an itinerary its hard to turn back for any long distance
when you hear of a bird that appears at a location you left a couple
of days before. At the moment I am averaging 27 miles a day cycling
with a fully loaded bike. To go back just 20 miles would therefore
take a day out of the itinerary. Mind you I am sure that some birds
will turn up which will have me peddling like the clappers to get to.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
the other hand the 'carrots' texted to me by great friends act as an
incentive to put in those extra miles. The next 'carrots' are the
surf scoters off North Wales. The snow bunting and lapland bunting on
the Great Orme are less of a pull as they will be seen later in the
year, most likely at easier to see them locations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Enough
of all that. I just wish others would take up the challenge and have
a go. You don't have to include the visiting of every RSPB and WWT
reserve. I do because I think they are both superb charities that do
much to protect and enhance our natural history that deserve my
support in whatever I can do. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
to be truthful a thought has recently come into my mind that if I
don't reach the magic figure of 300 then I'll turn around and do it
all over again with a different route and itinerary, not visiting the
reserves but going for reasonably close together rarities as well as
for the regulars. It's something I think about as I cycle along, when
I'm not singing that is. I do want to reach 300.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
list now is 164. I figure that there are just under 100 regulars that
I will get over the rest of the year and that leaved around 40
rarities to beat 300. Listing the possible rarities that I could get,
with a lot of luck, makes me realise how difficult this is going to
be but I have got to have a go. “Failure is not an option!”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
to the afternoon, I received a text from Tim and Mary, father and
daughter birders from Upton Warren. They with other family members
had spent Saturday on Anglesey and they asked whether I was still at
Machynlleth. Then around 2 o'clock a phone call with Tim saying he
could hear my phone ringing from my bedroom window. There he was
standing outside the hotel!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSwrER53lKP0nQdkl9eD0ayUu-h5ROkf_awKKHnNggXh342FYJCxpCR-yMWvGdz_jnfAx5aOtIzQ6MxTdVgvK936Ocm1HpaK6Q3aKSntArdrfGzsfJCDfZfpXFaAYZZlfU81pE6T7OwM/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSwrER53lKP0nQdkl9eD0ayUu-h5ROkf_awKKHnNggXh342FYJCxpCR-yMWvGdz_jnfAx5aOtIzQ6MxTdVgvK936Ocm1HpaK6Q3aKSntArdrfGzsfJCDfZfpXFaAYZZlfU81pE6T7OwM/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
wonderful afternoon was spent catching up on Upton Warren news, Tim
and Mary's birding and interests and activities of the other family
members, daughter with Man U supporting fiancé and wife. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KjUhCbdNlLyGnI3mgWhP617TYjA3SdObFd3-p5o_4goBBfU9i-d4HanKNSz1pYsEnOmTcHWMqHSOguijbTRFtFS25Fh71FfrhpI7Vd40k9OaEMwN6-jXPGjXRu00sITKKm9Tvr-eD4k/s1600/IMG_4042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KjUhCbdNlLyGnI3mgWhP617TYjA3SdObFd3-p5o_4goBBfU9i-d4HanKNSz1pYsEnOmTcHWMqHSOguijbTRFtFS25Fh71FfrhpI7Vd40k9OaEMwN6-jXPGjXRu00sITKKm9Tvr-eD4k/s1600/IMG_4042.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Like when
The Birding Clams, my dear close friends from Wolverhampton came down
to Dungeness to see me and do a spot of birding, this was a very
special afternoon for me. Having friends is a wonderful thing in life
and I am so lucky to have such good ones. Thanks to you all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Monday
23<sup>rd</sup> March</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Up
early but this time to have a carbon day. Taking the 8 o'clock train
to Wolverhampton to meet my son and then carry on to London to meet
my daughter, Rebecca had to be done because Roger Daltrey, the 71
year old lead singer of The Who had had a sore throat back in
December and the three tickets I had for the postponed concert were
valid for today's concert at the O2 Arena.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
clocked in at Earl's Court Youth Hostel, walked to the London Natural
Museum for a sandwich, cake and drink and joined the queue to look
around the dinosaur section of the museum. Superb.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
long underground train journey to North Greenwich and there was the
incredible Dome, massive and modern.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Once
inside we found our seats high up at the back and awaited the 8.30pm
start.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Casually
the old men walked onto the stage, introduced themselves and were
into I can't Explain, a song they first sang 50 years ago. Roger's
voice was still strong and Pete's playing still brutal. I wanted it
louder and that may be the reason why, for the first time ever at a
Ooo concert, I sat and banged my knees to the music instead of
leaping about at the back; my more usual concert activity. I sang
every lyric and noted when Roger went wrong, which he occasionally
did. It didn't matter. It was fabulous. No encore, they'd played
everything.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaMRGC1VlPJIQRByGxxhdiAdE-29YD9q1F_2cM5E1CTlXX5nkXfVgkJE5jbBM3-XRb1FSw0a_q_7dCFCFs9KtkMP8BJXhKF89H1TlVdSyaxK3YLdbiMBkV3zoDVnALK4qdazBPXOj-84/s1600/thewho02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaMRGC1VlPJIQRByGxxhdiAdE-29YD9q1F_2cM5E1CTlXX5nkXfVgkJE5jbBM3-XRb1FSw0a_q_7dCFCFs9KtkMP8BJXhKF89H1TlVdSyaxK3YLdbiMBkV3zoDVnALK4qdazBPXOj-84/s1600/thewho02.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-30082847315186477952015-03-26T23:48:00.002-07:002015-03-26T23:48:28.556-07:00<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Is
it really so long since I updated the blog? Sorry, I have been either
so tired by the end of the day due to the hills or I've been so busy
in the evening doing research for an article that may be published in
Birdwatch magazine. So let's catch up.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Monday
16<sup>th</sup> March</span><br />
<div align="center">
<span id="goog_1022579058"></span><span id="goog_1022579059"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Lampeter
to Gwenfrydd Dinas RSPB reserve was a day of long upward bike pushes
and time spent navigating the maze of small, narrow country lanes.
Actually I pushed the bike up higher than Snowden by 10 feet. (As of
the 23<sup>rd</sup> of March I have ascended hills totalling more
than Everest this month alone! 33,240 feet up). All these statistics
are available on my Facebook page and I have been keeping a tally on
a spreadsheet. Now I knew Wales was going to be a challenge but I'm
only half way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I am sure there is a conspiracy of some sort going on in Wales.
Everyone I meet seems to be from Essex! The girl at Cardiff Youth
Hostel, the lads out for a lad's weekend, Essex. A couple in St
David's, Essex. Today I had a long chat with an excitedly pompous but
delightful young man, Dan from Essex but now living on a small
holding with his parents. Dan had a passion for Sci-fi movies and
spent the half an hour it took me to push the bike up a particularly
long hill come upon almost immediately on leaving Lampeter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
had been an interesting WW2 pillbox next to the river, opposite a
supermarket that I photographed before the push. I have sent
photographs of it to Paul Hayesmore, the WW2 pillbox expert I met
back in early January in North Kent. Why just one pillbox and here in
the middle of Wales as well?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Dan
talked about films some of which I knew, like The Thing and others I
didn't which I have forgotten the names of. Dan wouldn't let me get a
word in edgeways, quite a feat really.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Goodbye
was at the summit, a special memory place for me as I had camped in a
field here one very frosty night back on the 2010 cycle run. The view
from up here was and is tremendous.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Cycling
on, I came to a small village and needed to check that I was on the
right road. A young lady from, guess where, Essex with long
dreadlocks and orange scarves was curious and friendly and ensured me
that the left and right was the correct way. There was a small
rectangle of tarmac adjacent to an empty old Primary school building,
was for sale at £40,000. Who'd want it?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
was lovely cycling these small lanes as there was almost no traffic.
In fact only a small number of white vans and a few cars all day
disturbed my otherwise all over the road cycling. This meant that I
could enjoy the views of the superb high hills and the sound of birds
without the drone of traffic.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
were a lot of ups and downs but I didn't care. I was a beautiful day
and I had all day to get to where I was going.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">One
particularly steep section was tough on the hands, so much so that I
stopped in a pull off area by a bridleway through a plantation of
spruce trees. Here a very tame robin almost came onto my hand for a
bit of a hot cross bun. There was also a good number of siskins in
the treetops together with 4 lesser redpolls; the first of the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Onward,
the next stop was to ask the way at a road junction and ask for some
water. Dave answered the door and surprisingly wasn't from Essex.
Mind you he wasn't Welsh either and he and his wife had moved here
over 20 years ago. His house is up for sale and he is hoping to move
back to England to be closer to his children.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Further
on I went past some attractive looking cottages which used to be the
RSPB offices for the area. Now holiday homes I think the area is
still managed at least by the RSPB. It would be fascinating to see a
complete list of all of the land they manage. I always think that I
have a complete list of reserves but it's amazing how many surprising
additions I come across to the spreadsheet of reserves sent to me by
Sandy HQ. I wonder if even they have a complete map of all their
areas?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Eventually
I reached Gwenfrydd Dinas RSPB reserve with an hour or so of light
and a light drizzle falling. The access to the reserve from the car
park was blocked due to maintenance work on the broad-walk. There was
a couple of marsh tits that kept coming down to a bird table though
and both a grey wagtail and a dipper were by the stream nearby.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Tuesday
17<sup>th</sup> March</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Early
morning walk into the reserve was as beautiful as I remembered from
last time. This time though I am here a month before the date I was
back in 2010. No migrants in yet, so no pied flycatchers and wood
warblers to add to the list. A great spotted woodpecker was drumming
and a couple of red kites were drifting over. Yesterday I had seen 22
of these fabulous raptors.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
the reserve is famous because of a cave where the Welsh Robin Hood,
Twm Sian Cati or to use his real name, Thomas Jones, used to hide from his enemies and the law. He actually
did exist and eventually married a rich man's daughter and lived a
wealthy man to a ripe old age, after being pardoned for his youthful
misdemeanour's.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Leaving
the reserve the day was once again spent mostly cycling in order to
get to Rhayader. This time though most of the cycling was along a
very busy A road through Llandrindod Wells where I had lunch in a lovely cafe and
Newbridge . Here the road went over the River Wye and I
photographed and filmed both a grey wagtail and a male goosander.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Choosing
to take a small country lane again just north of here, it took me a
circuitous route to Carngafallt RSPB reserve. It was so beautiful
that I thought it would be great to camp here. I found a spot away
from the lane and rested against a tree to admire the view. I fell
asleep and awoke sometime later with rain splattering my face. I
ended up in a pub's accommodation in Rhayader.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday
18<sup>th</sup> March</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
day to relax really and much needed after the last few days of
cycling and hills. A day of watching red kites at one of the feeding
stations set up for the birds, Gigrin Farm. This was after spending
the morning in Rhayader library researching the Birdwatch article.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Thursday
19<sup>th</sup> March</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Off
early back in the direction of Carngafallt RSPB reserve, taking the
cycle path there. A sunny day with a light northerly meant that the
first part of the Elan Valley was sheltered and cycling along the
flat, if a little stony cycle path around the first of the large
reservoirs was delightful. Siskins in the trees, the occasional
chipping crossbill and 3 peregrines chasing over over a dam; there
was plenty to enjoy, not least the beautiful views.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Around
the corner from the start of the second reservoir I came across a
lady carrying binoculars and hence met Socha and her husband
Brian. They were sheep farmers with land around this area and were
using 3 dogs to bring in a small flock of sheep for vaccination.
Really lovely to chat to, we exchanged Twitter details and took
photographs. I found out later that they'd won an award as Best Sheep
Farmers in Wales recently.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Onwards
around each reservoir until lunchtime at the 12 miles mark. Now this
was a very significant mark for my family. Back when I was a young
teenager and Mum and Dad had a Post Office with newsagent and
groceries, we all as a family used to go for a day's picnic at this
very spot. No chance of texting them to say where I was as no mobile
signal but I took photos to share later. There was the stream where
we used to swim. There were the hills we used to walk up. There was
the small mountain road going over moorlands after a steep hill to
the east and stretching to the horizon along a U-shaped valley to the
west.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
lunch I took the western route, a picturesque road which eventually
left the Elan Valley through a narrow passageway between tall hills.
The descent for the next 3 or 4 miles from here was exhilerating and
with no traffic, perfectly safe. Then it was a long grind up again to
get over some hills to reach devil's Bridge. No time to look at the
three bridges there, one atop the other, oldest at the bottom.
Instead I cycled down the A road to Aberystwyth and found
accommodation on the seafront there.</span>bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-1743874366204074802015-03-16T01:43:00.000-07:002015-03-16T01:44:16.002-07:00Llanelli to Lampeter, 4 days of mostly cycling. <br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">12<sup>th</sup>
March 2015</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
day cycling In reasonable if somewhat misty drizzle turned into one
of very heavy rainfall as the distance was covered. The change
happened as I enjoyed a large hot chocolate at Tesco's in Carmarthen.
From Llanelli to there I had taken the coast road around to Kilkenny
and from there the hills had started before getting to Carmarthen. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
in 2010 I had had 2 punctures along this stretch and I remember what
a beautiful day it was with lots of sunshine and no wind. I also
remember photographing a mass of jet trails over a number of
electricity pylons. They were to be the last jet trails seen for a
couple of weeks because of the Icelandic volcano stopping air travel.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">From
Camarthen the road was mostly dual carriageway with great smooth
tarmac. You tend to notice the quality of tarmac a lot when one;s
cycling especially when heavy laden. It's not just the pot holes one
notices but the texture; the use of pebbles or not etc. I have always
intended to make a Dulux paint style chart of tarmacs around the
country. Names such as Cornish crumble, Devon dirt, Shetland smoothie
come to mind and maybe I'll complete the task with appropriate
photographs one day.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
rain got heavier and my waterproof coat wasn't! It got heavier. The
lads got heavier as they absorbed the water.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Eventually
I thought enough was enough and around 8 miles west of Haverfordwest
I stopped at a B and B with an advertising board outside stating
vacancies. No room at the inn, I went to the next in the village. No
answer, I went to the next. Here I met the lovely Mari. This B and B
wasn't open but I could come in out of the wet as she phoned around
for me. I stood on her doormat and dripped as she phoned and I
stroked the 3 dogs. Mari phoned Ian Heaps! He was one of my heroes
from the days when my main passion was match fishing in the Midlands.
Ian was a many times World fishing champion and had a fishing complex
not far away. No answer. Shame I would have loved to have met him.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
hotel back along the road a couple of miles had a room. How much
could I afford? Two miles of back in the rain later and after many
thanks to Mari I arrived at the very plush Plas Hyfryd hotel in
Narberth. Leaving the bike in the foyer to drip dry I was shown to my
room. In my soaked state and with clothes suitable for the cycle trip
but not for a hotel of such standing I entered my suite. Yes suite.
It had a lounge, a bedroom and a bathroom with a bath. After
divesting my wet through clothes and washing them in the bath, I
realised that I wouldn't be able to go to Dinner. I hadn't a thing to
wear.</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">One
last thing to mention but the most important thing about the day was
the 60<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary of my Mum and Dad. Stupidly I
had thought it was their 59<sup>th</sup> anniversary and was about to
phone congratulations on that when I realised that I would be 59 this
year. Oops!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Happy
Anniversary Mum and Dad. Enjoy the day and the telegram from the
Queen. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Friday
the 13<sup>th</sup>!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Into
Haverfordwest on a dry, windy day with sunshine, I spent an hour in
Nationwide finalising my moving of my Lloyd's account to them. As it
was Red Nose Day, I shared a bag of red noses that I just happened to
have with me. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Then
it was to a fishing tackle shop to buy a better coat.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_c3aksUP1bJN5_oKdPPlExh2Yd1w_KpnzBRegZLV4KhbY2pDKn2xfSvW5GESkkuK9oNuP4DZqJXLVX_OVUOp7ajK0tIjmp1HDGVDDrCd2OXItK-CoFV4psGC3Qpd4Ei34CvOhQSYqUM/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_c3aksUP1bJN5_oKdPPlExh2Yd1w_KpnzBRegZLV4KhbY2pDKn2xfSvW5GESkkuK9oNuP4DZqJXLVX_OVUOp7ajK0tIjmp1HDGVDDrCd2OXItK-CoFV4psGC3Qpd4Ei34CvOhQSYqUM/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
it was the cycle to St David's, Britain's smallest city, with
fabulous views of the coastline cliffs and beach as I descended the
steep hill to Newgale.</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">At
St David's I found a small hotel and enjoyed watching the sunset over
Ramsey Island from my top storey window.</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes
not a lot happens on a cycling day.</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">March
14<sup>th</sup></span>
</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">To
St Justinians in the morning via St David's cathedral, I met two lady
cyclists, one of whom said “we saw you yesterday,” as I was
overtaking them. Sian and Ella, mother and daughter, I cycled with
them to their caravan park – farm on the coast nearby. They told me
of their own cycling adventures including cycling to London. Dad came
out to chat as I tightened up my brakes for and aft and drank a
coffee. Fabulous people, as one meets so often. They had around 60
green caravans on a lovely site overlooking the sea.</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">To
the quay and lifeboat station at St Justinians to get as close as I
could to the unopen RSPB reserve of Ramsey island. A boat company in
St David's had advertsied that they were open all year and I had
hoped to at least go around the island. They didn't even have any
boats in the water until April the 1<sup>st</sup>, more fool me. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">So
two RSPB reserves will have to be added to the list as seen instead
of stood upon; Grassholm and Ramsey.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7k7PoGkf6-GPPtbIVBoB3vkpktFvy0LIcCAookAyQ8K_D6H-qXzGf9H6LGjewfetA6KK3tTnx9yfpICf4G_v9ZA1xrkJ_FDeWrU737A-lSWtABUK0MGOn09OnkQs0TQ3atV0kioTpuk/s1600/IMG_2887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7k7PoGkf6-GPPtbIVBoB3vkpktFvy0LIcCAookAyQ8K_D6H-qXzGf9H6LGjewfetA6KK3tTnx9yfpICf4G_v9ZA1xrkJ_FDeWrU737A-lSWtABUK0MGOn09OnkQs0TQ3atV0kioTpuk/s1600/IMG_2887.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">No
auks tazzing around in the Sound was a surprise, just a couple of
gannets and a few black-headed gulls. A large new lifeboat house was being built here and the old one is going to be taken to a museum in Cardiff, I was told.</span>
</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Back
to the hotel to collect the panniers and it was off on another
afternoon of long cycling, this time into a head wind from the north
east. Crafty how the wind keeps changing direction to be in my face,
I must be getting paranoid about it! Doesn't stop me singing as I'm
going though.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">At
Fishguard I stopped for a light lunch and gave Harry, a Mr Happy
cuddly toy to a little girl enjoying a meal with her Mum and Dad.
Well I have to get the bike lighter.</span><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
darkness fell I stopped at a B and B and asked whether a room was
available and at what price. I cycled on.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
came to a hotel and went in. The England rugby game was on a large
screen TV and a group of Welsh supporters were watching it supporting
Scotland. They were a great family group of three with a 3 year old
grand-daughter who came over and hugged my legs! The landlord then
told me that it wasn't a hotel anymore he just didn't want to change
the name of the establishment. I cycled on.</span><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">In
Newport I came upon a B and B, The Globe and the price was great, as was the
owner Pat and before she left for a rendezvous with the local vicar
for the evening she told me her life story and family history.
Upstairs in my room there was a pile of Birds magazine, the magazine
from the RSPB before it changed its name to Nature's Home. There was
the issue with a page about me! May 2011 page 87. I photographed it
and put it onto facebook.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0uEq7b4QdLpmJoDI0maM1_az5pM4Ld6DL-eP9YFkXjMM_nnGsC1DTKVwc1Om3uIw_EKp-LW5phSzZGJgF7DHIBbgl8sQkfpPmXJoWuUQSaUXP8oR6hetZ_drHlMam1nxJlws0dko7fU/s1600/IMG_2961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0uEq7b4QdLpmJoDI0maM1_az5pM4Ld6DL-eP9YFkXjMM_nnGsC1DTKVwc1Om3uIw_EKp-LW5phSzZGJgF7DHIBbgl8sQkfpPmXJoWuUQSaUXP8oR6hetZ_drHlMam1nxJlws0dko7fU/s1600/IMG_2961.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Alone
in the house, I bathed and relaxed and soon fell asleep.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">15<sup>th</sup>
March</span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Mother's
Day and my sister Donna's birthday, I texted both but with no signal
it wasn;t to get to both until later. A lovely different breakfast of
Manuka honey and toast, Greek yogurt and fruits, cereal and coffee
was enjoyed with more conversation with Pat.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPYT6Z72FM__brq64ItnuTZ4bR84mAalyPnxK1LcX4R6WRqLHT1Z61-INyuhVlbS2AyQOOXx4YV9gsv5pWxNXEuSBSoaI1oIbb0Pbz2T0CkR9CQ4CnmKuCB27hPYsM5q543ALoaoxMkI/s1600/IMG_2970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPYT6Z72FM__brq64ItnuTZ4bR84mAalyPnxK1LcX4R6WRqLHT1Z61-INyuhVlbS2AyQOOXx4YV9gsv5pWxNXEuSBSoaI1oIbb0Pbz2T0CkR9CQ4CnmKuCB27hPYsM5q543ALoaoxMkI/s1600/IMG_2970.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Off
for the long ride to get to Lampeter, the day was taken up with steep
hills to push up followed by thrilling speedy descents. Over 37 miles
with an elevation of over the height of Snowdon; 3570 feet up hills
over the day.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
took lunch beside the river by the waterfalls at Cenarth, a beautiful
spot famous for the small coracles, strangely shaped little boats.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Reaching
Lampeter as the sun went down I fund a hotel at the fantastic price
of £25. Pembrokeshire now gone, I am looking forward to being able
to do some birding again as every one of the last few days has
involved getting as far as I can through Wales to catch up the 4 days
I am behind MY schedule. I am actually a month ahead of where I was
when cycling all of this back in 2010 but I am going to be going a
lot further this time.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Also
if you could please make a small donation to any of the charities
that I am supporting then please click on the links to the right. I
know I put this onto the end of every blog posting but I really get a
boost from every donation. The RSPB, The WWT, Asthma UK and
Chaskawasi-Manu. I would be so grateful if you could make a donation
however small. Thanks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">All
the very best everyone. Love to you all xx</span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-4846560520560473832015-03-14T01:03:00.001-07:002015-03-14T02:35:08.086-07:00Forest of Dean to WWT Llanelli Centre. 8th to 11th of March<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">8<sup>th</sup>
March</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Up
early and out before light and before breakfast in order to look for
hawfinches. Being in Parkend, I walked over the rail bridge and up
the back lane to the church. Almost immediately in the poor light of
a cloudy morning a crossbill went and peerched on the top most twig
of a tall tree beside the churchyard. Then the real prize bird did
the same. Hawfinch UTB, Birds number 159 and 160 for the Green Year
list. Fabulous start to the day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH74fKUnNXorWz39_446Vv09FZBXmuxpp2HxMmyL0T-Jdztt1PWLKi079Bkxj7XPVOtasErG5nm2Zh_NYScJnW3L7oGG5h0fur3gTh2V4OqH9wj7JggR4v_ZkjDzUf_Ps3rw3x5jLPSU/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH74fKUnNXorWz39_446Vv09FZBXmuxpp2HxMmyL0T-Jdztt1PWLKi079Bkxj7XPVOtasErG5nm2Zh_NYScJnW3L7oGG5h0fur3gTh2V4OqH9wj7JggR4v_ZkjDzUf_Ps3rw3x5jLPSU/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNmRItxVqtJFN4TJwTK7YRMLAXLBp4ifDIkElPY8gClq1I3G8DL9oblVTfbk6JYZ3wzCdBiWs4ciHtBD4gN8XfzlqfuDvu3RZwdDfwtZutoe6roDovS1qjOG6mB6niMCuVUzWmrb_kcE/s1600/IMG_2460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNmRItxVqtJFN4TJwTK7YRMLAXLBp4ifDIkElPY8gClq1I3G8DL9oblVTfbk6JYZ3wzCdBiWs4ciHtBD4gN8XfzlqfuDvu3RZwdDfwtZutoe6roDovS1qjOG6mB6niMCuVUzWmrb_kcE/s1600/IMG_2460.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
birder from Swindon, Andrew Whittaker arrived. Andrew explained that
he wanted to see hawfinches for his 50<sup>th</sup> birthday and
together we waited and searched for around an hour but no further
sign of any.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
had to get back for breakfast and was actually a little late as I
walked back down the back lane towards the railway station and The
Fountain Inn.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">3
hawfinches in the trees just by the railway line, I ran back up the
hill shouting for Andrew. He came running and eventually he had his
telescope trained on a male bird high in the trees. Lifer for him,
good deed for the day for me.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
a hearty breakfast with lads from Essex it was out into the now
drizzly damp day and immediately met a group of Brummie birders. The
West Midland Bird Club were having a trip around The Forest of Dean
and were searching for hawfinches and seeing them as some of these
fabulous birds flew overhead, A grey wagtail landed on the Inn roof.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Brilliant
to meet my fellow Brummies, I asked for a photo of them all and they
obliged as seen below.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3KchJ7n9sFrY6XTUmVBbGrKuzEXPd6VvXfw6z3Y4m8UFixX71I339JSksu70nMpMafw8zhyphenhyphenEAIu42qwOFhw3uO3861zYUCQab89kFBJC9jPrS5KAXR7xCnNQMdhFfydxnkYDGCtLWOY/s1600/IMG_2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3KchJ7n9sFrY6XTUmVBbGrKuzEXPd6VvXfw6z3Y4m8UFixX71I339JSksu70nMpMafw8zhyphenhyphenEAIu42qwOFhw3uO3861zYUCQab89kFBJC9jPrS5KAXR7xCnNQMdhFfydxnkYDGCtLWOY/s1600/IMG_2454.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">One
of their number, Jane Tavener was a young girl and a very keen
birder. It's always a thrill to me when I see young people out
birding.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uA-GM0Uu5t0PBFr_8MwX89U-JDIjh0pFdRA_NawsVG3so3gfaJstsDGOlWvQJBN7cj736PRBBrrIfxSOJLPKcosWfR7hlWJ6JPx0M-KNxvRe8VycaHNh1LmI0JQY14-4IzNjDNOAxEg/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uA-GM0Uu5t0PBFr_8MwX89U-JDIjh0pFdRA_NawsVG3so3gfaJstsDGOlWvQJBN7cj736PRBBrrIfxSOJLPKcosWfR7hlWJ6JPx0M-KNxvRe8VycaHNh1LmI0JQY14-4IzNjDNOAxEg/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
they'd gone I watched as more hawfinches came to the area of yew
trees by the cricket pitch. I then cycled to the nearby Nag's Head
RSPB reserve and spent over two hours there, half of that in the hide
overlooking a small pool with two ladies, and the other hour or so
pushing the bike around one of the trails. I was looking for lesser
spotted woodpecker. They had been reported here but I wasn't lucky
enough to see one. </span>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihh8PmWdTP9A9rhPXkouj5wp49AR08KB-6PQLPVJUrersYBZGMyCfKiYb_joqvnrqNgqvam4QtB4oPFKxlZXSU57oimsfjBXfb4Mbw2PYWvQPOPkKHmIHoWN5oyA3EiYm94FVXjKgcd3U/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihh8PmWdTP9A9rhPXkouj5wp49AR08KB-6PQLPVJUrersYBZGMyCfKiYb_joqvnrqNgqvam4QtB4oPFKxlZXSU57oimsfjBXfb4Mbw2PYWvQPOPkKHmIHoWN5oyA3EiYm94FVXjKgcd3U/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I did meet the Caerphilly Ramblers though and thanks to them for the donations.</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Off
to Newport wetlands, the rest of the day was spent cycling to there
via Chepstow. At there was a superb system of Roman
walls. I complete surprise, this place screams at me to come back one
day and spend longer exploring it.</span></div>
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<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
eventually reaching Goldcliffe with the sun going down, I met four
young Polish people about to socialise in one of the hides
overlooking the lagoons there. Instead of their expected cigarettes
and booze hide away, they had me showing them the avocets and
black-tailed godwits, the sun silhouetted lapwings and redshanks.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidr0am-OE5LcogNUFakHq_gACpsNRsl0EYhi74QwpJdR0NhdH8wRU2lIglTl8RdqjOgFJz63Y3TRTrBzKdEEwk4SUYaXudt34sXINGPpGU7yRt_Mo1RDS9joR946HmI3nABO6z3ganXn4/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidr0am-OE5LcogNUFakHq_gACpsNRsl0EYhi74QwpJdR0NhdH8wRU2lIglTl8RdqjOgFJz63Y3TRTrBzKdEEwk4SUYaXudt34sXINGPpGU7yRt_Mo1RDS9joR946HmI3nABO6z3ganXn4/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">9<sup>th</sup>
March</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxo_YwnYtU6htksGz1Cjyq4nT0EUQzKWRAay2QGh3t1KEBRh17xfrN7ayiPhoaUz_5vQm7fFqzvg2c18lfRpIdqomK_XlaaWfXnGihrW6-04QAXkrC3endTpd09QseJ9CXruzBVaEj-w/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxo_YwnYtU6htksGz1Cjyq4nT0EUQzKWRAay2QGh3t1KEBRh17xfrN7ayiPhoaUz_5vQm7fFqzvg2c18lfRpIdqomK_XlaaWfXnGihrW6-04QAXkrC3endTpd09QseJ9CXruzBVaEj-w/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Another
early birding session had me counting all the waders in front of me
on the main lagoon at Goldcliffe. There were 47 avocets, 48
black-tailed godwits, 1 greenshank, 5 oystercatchers, 74 redshank, 14
dunlin and 25 lapwing, one of which was sitting.</span></div>
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<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
female marsh harrier going over put them all up and by the time I had
to leave in order to get to Newport wetlands RSPB centre about 3
miles away, I had seen 31 different species of bird.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSH5eDsbcCwyVgfkI0cCyd3GQxyYJXdu4Q9AvAkh4-EHWK-d3Y-KwfrO_nOczU3e9Gg3YjwJiGye4lpVz45z-WGwHOkScWYlpw5k_FzShW0jXTtmgfKXkGMKXygtKMYkbimYI5WRSmeI/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSH5eDsbcCwyVgfkI0cCyd3GQxyYJXdu4Q9AvAkh4-EHWK-d3Y-KwfrO_nOczU3e9Gg3YjwJiGye4lpVz45z-WGwHOkScWYlpw5k_FzShW0jXTtmgfKXkGMKXygtKMYkbimYI5WRSmeI/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
visitor's centre was closed when I arrived there so I went up onto
the area not owned by the RSPB but by Natural Resources Wales.
Sounding more like a renewable energy company, this is actually the
name for the organisation owning the nature reserves of the area and
this one is a huge area of reed beds and lagoons with good paths
around and through them. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Immediately
on going along one of the paths a cetti's warbler called and then a
small group of bearded tits tinged giving brief views as they flew
over the reeds.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Down
by one of the smallest lighthouses one can see in Britain I suspect,
the tide was fully in and there were very few birds on the sea; just
some wigeon, mallard and shelduck.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovSJVhyphenhyphenE_5i5E77ayS2SRkaZ0FZOZz4grgBR93qFmZvv5gxj5HISFOigHhaeQNBhrdRZB1JDUl67bO2Su0F1CHoNNLla2BH8LkfVV9KK14MG2U__rygMY4bbY7hJmSZrqQ-aLK8a_6HY/s1600/IMG_2632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovSJVhyphenhyphenE_5i5E77ayS2SRkaZ0FZOZz4grgBR93qFmZvv5gxj5HISFOigHhaeQNBhrdRZB1JDUl67bO2Su0F1CHoNNLla2BH8LkfVV9KK14MG2U__rygMY4bbY7hJmSZrqQ-aLK8a_6HY/s1600/IMG_2632.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
peregrine went between the electricity pylons and day list went up to
49 very quickly.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
RSPB visitor's centre was open by the time I had cycled and pushed
around a lot of the reed bed area and I met Lisa at the admissions
desk. The centre is a beautiful building with a great cafe having
large windows overlooking a feeding station and small lake. A little
egret was walking around the lake's edge and goldfinch, greenfinch
and pheasant took the day list to 52. It always feels good to me to
see over 50 birds in an early morning winter birding session. Buzzard
flying over then made it 53.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKC8ksNBSm02g8LWek4zIaNo-f8xENx0CJI33x3jMHohcdwd9yHzEwvE3_wAwvaKzj0QF7mFcpIHmDHcl1Fmwvh405sgvfOEReEH-_qsrXMaqb46vsur3w117y2ODFD-8WjBor7JTybk/s1600/IMG_2645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKC8ksNBSm02g8LWek4zIaNo-f8xENx0CJI33x3jMHohcdwd9yHzEwvE3_wAwvaKzj0QF7mFcpIHmDHcl1Fmwvh405sgvfOEReEH-_qsrXMaqb46vsur3w117y2ODFD-8WjBor7JTybk/s1600/IMG_2645.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
fabulously lovely surprise was Rob and Lyndsay from Arne suddenly
coming over as I enjoyed a bacon bap and a hot chocolate in the cafe.
I had met this superb couple of enthusiastic RSPB at Arne a few weeks
back and they were on a tour of various RSPB reserves as a holiday.
They are such a brilliant couple.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmUHUyBDjjDHe7_AkjNcAdAK0-Xg5UrmYCqgwuZkuHGwHf6YwM3O9OJO02lGEW5zXNl_xRTf_xblW48DsQhXtXbRwYMPmzKowPR5HbXBYgrIq074Yr3DU9bYyqWAzjDs_5myB7TPHqCY/s1600/IMG_2640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmUHUyBDjjDHe7_AkjNcAdAK0-Xg5UrmYCqgwuZkuHGwHf6YwM3O9OJO02lGEW5zXNl_xRTf_xblW48DsQhXtXbRwYMPmzKowPR5HbXBYgrIq074Yr3DU9bYyqWAzjDs_5myB7TPHqCY/s1600/IMG_2640.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Another
conversation with a mountain walking enthusiast, whose name I'm sorry
to say I can't recall, had this old gentleman tell me the reason the
Eiger was where it was was in order to keep the 'Old Monk' away from
the Young lady. The three main mountains near Grindlewald in
Switzerland being the Monch, Eiger and Jungfrau. I well remember a
family holiday there with a large trailer tent. Karen, my late wife
and the four children had got onto the train to go to the top of the
Jungfrau while I got the train tickets. The train left without me!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
was then a chat with Anthony Crook, a profoundly deaf RSPB volunteer
who used lip reading to understand me. He told me that it was good
that my beard didn't cover my lips. </span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Eventually
time to go, I took a photograph of all the RSPB staff. Thanks to them
for a great visit. Birds and breakfast. Brilliant.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bVuWWQ6qW7MjLouZ7CRgJHlRbut-OR_odqyGR17jN-zRWs87qWKxNC75PLiwwunl9tuZFmEm60uphjyg3TS3WHdUPZj85jjFiwZhdji0AtzF3i3nebKvoKd-U3W7rLHTwojrTRpQiSI/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bVuWWQ6qW7MjLouZ7CRgJHlRbut-OR_odqyGR17jN-zRWs87qWKxNC75PLiwwunl9tuZFmEm60uphjyg3TS3WHdUPZj85jjFiwZhdji0AtzF3i3nebKvoKd-U3W7rLHTwojrTRpQiSI/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Cycling
towards Cardiff I saw a Lloyds Bank so I went in to close my very
long standing account there. I should have done this years ago but
the final nail in their coffin as far as I am concerned was when I
saw their CEO being interviewed over their current position. I was
appalled by the arrogant, smarmy way he brushed off the question of
his annual wage with a casual comment of 'well that's what they pay
me.' No banker should receive £11 million a year! Strange how not
one of these thieving ********* that have caused the financial
problems Britain is suffering from, no it wasn't Labour! Has ever
been prosecuted. Fraud on their scale requires government bale outs.
What a society.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">OK
back to the birds.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
cycled to Cardiff Bay Wetlands and soon found the long staying lesser
scaup, bird number 161.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sz-X-hb5ro-33lA9xxx_CLg4kxZPvru1yKWa97vn7djlFi24bmlxDh9ZdHjneLa-yk0MXMtzIBjjYTveA-iG8aRq1QC215VHoI92tF15BIrL_BQn98j8rILvrtt9TB6KvkhGqHqeDCQ/s1600/IMG_2676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sz-X-hb5ro-33lA9xxx_CLg4kxZPvru1yKWa97vn7djlFi24bmlxDh9ZdHjneLa-yk0MXMtzIBjjYTveA-iG8aRq1QC215VHoI92tF15BIrL_BQn98j8rILvrtt9TB6KvkhGqHqeDCQ/s1600/IMG_2676.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyac6ZpwnVbtYN4JeXyEmzUdmMLWlBU5y64xCgglHRCodZxbdtzGRkUXSmgx3_v1cJfKwgPHLDGeq-OGUheZ9GYLIbMAxIMUQCnAYV9GngOo135QmV9HPvmycb0-xssAS5WLIx906u1U/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyac6ZpwnVbtYN4JeXyEmzUdmMLWlBU5y64xCgglHRCodZxbdtzGRkUXSmgx3_v1cJfKwgPHLDGeq-OGUheZ9GYLIbMAxIMUQCnAYV9GngOo135QmV9HPvmycb0-xssAS5WLIx906u1U/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
lesser scaup is a very special bird to me as three students from the
Coppice High School YOC group that I ran in the 1980s found the very
first one for Europe at Chasewater, Staffordshire.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Alex
Barter, Jason Oliver and Richard Southall found a small male duck
that they didn't recognise. They alerted some local birder experts to
the bird who didn't know what it was either. A week of research and a
visit to Slimbridge convinced them all that the bird was new for the
Western Palearctic, a male lesser scaup and the news went out.
Hundreds if not thousands of birders and twitchers arrived to see it over the next few days.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I had one in front of me.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Alex
sadly died too young from heart attack but Jason still birds nearly
every weekend as a member of The Birding Clams. Their ongoing birding
adventures can be seen on the Birding Clams facebook page. By the way
Clams stands for Clear Lunacy and Madness Society!</span></div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/492704280806443/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/492704280806443/</a><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It's
a massive thrill to me that lads from my school teaching days at
Coppice High in Wolverhampton (on Ashma!) are still birding. Thanks
to Ste Alcott, Jason Oliver and Alex's brother Antony for so many
fabulous birding days, weekends and even holidays birding in Scotland
and France. Thanks lads. Clam on!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMCwFecD5aVWRbCK9kQSGyC1YKN5CMs5qx8LM3jvH2jZOBelDvGXZtPI5hbFDnbqMHI4nULqSVz7MlXumITah7SnJY_8mVDex0S_Otkcj9ixR8vCKt5I3QFs8OoVU4AXKtrUnOKUQQAY/s1600/10940589_809876765725135_7910670060202403188_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMCwFecD5aVWRbCK9kQSGyC1YKN5CMs5qx8LM3jvH2jZOBelDvGXZtPI5hbFDnbqMHI4nULqSVz7MlXumITah7SnJY_8mVDex0S_Otkcj9ixR8vCKt5I3QFs8OoVU4AXKtrUnOKUQQAY/s1600/10940589_809876765725135_7910670060202403188_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">10<sup>th</sup>
March</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYokir5-zSeBdKUSObk9btI1KtYuZr7GdRFzt_l-dOOL78pl7oZoN7HdBemanM8tH0guFyC4w_9tbiTsq-BnvEhw7oJQU3eZ_TgkDOqJbK04xc7bSkV078QPfBNypEgR9gRF5ymFaP0rs/s1600/IMG_2702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYokir5-zSeBdKUSObk9btI1KtYuZr7GdRFzt_l-dOOL78pl7oZoN7HdBemanM8tH0guFyC4w_9tbiTsq-BnvEhw7oJQU3eZ_TgkDOqJbK04xc7bSkV078QPfBNypEgR9gRF5ymFaP0rs/s1600/IMG_2702.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyyoTZUr2AOdnhI1hJWRP-Tyan7prUlu52O9lHnfvP3mrGpm66tiddzpgEfVwxYyiefi4MkvGx0i4J-tdSRdvDqJ3wzGiZMT01ijXOppXlghSGLFIN3i1bgIYH1MQc601WkA2mKo6ZbA/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyyoTZUr2AOdnhI1hJWRP-Tyan7prUlu52O9lHnfvP3mrGpm66tiddzpgEfVwxYyiefi4MkvGx0i4J-tdSRdvDqJ3wzGiZMT01ijXOppXlghSGLFIN3i1bgIYH1MQc601WkA2mKo6ZbA/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
a superb night at the brand new, opened the previous Friday, Cardiff
Youth Hostel and after enjoying see Arsenal beat Utd the evening
before on a TV in the dormitory, I cycled around much of Cardiff bay
searching for the reported Bonaparte's gull. Needle in a haystack job
and no chance. I did see the lesser scaup again though before heading
off on a long cycle to Clydach. The day was the best yet,
weather-wise, very sunny and almost no wind. 49 miles covered during
the day, I got to Clydach via Bridgend, Port Talbot and Neath and put
my tent up on a boggy hillside and slept for 11 hours solid.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVK1csSCoo9vIq6AJtRHXpUn8TM_0B5A5bAFqwmaHyc611CA_tuwu-bN9c-EYnwM9hKlvGEWHu2oNkiT0pJOnkuI64oCRGyWi-rOaRbcXgnVmDx3rFJ11d8zGMXzRaQBNPOOfbvIexCE/s1600/IMG_2715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVK1csSCoo9vIq6AJtRHXpUn8TM_0B5A5bAFqwmaHyc611CA_tuwu-bN9c-EYnwM9hKlvGEWHu2oNkiT0pJOnkuI64oCRGyWi-rOaRbcXgnVmDx3rFJ11d8zGMXzRaQBNPOOfbvIexCE/s1600/IMG_2715.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">One
thing to mention was a Muslim shop keeper who came out of the shop
where I had just bought some milk, to give me a large chocolate swiss
roll for free. Thanks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">11<sup>th</sup>
March</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfvxqvcwIAqmnaEdn3688ThTj0fyWEM7pO912cRRk0WCR30N4BBO7nWHkFxVjlXyvpHdjw5VbqAZYgC2Br9738gIo5KJbo6WLsZzfXUdGQG4Fu_vVIFsFgM6D-X5wB2ulULk0409sWzo/s1600/IMG_2724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfvxqvcwIAqmnaEdn3688ThTj0fyWEM7pO912cRRk0WCR30N4BBO7nWHkFxVjlXyvpHdjw5VbqAZYgC2Br9738gIo5KJbo6WLsZzfXUdGQG4Fu_vVIFsFgM6D-X5wB2ulULk0409sWzo/s1600/IMG_2724.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
200 yards from my campsite to the RSPB reserve at Cwm Clydach didn't
take long as it was a white-knuckle downward hill. Now the reserve
reminds me of Raiders of the Lost Ark as it's shape is that of the
crescent moon. I long river valley, well wooded, I walked the bike
along the path until I reached the footbridge. Just beyond there
there was a gate by which I exited the reserve with a long push up
hill to the village. I had seen 3 grey wagtails, a dipper, a
treecreeper and a nuthatch excavating a nest hole. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYNWwJeiQmhpsGa39pHPLGNlq2T0rLBjZQLnznq0jDTV1v1aO1t4jsa8gCXHgvLdyn3tFCNlHPXTLZgG4qMfYNSjc5PZ88EdFeZJBcUMDXMeZQmHyLVA4rpr3kU0LcaJAVEc3YGwZvs8/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYNWwJeiQmhpsGa39pHPLGNlq2T0rLBjZQLnznq0jDTV1v1aO1t4jsa8gCXHgvLdyn3tFCNlHPXTLZgG4qMfYNSjc5PZ88EdFeZJBcUMDXMeZQmHyLVA4rpr3kU0LcaJAVEc3YGwZvs8/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Having a biscuit
breakfast in a bus shelter I saw a pair of red kites fly over. I had
seen one the day before near to Cowbridge whilst cycling. Great to
see them spreading around the whole of Wales. No reintroduction here,
just the spreading from the Tregaron-Lampeter population from years
ago. Visit one of the Welsh feeding stations like Gigrin Farm near
Rhayader to see masses of these amazing birds.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Cycling
over towards the WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre, I stopped to photograph
one of the solar farms that have cropped up since my last cycle trip
around the UK in 2010. Here I met another Essex bloke in Nathan who
quizzed me about my journey.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I like solar farms and would love to see more of them. Have the sheep
feed on the grass beneath the solar panels and everyone's happy
aren't they? Fields of plastic sheeting or fields of solar panels, I
know which I prefer.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Rain
had started to fall by the time I reached the superb WWT Llanelli
centre but I still had a fantastic day there. I met Nigel, the site
manager and various WWT staff including the 'come and meet the Biking
Birder ' Beryl! I also met Wendell, a local birder who remembered, as
did I, our previous meeting at the Gwenfrydd Dinas RSPB reserve back
in 2010. We'd seen wood warblers and pied flycatchers on a broadwalk
area there.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPipwUbwmci5eknAHeYrHJne_y1DyUh12OkneAJK-T4QfjAN1cSS_brcwZcrYelqsmPElAnq5Jgx3TOnZEgNLj09AtE0ejSq_auoAGf7OmMge5_07OkxyMLGiZ3a4il7pIcORUFTwcAk/s1600/IMG_2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPipwUbwmci5eknAHeYrHJne_y1DyUh12OkneAJK-T4QfjAN1cSS_brcwZcrYelqsmPElAnq5Jgx3TOnZEgNLj09AtE0ejSq_auoAGf7OmMge5_07OkxyMLGiZ3a4il7pIcORUFTwcAk/s1600/IMG_2793.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
walked around a lot of the reserve in drizzle and sometimes rain and
saw exactly 50 bird species including an obliging water rail, a video
of which I have put on Youtube and a female pheasant pointed out by
one of the cafe ladies.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiina6dWK_R0QurMrz7I1ppCQBel6sHAKv9e-ZiI3VhpVxpQMC3p-d1KhC7-OafT_X78yt87hQQ1CMnzj9Fu5OfYg5W24BqjkuhxR0dIrVlgDPxraLXGSzbs-7IE4k0tTYeafMZjnPGmT4/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiina6dWK_R0QurMrz7I1ppCQBel6sHAKv9e-ZiI3VhpVxpQMC3p-d1KhC7-OafT_X78yt87hQQ1CMnzj9Fu5OfYg5W24BqjkuhxR0dIrVlgDPxraLXGSzbs-7IE4k0tTYeafMZjnPGmT4/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks
to Phil, a local birder who left a donation for me at WWT Llanelli.
It went straight to them Phil, Thanks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Also
if you could please make a small donation to any of the charities
that I am supporting then please click on the links to the right. I
know I put this onto the end of every blog posting but I really get a
boost from every donation. The RSPB, The WWT, Asthma UK and
Chaskawasi-Manu. I would be so grateful if you could make a donation
however small. Thanks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">All
the very best everyone. Love to you all xx</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042028557074013338.post-10371566921026356332015-03-13T00:02:00.001-07:002015-03-13T00:02:17.435-07:00To The Forest of Dean and 2 Year ticks and Three Couples!
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">From
Slimbridge I cycled along the Gloucester Ship canal until almost dark
when I pitched the tent for the first time and slept 11 hours solid!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP08GaIM1MyGct2Ak0HyZdUwJTmIXvmZxPEZZqtQ9mGDUYVccF2XO113EmHRfSL4aDPdFc-ik7qxpvekkMEHKC25UyWMZqXoZO8M2g3uj0iOrrfVGMbwJyqHclbvfBgtm8SZcjWE1IzTs/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP08GaIM1MyGct2Ak0HyZdUwJTmIXvmZxPEZZqtQ9mGDUYVccF2XO113EmHRfSL4aDPdFc-ik7qxpvekkMEHKC25UyWMZqXoZO8M2g3uj0iOrrfVGMbwJyqHclbvfBgtm8SZcjWE1IzTs/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Early
morning decamped. Making sure the place looked exactly like it did
before my arrival and rode the bumpy muddy ship canal towpath. Now
why would someone throw away a plastic container of muffins> I fed
the ducks.</span><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Around
to Highnam Woods RSPB reserve with its closed gate and backless hide,
I birded whilst having a bit of breakfast. Nuthatches and great
spotted woodpeckers with the titmice at the feeders. Not really the
best time of year for this large woodland reserve; that would be in
May when the nightingales arrive.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqiVdkP94mr6X1Ac88mvFTuRHgtBJcDfTJ2zSAGEfrtm4PzNWSrN8IDG7P8Qs2QXjZzeIA1SE63ceth1-Smkx0b6r1TRUMhz0Q3k9QjlCBitW9vLy6o9ZbirxyGgcDpP2O8ef3vIJ_Z4/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqiVdkP94mr6X1Ac88mvFTuRHgtBJcDfTJ2zSAGEfrtm4PzNWSrN8IDG7P8Qs2QXjZzeIA1SE63ceth1-Smkx0b6r1TRUMhz0Q3k9QjlCBitW9vLy6o9ZbirxyGgcDpP2O8ef3vIJ_Z4/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
a long cycle to Cowper Lakes in the Forest of Dean, with a chance
meeting with a motorcycling birder, Mark Bonner on the way. Thanks
for the donation to the WWT.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
I went down to the lakeside to look at the Chinese ducks, mandarins,
a Chinese girl was pretending to be a dog for her partner! They were
having a hilarious time “Here girl, come here.” I remembered an
interview with Frank Zappa years ago where he said the opening lyric
to a new song was going to be ….....</span>
</div>
<div dir="LTR" id="wrap">
<div dir="LTR" id="content">
<div dir="LTR" id="main">
<div class="western">
"There is a new piece we're working on in
the soundchecks at the moment, it's called "Lady,"
although-I only have the first few words of it, it goes something
like, "I've been looking for a woman I can treat like a
dog / So I can call her lady, lady, lady, lady / Lift her
leg." It's one of those sort of things that suits
Bozzio's voice." </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It's
amazing how one can find the interview on google! As they saw me
through there laughter and her yapping, they came over and so I met
Tony and 'Vanessa'. A fantastic, never stop laughing Chinese girl
whilst viewing a new bird for the year Chinese duck. Another strange
coincidence. She wrote her real name in my notebook and told me she
had chosen Vanessa because she liked the name. They told me how they
met, whilst they he had been walking his dog to which I joked that I
had to get a dog if one could meet such a sunny personality. They'd
been together for a couple of years and were the happiest couple I
had met so far this year, obviously crazy over each other.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOwS2_7jZsetU8pw4uX4giCkwWJwmYGUOkH47sxRbvFsOe4fiLES1arqGrdmnn3uJPBAjv_X0mw5Phkxb0Id7REsDN0ODJcywZoPQztqqZvl-C9RILHPu1fmgWNKYCD-T75WVKJmEwoM/s1600/IMG_2427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOwS2_7jZsetU8pw4uX4giCkwWJwmYGUOkH47sxRbvFsOe4fiLES1arqGrdmnn3uJPBAjv_X0mw5Phkxb0Id7REsDN0ODJcywZoPQztqqZvl-C9RILHPu1fmgWNKYCD-T75WVKJmEwoM/s1600/IMG_2427.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
mandarins did what ornamental ducks do, looked gorgeous and swam
around the lake. Bird number 157.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
big push next, up a very steep and long road to get to Speech House
corner and take the road to the New Fancy viewpoint. Another push got
me and the bike to the viewpoint top. Immediately siskins flying
around and a birder, Gareth Jones from Bristol, reported that the
hoped for goshawks had been flying along a distant ridge. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHWGrbzGeLS4AH1dfchlFS36JPUssiBcgxK9S_tHIWK4xiYiR35Luo7MsqjQMogQa7j4BJKKSZqio1w5PmhDPDcplrtuN-WKoZxCivGYYEaklGCIvvjsFOm-L5_dGxdGueka8PpSa8Rg/s1600/IMG_2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHWGrbzGeLS4AH1dfchlFS36JPUssiBcgxK9S_tHIWK4xiYiR35Luo7MsqjQMogQa7j4BJKKSZqio1w5PmhDPDcplrtuN-WKoZxCivGYYEaklGCIvvjsFOm-L5_dGxdGueka8PpSa8Rg/s1600/IMG_2436.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Another
couple, this time John and Julie came over to me and told me that
we'd met before when I was cycling back in 2010. We had met at
Holkham, Norfolk and that John had been in the same year group as my
brother, Paul at the same school that I had attended in Redditch back
in the late 60s/early 70s, Abbey High School, now Trinity School.
Another example of a small world. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
female goshawk then flew along the ridge giving everyone views and
then was seen again flying low over the conifers. Bird number 158.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuz0M7Opob53c7XQ36f_U0dAbSdXZY55nD7CUmSd8ox3sf6N-wxNG2xVeg1vpcmuIoAKzc278MoidEXfs5zc5gkeJB5G71K8VoM6G5ZAJDylDq9rPgVzckjYbDS8vUfSCFrjOmwzJkjgw/s1600/IMG_2435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuz0M7Opob53c7XQ36f_U0dAbSdXZY55nD7CUmSd8ox3sf6N-wxNG2xVeg1vpcmuIoAKzc278MoidEXfs5zc5gkeJB5G71K8VoM6G5ZAJDylDq9rPgVzckjYbDS8vUfSCFrjOmwzJkjgw/s1600/IMG_2435.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next
to look for hawfinches at Parkend with scribbled maps of where they'd
been seen earlier in the day. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">With
football time aproaching, Aston Villa, my team, where about to play
(and beat!) West Bromwich Albion (Get in there!), I cycled around the
yew trees next to the cricket pitch, no hawfinches. Then, after
checking in at The Fountain Inn, I walked up to the church. Once
again no hawfinches but the final lovely couple for the day who saw
crossbills as I searched behind the church.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now
please have a look at my facebook page -
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015">https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015</a> or Twitter at</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/garybrianpresco">https://twitter.com/garybrianpresco</a>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Also
if you could please make a small donation to any of the charities
that I am supporting then please click on the links to the right. I
know I put this onto the end of every blog posting but I really get a
boost from every donation. The RSPB, The WWT, Asthma UK and
Chaskawasi-Manu. I would be so grateful if you could make a donation
however small. Thanks. I know I say this every time but it would really help to know that my efforts are being translated to support these fine charities.</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">All
the very best everyone as always. Love to you all xx</span></div>
bikingbirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896338609437768035noreply@blogger.com0