Thursday 7 May 2015

Black and White

Well it was our annual trip out to Lake Vyrnwy it is one of my favorite spots in Wales not just for birding but also the scenery that you see around the lake and up on the moors. Plus I proposed to Lesley there it really is a special spot to us.

Starting off as we always do below the dam as we got out of the car we could hear Redstart calling along with Pied Flycatcher. A pair of Redstarts were spotted eventually across the river so our days list was off and running. Plenty of Siskin were flying around over head along with Goldcrest feeding in the trees, soon though we were watching a pair of Pied Catchers, although only the female allowed me to grab a few shots, posing with a spot of nesting material, we didn't notice that she was ringed until we looked at the photos from the day.




Female Pied Flycatcher

We then headed around the lake and up on to the moors, we didn't take the Bala road this time trying as per last year the first narrow road up wards.
As we drove along a Willow Warbler was hunting around the clear fell area with plenty of Robins trying to make us believe they were something more interesting.
The moors themselves were rather cool and wind swept but we did spot a very smart male Whinchat.


Dropping back down to the lake and heading for the Centenary Hide again we could hear Pied Flycatchers and Goldcrest calling although no Dipper could be seen along the river.
From the hide we saw Grey Wagtail, Marsh Tit and Pied Flycatcher with the female gathering the nesting material while the male just sung his heart out.

Male Pied Flycatcher



Marsh Tit

Wren collecting moss

Heading back to the dam we were still missing Wood Warbler although we did hear one around our first port of call from the dam we could see House Martin collecting mud off the dam wall and the sound of Wood Warbler along the Bird House trail, which after a quick wander along we spotted one up in the pines, too high for a shot but a tick none the less.

We then headed for a coffee and a lazy spot of birding in the main hide, seeing Marsh Tit, Siskin and Pied Flycatcher again.







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