BRAMBLING

A stunning Brambling mixing in with a flock of Chaffinches was feeding on my drive.  The date was 20the Dec. Sadly no photo.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER

A Great Northern Diver arrived in the bay of Morfa Nefyn, it swam along the shoreline as close as 20feet from the beach.  I saw it with an orange crab which isjust crunched in its beak and swallowed it.  The beak looks long and strong, it swam a good distance before breaking the surface.  Two Great Crested Grebe's were also very close to the beach and could swim below the surface for a good distance.
The sea was calm for once and the rain has eased but the cloud was heavy and very dull.

 

MED GULL

Just near Aberdaron in a field, flock of gulls, approx 6 Med Gulls in all.

 

DOTTEREL

Having a walk on the very top of Mynydd Mawr late September, bird and sea watching.  Someone came to speak to me and said he was very excited in finding a Dotterel.  As I have never seen one went to look and found this large wader crouched amongst the rocks and Heather, very still but watching our every move.  Many photos were taken and they we left and was able to watch the bird catching and eating Crane flies (commonly known as Daddy long legs).  A great sight to remember, thank goodness for my camera, love this bird watching just love it.

 

GREAT-GREY SHRIKE

In the hills between Criccieth and Porthmadog there had been a report of a wintering Great-grey Shrike.  I didn't really think that I would see it but having driven through the hills and not very many brids about, I was a amazed to see on a dry stone wall this bird.  It flew from the wall to a fence and I was lucky enough to get a photo.  It was landing every so often onto the grass for feed.  A great sight indeed.

 

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER

A rare bird paid a visit to Uwchmynedd and I was lucky enough for a few photos on the second day.
Hardest little bird to catch on camera, shy, quick and very wary.  A smart bird all the same.
That's three this year the Spotted, Pied and now the Red-breasted Flycatcher. A big WOW for my bird watching.

 

THE LAST POPPY

The last poppy of summer was for me a single Field Poppy in a huge field in the corner out of the wind.  The Autumn chill is here every morning and the summer flowers are fading away.  Petals are falling and little spiders cling to the stems and eventually the stems rot and fall into the soil.  
The Harebells always the last summer are fading and the sky blue colour is fading to grey, the gorse still in flower remains most of the year.
But, yesterday was poppy day for me..........

 

CHIFFCHAFFS NEAR AND FAR

I have good memories of the song of Spring, a chiffchaff singing,its not just the Cuckoo that heralds Spring.
 14th September to-day, the Cuckoo has long gone but the Chiffchaff remains.  Sometimes this birds sings Chiffchaff and other time specially during the Autumn its call is 'hweet'.
Again sometimes it bobs its tail, a sure sign that the bird is a Chiffchaff and not a Willow Warbler.  
Black legs another sign.  Little Spiders under leaves are part of their diet and this little warblers can hang upside down seeking out the small insects.

 

SUMMER TIME 2015

What better place to be when the sun is hot by a lake, sea or a pond.
I'm lucky as in I have at least two of these on my doorstep.  A small local river provides wild life in small quantities but very interesting all the same.  Friends provide me with mature ponds where I can sit and watch the Dragonflies, Damselflies and sometimes Beautiful and Banded Demoisells.
If I'm very lucky I have even seen Grey Wagtails, Sparrowhawk, always see Buzzards and once I saw a Kingfisher.

LONG-TAILED TITS

At first I heard them and knew exactly what they were, searching every part of a tree for grubs.  Upright and upside down, sideways and hanging just by the feet.  What better way to search for insects and other tasty morsels.  The Blue Tits come a close second but the number one spot are the LTT.

YELLOWHAMMERS AT NEFYN

Yellowhammers still feeding on a friends lawn.  The location is on a hill overlooking Nefyn.

 

SPARROWHAWK

One less young Pied Wagtail, poor little sweetie.

 

MARSHES AND MOUNTAINS

The Mallttraeth marshes were full of singing birds, Reed Warblers, though hidden from view, Reed Buntings singing on the top of the Sedge grass.
A Kestrel hovering over the reed beds, Cetti's Warblers determind not to be seen and doing a very good job too.  A pair of Mute Swans and Cygnets at the far end of one of the lakes keeping a very close guard of the youngsters, a male Great Crested Grebe keeping watch over his mate on a nest.  Male Tufted Ducks doing the same and keeping a watchful eye on their mates.
Greylag geese making a lot of noise calling to each other as they do a fly by, as did a Grey Heron.  A female Cuckoo sits in a tree watching for an opportunity for maybe a good nest to lay her single egg in.  Chaffinches and Wrens calling from every which way.  All in all a haven for breeding birds.
As we walked along the grassy paths male Orange Tip butterflies make use of the fading Bluebells, deep orange tips with pale blue flowers.
Damselflies small but shiny wings flitered about the grass, greys and blue.  Female Broad-Bodied Chaser resting in the shade.

COMMON SPOTTED ORCHIDS

Lots of wild flowers growing along a little river I walk along, glad to see Common Spotted Orchids amongst the Buttercups.

 

GREEN HAIRSTREAK BUTTERFLY

First Green Hairstreak butterfly ever and what a fantastic little creature.  It blended into the leaves of the Bilberry so well and was the most beautiful green.  As it flew it became silver white and very hard to see.
From now on I'll be searching every Bilberry bush I see, you never know.

 

SPRING IN MAY

May is the month of flowers and birds, my favourite month.  I  like it as the temperature rises and winter is over.
My Dad had his birthday in May so the month has special memories.  The Lilac is out and the scent in the garden especially in the evening is like a soft blanket.
Wallflowers have always been special to me, reminds me of the flower beds at Chester zoo.
Bluebells speak for themselves, blue as the sky and the scent is beautiful.  What better that a carpet of Bluebells in a wood.