This weekend was a very bitty one with overtime, sporting events and out of hours support all restricting the time that I could spend out and about. Despite this I did manage to squeeze in a trip on Saturday to the Mumbles, handily coinciding with a low tide. As a result we were able to gain access to both the tidal islands that give the place its name, and even better return before they were once again cut off. The outer ‘hump’ with its lighthouse always reminds me of my visit to Alcatraz on account of its crumbling WW2 structures, but it was its butterfly inhabitants that I was really after. Unfortunately a strong wind and dull conditions ruled that particular avenue out. Instead we were treated to a Rock Pipit family who looked to have at least one fledgling in the vicinity if the continuous calling was anything to go by. The adults would frequently perch on the old broken walls, food in mouth, before flying down into the undergrowth which is where I suspect the young were hiding.

P1010575 - Rock Pipit, Mumbles Head

While out there I also accidentally stumbled across a geocache that we had yet to bag, a find which soon led to three more spread along our return route to Bracelet Bay. These unexpected finds are why I love the hobby as they always provide an extra avenue of enjoyment and end up taking you to places that you might otherwise not have gone. For instance I now know that there is a path around Tutt Head which could prove very useful next time we head that way for a spot of sea-watching. Speaking of which we did have a good scan of the sea but apart from four Ravens and the Kittiwakes, things were very quiet. There wasn’t even a Turnstone in what has become an almost guaranteed location for the species. Still at least the view out to Mumbles Head was as spectacular as ever, with the sky showing just what a mixed bag of weather the day had delivered.

Mumbles Head

Thankfully when we got home it was the weather to the right that had won out in the end and we were treated to an hour or so of glorious sunshine. I took the opportunity to pop out into the garden where our resident pair of Collared Doves were being unusually tame. I think their attention was being taken by the tempting piles of seed that are just out of shot.

P1010581 - Collared Dove, Garden

4 Comments

Bob Bushell · July 11, 2012 at 9:22 pm

Stunning captures, my favourite is the Rock Pipit, superb.

Sondra · July 12, 2012 at 1:56 am

You had a great day!! Love the bird shots and that landscape of the mixed bag sky is awesome.

Dave · July 16, 2012 at 8:54 pm

Lovely scene here Adam, I go to Turkey in a week or so and you have just reminded me of how many Collared Doves I am going to see, they certainly are the default bird where I stay…. will be a tad warmer than the Mummbles 🙂

Stewart M · July 18, 2012 at 1:32 pm

Hi there – I really like that middle shot – very nice composition.

I thought I’d let you know that I stepped into the void caused by Springmans decision to close down World Bird Wednesday by setting up Wild Bird Wednesday (!) on my photoblog at Paying Ready Attention – Photo Gallery.

Feel free to visit and link.

Stewart M – Australia

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