The big news from patch this week has been that, quite remarkably, I’ve just blasted my way through last year’s score despite it still being early May! One of my main goals for the Patchwork Challenge this time out was to make more regular visits and to gain a fuller Read more…
Bank holiday Monday saw an improvement in the weather so we headed off into mid-Wales for our (almost) annual visit to RSPB Dinas. Ever since we discovered the reserve several years ago it has consistently delivered the full spectrum of woodland migrants whilst simultaneously providing a thoroughly enjoyable walk through Read more…
Thick fog greeted us on Sunday morning and with visibility restricted to such an extent that even the opposite side of our road was hard to make out, it was clear that we wouldn’t be going anywhere for quite some time. Fortunately conditions slowly improved and by midday it was Read more…
A bank holiday weekend means bank holiday weather and that’s certainly what we’ve had over the last three days. From rain to sun, gales to, well, even more wind, it certainly put the brakes on what was supposed to be a camping trip to Pembrokeshire. On reflection I think we Read more…
Sunday was another phone/work/house balancing act but with the sun blazing I couldn’t resist slipping down to Coed Bach Park for a couple of hours late morning. The hope was that Bluebells would be starting to put in an appearance and, though far from the full display which should appear Read more…
As promised here’s the video from Tywyn Bach where we were treated to a reeling Grasshopper Warbler in full flow. Trust me, if you think it sounds loud here that was nothing compared to the volume we experienced out in the field. Truly spectacular.
I really wasn’t expecting much from Saturday. When we woke low, grey clouds were barely clearing the hilltops, there was a light spattering of rain falling and to top it all off I had to stay within easy reach of home and a mobile signal due to work commitments (a Read more…
As promised in my last Patchwork Challenge update we were back out looking for the suspected Whitethroat on Tuesday evening. It didn’t take long to confirm that the snatch of song we’d heard did indeed belong to the bird in question as we picked up a much more sustained outburst Read more…
With good reports of migrants coming in last week from the Machynys area we decided to chance our own luck there on Sunday. Prime target was definitely a Whitethroat as after coming tantalisingly close on Gopa Hill a few days earlier we really wanted to see one in the flesh. Read more…
Start: SN 987 200 End: SN 987 200 Distance: 8miles Overall Altitude Gain: 1,600ft Terrain: Well defined tracks onto steep, open hillsides Difficulty: Medium – navigation difficult on open hillsides Anyone who found themselves at a loose end these past couple of days definitely needs an introduction to the great Read more…