Such a wonderfully peaceful night, not even the hoot of an owl to disturb our slumber. The Pheasants started calling to each other around 6.30 am, but by then we were already up.
By 8.30am a full English had been devoured and with the weather much improved, I had high hopes of catching sight of an elusive butterfly or two. The visitor centre hadn't even opened by the time we set off, as members we could gain entry through a side gate, and this morning we decided on the longer 2.5 mile red route. This took us past open fields, pockets of marshland's and through wooded area's.
Gosh we were lucky because 10 minutes into the walk, and we were greeted by Jays and Hares (didn't manage to get the camera out in time) Reed buntings, Stonechats and Sedge Warblers.
And then the icing on the cake when we came to a fork in the track and something shot into the undergrowth. A convenient seat was nearby, good place to see if it emerged. And it did, a Stoat.
Then, looking down the hill, these two were spied.
First hide we came too and looking over the marshes a rustling was heard. Into an open window flew a Swallow. The nest was between the beams, and not at all fazed by us coming and going.
By midday, we had completed the round trip, then back to the visitor centre to show our membership cards again, before heading back to MB for a quick bite of lunch. It was quick as well...it's a wonder neither of us got indigestion, and it was all because the tide was coming in, and we wanted to see if Osprey Idris was fishing at high tide. I left Ian in one of the hides, tripod all set up with video camera at the ready. I was on a mission to get photos of the butterflies and dragonflies. I did succeed in a fashion. Only one dragonfly, a damselfly, two butterflies and a moth (I think) to add to my photo library, that was it! Oh well, better than nothing I suppose. And as to Ian's quest? He failed miserably as well!
Tonight we stopped at Borth. It's a Brit stop site and the fee was a mere £10. Tomorrow off to the Magic of Butterflies near Aberystwyth and maybe to see the feeding of the Red Kites as well.
And more photos from the RSPB site
4 comments:
I cannot be happy that you saw a stoat - they were introduced here in NZ to kill off the rabbits that were also introduced. Both are pests of the worst kind:
* rabbits because they wreck pasture, and
* stoats because they attack flkedglings and eggs of native birds as well as eating lizards.
Both are bastards!
We saw the red kites feeding near Aberystwyth back in about 2006. Beautiful.
Mxx
Just having my weekly catch up to find you are in a place we know very well. Chris has relatives in and around Mach and we try to head over there once a year. We will be there in September for two weeks without Monty, so will be able to go to places we have not visited for a while. We usually stay within walking distance of the RSPB reserve, but this time will be up in the hills. We hope to go to the reserve, The Centre for Alternative Technology (it is a few years since we were last there, so I am sure it has changed quite a bit) and the camera obscura in Aberystwyth. It is a lovely part of the world - enjoy. Jennie x
Hi irene,
I think your moth is a moth, maybe a Shoulder-striped Wainscot, though I'm not entirely sure from the angle of the photograph.
Jo ex n/b Sarah Kate. PS.
We were in Ynis Hir last year - it's a lovey place.
Thanks, Jo, with the shape of the wings I also thought it to be a moth. It was tiny, less than half an inch.
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