A Few Pics from Top Hill & Alkborough

                                          Kingfisher

                                          Cetti's Warbler

                                          Greenshank

                                          Curlew

                                          Wren

                                          Meadow Pipt

                                          Goshawk mobbed by Swallows

                                          Shelduck

                                          Water Rail

                                          Kestrel

                                          Grey Heron

                                          Sedge Warbler

                                          Spoonbill

Wales Trip!

Had a short break in wales on the Llyn Peninsula, near to Porthmadog but got about a bit.
There was an Osprey watch nearby at Glaslyn, but they really are miles away & even views through Scopes were not that great. Dyfi Ospreys are a better place to visit much closer & in my opinion much better views. Please note though both sites have nestcams on the nest so the "Telly" watching views are fantastic.
Check out http://dyfiospreyproject.com/stream that's the viewing hide in the background.

I went to Uwchmynydd up past Mynydd Mawr Caravan Park & I assure you this was the best place to SEE Choughs, they were literally everywhere, & you could see them for miles in either direction. Also unbelievable views of Bardsey Island & it's little mountain were to be had. A nice little car park near a Sea Watching Station is were you go!
I did go to South stack too - This was the better of the Two for Photographing the Choughs, but I only found Two family parties one of 3 & the other of 4 so 7 Choughs in total were lurking around the spot I hung around. This was near to the spot Allan had been previously & one of the Juvenile Peregrines was still around & boy, was it a menace to anything in the air, chasing & picking fights with anything, practicing it's aerial skills.

Here it is sat way off - one scabby Juvenile thug!

It was actually only 15ft from the path & stayed for 15mins until a couple walking past spotted it & stopped - Then it was Air bourn again & the Aerial torment started again!

 

After a little Study of the Choughs - I found a spot sat down & waited - Look what came along pretty close.

 

Right near a nice Bench to sit on for a coffee Stone chats & occasion Whinchat kept using the same bush to sit on.

 The Stonechats stayed long enough & visited enough times to get a few shots!

 

I was in Wales so there was one Birdie I had to get some snaps of - especially as they are everywhere now - even all over Anglesey, a few are cruising the A55 at the side of the cars now!
 

Red Kites 

Though you said there was some grub here?

 Beats me!

 Ha Ha Too Late - I scoffed it all!

 

Was nice to get a few shots of the Kites sat still! Usually it's flight shots.

 

So without further ado! A few shots of them in Flight.

 

& just for a bit of fun .... Crow or Raven - When you can't hear a call & there is Nothing to give idea of size - Is it a Crow or a Raven?

Here's a side view if you think it Helps!

 

Have wait until September now for my last break - Wales again!

 

Harewood house

Day out at Harewood

 

 

 

 

Visit to Angelsey North Wales: South Stack and Cemlyn Bay

                                  Southstack is the place to go to see and photograph Choughs

                                           This juvenile Chough was quite close for a short time.

              Choughs are very acrobatic in flight. It makes getting flight shots a challenge.

 The Peregrine Falcon has to be one of our most iconic raptors. They have had a good breeding season on South Stack.The juveniles loved to put on great arial dispays and then would come down for a rest. I watched these juveniles for quite some time in the setting evening sun on our last night. Having prevously watched where they had been resting for a few days I was able to get some really close views.

                               Toilet training means checking the direction of the wind.

                 Catch me if you can! All that arial play means they can hone their hunting skills

                                                   Formation flying Peregrine style

                                               Male Stonechat enjoying the setting sun

                Sandwitch Tern. There is a strong colony at Cemlyn. Over two thousand birds

                                                    Arctic Tern on beach at Cemyln

                                             With chicks to feed Cemlyn is a busy place.

                          Already some of the Sandwitch Terns are going into winter plumage

                                   Cemlyn Bay has to be one of my favourite places to visit.

                                                                 Shellduck posing on the pool.