When I looked out of the window at 8.00 this morning I was very apprehensive about the field trip. As the rain got heavier I thought "Only mad people would want to go birding in this."
At 10.00 eight of us met-up in the car park at Furnace!
Looking west we could see blue sky. We all wished it in our direction and our collective wishing paid off. From then on we had superb weather. Amongst the birds seen were Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit and Yellowhammer.
In the afternoon seven of us visited the Dyfi Osprey Project. To be honest, I didn't expect to actually see an Osprey and I don't think any of the others did either. Oh ye of little faith........
Soon after we arrived, as we munched sandwiches and slurped tea in the car park a large raptor passed some distance away and high in the sky. It appeared to be carrying something fish shaped in its talons. It disappeared behind the inland hills before any of us got a good enough view to identify it. But a minute or two later it reappeared. This time it was closer and we were able to positively identify it as an Osprey carrying a large fish. It looked like it might be heading towards the nest so we all climbed up into the hide and sure enough it landed beside the nest and proceeded to devour the fish. We were treated to fantastic views as we watched it through our optics and on the flat screen erected inside the hide.
I must say, he was a very handsome fellow indeed.