Friday, 27 April 2012

Tanybwlch and Pendinas

The forecast was for the rain to clear from the west, so I was optimistic as I set off along Tanybwlch bay. Five Goosanders (1m, 4f) on the Ystwyth near the harbour were a good start. Further along, a group of about 30 hirundines were feeding low over the river:  mostly Swallows with a few House Martins and a couple of Sand Martins. 
Very little on the beach; just a single Ringed Plover and four Wheatears.  A Chough appeared over the cliffs at Allt Wen.  On the way back I was pleased to see that a Swift had joined the hirundines and there were three Common Sandpipers on the riverbank near the Goosanders.  Even better, a quick look at the harbour before moving round to Pendinas revealed an Otter swimming past the lifeboat station towards the harbour mouth.
And so to Pendinas. From the sheds I walked along the footpath round the lower slopes before coming back and having a look along the cycle track.
This place really is well worth a visit, especially in spring when there are small birds everywhere. Apart from the resident birds, which included Long-tailed Tit and a pair of Bullfinches, I had six species of warbler; Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler, and seen well at close range (apart from the gropper of course).
The rain was still falling steadily as I set off home, but somehow it doesn't seem to matter if the birds are showing.