Dusk can be a good time to go birding as I found out this evening on the bog. Firstly, a squadron (6 actually) of calling Whooper swans passed close overhead as they flew into the setting sun and I understood why some folk at the Wetlands Trust devote themselves to these visitors from the arctic. Second up was a hovering kestrel near one of the new nestboxes, a smart male stonechat posing on a reed, several snipe put up from the river bank and a few mallard flighting out of the marshy ponds. As the light faded a ringtail Hen Harrier hunted along the edge of Maes Llyn's fields and then real excitement as 2 Short eared owls appeared hunting extensively across the rushes. One went north near to the birdhide on the FFlur, the other south towards Maes Llyn farm. Returning to base in the near dark was a nightmare of squeaking boardwalk mesh and scrunching frosty snow so I was not expecting a barn owl to fly straight at me! The butterfly flight of the ghost white bird is so different from the stronger long winged shortie though the sudden twisting pounce onto prey looked the same! As I had paused in shock I could hear Tawnies calling from the surrounding woods to complete my excursion.
You may think it masochistic to forsake a warm hearth, left over Xmas choccies, and Bath thrashing Toulouse in HD to wander about on a freezing bog but today was the official Hen Harrier count day so off I went and, as we all found out during the Atlas, being forced out often brings rewards.
Moira is looking for more volunteers for the Breeding Bird Survey (see earlier post) which at least takes place in daylight so if you fancy having a go get in touch with her.
PS: there are several males and ringtails (Hen Harriers) on the bog at the moment and great views are to be had from the main boardwalk and even from the waiting room if the windows are not steamed up.