In the still, warm air

Went to Soar y Mynydd, then hiked down to Llyn Brianne and back up Cwm Doethie. All the expected upland birds were present, sometimes in good numbers (23 singing Whinchats). It was good to see a couple of pairs of Yellowhammers as I don't think I saw any here last year. Three or four Cuckoos were about. A Goshawk was soaring over Dalar Wen plantation. A pair of Little Grebes were on that little pool along Camddwr and further down where it opens out and becomes Llyn Brianne, just below the chapel, there was a Great Crested Grebe. Another bird could easily have been present out of my sight. Between these two points, a stretch of water perhaps 5km long I counted 5 Common Sandpipers, their location and behaviour seeming to suggest at least 4 territories.