Ups and downs

From very early this morning a drive along Camddwr stopping regularly but briefly to scan the river and slopes. Then a walk from Soar y Mynydd to Upper Cwm Doethie. The bad news; yet another blank year for Common Sandpipers as far as I could tell and very sadly no sightings of Yellowhammer (3 last year) for the first time. Hopefully others will have better luck around here with these species or elsewhere. However, singing Whinchats 25, Stonechats 7 and Cuckoos 3 were very much in evidence. A Kestrel was in Cwm Doethie. A pair of Little Grebes were at Camddwr pool again. The most interesting discovery was just above the pool. A tiny landslip has diverted some of the stream across a flat, rushy area, creating a miniature wetland. As well as a male Teal there were 4 Snipe swooping about acrobatically, chipping and drumming.