Anglesey & Cemlyn , Wales Sunday 10 April 2011 - Part 2

Cemlyn Bay Images;
Right:Golden Plover,below left:White Wagtail
Sandwhich Terns,Wheatear, Raven,Meadow Pipit and Chough

Anglesey & Cemlyn , Wales Sunday 10 April 2011 - Part 1

Given the promise of an excellent weekend, Tina and I decided to head off to the coast, in the hope of catching views of the summer resident Auks and Terns at South Stack and Cemlyn Bay Anglesey.

Arriving at Cemlyn Bay at about 10.30 am, we could not help think of the poor people in Japan as we gazed at the power plant on the North Eastern shoreline, of what is otherwise a beautifully wild coast line. Both Common and Sandwich terns were in residence, an egret was in the pool.
Golden plover wheeled overhead, looking for a safe place to land.
A small group of white wagtails scampered along the beach and peacock,small white and tortoiseshell butterflies flitted on the grassy paths.

The weather lived up to it's promise but at South Stack we dipped on the seabirds as they had not yet returned from migration. What a difference a week can make, last year we made the same journey on 17 April and the cliffs were alive with sound of noisy guillemots,razorbills,puffins and fulmer. Still the day was lovely, the cliffs were radiant with wild flowers. Wheatears,pipits,ravens and chough drifted and played on the warm coastal air.
A barn swallow rested on the wires with two linnets.
A couple walking nearbye reported that two adders were seen briefly sunbathing on the coastal scrub.

A mention here for the newly opened RSPB visitors centre and cafe, where both information on the local wildlife and a decent cup of coffee can be obtained.
















Spring Squill scilla verna





Common Dog Violet viola riviniana

Thrift armeria maritima

Thames Drive,Biddulph

I managed to grab my camera as these two buzzards formed a raiding party on the local rookery, in the spinny just off Thames Drive, on Wednesday.

Cromford & Carsington Water 5 April contued.

Chiffchaff and Blackcap seen at Carsington.
Hawfinch seen at Cromford (apologies for the bad light)

Cromford & Carsington Water, April 5 2011

Great Northern Diver & Great crested grebe,Carsington Water

Spent a day out with local birder Steve Gibson who was kind enough to help me see Hawfinches and Great Northern Diver(loon) at Cromford and Carsington water respectively.
Unfortunately the day was overcast and therefore very poor for photography.
Nevertheless we also had good views of returning warblers, including Chiffchaff,Blackcap & Willow Warbler.


Tree sparrows and Bullfinch seen at Carsington Water.



Above Oystercatchers

Tittesworth ,North Staffs, Late afternoon Sunday 3 April 2011

Dreadful weather on Tina & I's late afternoon visit to the west hide atTittesworth yesterday, hail, downpours,thunder and lightening. Some excellent views of nuthatch,common finches,tits and reed buntings thanks to the excellent work of Steve and John down there. The nuthatch hung upside down apparently asleep for several minutes Nice to see an Oystercatcher back at the reservoir. Apart from a fleeting views of a g.s.wood,lapwing,curlew and a female goosander, didn't see anything else of note.

31 March 2010 Biddulph Brook

Whilst out walking near Congleton Rd yesterday I spotted this early Comma butterfly

Biddulph Moor & Biddulph Park

Spring wild flowers on view around Biddulph, today 30 Mar 2011.
The day was overcast.
At Biddulph Moor , Lapwing,Curlew,Meadow Pipit and Skylarks had returned to their breeding territorys.

Hollinsclough, Staffs Moorlands 28 March 2011

On a sunny March Monday Tina & I headed for tiny hamlet of Hollinsclough in the Staffordshire Moorlands, hoping for a great walk and our first view of Northern Wheatear this season. We weren't disappointed on either count.As we set off from home six common buzzards soared on the thermals above the house, a further two circled above Chrome Hill near Hollinsclough. Chrome Hill & Buzzard Northern Wheatear We also saw our first butterfly, a small tortoiseshell, of the season and lots of meadow pipits.