GETTING DOWN TO IT

 Yet another trip for yours truly back to the lagoons at Goldcliff,  this was a few weeks back but due to working commitments (12 hr shifts) I've been unable or perhaps even to knackered to sit at my computer and edit images and type out a blog about my last visit, it did produce a good selection of birds, it's such a great place as it never disappoints. So having finally had a couple of days rest it's time to get my arse into gear a get it done.

The first bird that caught my attention was this very light phased Buzzard which most birders at Goldcliff  has named the Bosprey showed well resting on the haystacks opposite the first hide. I also caught another Buzzard with also very light feathering flying over the reserve being harassed by corvids.

bosprey

another light phased but different Buzzard

On the lagoons themselves were some Cormorants although not rare by any means it's a bird that I hadn't seen at the lagoons before.

cormorant in flight

On the wader front were some Ruff, Lapwings, Blacktailed Godwits and Little Stint, the Stints were way to far out for even a record shot but it was great to get another first for my British bird list which I have to say since going to Goldcliff has started to rise considerably.

ruff

lapwings

some black headed gulls

Quite a few duck species on show but all in eclipse plumage, they must use the lagoons as a safe haven whilst moulting, the Pintails were a nice surprise.

pintail

shoveler

wigeon

Also this Little Grebe showed well, this was a few weeks ago and it's already in winter plumage.

little grebe

dabchick

Last of anything of note on the lagoons were some Mute Swans they are a very majestic bird.

mute swan

Off the lagoons and in the surrounding area around Goldcliff there are some small trees and bushes with a bit of grassland where I spotted some Yellow Wagtails, apologies  for the pics but at least you can see what they are.

yellow wagtail

At the sea wall I managed to photograph what I'm pretty sure is a White Wagtail they like the Yellow's will be migrating anytime soon. Looking at the pic and my substantial collection of ID guides I'm sure it's a White but if anyone can prove me wrong I'll take it on the chin.

white or pied?

Also at the sea wall were a very confiding Wheatear and Meadow Pipit.

wheatear 

meadow pipit

 That's it for this one, can't wait to get down to Goldcliff again (work permitting) it always brings up some great birds and a few surprises. Thanks for your visit and until the next one cheers and I'll catch you soon.            

A TRIP BACK TO THE LAGOONS

Went back to Goldcliff Lagoons on the 30th August bank holiday Monday (I'm starting to love the place) for a few hours birding. As we're coming into migratory season lots of birds especially the waders stop off whilst on passage. Whilst there I bagged my first Curlew Sandpiper which was very pleasing and met up with Paul Joy and Blair Jones a pair of top blokes. It was nice to chat with like minded people and share some birding stories. Blair introduced me to Goldcliff and gave me directions on how to get there. Blair also has his own blog which is very good called The Wildlife Oculus so if you haven't visited his blog yet give it a go.

a very heavily cropped curlew sandpiper

If you've ever visited Goldcliff you'll know that the birds especially the waders are a long way out, so unless your extremely fortunate and the birds come in close to the hides and viewing platforms a scope is a necessity. So with my 400mm prime lens on my camera I have to heavily crop my images like the one's of the very distant Curlew Sandpipers above.

Flying in quite regularly were loads of Greylag and Canada Geese like the one's below.

greylag and canada geese

canada geese

On the wader front there were some nice Curlews, Ruff and Black tailed Godwits. Didn't get a usable image of the Ruff they were to far out.

curlew

lapwing, black headed gulls and black tailed godwit

lapwing blacktailed godwits

 Whilst chatting to Paul and Blair we observed this Kestrel being mobbed by Martins and Swallows.

kestrel being mobbed 

Also these four little Egrets were taking it easy with the Geese and a Lapwing on the waters edge.

Last off was this meadow pipit that landed on the fence opposite the hide that we were in, so I was able to get an image with a bit of detail in.

That ended an enjoyable couple of hours out with the highlight for me being the Curlew Sandpiper and some Yellow Wagtails kindly pointed out to me by Blair again to far out for any usable images. That's it for this one as always thanks for dropping by and I'll catch you soon. 

MID-WALES

We had a weeks holiday in mid Wales back in July. We stayed at a renovated old school house in a little village called Llanfair Clydogau it is about 6 miles outside Lampeter. With the old covid still at large we went for another stay-cation away from the crowds and also a little holiday for our youngest boy Aneurin who had just turned 18.

our digs for the week

 Here's the Birthday boy.

crisps a whisky a pizza and a cider anyone would think he just turned 18 😊

We also had a nice jacuzzi which we all took advantage of mostly at the end of the day.

for any dirty minded people out there - that's my knee 😂

Also the view was stunning

what a view

There were some lovely walks even though some of it was a bit hilly but very enjoyable.

Tina taking a break on one of our walks

Above our digs Red Kites and Buzzards were a common sight so I couldn't resist a couple of photo's. Some times the Kites would fly in so close you feel you could touch them.

buzzard

red kite

On the birding front Tregaron bog was only a few miles away but my visit there was a bit of a disappointment. I think mid - July was the wrong time of year as I didn't get to see to much. There were no raptors which I was hoping for but I did hear a Grasshopper warbler performing in the undergrowth and although I waited for a considerable time the little bleeder wouldn't show. The only shot I got was this blurry meadow pipit but I did get to chat to a few of the residents who use the bog quite regularly and they said very early mornings, winter and early spring is the best time to visit. It was a good place for dragon flies if that's your thing they were everywhere.

only image of the day

In the village below our digs is a lovely little shop which had house martin's nesting at the side under the eves you can make out the nests on this photograph I took of the shop. 

the village shop

There were also Swifts and Swallows flying around with the House Martins, very difficult to photograph because they move so fast I wasn't to disappointed with this image of a Swift as it whizzed past.

swift

The only other bird image I managed was this female Bullfinch on one of our walks up and around a woodland centre we discovered.

female bullfinch

We had a great week in mid - Wales but it was really all about Aneurin's 18th birthday even though I did manage to do some birding as well which was a bonus. Here's a pic of the birthday boy and his mam at Aberporth in Cardigan on one of our many days out.

lovely pic of Nye with his mam.

Well that's it for this on, thanks for dropping by and I'll catch you soon.