Dusky Delights

The fine spring-like weather continues, so we decided to get out of the house on Saturday and head over to the coast at Ynys-las for a good stretch of the legs. Checking out the beach first we saw little of note, though it being the weekend and good weather, we didn't expect much as the hoardes of dog walkers and day trippers that generally descend upon the area were very much in evidence. The 2 snow buntings had been seen earlier, but all was quiet during our stroll, with a small group of golden plover being the highlight. They do look fantastic in the late afternoon sunshine, and always worth a photo.

Heading inland over Borth bog, we figured on doing a circular walk through the reedbeds and along the river. A group of feeding reed buntings held our attention for a while, whilst on the river a few redshank and a lone dunlin gave us something to look at other than the incredibly annoying group of constantly honking canada geese, who seemed determined to ruin the solitude as the sun set and the temperature dropped. We had just stopped on the river bank for Steffi to get some shots of the sunset when a barn owl appeared hunting over the raised bank opposite, ghosting past us without a sound and occasionally twisting and dropping down onto the ground - the kind of sight that makes you forget about the cold creeping into your fingers and the culling of noisy geese.

Earlier in the day, sat in the garden soaking up the warm sun, I watched buzzards, kites and ravens soaring and diving as they went through their courtship routines over the valley, and observed the comings and goings of the heronry. A group of 5 fieldfare were feeding amongst the sheep, and I couldnt help but think they might well be the last we'll see here this winter.

Today we checked on our local dipper pair, and both were on show, feeding just up from the nest site. Bullfinches are showing well around the drive up to the house, and the great spots are drumming up a storm. What with the snowdrops and daffodils bursting out everywhere, and Steffi seeing a comma butterfly down by the river, it finally feels like the end of a long wet winter might just be round the corner.