The Welsh Prairies

I am starting to get paranoid now. Another walk in the uplands and another Red Kite was dispatched to track me up the mountain. Big Brother is watching me from Kitecam!

What with the fine spell of weather we are enjoying I was in the uplands again checking out another possible spot for breeding Golden Plover following a tip off.

Unfortunately it involved a steep climb to over two thousand feet that would have been enough of a slog in itself, but the hundred metre dip before the summit was just cruel.

People always bang on about ‘views’ – normally estate agents selling houses overlooking our impoverished countryside – that are rarely ‘truly stunning’, but if you excuse a hint of hyperbole on my behalf, the view from the top was incredible - taking in most of North Wales’ major peaks.

Sorry for being vague again about the location, but although my search for Golden Plovers was fruitless, I was treated to very close views of a pair of Hen Harriers – probably on territory.

I don’t want to sound blasé, but Hen Harriers appear to be on the up in North Wales – what a coincidence following the cessation of commercial grouse shooting! Sadly, that means fewer game birds and it was disappointing not to find at least one Black or Red Grouse despite walking through miles of prime habitat.

Aside from the hundreds and hundreds of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, I didn’t see very much else apart from one Wheatear. But on a day like this it didn’t really matter – and did I tell you about the views…!

Undisclosed Site near the Arenigs 12.04.10

1 Red Kite
2 Hen Harrier (pair)
1 Wheatear
1 Raven

Until later.