The End of the World...and beyond.

Mother Nature is certainly making up for her parsimonious rainfall rations so far this year, with a very damp start to ‘Flaming June.’

Like the legions of In-ger-land fans bracing themselves for the inevitable early elimination from the World Cup, the reservoirs are in need of large levels of refreshment, so a good downpour is not unwelcome.

I always find that damp and overcast weather is good for walking in the uplands. Sun is the mortal enemy at this time of year as the heat haze can make birding very difficult and the hot conditions can make you sweat like a hung-over Paul Gascoigne in a sauna.

So it was off to Ruabon Moor for one of my favourite walks: World’s End to Rock Farm along the top of the ridge and then back to start via the Offa’s Dyke path.

A lively Grey Wagtail was flittering around the stream on the way up to the top where the border between the wood and the heather was home to two singing Tree Pipits and a male Whinchat.

Nine Crossbill over was good and other finches in the area included Siskin, Linnet and at least one Lesser Redpoll.

Numerous Wheatears dotted the route along the permitted path whilst a pair of loud and frequently calling local residents - whom could probably benefit from being a little more discreet – did their utmost to draw attention to themselves.

The habitat up here looks perfect for Ring Ouzel: scree slopes, boulders and close proximity to water make it very suitable indeed, but I guess declining numbers plus disturbance means areas like this are now largely uninhabited - having said that Denzil had bagged a male up here last week.

Distant calls from Curlew and Raven respectively echoed down the ravine towards Rock Farm, but birds close by were few.

And so it was along the Offa’s Dyke path with one notable exception – Redstarts. Four males on territory on the way back to World’s End, including one mint individual that showed to ten yards from the top of a small Mountain Ash.

World’s End 09.06.10

Curlew 1
Tree Pipit 2
Pied Wagtail 2
Grey Wagtail 1
Redstart 4
Wheatear 8+
Whinchat 1
Stonechat 4
Raven 2
Crossbill 9
Plus, three species of raptor.

Until later.

Just Rewards

With heavy rain and strong south-westerly winds forecast for today, it was perhaps not the best day to go walking on Ruabon Moor, but it sure paid dividends!

Parking at World’s End a mate Frank and I began to prepare for the inevitable buffeting from the elements sheltered beneath the larch trees - that despite the dreadful weather held good numbers of Siskin and Crossbill calling as I tied my bootlaces.

Negotiating Offa’s Dyke path along the limestone ridge was akin to being in a wind tunnel, but three Wheatears – two males and a female - sheltering on the scree slopes was a pleasant surprise.

The ascent up the cliff face above Rock Farm and on to Ruabon Moor proper was torturous and birdless - as was the hack across Bryn-Adda flat - but just as we were about to enter the conifer forest at Newtown Mountian, three female Black Grouse were flushed from the heather.

At this point I was already cream-crackered, but after being fortified by a few slugs of hot Coffee we set off on the final leg – another section of open moor between the lodge next to Pant-glas reservoir and the starting point: World’s End.

Not before time, the conditions improved dramatically with bright sunshine and a brisk breeze proving to be the best antidote to exhaustion. Then, just as we reached the brow of the hill, I spotted a bird perched on the footpath. My bins were barely useable, but I could nevertheless just make out a male Ring Ouzel – superb!

Viewed in improving light and through freshly wiped lens’, the bird looked absolutely immaculate. It made me reflect on my own state – I had walked nine miles and looked like Keith Richards after the London Marathon; this bird had flown all the way from Africa and looked in mint condition!

Ruabon Moor 22.3.10

1 Ring Ouzel (male)
3 Black Grouse (female)
4 Wheatear

Until later.