Plans to search for a possible Rough-legged Buzzard on the Wirral were soon shelved this morning when I was drafted in for a spot of dog walking – upland style.
After picking up a pair of willing Springers in Mold it was off to do a lap of Llyn Brenig. Whereas signs of spring are everywhere in lowland Cheshire, Mynydd Hiraethog is still firmly in the icy grip of winter, with large sections of the lake frozen and a good carpeting of snow on the moorland areas.
A cracking drake Goldeneye diving near the visitor centre was a good start to the day, but encounters with birds were few and far between today and the only things of note on the eastern section of the water were two singing Goldcrests and a trio of Mistle Thrush.
The north section of the reservoir near the hide tends to be the most productive for birds and so it was this afternoon too with a lovely pair of Goosander loafing on the shoreline and four more Goldeneye on the open water.
The large block of heather here is a reserve of the North Wales Wildlife Trust called Gors Maen Llwyd and over recent years has been the only reliable area I know in North Wales for Red Grouse. No sightings today though; indeed the only bird I found was a single Meadow Pipit!
When the sun finally broke through, it seemed to encourage the larger inhabitants of the area to take to the air as the last hour back to the visitor centre was punctuated with numerous flyover Ravens, three Buzzards and a solitary Kestrel that appeared to be displaying over one of the conifer blocks.
After picking up a pair of willing Springers in Mold it was off to do a lap of Llyn Brenig. Whereas signs of spring are everywhere in lowland Cheshire, Mynydd Hiraethog is still firmly in the icy grip of winter, with large sections of the lake frozen and a good carpeting of snow on the moorland areas.
A cracking drake Goldeneye diving near the visitor centre was a good start to the day, but encounters with birds were few and far between today and the only things of note on the eastern section of the water were two singing Goldcrests and a trio of Mistle Thrush.
The north section of the reservoir near the hide tends to be the most productive for birds and so it was this afternoon too with a lovely pair of Goosander loafing on the shoreline and four more Goldeneye on the open water.
The large block of heather here is a reserve of the North Wales Wildlife Trust called Gors Maen Llwyd and over recent years has been the only reliable area I know in North Wales for Red Grouse. No sightings today though; indeed the only bird I found was a single Meadow Pipit!
When the sun finally broke through, it seemed to encourage the larger inhabitants of the area to take to the air as the last hour back to the visitor centre was punctuated with numerous flyover Ravens, three Buzzards and a solitary Kestrel that appeared to be displaying over one of the conifer blocks.
Until later.
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