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Just spent a excellent relaxing break with family in a cottage on a farm for a week near Rhayadar. Only one wash-out day. Several days of terrific sunshine which brought the birds and insects out.
On the farm itself I noted 57 species including breeding wood warblers, redstarts, pied flycatchers, spotted flycatchers, wheatears, tree pipits, peregrines, ravens, dippers and of course red kites. A male hen harrier was also noted early one morning drifting across the valley there. Two evenings were also spent badger watching on the farm but unfortunately no otters on the River Wye nearby.
The bluebells on the valley sides were just stunning.
Can certainly recommend the walks at Hafod just west of the Elan Valley area. Wood warblers seemed to be one of the commonest singing birds there with over ten males noted. The feeding red kite session at Bwlch Nant yr Arian was well worth it with about 55 birds gathering. Cheaper than the more famous Gilgrin Farm as well!
A day-trip to the beach at Borth produced constant gannet activity plus a bonus of two flyover calling choughs.
Painted ladies were a real feature of the last few days of the holiday with them noted everywhere we went, nearly all moving westwards. Even did a bit of mothing with my 15w actinic tube stuck outside the cottage back door. Noted about 40 moth species including alder kitten, great prominent, puss moth, marbled brown and lots of nut-tree tussocks. Cockchafers were abundant around the lamp.
Cheers
Brian
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