Just returned from a 4 day mini break in Aberdaron. It hardly counts as a trip report as it's part of "our patch" so I am sticking it on here !
Firstly let me say, what a superbly beautiful part of North Wales this is. Many residents of North Wales never venture quite this far down the Lleyn Peninsula and they are missing a treat and the birding can be be special as we know from reports by Rhys, Andrew and others.
My objectives were twofold... photographic opportunities for Yellowhammer and Chough. If I could nail them I'd be happy !
We arrived in glorious sunshine and a short walk of a couple of hours around Porth Oer (Whistling Sands) to rediscover what a stunning beach this is. It was Mediterranean is both clear seas and roasting sunshine reflecting off the white sand. Not many birds about though and I decided I wasn't going to carry any photographic gear on future walks as it was too heavy and we were walking too far.
Friday evening I drove up to the lower car park on Mynydd Mawr and got some decent views of Chough but usually never quite near enough for the shot and detail I really wanted.
For those interested in rings this one certainly wears a lot of birdy bling.
I managed to get within feet of a pair sat on top of a rocky outcrop but it involved being precariously balanced on a steep grassy slope using my tripod as a monopod and shooting into the sun.
Still not what I was after but getting there. Tomorrow was another day so I had more chances to come.
A Stonechat family showed exceptionally well so I was happy with those shots
Mummy
Daddy
and baby Stonechat
Saturday arrived and we got rain. We attempted a walk but abandoned it after an hour or two, soaked to the skin. We returned to our caravan to dry off then decided to head for the pub. Ty Newydd has a great sun terrace overlooking the beach and would make a great spot for sea watching too ! By the time we returned home visibility was down to 50m.
Sunday was much better and we had some good spells of sun and no rain whatsoever. An 11 mile circular walk around the headland gave us many great sightings of Chough, and a short diversion to the car park at Mynydd Mawr revealed a Yellowhammer briefly perched on the fence.
I decided to return in the evening and duly drove up there again at teatime. By now the light was poor so I didn't hang around long but again took some Chough shots
and a different ringed bird
We enjoyed our walk so much we decided to repeat it in the opposite direction on Monday. Again the sun shone and highlights that we saw were a Sparrowhawk mobbed by Swallows, three kestrels about to fledge their nest, some absolutely killer close views of Chough down to 20 feet away and, a female Yellowhammer briefly perched about 8 feet away.
Add to these really close views of a family of Willow Warblers and reasonably close of a family of Mistle Thrush and there was plenty to see. I could have returned with my camera gear to any of these spots later but alas I was too knackered to walk any distance!
Settling for my usual hour or so by car to Mynydd Mawr I managed to capture Linnet
Common Whitethroat
but in the end had to settle for this as my only Yellowhammer shot
Still, there's always next time and I will certainly revisit again in the future.
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