Marvellous Mawddach!

I'm off work this week and I'm becoming increasingly frustrated by the weather - but isn't everyone?

Today, after some deliberation we decided to wander a little further afield and take a drive down to the Dolgellau area. We ended up at Penmaenpool. All I can say is that I now have a new favourite place on this planet. 
This is not a "Wow!" place nor does it have stunning views but the atmosphere is amazing. The moment you stand at the end of the rickety toll bridge the place starts to soak in to you heart through your skin.

The river is the Mawddach which upstream in the hills still causes a little gold fever as prospectors hunt for the yellow metal which is native to the area.

The path alongside the river is an old railway line, always a good start. It has been developed as a path and cycle track and today, in the middle of half-term hols, it was a little over-populated but in this place I could live with a bit of bike-dodging!

The bridge itself is special to start. A one-of-a-kind feature with its own character and charm.

The old railway signal serves as a prominent reminder of times gone by, and even adds a little humour, which is never a bad thing.

For many, the main feature would be the pub, sitting on the other side of the line, which although busy with holidaymakers, still manages to add to the calm atmosphere.

Even the building which was the old station, now modified many times over the years, still retains some of the branch-line charm. 
I quote from Wikipedia: "Penmaenpool railway station was formerly a station on the Dolgellau branch of the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway, part of the Ruabon to Barmouth Line. It closed to passengers on Monday 18 January 1965."
I guess that once, in the heyday of the railways it must have been a busy place, with holidaymakers passing through on their way to spent their break at Barmouth.

Both the pub and station buildings are parts of the George III Hotel.

Further down the line you get away from the tourists and soon get out into peace of the open country. You soon realise that the valley bottom is very flat indeed!

Back at the car park the other side of the bridge is just as intriguing, seeming to be as natural a part of the view as the oak-clad hills which forever form the backdrop.

 I'll be back!

Cemlyn Bay with a bonus Osprey!

I'd been wanting to get out to Cemlyn for a few weeks now. The weather was great, if a bit windy but I figured that a wind from the south would slow the Terns down as they flew past the camera - as-if! Still, I had managed a few shots when the shout went up "Osprey!". A totally unexpected bonus, the bird hung around for a couple of minutes (humbugged by Oystercatchers), long enough for me a to get a couple of long-range grab shots. From the bird's pose in a couple of them it looked like fishing was under consideration and with mullet in the lagoon, why not. Unfortunately the bird just drifted off but definitely added a moment's excitement to the visit.
This was also my first visit with my Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 lens. I'm really pleased - it's a keeper!

Sandwich Tern were bringing back sand eels for their mates who were sitting on eggs - awww!

This one is in the middle of a manoeuvre to change direction - see the twisted wings and tail....

Common Terns are strangely not as common as the Sandwich Terns and have the red bill with the black tip

Least numerous are the Arctic Terns with the pure red bill. I love their delicate long tail.

But I must admit that the bonus bird was the Osprey. Not posing for any photos, just drifting through but so special!
The Oystercatchers were giving it a hard time though...

It definitely looked like it was sussing out the prospects for a spot of fishing...

But in the end it just drifted off

It seems like you just can't beat a mouthful of insects!

Although the weather doesn't feel like it, it is May - the season of blooming flowers and new life. Well, despite the March-like temperatures it seems that nature is still carrying out plan A.
Down at Llandulas (again!) this afternoon, all the birds were chasing after insects - even the ones which you think of as seed-eaters.

Shortly after I arrived something caught my eye. In the distance, downstream, four little blobs stood out on a tiny island in the water. Grey Wagtail chicks! I've been watching these Wagtails for a few weeks now and it seems the parents have now got some extra mouths to feed.

After a short while I decided to leave them in peace. One of the birds was telling me off from behind me and I took the hint. The only thing was that the hint wasn't aimed at me. As I turned around a territorial battle started with the resident bird seeing another off the patch in no uncertain terms.

Other birds too were out "shopping" for food. Surprisingly there seemed to be good pickings to be had.

Robin

Wren 

Nuthatch

 and even the Chaffinches were fly-catching, performing aerobatics after their prey.

Poppies and Hoverflies

Another 10 minutes between GCSE Chemistry revision sessions spent experimenting with the macro lens in the garden.

Static subject - easy!

Moveable subject - not bad!

Moving subject - macro in flight? - madness!

I'll get the hang of it one day!

Choughed to bits

Another early wander today and the Great Orme seemed like as good a destination as any. I must be mad really, but bird watching has that effect on you. It was dark-ish with a cold-ish wind. Not chance of any great photo opportunities so I took the 120-300mm for an outing.

A trudge up to the cairn brought nothing but a walk down by the sheep-field brought up Mr & Mrs Stonechat, who I didn't bother for long as they were obviously feeding young in the gorse somewhere A single Whitethroat was making its way along the wall but not posing for the camera.

Mr Stonechat

Past the gorse and I was into Wheatear territory. Odd single birds were everywhere but the occasional pair look like they had a relationship going on.

Wheatear

Around the corner a single Chough was feeding in the sheep field, showing the dependance these birds have on sheep-cropped grass and all that goes with it.

Chough

I met Mark Hughes at this point who knows every Orme bird's history and family tree. He informed me that this bird is new this year and has likely taken the place of the previous "Mr Chough" who, it seems, is no longer with us.

Returning to the car we found a single Goldcrest in another gorse bush, squealing its high pitched call, like a short burst of tinnitus!
At the car park I could see the mountains of Snowdonia. It's not often that there is still snow up there in the second half of May!

Bugger me! There are four of them!

I was shocked enough to see one Mandarin Duck floating down the river at Llandulas but by the time I grabbed the camera and leapt out of the car and realised that there were four of them I was completely gobsmacked. 

They make a nice couple....

and then, as quickly as they arrived, they disappeared back upstream, the two nearest males displaying, their crests (and beards?) held high.

Over the hills, not so far away

Matt and I were out for a drive this afternoon. (It's my birthday - I have dominion muhahaha). I even got him to pose for the camera!

After some wandering, we ended up by the Gwytherin wind farm. I love the remoteness of this place.

 

A bit of playing with a polarizing filter makes skies look great!

The views of Snowdonia from up there are amazing!

Tree mice

I had an encounter with a couple of Treecreepers this afternoon. I love the way that they scurry up trees, looking for insects in the crevices. They always remind me of mice!
These birds were also flycatching - taking insects in mid-air. Something I've never seen before.

 Treecreeper - amazing camouflage

They seem to be unaffected by gravity!

Above Llanbedr-y-Cenin

An early morning start and I was off up to Bwlch y Ddeufaen. On the way up I was surprised by an unusual sight - 5 Jays in one tree. They seemed to be happy enough - I expected them to be fighting. The camera was stuck in its bag on the back seat though - there's a lesson! The hillside was still, no wind at all, and the general background noise of birdsong was pretty amazing. I heard my first Cuckoo of the year, singing its two-note song away in the distance.
At the top, I expected to see a few Stonechats and maybe even a Whinchat but there were none - most unusual, but maybe a little early in the year? Wheatears were by far the commonest bird, followed by Meadow Pipits and I managed to catch a glimpse of a single Ring Ouzel as it flew across the hillside.

Wheatears:

Meadow Pipit: