Human Interest

Ryan and myself went up to the well-known Black Grouse lek site in North Wales near Llangollen first thing but unfortunately when we got up there, it was thick fog thus preventing us from seeing anything; there were however plenty of birds calling on both sides of the road creating a very atmospheric place with the grunts and cackles echoing around the misty valleys.   

We thought that was it but after a few hours where we did a little survey nearby, Ryan discovered that he had lost his phone; so in an optimistic and futile attempt to re-find it we went back up to the lekking area, where by now, it was nice, bright and sunny but mid-morning and scattered by walkers and dogs.   It was therefore a massive surprise when an awesome group of at least 22 Black Grouse – all males flew low across the road right in front of the car, presumably flushed from their daytime feeding / roosting site by a walker!

To complete the human interest aspect to the tale Ryan then relocated his phone – in the McDonald’s that we had breakfast at several hours before!

Not much else was seen through the day with singing and displaying Stonechats and Meadow Pipits up on the hills and an excellent 34 Buzzards and 6 Red Kites following a tractor ploughing a large field like Gulls back down near Leintwardine.

 

Just some of Black Cocks!

Red Kites

Buzzards

and this beast...