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...
