Subalpine Excitement!

 With the Eastern Subalpine Warbler being on Birdguides all week, I decided to head down to Beachy Head early doors in the hope that it would hang around for another day, after last weeks Spotted Sandpiper washout I wasn't confident. I parked up and headed down to Cow Gap, noting on the way the horrendous steepness of the hill, with the dread feeling that I was going to have to climb back up it afterwards!!! A few Linnets and Goldfinches flying around and some Meadow Pipits displaying on the more open bits!

Meadow Pipit

I reached the cliff edge to look over the area where the bird has been seen in previous days, one other birder present, no sign, a family of Stonechats entertained, various birds were calling and singing in the scrub, including according to merlin a Black Redstart, having listened to recordings since I think it was correct, but didn't see the bird! Others of note Blackcap, Chiffchaff and quite a few Common Whitethroats! As birder numbers built up, the target bird was heard singing and brief glimpses were obtained, it was soon realised by the gathering that the  bird had moved down to the bottom of the cliff, so we all relocated, this was handy as it put the Sun behind us. Spent the next couple of hours, watching the bird flitting about appearing and disappearing, pretty much at the point I was about to get a picture! Some swearing was done! More Whitethroats and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats joined the fun, but it was all about the Subalpine to be honest!

Fledgling Stonechat

Goldfinch

Stonechat

Common Whitethroat

First photo op! Eastern Subalpine Warbler

Playing hard to get

Skulking? oh yes!

Popped out!

Showing a bit better but still a bit distant

Lesser Whitethroat, was actually more skulking that the star bird!

Possibly a couple of pictures too many, but it was a lifer!!!

After about 3 hours, I could put it off no longer and headed back up the hill!! To be honest it nearly killed me and it took me about 20 minutes with the occasional pause to gasp for breath! I was pleased to see a posy Stonechat, half way up, so i could have a rest!

Stonechat

I made it to the top, not wishing to disrespect my fellow birders, but quite a few in the crowd were older and heavier than me and I'm 61!!  I hope everyone made it up!! Though listening to the conversations in the crowd some were dreading it every bit as much as me!😀😱 I'd never been to that bit of beachy before and to be honest probably won't again, because of the climb, though it does look a cracking area for birds!! A successful twitch!!

Wales 2026 Day 6

 Final day of our trip, not feeling the best we decided on trying to find a Wood Warbler locally, our cunning plan was to drive around suitable areas with the window open!! It actually worked!!! Ended up finding five altogether in and around the Pont Tyn Y Groes area, an old copper mine, with a nice, short walk, they were quite difficult to get pics of but I done me best!

Wood Warbler giving it large

This one stayed high in the trees!

Old Copper Mine

Heroic Birder

Some ancient artefacts  Margie found

 

This one was more friendly

Fabulous little birds, with a song that punches well above their weight!

We decided to go and have a look at the Precipice Walk this was supposed be a recce for our next trip but of course Margie got the mountaineering bug and insisted we climb the mountain opposite!! It's name Foel Cynwch now obviously as someone who has conquered the mighty Cairngorm and regularly skips up Wolstonbury Hill this would normally be no problem, but as I was suffering from the worst illness any human has ever had it was going to be tough. It was a really nice walk the views are absolutely stunning all round! 

Look how blooming steep it was!!

My kind of mountaineering, you don't get this on Everest!

Blue Skies all around we were lucky with the weather!

Bird wise we didn't see much although there were several Tree Pipits singing at Base Camp!

Not sure if this was a Tree or Meadow Pipit it was a bit further up the mountain to the singing ones, though I think the strong bill, shortish hind claw and unmarked rump suggests Tree Pipit but happy to be corrected!

Tree Pipit

Tree Pipit, this one posed nicely!

Mistle Thrush, saw these pretty much every day of our trip, but never got a decent pic!

With the mountain almost beaten, didn't make it right to the top, we decided to head to Barmouth to get an Ice Cream! Family tradition on Welsh Holidays!

Margie went for Fruit Salad and White Chocolate Honeycomb, I went with Cherry Ripple and Mochaccino and they had Gluten Free Cones!! Whoop

A nice view to eat our Ice Creams 

After a bit of socialising we popped over to see the Glaslyn Ospreys, three nests visible all pretty distant, but we were buzzed by a couple of Swifts which was nice! though to be honest there were more planes than birds in the hot weather!

Distant Osprey

Swift

So that was about that, headed home, got stuck on the M25 as is traditional. Great Weather, great Birds, great Scenery and great Company!!  Wales awesome as ever!