Wales 2026 Day 1

 Just back from a nice week in Wales which I will document over a few posts, obviously got a few pics to process!!😁This has been delayed further by the stress of Leed's fight to survive in the Premier League and Ipswich Town's limping over the line for promotion, at time of writing Ipswich have made it, thankfully they won't have to go through the play offs, don't think I could handle the stress of listening to Margie's histrionics through 3 more matches!! The swearing alone is enough to make a builder blush!!😲 Leeds are looking good as well so next seasons going to be fun in our house when the Town lose to the Mighty Whites!!! Touch paper lit!!😱 Anyway back to Wales, just to confirm I haven't been hacked by the Welsh Tourist Board, the Sun really did shine the whole time we were there, the blue sky in many of the pics is not AI !!! Overall a very good trip with most of the target birds seen, only hindered by me going down with illness, a cross between the Black Death, Ebola and a bit of a sniffle that would have killed a lesser man😇, but I struggled on and managed to go birding everyday!!! Phew!!

The journey from Sussex to Mid-Wales was fairly uneventful, a flyover Parakeet on the M25 was an addition to the year list and the usual Red Kites adorned the M40. On arrival, after a bit of socialising with me Dad we headed to the local river, a Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail were too quick for the camera, but managed a couple of shots of a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers. Nice to see several Sand Martins buzzing about the river! A couple of Common Sandpipers also flew up and down the river, but there was no sign of the hoped for Dipper! Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Willow Warblers, Wrens and Chaffinches  were singing in the trees. A very pleasant evening!

The mighty Cader Idris

Common Sandpiper

Sand Martin

Red-breasted Merganser

Sand Martin

Pied Wagtail

Margie thinks Sheep are cute she can't help herself! A good start to proceedings!! The scenery really is beautiful in the evening sunshine!