Dyfi Osprey Project, Bwlch Nant yr Arian Red Kites and Siskin

 As I was camping in Mid Wales last weekend I visited the nearby Dyfi Osprey Project which has a wonderful purpose built hide amongst the tree canopy. On the walkway to the hide we saw a common lizard basking in the sun on the heat reflective black strip at the side of the walkway:

 

 

We also went to the Ynys Hir RSPB reserve where we saw a Little Egret and several other waders in the distance. We only had an hour there so couldn't really do it justice but it looked a nice reserve. Then the Grand Finale was the Red Kite feeding station at Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forestry Commission site - around 200 wild Red Kites - wow!

 

South Stacks, Anglesey, Wales - 13th July 2014, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill and Little Owl

As the title says, 4 more new birds for my list on this visit to South Stacks Cliffs. I worked for them as there are about 300 rough hewn steps to walk down (and even worse, back up!). It was a hot, sunny day in the afternoon. The drive to the reserve from Warrington took about 2 hours, just before getting to the reserve I saw my first ever Little Owl in the wild, perched casually on a telephone wire going across some fields, in broad daylight. We were driving so I couldn't grab the camera but that was probably the highlight of the day for me.

In addition once at the reserve we saw 3 or 4 puffins and birds which I couldn't tell if they were Guillemots or Razorbills. Quite disappointed I just added 2 species to my list but luckily as René had taken such nice photos I was able to zoom right in and see we had seen Guillemots AND Razorbills. Not a bad day at all, 4 added to the 2014 and life lists!

The Lighthouse

Guillemots are chocolate brown on the back and have pointy beaks... not like Razorbills at all!

Mystery Gull. In the end I assumed it was a young (first winter second summer or whatever) Herring Gull. No idea really though!

Atlantic Puffins

And these are nothing like Guillemots!! (once zoomed in on computer after getting camera home - through my binoculars I had no idea).