Trip report – East Anglia, Wales and south west England
15th May 2019
Dates: 7th to 14th May 2019
Destination: East Anglia, Wales and south west England
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was my long-standing annual visit to north and mid Wales to see bird species that are not found on a regular basis in Essex or East Anglia, particularly summer breeding birds and passage migrants. In addition, my trip to Wales was preceded by a visit to sites in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk and followed by a visit to sites in Somerset and Dorset, all of which were selected again for summer breeding birds and passage migrants.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for birding were:
Essex: Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve
Suffolk: Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Weeting Heath NWT reserve
Norfolk: Titchwell RSPB reserve
Lincolnshire: Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve
Denbighshire: “Worlds End”, Berwyn Mountains
Gwynedd: Aber Ogwen NWWT reserve, Ogwen Estuary and Traeth Lavan
Anglesey: Beaumaris to Penmon
Anglesey: Cemlyn Bay NWWT reserve
Anglesey: South Stack RSPB reserve
Anglesey: Holyhead harbour
Anglesey: Beddmanarch Bay
Gwynedd: Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia
Powys: Cors Dyfi MWT reserve and the Dyfi Osprey Project
Ceredigion: Ynys-hir RSPB reserve
Ceredigion/Powys: Aberystwyth to Rhayader via Devils Bridge, Cwmystywth and Elan valley
Powys: Rhayader area
Powys: Gilfach RWT reserve
Powys: Carngafallt RSPB reserve
Somerset: Ham Wall RSPB reserve
Dorset: Arne RSPB reserve
Dorset: Durlston Country Park
Unfortunately, the heavy rain all day on 8th May 2019 led to my planned visit to Titchwell RSPB reserve in Norfolk being cancelled although there was some compensation in seeing the 5 Dotterel from the shelter of the car at nearby Choseley which had been reported for several days prior to my trip. The weather on the same day also severely restricted my visit to Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve in Lincolnshire with all bird records being from the car park, again from the shelter of the car.
My journey en-route from my overnight stop at North Muskham in Nottinghamshire to my overnight stop at Oswestry in Shropshire enabled a long overdue and welcome return to Coombes Valley RSPB reserve in Staffordshire plus a visit to the Shropshire Ornithological Society reserve of Venus Pool just south of Shrewsbury in Shropshire.
Illness during the evening prior to my next day visit to Ham Wall RSPB reserve in Somerset resulted in a severely restricted walk around this extensive reserve compared with the full day that I spent there in May 2018. Nonetheless, I still managed to record some excellent sightings during the walk to and at the first series of viewing platforms and screens.
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip from Thrifty in Basildon. The 8 day rental cost £124.57 reduced by cashback to £114.77.
Other than my overnight stay in Rhayader, I stayed at Travelodges and Premier Inns throughout my trip, all of which provided convenient locations for my target areas for birding and late check-ins and early check-outs.
7th May 2019: Travelodge Kings Lynn. Booked in advance and pre-paid £42. I had my evening meal at The Gatehouse, the adjacent Hungry Horse pub. This provided a standard and relatively average gastropub menu.
8th May 2019: Travelodge Newark North Muskham. Booked in advance and pre-paid £28. I had my evening meal at Beaumond Cross Inn in the nearby town of Newark-on-Trent. The Beaumond Cross Inn is a restored and refurbished Grade 2 listed building and it offers an interesting menu, not least a wide range of home-made meat and fish pies, plus real ale. Highly recommended.
9th May 2019: Premier Inn Oswestry. Booked in advance and pre-paid £33. I had my evening meal at Oswald’s Cross, the adjacent Table Table pub. Again, this provided a standard and relatively average gastropub menu.
10th May 2019: Premier Inn, Holyhead. Booked in advance and pre-paid £32. I had my evening meal at The White Eagle in the small coastal village of Rhoscolyn. The White Eagle offers a seasonal menu of British dishes featuring local farms and other local producers plus a range of real ales. Highly recommended but pre-booking advisable.
11th May 2019: Airbnb Rhayader. Booked in advance and pre-paid £28.88. I had my evening meal at The Triangle Inn in Cwmdauddwr just outside Rhayader. The Triangle Inn is a 16th century drovers inn and offers food sourced from local farms plus a range of real ales. Recommended but pre-booking essential.
12th May 2019: Premier Inn, Glastonbury. Booked in advance and pre-paid £33.50. I did not have an evening meal due to illness.
13th May 2019: Premier Inn, Poole Centre (Holes Bay). Booked in advance and pre-paid £33.50. I had my evening meal at Holes Bay, the adjacent Table Table pub. Again, this provided a standard and relatively average gastropub menu.
On the last day of my trip, after visiting RSPB Arne and before visiting Durlston Country Park and returning home, I had lunch at The New Inn, Church Knowle. The New Inn is a picturesque olde world village inn which was originally part of a 16th century farm. It is set in the Purbeck hills near Corfe Castle and it has been owned by the same family for over 35 years. The New Inn offers an excellent menu, most notably including a range of daily fresh fish and home-made Dorset Blue Vinny Soup, plus local real ale. The meal that I had and the inn environment was the best eating experience of my trip.
Weather:
The weather during my trip was extremely variable. On 7th May 2019, there was a mix of sunny spells, cloud and drizzle. There was heavy rain all day on 8th May 2019 as noted above but this improved on 9th May 2019 with mainly cloudy weather with some light rain showers. On 10th May 2019, the day started with upland mist and fog, followed by a mix of sunny spells, cloud, rain and an exceptionally heavy hailstorm and eventually concluded with warm sunshine. The remaining 4 days were all dry and sunny. Temperatures ranged from a frosty -2°C on the morning of 12th May 2019 to a very warm 20°C during the last 3 days of my trip.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 136 bird species, 6 mammal species, 2 reptile species and 1 amphibian species.
Trip list - East Anglia, Wales and south west England
If the heavy rain on 8th May 2019 had not forced the cancellation of trips to Titchwell RSPB reserve and Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve, my bird list would inevitably have been higher.
However, with regard to birds, I was able to add 25 species to my 2019 list, bringing the year to date total to 206 species. This included my first Dotterel record since 2004 (Choseley, Norfolk) and my first Black Tern record since 2010 (Abberton Reservoir, Essex).
With regard to mammals, the highlight was the single Sika recorded at Arne RSPB reserve in Dorset.
With regard to reptiles, I was able to record my first Adder since 2007 at Durlston Country Park in Dorset and c.20 Common Lizards on the boardwalks at Cors Dyfi MWT reserve in Powys.
Photo: Common Lizard at Cors Dyfi MWT reserve
Unfortunately, I was unable to take a photo of the Adder at Durlston Country Park so here is a photo of the last one that I saw close to my home ….
Photo: Adder at Langdon EWT reserve, Dunton, Essex
The following summarises the notable species seen on my trip.
Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve, Essex: Black Tern, Common Tern, Little Gull, Marsh Harrier, Swift, House Martin, Chiffchaff (heard only), Blackcap (heard only), Common Whitethroat (heard only)
Weeting Heath NWT reserve, Norfolk: Stone Curlew, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Yellowhammer, Mistle Thrush, Skylark (heard only), Goldcrest (heard only), Blackcap (heard only), Bank Vole
Photo: male Yellowhammer at NWT Weeting Heath, Norfolk
Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve, Suffolk: Bittern, Little Egret, Heron, Cormorant, Wigeon, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Water Rail (heard only), Little Grebe (heard only), Common Buzzard, Hobby, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Cuckoo, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff (heard only), Blackcap (heard only), Cetti’s Warbler (heard only), Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker (heard only), Stock Dove, Reed Bunting
Hunstanton, Norfolk: Fulmar
Choseley, Norfolk: Dotterel, Golden Plover, Corn Bunting (heard only), Skylark (heard only), Red-legged Partridge, Roe Deer
Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area, Norfolk: Grey Partridge, Marsh Harrier, Brown Hare
Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve, Lincolnshire (sightings from car park only): Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Lapwing, Avocet, Barnacle Goose, Mallard, Shoveler, Shelduck, Cuckoo (heard only), Swallow, Swift, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only),
Coombes Valley RSPB reserve, Staffordshire: Pied Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Bullfinch, Goldcrest (heard only), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Common Buzzard, Grey Squirrel
Venus Pool, Shropshire: Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Heron, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Common Whitethroat (heard only), Reed Warbler (heard only), Reed Bunting (heard only), Common Buzzard
“Worlds End”, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire: Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Curlew (heard only), Cuckoo, Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechat, Skylark, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Common Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Linnet, Goldcrest (heard only), Rabbit
Photo: male Black Grouse at “Worlds End”, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire
Photo: female Stonechat at “Worlds End”, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire
Llyn Brenig, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire: Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Wheatear, Stonechat, Skylark (heard only), Meadow Pipit, Cuckoo, Swallow, Sand Martin, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull
Aber Ogwen, Ogwen Estuary and Traeth Lavan, Gwynedd: Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Shelduck, Mallard, Swallow, Willow Warbler (heard only)
Beaumaris to Penmon, Anglesey: Whimbrel, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Eider, Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe, Sandwich Tern, auk sp., Cormorant, Sand Martin, Whinchat
Photo: Sandwich Terns between Beaumaris and Penmon, Anglesey
Cemlyn Bay NWWT reserve, Anglesey: Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Red-breasted Merganser, Mallard, Swallow, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler (heard only), Common Whitethroat (heard only)
Holyhead harbour, Anglesey: Black Guillemot
South Stack RSPB reserve, Anglesey: Chough, Raven, Jackdaw, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Swallow, Common Whitethroat, Stonechat, Rock Pipit (heard only), Meadow Pipit
Beddmanarch Bay, Anglesey: Peregrine, Whimbrel, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Heron, Shelduck
Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia, Gwynedd: Wheatear, Whinchat (heard only), Common Redstart, Garden Warbler (heard only), Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Cuckoo, Grey Wagtail, Swallow, Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Meadow Pipit, Common Buzzard, Goosander
Pen-y-Gwryd, Gwynedd: Cuckoo
Machynlleth, Powys: Red Kite
Cors Dyfi MWT reserve and the Dyfi Osprey Project, Powys: Osprey, Common Buzzard, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Sedge Warbler, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Common Lizard
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion: Common Buzzard, Raven, Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest (heard only), Swallow, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only), Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Shelduck, Mallard, Grey Squirrel
Photo: male Wood Warbler at Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion
Photo: male Pied Flycatcher at Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion
Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Ceredigion: Red Kite
Ponterwyd, Ceredigion: Red Kite
Ponterwyd to Devil’s Bridge, Ceredigion: Red Kite
Cwmystywth, Ceredigion to Rhayader, Powys via Elan valley: Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit
Rhayader area: Red Kite
Gilfach RWT reserve, Powys: Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Tree Pipit, Dipper, Cuckoo (heard only), Stonechat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Common Whitethroat, Swallow, Nuthatch (heard only), Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Raven, Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer
Photo: Red Kite at Gilfach RWT reserve, Powys
Photo: Red Kite at Gilfach RWT reserve, Powys
Carngafallt RSPB reserve, Powys: Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Tree Pipit, Cuckoo (heard only), Common Buzzard, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest (heard only), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Squirrel
Rhayader to Builth Wells: Red Kite
Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Bittern (heard only), Heron, Cormorant, Water Rail (heard only), Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Hobby, Cettis Warbler (heard only), Swift, Swallow, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting
Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset: Dartford Warbler, Tree Pipit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Swift, Stonechat, Coal Tit, Goldcrest (heard only), Siskin, Linnet, Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Mallard, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Sika, Rabbit, Grey Squirrel
Photo: male Dartford Warbler at Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset
Photo: Grey Squirrel at Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset
Durlston Country Park, Dorset: Peregrine, Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Kittiwake, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Green Woodpecker, Common Whitethroat, Adder
J10 M3 near Winchester, Hampshire: Red Kite
Photo: Llynnau Mymbyr and Snowdon mountain range, Gwynedd
Photo: Nant Gwynant, Gwynedd
Destination: East Anglia, Wales and south west England
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was my long-standing annual visit to north and mid Wales to see bird species that are not found on a regular basis in Essex or East Anglia, particularly summer breeding birds and passage migrants. In addition, my trip to Wales was preceded by a visit to sites in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk and followed by a visit to sites in Somerset and Dorset, all of which were selected again for summer breeding birds and passage migrants.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for birding were:
Essex: Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve
Suffolk: Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Weeting Heath NWT reserve
Norfolk: Titchwell RSPB reserve
Lincolnshire: Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve
Denbighshire: “Worlds End”, Berwyn Mountains
Gwynedd: Aber Ogwen NWWT reserve, Ogwen Estuary and Traeth Lavan
Anglesey: Beaumaris to Penmon
Anglesey: Cemlyn Bay NWWT reserve
Anglesey: South Stack RSPB reserve
Anglesey: Holyhead harbour
Anglesey: Beddmanarch Bay
Gwynedd: Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia
Powys: Cors Dyfi MWT reserve and the Dyfi Osprey Project
Ceredigion: Ynys-hir RSPB reserve
Ceredigion/Powys: Aberystwyth to Rhayader via Devils Bridge, Cwmystywth and Elan valley
Powys: Rhayader area
Powys: Gilfach RWT reserve
Powys: Carngafallt RSPB reserve
Somerset: Ham Wall RSPB reserve
Dorset: Arne RSPB reserve
Dorset: Durlston Country Park
Unfortunately, the heavy rain all day on 8th May 2019 led to my planned visit to Titchwell RSPB reserve in Norfolk being cancelled although there was some compensation in seeing the 5 Dotterel from the shelter of the car at nearby Choseley which had been reported for several days prior to my trip. The weather on the same day also severely restricted my visit to Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve in Lincolnshire with all bird records being from the car park, again from the shelter of the car.
My journey en-route from my overnight stop at North Muskham in Nottinghamshire to my overnight stop at Oswestry in Shropshire enabled a long overdue and welcome return to Coombes Valley RSPB reserve in Staffordshire plus a visit to the Shropshire Ornithological Society reserve of Venus Pool just south of Shrewsbury in Shropshire.
Illness during the evening prior to my next day visit to Ham Wall RSPB reserve in Somerset resulted in a severely restricted walk around this extensive reserve compared with the full day that I spent there in May 2018. Nonetheless, I still managed to record some excellent sightings during the walk to and at the first series of viewing platforms and screens.
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip from Thrifty in Basildon. The 8 day rental cost £124.57 reduced by cashback to £114.77.
Other than my overnight stay in Rhayader, I stayed at Travelodges and Premier Inns throughout my trip, all of which provided convenient locations for my target areas for birding and late check-ins and early check-outs.
7th May 2019: Travelodge Kings Lynn. Booked in advance and pre-paid £42. I had my evening meal at The Gatehouse, the adjacent Hungry Horse pub. This provided a standard and relatively average gastropub menu.
8th May 2019: Travelodge Newark North Muskham. Booked in advance and pre-paid £28. I had my evening meal at Beaumond Cross Inn in the nearby town of Newark-on-Trent. The Beaumond Cross Inn is a restored and refurbished Grade 2 listed building and it offers an interesting menu, not least a wide range of home-made meat and fish pies, plus real ale. Highly recommended.
9th May 2019: Premier Inn Oswestry. Booked in advance and pre-paid £33. I had my evening meal at Oswald’s Cross, the adjacent Table Table pub. Again, this provided a standard and relatively average gastropub menu.
10th May 2019: Premier Inn, Holyhead. Booked in advance and pre-paid £32. I had my evening meal at The White Eagle in the small coastal village of Rhoscolyn. The White Eagle offers a seasonal menu of British dishes featuring local farms and other local producers plus a range of real ales. Highly recommended but pre-booking advisable.
11th May 2019: Airbnb Rhayader. Booked in advance and pre-paid £28.88. I had my evening meal at The Triangle Inn in Cwmdauddwr just outside Rhayader. The Triangle Inn is a 16th century drovers inn and offers food sourced from local farms plus a range of real ales. Recommended but pre-booking essential.
12th May 2019: Premier Inn, Glastonbury. Booked in advance and pre-paid £33.50. I did not have an evening meal due to illness.
13th May 2019: Premier Inn, Poole Centre (Holes Bay). Booked in advance and pre-paid £33.50. I had my evening meal at Holes Bay, the adjacent Table Table pub. Again, this provided a standard and relatively average gastropub menu.
On the last day of my trip, after visiting RSPB Arne and before visiting Durlston Country Park and returning home, I had lunch at The New Inn, Church Knowle. The New Inn is a picturesque olde world village inn which was originally part of a 16th century farm. It is set in the Purbeck hills near Corfe Castle and it has been owned by the same family for over 35 years. The New Inn offers an excellent menu, most notably including a range of daily fresh fish and home-made Dorset Blue Vinny Soup, plus local real ale. The meal that I had and the inn environment was the best eating experience of my trip.
Weather:
The weather during my trip was extremely variable. On 7th May 2019, there was a mix of sunny spells, cloud and drizzle. There was heavy rain all day on 8th May 2019 as noted above but this improved on 9th May 2019 with mainly cloudy weather with some light rain showers. On 10th May 2019, the day started with upland mist and fog, followed by a mix of sunny spells, cloud, rain and an exceptionally heavy hailstorm and eventually concluded with warm sunshine. The remaining 4 days were all dry and sunny. Temperatures ranged from a frosty -2°C on the morning of 12th May 2019 to a very warm 20°C during the last 3 days of my trip.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 136 bird species, 6 mammal species, 2 reptile species and 1 amphibian species.
Trip list - East Anglia, Wales and south west England
If the heavy rain on 8th May 2019 had not forced the cancellation of trips to Titchwell RSPB reserve and Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve, my bird list would inevitably have been higher.
However, with regard to birds, I was able to add 25 species to my 2019 list, bringing the year to date total to 206 species. This included my first Dotterel record since 2004 (Choseley, Norfolk) and my first Black Tern record since 2010 (Abberton Reservoir, Essex).
With regard to mammals, the highlight was the single Sika recorded at Arne RSPB reserve in Dorset.
With regard to reptiles, I was able to record my first Adder since 2007 at Durlston Country Park in Dorset and c.20 Common Lizards on the boardwalks at Cors Dyfi MWT reserve in Powys.
Photo: Common Lizard at Cors Dyfi MWT reserve
Unfortunately, I was unable to take a photo of the Adder at Durlston Country Park so here is a photo of the last one that I saw close to my home ….
Photo: Adder at Langdon EWT reserve, Dunton, Essex
The following summarises the notable species seen on my trip.
Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve, Essex: Black Tern, Common Tern, Little Gull, Marsh Harrier, Swift, House Martin, Chiffchaff (heard only), Blackcap (heard only), Common Whitethroat (heard only)
Weeting Heath NWT reserve, Norfolk: Stone Curlew, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Yellowhammer, Mistle Thrush, Skylark (heard only), Goldcrest (heard only), Blackcap (heard only), Bank Vole
Photo: male Yellowhammer at NWT Weeting Heath, Norfolk
Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve, Suffolk: Bittern, Little Egret, Heron, Cormorant, Wigeon, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Water Rail (heard only), Little Grebe (heard only), Common Buzzard, Hobby, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Cuckoo, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff (heard only), Blackcap (heard only), Cetti’s Warbler (heard only), Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker (heard only), Stock Dove, Reed Bunting
Hunstanton, Norfolk: Fulmar
Choseley, Norfolk: Dotterel, Golden Plover, Corn Bunting (heard only), Skylark (heard only), Red-legged Partridge, Roe Deer
Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area, Norfolk: Grey Partridge, Marsh Harrier, Brown Hare
Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve, Lincolnshire (sightings from car park only): Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Lapwing, Avocet, Barnacle Goose, Mallard, Shoveler, Shelduck, Cuckoo (heard only), Swallow, Swift, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only),
Coombes Valley RSPB reserve, Staffordshire: Pied Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Bullfinch, Goldcrest (heard only), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Common Buzzard, Grey Squirrel
Venus Pool, Shropshire: Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Heron, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Common Whitethroat (heard only), Reed Warbler (heard only), Reed Bunting (heard only), Common Buzzard
“Worlds End”, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire: Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Curlew (heard only), Cuckoo, Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechat, Skylark, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Common Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Linnet, Goldcrest (heard only), Rabbit
Photo: male Black Grouse at “Worlds End”, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire
Photo: female Stonechat at “Worlds End”, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire
Llyn Brenig, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire: Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Wheatear, Stonechat, Skylark (heard only), Meadow Pipit, Cuckoo, Swallow, Sand Martin, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull
Aber Ogwen, Ogwen Estuary and Traeth Lavan, Gwynedd: Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Shelduck, Mallard, Swallow, Willow Warbler (heard only)
Beaumaris to Penmon, Anglesey: Whimbrel, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Eider, Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe, Sandwich Tern, auk sp., Cormorant, Sand Martin, Whinchat
Photo: Sandwich Terns between Beaumaris and Penmon, Anglesey
Cemlyn Bay NWWT reserve, Anglesey: Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Red-breasted Merganser, Mallard, Swallow, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler (heard only), Common Whitethroat (heard only)
Holyhead harbour, Anglesey: Black Guillemot
South Stack RSPB reserve, Anglesey: Chough, Raven, Jackdaw, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Swallow, Common Whitethroat, Stonechat, Rock Pipit (heard only), Meadow Pipit
Beddmanarch Bay, Anglesey: Peregrine, Whimbrel, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Heron, Shelduck
Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia, Gwynedd: Wheatear, Whinchat (heard only), Common Redstart, Garden Warbler (heard only), Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Cuckoo, Grey Wagtail, Swallow, Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Meadow Pipit, Common Buzzard, Goosander
Pen-y-Gwryd, Gwynedd: Cuckoo
Machynlleth, Powys: Red Kite
Cors Dyfi MWT reserve and the Dyfi Osprey Project, Powys: Osprey, Common Buzzard, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Sedge Warbler, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Common Lizard
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion: Common Buzzard, Raven, Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest (heard only), Swallow, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only), Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Shelduck, Mallard, Grey Squirrel
Photo: male Wood Warbler at Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion
Photo: male Pied Flycatcher at Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion
Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Ceredigion: Red Kite
Ponterwyd, Ceredigion: Red Kite
Ponterwyd to Devil’s Bridge, Ceredigion: Red Kite
Cwmystywth, Ceredigion to Rhayader, Powys via Elan valley: Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit
Rhayader area: Red Kite
Gilfach RWT reserve, Powys: Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Tree Pipit, Dipper, Cuckoo (heard only), Stonechat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Common Whitethroat, Swallow, Nuthatch (heard only), Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Raven, Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer
Photo: Red Kite at Gilfach RWT reserve, Powys
Photo: Red Kite at Gilfach RWT reserve, Powys
Carngafallt RSPB reserve, Powys: Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Tree Pipit, Cuckoo (heard only), Common Buzzard, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest (heard only), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Squirrel
Rhayader to Builth Wells: Red Kite
Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Bittern (heard only), Heron, Cormorant, Water Rail (heard only), Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Hobby, Cettis Warbler (heard only), Swift, Swallow, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard only), Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting
Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset: Dartford Warbler, Tree Pipit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Swift, Stonechat, Coal Tit, Goldcrest (heard only), Siskin, Linnet, Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Mallard, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Sika, Rabbit, Grey Squirrel
Photo: male Dartford Warbler at Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset
Photo: Grey Squirrel at Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset
Durlston Country Park, Dorset: Peregrine, Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Kittiwake, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Green Woodpecker, Common Whitethroat, Adder
J10 M3 near Winchester, Hampshire: Red Kite
Photo: Llynnau Mymbyr and Snowdon mountain range, Gwynedd
Photo: Nant Gwynant, Gwynedd