Trip Back (20th July)

It was our last day in Wales so I decided to head of early to Dolgellau to get a final chance at connecting with the local Hawfinches.  Unfortunately, I only managed to hear but not see a couple Hawfinches in the usual line of trees by the EuroSpar car park.

Ephraim and I cycled the rest of the route back from Dolgellau to Barmouth, passing the estuary where we counted a total of 5 Common Sandpipers.  From the beach at Barmouth we had brilliant views of thousands of Manx Sherawaters passing the pier, some passing the beach only a few hundred meters offshore.  Even better were the huge numbers with flocks of several hundred in a continuous string shearing past!

Once on the train back we were prepared for passing the Ospreys again (as we had done on the way up).  There was a c.20 second window in which to see the nest and hopefully the adults.  Thankfully, we were fortunate enough to see both adult Ospreys attending the nest and showing well, despite us being on a moving train!

Osprey pair