(Back) Down to the woods today, for a surprise…

There is a stretch of natural Welsh Oakwood near Llanfairtalhaiarn where I can regularly see all the traditional Welsh woodland bird species. This morning I was heading somewhere else but the clouds were gathering so LlanfairTH seemed like a good compromise. It turned out to be a very good compromise indeed. in an hour spent just walking along the road I saw Pied Flycatcher, Redstarts (territories every 100m along the road), Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Greater-Spotted Woodpecker and Jay, plus Robins, Great and Blue Tits, Song Thrush and Buzzard. I got a surpriseĀ at one point when a Pied Flycatcher landed on the road only 2 metres from my feet, closer than the camera would focus. Many of the birds seem to land on the road. Driving along slowly I’ve seen many Redstarts on the road and even a Yellowhammer a few weeks ago. I’m guessing that the caterpillars that fall from the trees onto the road make easier pickings.

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This gorgeous male Redstart told me off as a passed his patch of road, posing for his “bird of the day” photo in the process.

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