Headed down to Clocaenog Forest seeing as how I was already in North Wales and the weather was lovely and an extra hours birding was on the cards since the clocks went forward!
I headed up to the Craig Bron-banog mast, it never gets any easier On the way up Raven was seen and on arrival a birder had recently seen the shrike, but it had gone missing. Scanning the area in which it had last been seen I picked up just the top of its head and back showing above the ridge of the valley into which it had dropped. The Great Grey Shrike then showed well in the tops of trees to the west of the mast and was watched actively hunting for a good half hour. A few Meadow Pipits were also seen. As I walked down I heard the soft chupping of crossbills and then two birds flew over me and landed in a conifer only 15m away, a cracking pair of Common Crossbill. I grabbed a few shots using my phone handheld to my scope, but typically I had left my photo stuff in the car, doh
Day spent around the area, mainly around Llyn Brenig cycling part of the way around. Juvenile Redstart and Siskin along the route with Great crested grebe and youngster on the lake. Then onto the River Alwen and first sighting were 4 Goosander, then a pair of Buzzard. And just as I commented how nice it would be to see my first Red Kite in such glorious weather, voila.! One appeared over our heads quite low so probably took off from a tree nearby. Magic.
A super days birding today around Clocaenog Forest and Llyn Brenig.
Scattered throughout the day good numbers of Redstart carrying food. 2 nests found. Pied Flycatcher pair busy feeding young. At one point I was sat enjoying a Guinness in beer garden, looked one way a Male Redstart, look the other a male Pied Flycatcher. Plenty Siskin,Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Dipper and Grey wagtail on River Alwyn. Llyn Brenig again produced Redstart. 2 Cuckoo heard and seen. Great crested Grebe. Common Sandpiper
Took a short trip from Cheshire into the Clocaenog Forest today to have a search for Tree Pipits. After trying some previously good sites (on hearsay from other birders) I found them all to be grown up from when they were good for this species. Conifers have this annoying habit of quick growth (), I lost some dead cert sites for Nightjars in the past when plantations just got too mature & birds moved on to more suitable areas.
After stopping at at least 3 sites that looked good but only finding Meadow Pipits, including adults feeding young which was nice, the fourth stop came up with the goods. A singing bird was in full display, parachuting and showing very very well, even chasing off a second Tree Pipit. The area I had these birds was near Clwyedog Reservoir if any one is interested. But a search of any likely looking areas in the forest should produce this species.
Always a nice place to be, birding in the sunshine away from the hoards & masses, idyllic
On the way up Raven was seen and on arrival a birder had recently seen the shrike, but it had gone missing. Scanning the area in which it had last been seen I picked up just the top of its head and back showing above the ridge of the valley into which it had dropped. The Great Grey Shrike then showed well in the tops of trees to the west of the mast and was watched actively hunting for a good half hour. A few Meadow Pipits were also seen. As I walked down I heard the soft chupping of crossbills and then two birds flew over me and landed in a conifer only 15m away, a cracking pair of Common Crossbill. I grabbed a few shots using my phone handheld to my scope, but typically I had left my photo stuff in the car, doh 
), I lost some dead cert sites for Nightjars in the past when plantations just got too mature & birds moved on to more suitable areas.