Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris

The Safari was on a foam blown beach as the tide receded yesterday. We had a quick look over the sea but there was nothing doing in the very poor visibility.

Last time Frank was on this beach his ears were flapping around like two stranded fish - just like yesterday.
Today we bit the bullet and headed out 50 miles to the cliffs at the end of the Lleyn peninsular. Bardsey Island, just two miles away, had a mega-day yesterday 15,000 Manx Shearwaters past in a few hours plus all the other good stuff associated with the heavy weather.

One of the main reasons for making the trip to Uwchmynydd was the presence of Choughs often easily seen in and around the car park. None in the car park today but only one small field away was this one (194).

What a beauty - there were two but the second was a bit too far away for the camera.

Below the cliffs a Grey Seal wrestling with a large fish and having to dive with it to avoid the attentions of three Great Black Backed Gulls.

Also on the cliffs were a pair of Stonechats and a Wheatear along with a Raven and at least three more Choughs. What a great noise they make as they bounce around on the wind.

Ssadly no sea birds were seen - shoulda stayed at homme cos Chat Alley has been over run with Sabine's Gulls today apparently.
After all that fresh air we nipped into the local metropolis, Aberdaron, where we enjoyed a tasty snack and a brew at the oldest cafe we've ever likely to nip in to - 800 years and still serving!

The beach here held a couple of Sandwich Terns and a few Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers. Not far out of town on the way back to temp Base Camp gave us another couple of Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Raven. On the road was what looked very liked a Polecat, the second of the trip as we'dd had one on the journey down - wouldn't mind seeing a live one somehow.

Before tea we had a walk down the river and got very little, a Blackbird, a Robin, a Goldcrest and, strangely, our first Chaffinches of the trip. But we did find the tallest and the thickest trees in the Coed y Brenin forest, The King 148 feet/45m and 1m diameter, and The Champion 161 feet/49m but only a skinny 80cm diameter.

The river is down about 4 feet on yesterday. For those that are interested the falls are called Rhaeadr Ddu and join the Afon Mawddach

Where to next? Stilll after something with a rather odd looking bill - there's plenty of pine trees round here so there's gottas be one somewhere.

In the meantime let us know what passed by in your outback when you weren't there.