Welsh Coast Views

Apart from the good fishing, good company, and good food from a nearby inn the views were what made this trip for me.

Oyster Catcher

OYSTER CATCHER

Haematopus ostralegus

The oystercatcher is a large, stocky, black and white wading bird. It has a long, orange-red bill and reddish-pink legs. In flight, it shows a wide white wing-stripe, a black tail, and a white rump that extends as a 'V' between the wings. Because it eats cockles, the population is vulnerable if cockle beds are overexploited. Breeds on almost all UK coasts; over the last 50 years, more birds have started breeding inland. Most UK birds spend the winter on the coast; where they are joined on the east coast by birds from Norway.

I now see these birds around Hyde and the surrounding area... Old Womtig saw one flying over the main street in Ashton Under Lyne two weeks ago.

Frog

Eye Eye

Sky Watch Wales

Turned Out Nice Again ;O)

Swan

This one is Ringed

That is one big paddle when seen like this, enlarge to see the claws

A Gaggle Of ...........

Geese

A large goose, with distinctive black head and neck and large white throat patch. Introduced from N. America, and has spread to most of the UK. It forms noisy flocks and is sometimes regarded as a pest in areas where large numbers occur on grassland and parks.

It is estimated that there is as many as 82,550 breeding adults in the U.K. at this time of year. The canal where these pictures are taken as many breeding pairs, but it seems that one dominant pair take over the rearing of the young while others help out.

Safety in numbers perhaps

Seed Head

Common Seal - Harbour Seal

Phoca vitulina
As their name suggests, these are the most widespread of pinnipeds.

The male common seal as a shorter life span than females, only managing around 20-25 years as opposed to females who live to 30-35 years. This is most likely due to the stresses and fighting by males during the breeding season.

Common seals vary in colour from black, brown, grey or tan, with darker patches. The pattern is unique to the individual. They have a relatively large head with a short body and flippers. They are opportunistic feeders and hunt fish, molluscs and crustaceans. They make short regular dives, usually to less than 100m.

We had some stiff competition whilst fishing, this seal knew an easy meal was to be had by waiting for the fish to bite. As soon as we started to wheel in the line down it would dive, I quick tug and the link went slack.. another catch lost. We think it had around 15 fish from us all.. which for me was a small price to pay to see this beauty. I've been asked about the fish around these shores, it actually depends on the time of year.. but we tend to go down for the Mackerel and the Dogfish... but make good eating.

Aberdaron

Aberdaron

Wales

More information on Aberdaron to be found HERE

Mackeral Fishing

Very tasty they are to... :O)

Sky Watch Cross

Celtic style cross

Aberdaron Bay

Wales

Stable Mates

Flowers & Bugs

Baby Shetland

Trees & Shadows

In with the goodness

Out with the badness

Zoom!

Away for some more

Blue Tits Nest

Blue Tits will nest in a hole in a tree or wall and certainly take well to a nest box. They are well known for nesting in more strange places, like letter boxes and waste pipes.

The nest is cup shaped and made by the female from moss, wool, dead leaves, and even cobwebs, and lined with down. Their clutch size is the largest among the tit family, laying typically 10 to 12 eggs. The eggs are laid at such a time that green caterpillars will be abundant when the chicks hatch. Second clutches are sometimes known.

The eggs are smooth and glossy, and white with purplish-red or reddish-brown spots. They are about 16 mm by 12 mm. The female incubates the eggs by herself. After the young hatch, they are fed by both parents.

More from this tree tomorrow