To Ms. Bonnie

This week marks the end of our adventure in Wales. Lately, Facebook seems to be getting a lot of negative press, but without FB, I would have never met Bonnie. And then Steve.

Common redshank

Facebook is a social network and that's exactly how I use it.  It has been a wonderful tool to connect with people all over the world. Ms. Bonnie found me on Facebook years ago during an AZ trip to visit her sister. She contacted me and the rest was history. 

Bonnie and Micheal close their eyes!

While there, we had fun visiting historic sites that were absolutely incredible.  The pic above is a Dr. Who reference.  Never close your eyes when an angel is near!  Never.

Along the way, we saw birders all bundled up searching for something good. 

Steve showed me lots of cool critters besides the birds.

I discovered that the goats I saw in the "Sound of Music" with Julie Andrews do exist.  Apparently, these feral goats were brought to Britain by the Romans. 

Bonnie took us to a beautiful place known as Snowdonia.  It was so so picturesque!

In some of the reserves, we had a good chance for spotting the 3 woodpecker species of Wales.  We only saw 2, but I'm not complaining.  That was absolutely fun!

Steve took me out for some classic ice cream which was delicious. 

He also had a knack for finding dead things like the Dunnock above and the Blackbird below. Now the Blackbird was dead but I'm not sure the Dunnock was in the same state.  We placed the Dunnock in Bonnie's pretty potted plant.  When we returned home, the bird was gone! Steve thinks the Jackdaws had dinner.  I think the bird came back alive and flew away:) Most likely explanation for the missing Dunnock?  Bonnie's neighbor, who looks out for her, saw the bird and took it from her potted plant. That's how wonderful her neighborhood was.

Across Wales, I saw beautiful art mixed into the incredible landscapes.

People in the States always talk about how bad British food can be.  I experienced NONE of that there, except maybe the Black Blood Pudding.

Because we were along the ocean, we explored the beach front for all sorts of crabs and marine life.

Bonnie took us to picturesque pubs.

The pubs were really something special.

We stood under a tree that was thousands of years old.

Although it seems like yesterday, this all happened in March.  British birding has wet my appetite for more.  As for the passport mishap.  That was a completely terrible incident.  NEVER in my life has that ever happened.  Let me set up the scenario.  Steve arrives over to Bonnie's place because he's taking us to the airport.  He realizes he has his wife's keys and she needs to get to work.  Oh oh!  We turn back to give Bonnie the keys to bring back to his wife so she can get to work.  I laugh until Steve asks us if we have our passports.  I look back at Micheal who was in charge of them and I see panic in his eyes.  Side note: I LOVED not having to be responsible for the passports until we didn't have them.  Panic panic panic!  I try to keep my cool and tell Steve, "This isn't me." But it is now. We had to make a decision and it was to get to the airport.  That was the longest ride I have ever experienced. Poor Bonnie!  Once she got back from the key mishap, she ran to check our room to see if the passports had slipped behind the desk or bed. They weren't there. And they weren't in our suitcases or carry-ons. How did we lose them?  Every scenario passes through my head. As we get to the airport, Steve stops the car and suggests we check the floor.  Apparently, we did not have our passports for an ENTIRE week because they were under the seat of his car. When we first arrived, Micheal crashed from the jetlag and took the passports off around his neck in the car.  There was a huge sigh of relief, but Steve witnessed on that day that I'm now in charge of the passports again.  Booo!  I think Micheal planned this on purpose:)

European green woodpecker, photo taken by Dr. Steve

Overall, beyond the passport incident, Wales was incredible. What an amazing trek that was!  I miss Bonnie and am so grateful to her for introducing us to her world. And we got to make a new friend! Thank you thank you thank you!

 

 This completes the Welsh birding experience, for now. We'll touch base in Arizona next week. Then it's off to Texas, New Mexico, Maine and Wisconsin.  Until next time!  

Let's Go Fly A Kite!

A no word blog post today.  Just enjoy the show:)

Eurasian Siskin

The Rook

Common Buzzard

Red Kite

The Red Kite had suffered huge population declines in many countries but today their numbers are increasing around the UK thanks to places like Gigrin Farm where they feed the amazing Red Kites. In some countries, like Spain, their numbers are declining. And in Morocco, they are in danger of extinction. However in Wales, Red Kites are doing quite well and their population numbers are increasing again. Until next time.......

Death Sentence

The beautiful Northern Fulmar

Flying high alongside the steep and ragged slopes of Wales, the Northern Fulmars watched us inch closer to the edges of the sea cliffs. 

Steve stopped to smell the coconut tinged air of the invasive gorse.

As we got closer to the edge, I began to get sick.  Steve slowly walked the narrow trail along the steep cliffs to find our target birds.  I saw the narrow path before me.  One side was a free fall to my death into the ocean while the other was a fall that was sure to break every bone in my body.  So I began the climb back up the hill. Then Steve saw me returning uphill in a nervous panic. 

Steve walks the narrow path.  One slip and it's under the sea!

He came back up to get me.  He had no problem climbing the narrow deadly stretch.  The grasses were wet and slippery.  The slope on the hill didn't have a barrier to prevent me from falling into the ocean, but I believed in Steve.  He took my heavy camera and told me to focus on his footsteps.  I cracked jokes to make myself laugh.  I think I even threatened Steve at some point during our descent. For that I apologize:)  Nicely dressed Brits were sipping their tea or coffee on the bottom of the cliffs looking up at us and wondering if we were going to fall off the cliff.  

We had taken the trickier trail to the top.  I am thankful to Steve for his encouragement because what I saw was immensely beautiful.  There we stood at the edge of the cliffs.  Some people have even jumped off the edge because they had this free last thought to fly. Thankfully, I did not. I never realized that there were people out there who randomly jumped off of high cliffs to feel the thrills of free falling before their death.  All I know is that I wanted to throw up.  I can do pelagics and a million other things, but my kryptonite is height. 

Like.....how in the hell did this sheep get there?!? There along the edge of the gray overcast world, we spied the Northern Fulmars preparing for the breeding season. It was spectacular.  

These birds weren't even a lifebird!  BUT I wanted to know more about them because I have never seen their breeding habitat.  I've only seen the Pacific subspecies in flight along the California coast. 

the Northern Fulmars of Southern California

Not all of our treks through the hillsides that day were frightening.  Most were quite lovely. 

Near a pasture and farm, we spied several wonderful birds along the stone walls. 

Northern Wheatear

It was exciting to get observations of the Northern Wheatears and Linnets.  Unfortunately, we didn't see a male Linnet in his breeding plumage, but they were still quite lovely.

Eurasian Linnet

As we went up the trail more, we spied the Von Trapp Family disappearing over the hillside. And probably into the ocean.

It was another beautiful day out in Wales.

This will be an adventure I won't forget anytime soon and I thank Steve for pushing me to do my best and move beyond my fears because it was worth it.  Until next time......