autumn visitor....

This weekend we hosted our first guest to Mach, my old chum Mark from the Peak District. Despite the best efforts of the weather to curtail our outdoor excursions, we managed a few trips out and about to show him the wonders of west Wales. A visit to Ynys-hir and Ynyslas yielded good views of barnacle geese and a ring tailed hen harrier amongst the usual suspects, and a drive along the coast to New Quay produced a late sand martin, arctic skua, chough and whimbrel along with numerous gannets, with grey seal, harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin putting on a good show.

The one night it didnt rain allowed us to try out the moth trap, though the days cold weather didnt make for ideal mothing. However a setaceous hebrew character, 2 september thorns and a rosy rustic (photo) made it worthwhile.

The best spot of the weekend was saved until last, with great views of a soggy badger late on Monday night as we returned from the pub, which was Steffis first (live) individual.
After Mark left for home, a walk along the Dyfi into town produced a dipper, male wheatear and a kingfisher. Upon returning home we had the pleasure of a spotted flycatcher in the hawthorn tree at the bottom of the garden.