Train Ticking

The commute by train from Mach to Aber and back keeps getting better and better. Past "train ticks" include short-eared owl, green sandpiper and barnacle geese. And this week I spotted a barn owl on two seperate occasions hunting over the fields near the Leri at dusk; as well as a beautiful ring-tail hen harrier looking stunning in the morning sunshine quartering the fields in the same area.

Other than that very little birding took place this week. But yesterday we managed to get out briefly in an attempt to photograph the long-staying water pipit at Borth. The bird was showing well around the pools but unfortunately was very flightly due to the presence of weekend day trippers, dog walkers and surfers. I managed a couple of ok shots of the bird (pic 1 and 2) along with its usual companions meadow pipit, pied wagtail and skylark. Also present was a male stonechat and a lonesome ringed plover whilst a mixed flock of golden plover and lapwing passed overhead. Out in the bay the usual common scoter and g c grebe were far out with the receding tide.
Both dippers were feeding together on Tuesday up river from the nestsite but today none were present during my brief spell down there; however, a male grey wagtail and a treecreeper cheered me up.