Dipper on my year list at last.

Sunday 27th October 2024.

Sunrise from Wern Fawr Manor Farm.

Today, we were going to drop off both our Hannah and Russ at the Go Below Extreme Adventure in Blaeno Ffestiniog for the next 6 hours, some 21 miles from where we were staying and then the rest of us (Becky, Emma and myself plus the dogs) made our own adventures into Gwynedd, which took us first to the Lakeside Cafe by Ffestiniog Power Station and then Emma suggested we take the dogs for a good walk on Harlech Beach. The weather was beautiful at first and then clouded up around 1pm and ofcourse, a lot of rain late in the evening! But I did get to see my first Dipper of the year, at last.

Wern Fawr Manor Farm, Llanbedrog:

Above, Redwings in the trees near the Cottage before they flew off and below, a male Great Spotted Woodpecker was searching for food in the trees along the entrance to the Farm.

During a restless sleep, at around 4am, I heard a pair of Tawny Owls calling outside the Cottage in the dark. Eventually, I got up and sorted out the dogs and had a look outside where there was a variety of birds flitting or flying about around the gardens. This included a flock of 8 Redwing up in the trees and they soon flew off over the countryside. Both Nuthatch and Treecreeper were heard calling and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker showed well exploring a nearby tree by the Farm entrance. Three Song Thrushes were seen flying over as all the usual birds soon appeared as the sun came up over the trees.

Lakeside Cafe,Tanygrisiau:

The large lake by Ffestiniog Power Station. It was virtually bird-less here!

After dropping off both Hannah and Russ, we decided to have a nice hot drink at a nearby Cafe we found in Tanygrisiau. The views here of the hillsides and the large lake by the Ffestiniog Power Station were stunning in the morning sunshine, but not many birds to write home about; just the usual Robins, Blue & Great Tits and the occasional Redwing passing over. The only bird on the lake was a distant Canada Goose. I expect in the summer months that the area would have a lot of summer birds including Willow Warblers, Wood Warblers and Redstarts in the nearby trees; but they have all gone now and the area did seem very quiet without them. Yes, we did see a lot of Corvids, with the occasional Jay and Raven, but it was pretty quiet here. At least the Coffee was good!

Very scenic views from the Lakeside Cafe.

Harlech Beach, Gwynedd:

Not only was it a great sandy beach but also a Nature Reserve too.

The 30 minutes journey to Harlech Beach from the Cafe (14.7 miles) held beautiful scenery, however, I couldn't really benefit due to me being the driver; but I always keep an eye out for anything of note. A few more Ravens were noted flying high over the road, but I did see a Great White Egret stood by the Afon Dwyfyd river. Once we reached the large car park at Harlech Beach, we then had to walk north along a very sandy footpath to the beach, with a large Golf Course on either side of the footpath. From here, I picked out a pair of Stonechats flying about close to the footpath, but they soon disappeared out of view as more and more people were out walking their dogs to the beach too.

Above, a female Stonechat over on the edge of the Golf Course beside the footpath and below. Buddy, Ted and Margot having a good run over the beach.

Above, Ted and Buddy discovered a stick and below, the sandy beach seemed to go on forever with the hills in the background.

The dogs had a great time on the beach as we all admired the view of the hills in the distance and the huge sand dunes. The sea was a bit rough, but I picked out a drake Common Scoter sat on the sea close by, but it was not easy to grab a photo of the bird. Another ‘sea duck’ flew low over the sea and I was sure I saw a flash of white on the wings (possible Velvet Scoter) as it landed on the sea. Apart from the odd Herring Gull flying over the sea, very little else here of note; but it was very fresh here with a strong wind coming in off the sea. A few Common Buzzards were around the car park when we made our way back to the car.

Above, a drake Common Scoter just offshore from the beach having a quick flap and below, a lone Goldfinch seen from the footpath on the way back to the car.

Above, I love Castles and this particular one is Harlech Castle, which was built in around 1282 by Edward the first.

On the way back to pick the guys up, I was desperate to find a suitable river to see if I could find my first Dipper of the year. We pulled up at a junction by the Afon Dwyfyd river and walking back over the roadside bridge, I scanned the shoreline and there one was! Pleased as punch, I managed to grab several photos of the bird, though a bit distant and even some film footage of the bird swimming in the water. This was my first Dipper since the Romsey birds a few years back and made up for missing this species in Devon earlier this year. I then got back into the car with a big smile on my face.

Above, some photos of the Dipper from the bridge and below, I managed a bit of film footage of the bird swimming in the river.

Sadly, not a lot else of note was seen today, apart from more Jays, Buzzards and Ravens, but we just enjoyed the amazing scenery of this beautiful place.