Date should be 30th May 2018
Looking towards Moel Arthur from the Llangwyan car park path to Penycloddiau.
Time for a rest at the burial cairn on Penycloddiau.
What is it?
The surprise bird of the day, but you will have to zoom in to find out what it is.
An engineer admiring an historic water tank.
Panorama looking towards our lunch spot.
Moel Arthur from the Llandyrnog road.
The third bird of the day.
An even better view of the bird of the day - a male Cuckoo.
In the centre of the Moel Arthur hillfort.
Walk stats: Distance: 7.8 miles. Climb: 1209'.
Time: 4 hours 34 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h.(2.6 m.p.h on my latest GPS). Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Wendy and David S.
Weather today was going to by dry with a chance of rain after lunch. We arrived with distant hill tops and views very much in "mist", and the lack of wind meant that that didn't change all day. At times, especially on the tree lined path on the West side of Penycloddiau, it became very humid.
Nevertheless this was a really good walk, even when views are not particularly good.
A bonus today was the birds we saw. First I heard a Green woodpecker as we climbed towards Penycloddiau from the Llangwyfan Forest Car Park, then Wendy heard it as we followed the track on West side of Penycloddiau and even better we saw it in flight for a minute or two.
Even better birds were seen in this area too, thankfully David and Wendy stopped on sighting an unusual bird with orangy rump/tail feathers on a post. One soon became two and we we blessed to to a pair of Redstarts drinking from a puddle. Alas my camera skills weren't quick enough to take a good picture.
Birds today were almost as good a twitch!
Lunch was taken as soon as a suitable perching spot could be found after passing Pen-y-Bryn, a unique property started by Dave Evans, but then completed by its current residents.
After lunch the Llandyrnog road to the Moel Arthur car park, provided me with the s best birding experience of the day. - I heard a Cuckoo, my first of the year. However things were to get even better. After taking a photo of Moel Arthur from the Llandyrnog Road, I heard the Cuckoo again and looked towards the valley. expecting to see it flying away. alas nothing in flight, but even better there it was in a dead tree in full view. After each photo that I took, it seemed to move to a better position for taking a photo.
Neither David nor Wendy heard the Cuckoo, so it's another case of the Tortoise getting the prize.
Just after leaving the summit of Moel Arthur we had the delightful screeching of more than ten Common swifts, hunting insects above our heads.
Other birds seen or heard today included: Common chaffinch, Common blackbird, Meadow pipit, Skylark, European robin, Common pheasant, Stonechat, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Raven and Skylark.
Even better we arrived back at the car, having experienced a very memorable walk (bird-wise) with only two spots of rain (one each by Wendy and Martyn) with more arriving as we left the Llangwyfan forest Car Park.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees Bitter was excellent.
I even enjoyed a bottle of Mcewan's Champion Ale 7.3% ( a gift from a friend) when I got home. What a great day!
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