10/06/2023-Arrival in Cemaes, Anglesy for a week away and journey
Pictures taken in this set: 1 and 2. Creamy sky scene and view at the cottage. 3. Fuchsia at the cottage. 4. Blackbird seen from the cottage tonight, a species I was determined to photograph this trip as it was one I had in mind as a good to try and photograph in England, Scotland and Wales this year after photographing this species on the Scotland trip in April and having taken a few in home areas this year already. A unique thing to challenge myself to in what will go down as a key feature of my year and something I am excited by visiting both Scotland and Wales the first time I’ve been to both in a year. It was great to get the Blackbird quick. 5. Jackdaw on a chimney another I enjoyed from the cottage. 6, 9 and 10. Views on a walk at the sea tonight, a lovely place where we did visit briefly when last in Anglesey in 2021. 7. Kidney vetch and thrift, two stunning coastal flowers I loved seeing tonight. 8. Some exquisite English stonecrop on the rocks, a pretty flower I saw in Anglesey last time so this was nice.
I was very pleased that we spotted some Manx Shearwaters including a large group far out to sea here, a stone’s throw from Cemlyn where we saw them in 2021 it was one we hoped to see this week so was good to get early and add this one of my favourite birds to my year. It was another favourite of mine that was the other key bird of the walk as I was delighted to spot a gorgeous Black Guillemot out to sea, one I’ve had a top year for featuring on both the Scotland and Wales trips now and one I’ve come to find evocative of Anglesey after how many we saw last time so this was great. House Martins flying and going under a roof and heard chirping well one alongside Swallow I saw well on the journey/earlier in the day, pipping Oystercatchers seen well key coastal birds, Collared Dove on rocks a quirky sight, young Starling on a rock, Mallards in the bay a unique place to see them, Sandwich Tern and possible Common Tern, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black-headed and Herring Gulls fighting over chip paper were other highlights tonight. Bird’s-foot trefoil, broad-leaved and white clover seen well and red valerian were other nice flowers to see. Red Kite, Raven, butterflies including Brimstone and Speckled Wood I believe on a hot and bright journey and my first honeysuckle and common toadflax of the year were other highlights of things seen on the journey with Woodpigeon and House Sparrow good to see at home before leaving.
