Alan and good friend Mike Duckham spent two days in the wilds of mid-Wales surveying the bird population. It was a good two hour drive, very early, to reach the remote valley bottom where they left the car. A family of Stonechats and the local Buzzard watched as they step from the vehicle. Looking around the guys saw what lay ahead of them, a very steep slope. Breakfast would have been a good idea, but the early start had not allowed time for such luxury so the hill was to be tackled on empty stomachs. Nothing else for it they had to start up the gradient and the chill of the morning was soon gone and sweat flowed freely. Boys being boys neither wanted to be out done by the other so the pace started way to fast and of course was not sustainable. Both were soon blowing hard and leg muscles screamed for a rest. The slope was not only very steep but also wet and very uneven making the climb even tougher. Slowly the valley bottom began to drop away and the guys made progress towards the ridge. Birds were few and far between, a single Wheatear and a couple of Meadow Pipits. It seemed they had nearly reached the top, but oh no it was a false summit and another climb lay ahead! But at last, exhausted, hot and sweaty the ridge was reached and they collapsed by the summit cairn and gasped for air, whew! They really need to get fit!
Breakfast was the first priority once breathing had returned to something like normal. Pork Pies and crisps were hardly healthy but boy they tasted good after the hard slog of the long climb. Hunger satisfied it was time to get down to work, and survey this bleak upland for birds. The whole day was spent up in this wild landscape where the temperature was surprisingly low! The sweat of the climb was soon forgotten and warm layers were hastily added but this did not stop the guys getting really chilled by the end of the day. How could it be this cold in July? Bird activity was very low, not helping the temperature, no adrenalin rushes for a good bird, in fact any birds were hard to fine. A few Ravens and the odd Common Buzzard showed up, a single Red Kite was seen by Mike and the only real highlight was a fly over Golden Plover which luckily both got. At the end of very long day they headed back down the step slope to the warmth of the car.
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