Five years ago we visited the Elan Valley in Powys and strayed in a superb house on the Elan Estate. At the time we promised ourselves a return visit and so, a week in May 2024 was decided upon to replicate the dates of the previous visit. The valley was just as beautiful and the weather turned out to be a lot better than the forecast a few days before we arrived. On the previous occasion I saw many of the species for which this part of Wales is famous but, as a keen amateur photographer, I always believed there was room for improved photographs....especially when Dippers and Wood Warblers were concerned, species not found in Pagham Harbour!
I visited all the previous sites I had found these two species and spent best part of the week searching these areas in a vain attempt to capture the ultimate photograph. Not only did I not photograph either species I neither heard them or had the opportunity to photograph them! I had a fleeting glimpse of a Dipper for a mere 20 seconds as it flew up the Wye near the Gilfach Nature Reserve just west of Rhayader, but that was it. Very strange!
The Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts were showing well but even so the numbers appeared to be reduced. However it was a very enjoyable time and a visit to the Osprey nesting site in the Dyfi Osprey Project Centre proved successful as a trout was being disgorged during our time there.
Female Pied Flycatcher...calling non-stop.
An interesting break in a totally different habitat from Pagham but will have to visit again to check on Wood Warblers and Dippers...a good excuse to return sometime!
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