Ornithology is, unfortunately, not a strength of mine. However this bird of prey, soaring above the remnants of the Bronze age cairn, epitomises Fforest Fawr for me..... The twin Bronze Age burial summits of Corn Du and Pen-y-Fan rise beyond, snowcapped.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Gorgeous photo Robert. That's a Red Kite, isn't it? Beautiful birds, aren't they?
Yes, wonderful capture Gladman - I agree with Angie, looks like a red kite (forked tail feathers). What sight - great series of photos.
Certainly is a Red Kite and thankfully abundant again especially in South Wales, and really especially in the Beacons, was it as close as it looks, I got that close once and it scared the B'jesus out of me, they're big birds.
Thanks all,
Great to see these 'big birds' in their natural habitat.... although the vole scurrying away probably wouldn't have agreed. Mind you that might have been because he/she almost got a size 9 on the knapper.
There was actually a pair cruising about, oh, 10-15 feet above my head for about 15 mins. I've not got a telephoto, but will past a few temporary pics later on.
When did you take this? We saw a red kite just south of Maen Llia on Sunday, probably the same one!! Didn't get a picture though, so seeing this has made my day.
Sunday......
Small world, eh? I would have been the gentleman dressed in florescent orange, not exactly blending in with the snow near the summit.
Ha ha - didn't see you (although sounds like I could/should have). Went out with a walking mate, walked from the car park south of Maen Llia, up Fan Nedd, over to Fan Gyhirych, dropped down onto the Beacons Way and back round via Sarn Helen and Maen Madoc. Now I'm getting hooked on Beacons and it's all your fault! Off over that way again tomorrow, this time on my own. I won't be wearing anything florescent though...
I probably did see you, as it happens, since I came up from near Blaen Llia, too. You might have seen an old green Rover parked at the entrance to the Maen Madoc forestry track...
Great that you're getting out and about on the high hills... perhaps you can identify and correct some of my undoubted misconceptions...
Serious note, though. Make sure you know what you're doing with compass and map cos the SAS don't train on these hills for nothing. Got completely clouded in with my sister whilst up on Garn Caws on Saturday and had to descend completely by compass. Even after 20 years it scares the shite out of you. It really does. Take regular back bearings if the cloud base is low...etc..
It's brilliant to get out there. I know what you mean about the mists though, I have had to rely on bearings in mid-Wales before and it's very disconcerting. Tomorrow's forecast is good and I'm heading to Mynydd Troed, rather than the higher hills. Maybe one weekend we will coincide, as it were.
Great - get a picture of the chambered cairn if you can before the bracken covers it.....
Tis the plan!