There'll be a rock thrush in the hillside

Well, that was a totally unexpected day! My Friday trip was planned for Wales to see the rock thrush that has been in a quarry for the last week. When it was found last weekend it was generally reported as being very distant and people were getting soaked in appalling weather. It is that bad weather though that has probably kept it in place. So, I set out early as normal and travelled the M4 into Wales across the very exorbitant Severn crossing (£6.70). The weather was getting worse as I went further west, especially the wind. The site by the time I got there looked quite wild although it was only just into south Wales.


































This is actually looking across the valley towards the hillside I had to go to, taken on my way back home! The car parking area was just a pull-off and I set off with another birder who arrived at the same time to try and find the bird. The instructions were "3rd quarry" which sounded a bit cryptic but became obvious as we walked along the hillside. It is an old slate-mining area and there were large gashes out of the hill where it had been mined. After we passed two without stopping we reached the third where three other birders were already on site.

 This gives you an idea of the lay of the land but not the weather - it was blowing a hoolie. There was no sign of the rock thrush, although there were good numbers of meadow pipits and a few wheatears being blown around. After 30 minutes of grilling every rock in the quarry we agreed it wasn't there and that we should split up. Phone numbers were exchanged and an agreement made to call if one of us found it. Two of us headed further on down the valley, the rest turned back to check the other quarries and one waited in the quarry. Another 45 minutes of searching and no sign, but the wind was starting to drop. A few more birders were turning up as well but still no news. I decided it was time for coffee so I got my flask out and poured myself a reviving cup of Nescafe. Before I even had time to put it to my lips though there was a shout from a birder higher up the cliff. He waved and then ran off. Coffee was thrown away, gear gathered up and 4 of headed off back towards the other quarries. Two of them actually ran but myself and the guy I walked in with decided if it was showing it would still be there in 5 minutes so we played it a bit cooler, or as we agreed we're getting too old for this running around stuff!
It only took us a few minutes to get to where 5 others were pointing scopes at a rock face. I quickly got onto a distant peck of a greyish bird, as you can clearly see below!!

Cracking. smart bird that looked like it was just waking up as it groomed and stretched. We watched it for about 5 minutes as around 10 other birders started to arrive, all searching the cliff for it initially. Suddenly it then flew off and we lost sight of it, despite a thorough search of the immediate area. To be honest, if that was as good as it got and there another target to go for then I would have gone away happy. As it was, with nothing else to tempt me away myself and 4 others reckoned it may have gone back to where we started the day, so we yomped off to check. No sign immediately then a guy whistled and pointed right behind me. The rock thrush was only feeding away on the path about 20 yards away!

This was when it started to get slightly surreal though. As the hordes, probably about 30 strong now, gathered it flew down into the quarry.

Then it flew straight back towards us, landing probably no more 10 yards away and started to feed.

For the next hour it was one of the most amazing birding encounters I've had. It showed no fear of us and just pottered about in the grass and stones despite the numerous lenses pointed at it and motor drives whirring away.

With everyone now relaxed the atmosphere changed as well. It was clearly going nowhere and we could stand around chatting, having coffee and biscuits then going back to have another look.

At one point it came probably to with  5 feet of me as I lay on the ground taking shots of it.

It was pretty much too c lose for my 500mm lens to focus on!! When it flew off I rolled over with a giant grin on my face only to see the assorted hordes behind me bursting out with laughter as from their point of view it looked like it was literally on my head. What an amazing day and an amazing bird!!! After that I figured it couldn't get any better to I packed up my gear and walked back to the car with a few of my new friends, two of whom I found were very local to me anyway. Another lifer in the bag but more importantly it wasn't just a blob in a bush but a stunning encounter. What else does the year have to give I wonder??