Barry focussed
in with the scope and we were able to see the full splendour of the seven parading
males with their white tail fans and the occasional charge to see off a rival.
Now and again a hiss broke the sound of the warbling until by about 7:30 the
bubbly sound subsided. The birds probably needed a breakfast after expending so
much energy.
I’m glad I’ve
seen them first hand in case they do go extinct. Numbers have declined across
Wales and are now confined to a few sites in the north where with intervention
and habitat restoration they are on the increase. Friends told me they used to
monitor the population near Penmachno – do they still exist there?
As a bonus a
Cuckoo flew almost overhead perching on the tip of a nearby tree where it was
harangued by a Tree Pipit and forced to move on by its tiny opponent.
Lekking goes on for much of the year, apart from August when the birds moult, but the lek in April to May is the important one where mates are chosen. Each year the RSPB organise guided walks to see the lek but self-service is also an option; just ask at the visitor centre for directions to the hide. The visitor centre and car park are closed early morning so you might want to find out in advance if you plan to be there bright and early. There's also a small road across the moors with an even better vantage point but best not to get out of your car for fear of disturbing the lek.
