Entertaining visitors

A pair of newly arrived pied flycatchers outside their nest in an old oak, I thought that would impress them, but small birds in the distance had little impact on our city friends. The scenic route with commentary via Beddgelert and Capel Curig to the foot of Tryfan was well received. Then straight up the north ridge testing everyone’s ability to stretch and scramble but none of us dared the Adam and Eve leap. 

Sunshine left as we approached the summit of Glyder Fach for the obligatory cantilever pose. Strange feather formations of ice clinging to the rocks then down towards Devil’s Kitchen with playful detours through snow drifts. Geoff had said purple saxifrage was in bloom and sure enough, there were many plants; a huge bushy clump on the cliff and lots of compact plants alongside the path. These sometimes bloom in February so maybe everything is a bit late this year.

The café at Ogwen Cottage was still under construction so no celebratory ice cream. But a stop at the Ugly House tearoom for Lapsang Souchong, with real tea leaves, and cream scones was no disappointment. The finer points of the excellent compost toilet made good tea time conversation. And when it came to settling the bill I enjoyed a 20% discount as a member of the Snowdonia Society. I could have carried on down the road for the Society's 20% discount at Cotswold Outdoors but it was time to go home for a hot shower.

Spring is sprung - for Purple Saxifrage at least!

We have certainly been waiting a long time for spring this year. At last, things have warmed up and migrant birds are arriving. Today, it rained for a couple of hours in the morning. As it eased off, I walked up the road to Nant y Coed (Llanfairfechan), hoping to hear a Pied Flycatcher sing. No luck, but by the stepping stones a small bird was flitting about, dropping down to the ground to feed. A female Pied Flycatcher, no doubt finding aerial food hard to find. I wonder whether they will be late nesting this year.

After lunch, the sun came out so we drove up through Bethesda to Ogwen Cottage, where the new Visitor Centre is still being built. Then up into Cwm Idwal, finding a few Wheatears beside the track and a pair of Gt Crested Grebes on the lake.  Halfway up the steep path leading to The Devil’s Kitchen (Twll Du) we found what we were looking for – a small clump of Purple Saxifrage, in flower. Bill Condry always made an annual pilgrimage to Cader Idris to see this plant - Chris Fuller describes this in his tribute to Bill in Natur Cymru 4 (2002). I don’t suppose they flowered in February this year. 

Snow still showing in the Nameless Cwm