Gwyr - Diwrnod Chwech

Our last day on Gower was a reprise of the first, a trip to Rhossili. The main reason for this was the hope of seeing a Chough, though I admit that a return to the Bay Bistro was also a high priority. Walking to Worm's Head, we saw very little bird life. Even skirting the strip fields, there wasn't much of anything, but whilst watching some Linnets on a gorse bush on the climb out of Falls Bay, we heard the distinctive call of the object of our desires.

"Chi-ah! Chi-ah!"

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

On the path below us, a Chough was probing into the short turf with its red bill, searching for invertebrates. This bird is a 'good news' conservation story, as a browse through the links on the RSPB webpage for the species will show.

We then wandered over towards Mewslade Bay, on the off chance that the Spring Squill was in flower. It wasn't. Nearly, but not quite.

Scilla verna

Whilst sat next to this small plant, we heard a sharp, high-pitched call, reminiscent of a bird of prey. Casting our eyes skywards, nothing could be seen. But then we looked back along the clifftops and spotted a Peregrine falcon perched on the rocks some distance away.

Falco peregrinus

Making our last pilgrimage of the holiday to the Bay Bistro, we settled down on a bench on the terrace with our coffee and biscuits to reflect on a wonderful week in Wales. As if to reinforce the fact that the wildlife had been the stars of the show, a Robin put in an appearance and shared some of our crumbs.

Erithacus rubecula

Returning to the cottage, we explored a little of the wood across the field from the back door. Carpeting a boundary bank, was a small colony of Moschatel, the unknown plant of the previous evening's discussion. Mystery solved!

Our thanks must go to our hosts, Philippa and David, for a thoroughly relaxing week in a most comfortable cottage.