Quail of a time !!

A phonecall from Colin Gittins just as I had finished my evening meal saw me grab my gear and make a mad dash up to "top Llan" where a little earlier Martyn Hnatiuk had found a Quail calling in fields adjacent the mountain road between Mynydd Ty Talwyn and Cwm Nant Gwyn. I passed Colin on the way up and massive thanks to Martyn and Paul Parsons (Sid) for staying on and showing me the location of the bird. I arrived at 7.00pm and Martyn and Sid left after about half an hour,it was very quiet except for the songs and calls of many Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. I waited an hour and a quarter and was starting to get a bit anxious when the bird called for the first time,it then proceeded to call on and off for the next hour.

Quail has got to be the most frustrating bird to get to see,such a small bird with such a loud call and always hidden in very long grass.

I grabbed my camera in the hope that I might get a brief flight view but only managed to record the call.

I hung around until 9.30pm in the hope that the bird would fly but no such luck,never mind can't have it all,damn good "valley" call/song tick though !!