This very dry spring has already seen the water level in the lake drop startlingly low. Is it going to be a "village year", when the foundations of the drowned buildings of old Llanwddyn see the sunlight again?
Despite the drought and the cold start, the Vyrnwy peregrines have so far managed to pull off the difficult challenges of parenthood - 3 eggs, 3 chicks, and now 3 handsome fledglings learning independence away from the nesting ledge, where all our observations so far were concentrated.
Not too far off our estimate, the first flight happened on Monday, 5th July. The first youngster to fly is definitely stronger than the other two, which both took to the air on Thursday, 8th, and has been flying around reaching considerable heights, chasing a parent bird in its first hunting lessons.
Judging by size, we seem to have two young females and a male. They are spending large parts of the day posing for the telescopes, much more easily seen now than when they were on the nesting ledge. Though the distance and the light make colours hard to judge, they seem quite grey for juveniles, which usually have a distinctly brown cast to their first plumage.
Our Date With Nature project continues until the end of July. There is still plenty to see, and the weather has been kind - until today, anyway! Come in the morning if you can, before the sun throws the afternoon shadow on the cliff. You won't be sorry.
Are you a member of the RSPB? Nature is amazing, help us keep it that way. To join contact me on roger.whiteway@rspb.org.uk