The male was definitely a goosander, and I therefore assumed the bird it was associating with was also a female goosander, rather than a merganser.

Also forgot to mention, 1, poss 2, male scaup at pensarn.

:)

Oldham Birders trip - usual suspects

World's End - in the hail (!)
14 Black Grouse.

Caer Hun Churchyard
at least 5 Hawfinch

Pensarn - in choppy seas
No sign of any Surf Scoter among the Common's
Pair Red-breasted Goosander (or even Merganser!)
Red-throated Diver

Red Kite, plenty of Common Buzzard, 3 Dippers on upper reaches of river Eglwyseg other highlights of a day with a good range of weather

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 23rd of March 2014 09:45:05 PM

I have seen Goosander on the sea close to here, but Red Breasted Merganser is far more common.

Tanmay,

Nice list. Your Goosander - possibly more likely to be Red-breasted Merganser if seen at Pensarn? Though it's not impossible I suppose!

Cheers

Really good day in N wales yesterday.

1st stop the appropriately named worlds end, where we had several black grouse (13+ males)
Also 1 reed bunting (out of place!), 2 peregrine, 2+ stonechat, 2 raven, many meadow pipit and a surprise: a great grey shrike which showed well but distantly for a good 10min or so. 2 dipper on the stream.

Then to clocaenog forest where it was SNOWING! So literally no birds.

Then to Pensarn hoping for surf scoters which sadly didn't materialise due to a very choppy sea and strong winds (or maybe they just weren't there)
100s, probably 1000s of scoter (only common positively identified)
2+ red throated diver
2 goosander
1 snow bunting (another surprise)
1 fulmar
1 grey seal

Finally to Delamere (see Cheshire and Wirral)

:)

Set off at dawn to walk from Moel Famau to Moel Arthur and back and noted: four pairs of Red Grouse, two pairs of Raven, lots of Meadow Pipits, Sky Larks, Buzzards, Kestrels but no Wheatears yet!

Fantastic day today birding North Wales with Alan Davies in amazing weather giving 75 species. First stop World's End gave 54 male Black Grouse at 5 different leks, a single, displaying Red Grouse, 8 female Black Grouse flying across the valley near the car park and the Great Grey Shrike near to the Offas Dyke path. Then a quick stop in Llangollen to see a pair of Dipper nest building and a single drake Goosander on the river. Next, the road up to Nebo gave us 4 Red Kite, 2 of which were engaged in mid air combat! Then it was on to Caerhun church (mainly for Hooded Crow, which we dipped). We immediately encountered a Hawfinch which flew off towards Llanbedr. As we followed it, Alan spotted a raptor coming straight towards us. It had the flight action of a Sparrowhawk, but, as it got closer, we could tell it was much bigger and suddenly realized it was a splendid female Goshawk! We thought it was going to pass over us but it suddenly took a turn to the right and disappeared down into the valley behind the trees. A real treat and a lifer to boot! We then clocked another Hawfinch and over the hills beyond the church were another 7 Red Kite. A quick stop in the layby at RSPB Conwy followed which added drake Scaup to the list as well as Shag, RB Merganser and Goldeneye amongst others. Then to Pensarn at high tide. No Surfies initially, but, 2 RT Diver and 2 GN Diver amongst the Common Scoter. A relocation to Station Road however added 2 splendid drake Surf Scoter and 2 Velvet Scoter (10 of the latter had been reported earlier). Then a quick trip to Aber Ogwen added Slav Grebe and Greenshank while a visit to Bangor pier gave us a Black Guillemot just coming into breeding plumage plus 2 more GN Divers. Last trip of the day was to Llandudno for the reported Snow Bunting, but, no sign. No matter though, the end of a great day's birding in great company!

A frustrating 2 hours at Pensarn 10:00 - 12:00

Great Northern Diver
several Red-throated Divers
Great Crested Grebes
Red-breasted Mergansers
Thousands of Common Scoter, no Surfs !
1 Guillemot in summer plumage

I then popped into Llandulas down the coast, and immediately picked up 3 Surf Scoters - lifer :) !
Also a winter plumage Razorbill here

pensarn...

5 surf scoters showing very well amongst the thousands of common scoters in the lovely sunshine & calm sea this morning (lifer)
several red throated divers on the sea & flying by as were the red breasted mergansers.
1 great northern diver passing through the scoter flock.
1 guillemot flew in & landed.
several great crested grebes also.

great orme...

no guillemots, razorbills or kittiwakes on the cliffs yet, there was several auks out at sea, did manage to make out 3 close in guillemots.
plenty of fulmars have paired up on the cliffs & shags also.
7 chough
4 ravens
2 rock pipits
1 peregrine falcon
1 buzzard
at least 6 stonechats
turnstones, redshanks & oystercatchers.
a great day out

A pleasant morning over in North Wales firstly at Pensarn, where of interest very good views were had of 3 of the drake Surf Scoters amongst the very many Common Scoters. Also on the sea Great Crested Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser. This was up to and then over high tide. Chatting to one of the local birders however, the state of the tide appears to be unimportant as to whether or not the Surf Scoters can be seen.

At Llanbedr-y-Cennin 4 Hawfinch were around but never settling for long periods. 2 Red Kites showed well for a time.

Just to add To Steven and Keiths sightings.

11 male Black grouse on show at worlds end at the bottom end near the car park.

Also our interesting Warbler species we was pondering with the pale legs did turn out to be a Chiffchaff though the paler legs did trick me a little. Cheers for help with ID Ian.

st marys churchyard, caerhun. 12.30-2pm

at least 3 maybe 5 HAWFINCHES keeping pretty elusive in the yew trees, 1 however did manage to give fantastic views right at the top of one of the yew trees
also 2 red kites were patrolling the skies, another 1 seen on my way back to the train station. plenty of buzzards, several ravens & 1 peregrine falcon.
nice to see a few familiar faces there

Full day trip, in fine weather, to the North Wales coast with Wigan RSPB Group.

Pensarn near Abergele.
On arrival at 9 0'clock on Pensarn Promenade the view out to sea was rewarding. Although we were a few hours later than high tide, inside of a hundred yards out to sea was a continuous raft of over 2000 Common Scoter, moving west. In addition, the sea towards Llanddulas, was covered in more Common Scoter. Scoping into the raft of Scoter,we easily picked up:
a party of 3 Surf Scoter followed by 2 more Surf Scoter together. The amazing bill of the Drakes could be picked out.

A lifer for me..... great to see, so close, on my first viewing.
Beyond the raft there were good numbers of Red-throated Divers and a few Red-breasted Merganser.
Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant and Shag were also present.
On the beach were Oystercatchers and Redshank.
Herring gulls were predominant around the Promenade. With a few Black-headed and Common Gulls.
Lesser black-Backed were about in smaller numbers, while the Great Black-backed Gulls appeared well out on the sea.
Razorbill and Guillemot was seen.
A good spot this promenade. Free parking and a cheap café.
As the morning progressed the Scoters thinned out and we proceeded down the coast to...........

Penryhn Bay
We got several Red- throated Divers again, but this time, two were closer in, giving much better viewing.
Also close in were 3 Wigeon and plenty of Shag.
A Guillemot, a Razorbill and a Great Crested Grebe were seen.
2 Ringed Plover and 2 Pied Wagtails were close by on the shore.
Fulmars and a Curlew flew around.
Where the rocks pile down to the shoreline to the west (before the Little Orme) we found:
Grey Plover...1
Turnstone...2
Redshank...7
Curlew...1
Also in these rocks were some Common Gulls.

Good to talk to John Parkinson and Dennis Atherton who were with the Bolton RSPB Group that was also visiting.












-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 22nd of February 2014 09:52:15 PM

Llay Pool, north of Wrexham.

10:45 to 11:30

Quick visit to try and locate the Slavonian Grebe, we missed the one at Pennington earlier. It was present, but stayed toward the centre of the pool.
Also seen were - Mallard, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Canada and Greylag Geese, Coot, Great Crested Grebe,, Blue Tit, Magpie, Black-headed Gulls,
Mute Swan, Blackbird and Crow.

Llanbedr-y-Cennin and Caerhun. 11:15 - 12:30


On the way to Conwy RSPB (separate report) A call-in visit to both St Peter's and St Mary's churchyards in the hope of Hawfinches.
Alas they were not present at either location today.
Caerhun provided views of Chaffinch, Great Tit, Mistle Thrush, and Cormorant and Shelduck were on the river.
Heavy rain throughout.

We avoided the Parkgate crowds by watching Sunday's high tide from the Deeside Naturalists Reserve at Connah's Quay (Permit needed). In the car park at the West Hide were a flock of about 20 twite which allowed close views. Large flocks of redshank, oystercatcher and curlew, teal and wigeon were moved close by the tide. Hen harrier and peregrine were clearly visible across the river. At the bunded pool were 100 redshank, small numbers of dunlin, 2 greenshank and a spotted redshank with 5 little grebe.

We then went on to Pensarn and Llandulas to go through the scoter - Mike spotted two Surf Scoter flying but could not locate them on the water. There were good numbers of Red throated Divers and Great Crested Grebes, also Razorbills flying past.

Rhos-on-Sea

A mooch over high tide today in between errands.

31 Red-throated Divers
16 Great Crested Grebes
5 Red-breasted Mergansers
2 Eiders
30+ Common Scoters
Hundreds of auks
15 Purple Sandpipers

The Wigeon flock in the flooded field SW of the golf course numbered 153

Sunday 19th January 14.00

Colwyn Bay

2 Purple Sandpiper, although reports of 15 seen earlier.
6 Turnstone

From what I've read lately on other forums the area has completely changed. A new bridge across the estuary mouth is now complete and a new footpath has been put in which links it with Rhyl. As a result there are greater numbers of dog walkers etc and so the birds haven't been seen. It doesn't look hopeful from what I've heard.

Hi all.

Have Snow Buntings been seen lately at Kinmel Bay ?
Where do you park ?
Where is the best place to see them ?

Any info is gratefully appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Steve

Tanmay, if it's any further help the following was on Birdguides this morning just before 12 o'clock:-

"still at the west end of Castle Cove Caravan Park SH944775"

PS checked and SH944775 puts you in the middle of Abergele As Alan said you need to be on the front, at least it told us that the Hoopoe was still present.





-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 13th of December 2013 09:25:26 PM

Thanks a lot for info - brilliant!

Nick Isherwood wrote:

---

If you google Castle Cove Caravan Park Pensarn and then click maps it shows you exactly where it is.

---

When you do a Google search as Nick suggests the map that shows up on the right hand side of the page has the wrong location for the caravan park.

It shows it being in front of the main car park which is in fact the amusement arcade. The Caravan Park is a good 800yards further along the coast towards Llandulas. If you use the car park then park at the far end as it saves a bit of a walk, or there is a narrow road that leads to the caravan park and there are places to park. The locals say the area near the parks café is its favoured area.

I went Wednesday and the bird had been seen at 8.45 but did not show up in the 4hours I was looking, not sure I will get another chance to look for it.

If you google Castle Cove Caravan Park Pensarn and then click maps it shows you exactly where it is.

Does anyone have any accurate directions to the cove caravan park where the hoopoe is at Pensarn?
Any info would be very much appreciated...

One Snow Bunting on the summit of Gyrn, about half way between Aber Falls and Rachub today.

-- Edited by Mike Duckham on Sunday 8th of December 2013 08:42:30 PM

Mooching around Rhos Point yesterday afternoon


2 Purple Sandpipers
165 Turnstones
18 Knot
55 Redshanks
665 Oystercatchers
10 Red-breasted Mergansers
Shelduck
24 Common Scoters
3 Great Crested Grebes

Earlier at Llandudno west shore:

Rock Pipit
2 Stonechats
Raven
4 Red-breasted Mergansers

-- Edited by Mike Baron on Monday 25th of November 2013 09:42:35 AM

A few stop offs from the A55 from return from Caernarfon today produced many good birds.
High lights:

Aber Ogwyn: 3 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Greenshank, 3 Red Breasted Merganser, 15 Little Egret, 100+ Dunlin, Water Rail, Goldcrest within 50cm

Llanfairfechan: 6 Great Northern Diver, singes of Black Throated and Red Throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, 4 Common Scoter

Rhos on Sea: 50+ Turnstone, 8 Sanderling

Pensarn: 70+ Common Scoter, didn't see the 2 reported Surf Scoter or Velvet Scoter

Quick stop at worlds end on the way to bethesda saw 2 groups of black grouse at 11.30. First a group of 10 spooked by a low flying plane, then a group of 7 , 5 minutes later. Both from 'car park' just north of forested area.

Llanfairfechan

Single Black-throated Diver, three Great Northern Divers and many Red-throated Divers showing distantly 1-2pm this afternoon. At one point we had BT and RT Divers in view together when a GN Diver popped up in front of them! Also half a dozen Slavonian Grebes and a Black Guillemot, along with the usual auks, Scoters, etc. Amongst 30+ Jackdaws on the shore was a single pale-collared Nordic-type bird. (with Mike Baron, Chris Dorney & Ste Dugdale).

To make up for my yesterday afternoon's disappointment of missing the Hoopoe in Rhyl, by a matter of seconds, went again today with John Barber and had excellent views.

Not the easiest place to find so if the bird hangs around and folk are thinking of going over, the location in Rhyl is at the end of Marsh Road, east of the River Clywd adjacent to the mountain bike track where there is a big car park. Follow the path around from the entrance to the waste disposal depot for about 100m to look down on the "cut" where the bird was feeding and seems to keep returning to.

After Rhyl called in at Gronant where we had really close up views of the Grey Phalarope. The was also an overflying ring tailed Hen Harrier.





-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 27th of October 2013 09:43:30 PM

late post for 5th oct, CONWY RSPB 9-12.30pm

no signs of the firecrest, but still a good few hours here...
1 little stint giving good views
2 greenshanks
22 dunlins
5 bar tailed godwits
several black tailed godwits, redshanks & lapwings
good numbers of curlews & oystercatchers
lots of snipe all around
1 kingfisher
17 red breasted mergansers
19 little egrets
13 grey herons
gadwalls, teals, pochards, tufted ducks, wigeons & shovelers.
lots of meadow pipits over
1 bullfinch
2 goldcrests
2 chiffchaffs
1 blackcap
plus usuals around.

GREAT ORME 1-7pm

met a chap on the orme, he explained to me where the Lapland buntings were seen & mentioned a firecrest was also seen. after a long walk around no signs of either birds ah well that's birding for you.
at least 22 stonechats all around
4 wheatears
lots of meadow pipits
2 kestrels
1 peregrine falcon
6 ravens
3 gannets
oystercatchers, redshanks & turnstones on the rocks.
plenty of shags on the cliffs but no guillemots or razorbills, there was several seen out at sea.
2 goldcrests
3 chiffchaffs
5 blackcaps
despite a couple of dips an enjoyable long day out

Sat 21-Sep 11Am - 3:30PM

Birthday treat for me was a trip to RSPB Conwy - which also gave the opportunity for the rest of the family to shop and have lunch in the town while I checked the birds out. Water levels are very low in some areas, but the staff didnt seem worried.

Saw/Heard 46 species though I somehow missed Knot. The Bullfinch and many of the Willow Warblers which had been around first thing seemed to have disappeared by the time I arrived. Neverthless I was quite happy with the results

- 1 Little Stint (Lifer)
- c12 Red Breasted Merganser
- 100+ Curlew
- c30 Black-tailed Godwit
- 1+ Bar-tailed Godwit
- 1 Snipe
- 50+ Dunlin
- 20+ Redshank
- c25 Wigeon
- 1 distant soaring Raven
- 1 Willow Warbler (singing briefly)
- 4+ Chiffchaff (calling)
plus the more usual fayre - Shelduck, Mute Swan, Teal etc

-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Saturday 21st of September 2013 11:11:22 PM

A family visit to Llandudno today produced Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake and lots of Manx Shearwaters on the sea from the Great Orme where we also saw Wheatear, Stonechat, Whitethroat and Chough as well as a juvenile Dotterel on the limestone slope.

Walked the ridges between Moel Famou and Moel Arthur today and was pleased to see juvenile Raven, Meadow Pipit and Wheatear [along with adults of all] also the resident Kestrels and a distant raptor or two that I couldn't ID at range. The forests around the lower Moel Famou car park had a lot of birdsong and calls - I was concentrating on keeping walking at that point but heard Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Blue Tit and possible Crossbill.

19.07.2013
South Stack RSPB and South stack Island

Gannets-10+>n
Manx Shearwater-200+>n
Guillemot's-some with quite big young ,but others with fairly tiny young, makes me think some were late breeding this year,so still plenty to see at the Stack
plenty Razorbills
Puffin-8+
Chough-usual pair with 1 young un
Stonechat-4
plus the usual's

Cemlyn Bay
Sandwich Terns - dropped drastically in the last week with most now fledged, probably about a quarter what was there 2 weeks ago. Anyone thinking of going to photograph the terns bringing food in, you have missed the boat for this year, very few birds now bringing sand eels in. Most young sandwich terns now catching their own food, same for the common and the Arctic Terns, most now fledged and are down on the beach area.
Sanderling 3
Turnstone -2
Red Breasted Merganser-1
Dunlin-10
Ringed plover-8

Penmon Point
Shag - Plenty off Puffin Island
Guillemot/Razorbill
Sandwich Tern-20+

Good end to my week off.3 great trips to Anglesey.
:)

17.07.2012-Brilliant flat calm hot sunny day on Anglesey

AM
South Stack RSPB
Chough-2 adults 1 unringed Juv
Puffin-5
still thousands of Guillemot and lesser numbers of Razorbill
Stonechat -1 pair with 3 Juv
plus the usual's

PM
Llanddwyn Island (Ynys Llanddwyn)

200- 300 Manx Shearwater close in off the tip of this brilliant place
Stonechat-3
Gannets - a few offshore
cormorants-100+(on the smaller islands off the main one )

:)


-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 17th of July 2013 06:25:51 PM

15.07.2013
South Stack
Thick fog to start, and never got much better all morning still saw
Puffin -4
chough-5
plus all the usual seabirds

Cemlyn-PM
Stonechat-2
Sandwich terns -I would say about half the number to what there was 10 days ago ,many young have fledged and moved.
Usual Arctic terns
12 Ringed Plover

Penmon Point-late pm
Black Guillemot -2 flew past south east close in
Sandwich Tern-20+
plus plenty seabirds off Puffin Island

:)

Got back yesterday from a short family break to Anglesey. Got a bit of birding done with the highlights as follows: Point Lynas: After trying on Sunday for the first summer Rosefinch I finally located the bird on Tuesday morning when it popped out of a bush in front of me with a female Bullfinch. A life tick for me. Other birds seen here were a Lesser Whitethroat, two Ravens and a good movement of Manx Shearwaters westwards. South Stack: Took my daughter down to the lighthouse and the views of the seabird colony down there are amazing. This year seems to be one of the best years I've ever witnessed down there with literally thousands of birds on the cliffs and in the sea. Guillemots and Razorbills everywhere but only three Puffins noted. The Chough were especially active with parent birds feeding juveniles right in front of us at a range of down to 20 feet at times. Good numbers of breeding Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls around the lighthouse too. They even had to close access to the public last week due to a particularly aggressive gull protecting its nest. Cemlyn: the Tern colony looked good with Sandwich, Arctic and Common Terns present and all feeding young. A constant stream of birds back and forth with sandeels from the tidal race off the headland. Also present in the lagoon were Red Breasted Merganser and two Kittiwakes. No sign of the reported Roseate Tern though. Puffin Island: Did the Puffin Island cruise on Cerrismar 2 from Beaumaris. Highly recommended as the skipper took us around the island were we had superb views of the sea bird colony there. Really good numbers of Guillemots, Razorbills, Shags and Kittiwakes with only 5 Puffins seen - three of which were on the water right next to the boat. Really good numbers of Grey Seals on the top end too with quite a few youngsters present too. One or two Harbour Porpoises in the strait and I even had a fly by Black Guillemot here too which added to the two I saw in the fish quay at Holyhead two days earlier. During the bad weather on Tuesday it was good to see large numbers of Manx Shearwaters heading west and circling around in Bull Bay and even a few in Bedmanarch Bay too which was a surprise. I never tire of birding on Anglesey - always good stuff to see there.

Originally posted by Mark Burgess: -

Cemlyn, Anglesey

10.15 - 11.30am, Warm, sunny and extremely windy.

Sandwich Tern, Very large colony birds constantly tooing and frowing bring back Sand Eels from the bay, Difficult to put a number on it but I'd say well over a 1000 birds, the noise was incredible.

Red Breasted Merganser
Black Headed Gull c100
Oystercatcher

South Stack RSPB: -

12.00 - 13.30 warm, sunny and extremely windy conditions.

Guillemot
Razorbills
Puffin
Fulmar
Lesser Black backed Gull
Great Black backed Gull, watched several pick young Guillemots of the ledges but all managed to escape.
Herring Gull
Chough
Stonechat






-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 30th of June 2013 07:37:04 PM

Mike Chorley wrote:

---

Manx Shearwater - good passage west to east across the mouth of the bay (Mr. Rayner stopped counting at 1000)

---

And that passage of 1000 was in a little under 1 hour of casual counting in between views of the Rosefinch. The true figure would be much higher.

35,000 in 3.5 hours were reported passing Pendeen in Cornwall.

Cheers John

-- Edited by John Rayner on Monday 24th of June 2013 09:02:50 AM

Mark's Magical Mystery Tour took Riggers, Karen Foulkes, John Rayner, Mike Ausberger, Barry Stanley and myself around various sites in variable weather.

South Stack.
Slightly breezy - (Cormorant travelling in reverse )
Manx Shearwater - 40 on the sea with many more passing in both directions.
Puffin 8 (min)
Chough 2 entering nesting cave (3 young viable on webcams in Ellen's Tower)
Wheatear 1
Rock Pipit 3(min)
Peregrine
plus usuals
Also Common Shrew, Heath Spotted Orchid, Devil's Bit Scabious, Wild Carrot, Spotted RockRose to add to May's selection.

Cemyln
Rather too damp to give the tern colony a good grilling
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Tern
Sandwich Tern
Stonechat

Port Eilian
Nice bright spell
Common Rosefinch - showed well several times on the favoured perches, eventually giving all of us good views.
Black Guillemot in the bay (also 3 Holyhead Harbour)
Manx Shearwater - good passage west to east across the mouth of the bay (Mr. Rayner stopped counting at 1000)
Common Scoter - 1 party past the mouth of the bay
Common Whitethroat and a good selection of native finches giving the Rosefinch plenty of competition

Gronant
Viewing conditions less than idea but still plenty of activity in the Little Tern colony, with about 50 birds on the beach. Good to see them here after failing to find any at Minsmere earlier in the month. Our 60th species of the day
Fragrant & Northern Marsh Orchids among the dunes

Phil Owen wrote:

---

Saturday 22/06/2013.

An afternoon visit to Porth Eilian, Anglesey with Alex Jones for the reported 1st summer Male Common Rosefinch.

We arrived at 2pm and although the bird was happily singing away, it was proving very elusive and intent on giving us the runaround by singing from various places within it's range of area.

Our luck thankfully changed after a frustrating couple of hours or so though when finally it was located singing on top of a nearby bush. It then flew over to the bushes by the public footpath where we had good views through the 'scope from the roadside.

Also, a quick look out to sea produced a Black Guillemot, and a few passing Manx Shearwaters as well as Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag and Sandwich Terns.

A great way to spend the afternoon and nice to bump into Paul Brewster again.



-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 23rd of June 2013 12:36:42 PM

---

Good to see you two guys too Really pleased with the views the bird gave & all within about 20 mins of me arriving, wish it was always like that!! Got some half decent record shots too. All in all a cracking little bird and as you say, Phil, lots of activity offshore as a supporting cast too

23/06/2013 - Storm Petrel, Great Skua and 1200+Manx Shearwaters past Rhos Point, Conwy, by noon.

Over at Conwy RSPB were a Common Scoter, Whimbrel and Sandwich Tern.

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Sunday 23rd of June 2013 01:23:53 PM

Saturday 22/06/2013.

An afternoon visit to Porth Eilian, Anglesey with Alex Jones for the reported 1st summer Male Common Rosefinch.

We arrived at 2pm and although the bird was happily singing away, it was proving very elusive and intent on giving us the runaround by singing from various places within it's range of area.

Our luck thankfully changed after a frustrating couple of hours or so though when finally it was located singing on top of a nearby bush. It then flew over to the bushes by the public footpath where we had good views through the 'scope from the roadside.

Also, a quick look out to sea produced a Black Guillemot, and a few passing Manx Shearwaters as well as Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag and Sandwich Terns.

A great way to spend the afternoon and nice to bump into Paul Brewster again.



-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 23rd of June 2013 12:36:42 PM

South Stack
AM
as the other day, but managed to get onto the lighthouse island so got to see the kittiwakes nesting sites and the fulmar, more Gannets today also and 4 chough, stacks of Guillemot and Razorbill-great to see the Seabirds surviving the weather.

Penmon Point- A nice way to finish my week off from work-First Sunshine of the week.
PM
Sandwich Terns-Plenty carrying food from the Menai Straits
Gannets -A few around Puffin Island
lots of seabirds on Puffin Island
Rock Pipit-1



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 14th of June 2013 05:53:00 PM

South Stack
Good day only downer being the weather-bright sunshine all the way to Anglesey and back to warrington only problem, the whole of Anglesay including south stack was totally cloud with a fair cool wind up to 12 then warmer but coudy all afternoon.
Highlights
Peregrine
Rock Pipit -a few family partys knocking about
The seabird colony seemed to have more than I can remember in recent years ,with very large numbers of Guillemot, Razorbill,14 Puffin,
Manx Shearwater -a few passing south
Wheatear-1
Stonechat -A family party with at least 3 young was nice to see
Raven-6
Chough-8+
Fulmar
plenty meadow pipits and swallows

Great journey except took me longer to get through warrington ,half a mile to my house than it did from Llandudno to warrington

A female Supalpine Warbler was present on the Great Orme today. It was located in bushes just over the wall surrounding the sheep fields on the north side towards the limestone pavements. It has been pretty elusive throughout however, I only managed a brief view and heard the call in nearly 3 hrs on site.

Family camping trip to the Aberdaron area this weekend - didn't get over to Bardsey but still some excellent early morning birding walks and met Marc Hughes who's North Wales reports I always look forward to.

Birds seen - all within three miles of the village included:

Little Owl - pair
Raven - lots
Chough - at least one pair over the cliffs
Whinchat
Buzzard - including a very pale individual
Fulmars
Sandwich Tern
Stonechat - including fledged young
Whitethroat
Blackcap
House Martin
Swallow
Wheatear
and best of all a true fall of Spotted Flycatchers on Friday - I'd seen one fleetingly by 7.30am and then Marc pointed out the numbers present and after that I found them in just about every clump or Gorse or Blackthorn! I saw at least twenty on a section of the cliffs I don't think Marc covered and I notice he reported 40 so there may well have been hundreds - the day before the 1000+ fall in Dorset. On Saturday morning I couldn't find a single bird...

Also managed some free food foraging in the hedgerows :)