Breezy Several Chough, Several Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Carrion Crow, Kestrel, Linnets, Lesser Redpoll, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipits, Great Blacked Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Guillemot, song thrush, common whitethroat and Cormorant.
Quite a few plants in flower. Limestine Cliffs, headland and pavements very special site
Carpets of Spring Squill, Kidney Vetch, Thrift, Wild Thyme, Green Winged Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid (going over) , wall rue, wood sage, Dogs Mercury, maidens hair spleenwort, Heart Tomgue Fern, Milkwort, Sea Campion, birds foot trefoil, salad burnet, primrose, cowslip, blue bell, common dog violet, tormentil black medic, common eyebright, hoary rock rose, dwarf gorse, and a couple more to ID. Plants here do not appear to be delayed by the weather.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 30th of May 2013 10:30:54 PM
sid ashton said
Thu May 30 9:20 PM, 2013
A trip to Anglesey today with John Barber and Dave Hughston produced the following of note:-
Made a good start to the visit with 7 Black Guillemot at the entrance to Holyhead harbour viewed from the fish quay.
At South Stack many of the usual sesasonal species were on show:- Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet, Fulmar, three Puffins, two Manx Shearwaters and Chough. A small area of Spatulate Fleawart was coming into flower.
At Cemlyn Bay the Tern colony was very busy with good numbers of Common, Arctic and Sandwich. Also plenty of Black headed Gulls with a Mediterranean Gull around the big island on the lagoon. There were reports of Roseate Terns being present late in the afternoons until last weekend but not since. A pair of Red-breasted Merganser also present and a group of 5 Dunlin.
On the way home during a short stop at the Spinnies we found a group of Eider with 6 males showing really well on the sea.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 30th of May 2013 09:22:40 PM
Ian Coote said
Mon May 27 3:42 AM, 2013
This afternoon (15:00 - 16:00hrs) a single Black Guillemot close to Llandudno Pier. Never seen this species here before, nice to see in the bright sunshine.
Mike Chorley said
Tue May 21 4:47 AM, 2013
Sunday May 19th.
Mike Ausberger & I had a very pleasant day out on Anglesey and various sites along the North Wales coast, in increasingly good weather (until we got back to gloomy Manchester)
61 Species in total, the highlights being: Black Guillemot 7 Puffin 3 Spotted Flycatcher 2 Whimbrel
A good collection of flowers inc. Birdsfoot Trefoil, Marsh? Lousewort (from the reddish tinge to the emergent leaves), Yellow Rattle, Spring Squill, Sea Campion, Thrift, Wood Sorrel, Wood Aenemone, Lesser Celandine, Herb Robert, Lilac Ivy-leaved Speedwell.
Doc Brewster said
Wed May 15 12:13 PM, 2013
Sometimes things just fall into place, usually not but just sometimes............ Yesterday was one of those days
Looking at the weather & having a day off I decided to head over to Anglesey for a day out & to meet up again with ex-Manchester birder Norman Rowbotham again, now a core member of the Anglesey Birding fraternity. Arriving pretty early I met up with Norman at Penrhos CP and soon we were scanning Beddmanarch Bay. Late Bar-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover, several Dunlin & Ringed Plovers and two Arctic Terns with the Sandwich Terns were all picked out as well as a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers.
We then headed doen a private road (oh the joys of birding with a local!) to a woodland where I was told Red Squirrels still thrive. No luck with them but soon we had up to 8 Crossbills and I picked out a first for the year for Norman in the shape of a Spotted Flycatcher, soon seeing a second bird nearby. Red Admirals were everywhere and we also had Green-veined, Small & Large Whites on the wing.
Next stop was a pop into the harbour to see the 4 new nextboxes that have been put up for Black Guillemots and 2 of the aforementioned auks loafing about nearby. Then we visited South Stack RSPB where at least 5 Puffins were seen - 2 in & out of seperate nest burrows & 3 on the sea. Chough were overhead, A Raven was close in the roadside fields and a pair of Stonechats showed well too. At sea a couple of Gannets glided past joining the Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Razorbills & Guillemots just offshore.
Back to Penrhos CP for lunch but that was brought to an end by a text about a Cattle Egret nearby
Back in the car, on my own now, I headed up the A5025 to Llanfachraeth and parked but no birders were about - strange! Walking the paths I bumped into rarity-finder extraordinair Ken Croft & later local birder Grahame Morgan. As there was no sign of the egret in the field in which it had been seen we went for a wander. After tring every farm field to the west and about 1.5hrs later we glanced down into fields to the east & there it was, a superb Cattle Egret, we had relocated it We then watched it for the next half hour, I put the news out on RBA pagers too with the new location and folk started to arrive. I luckily got a few decent piccies and then said my farewells. The bird is still preesent today at an approx grid ref of SH316832 where we left it!!
To be 10mins away when a rarity breaks is fantastic, always read about it happening to others but never me - well now it has & it was great
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 15th of May 2013 12:13:53 PM
Jon Bowen said
Sun May 12 5:05 AM, 2013
Visit to the Aber Valley between 9 - 12.00 dodging the showers.
4 (possibly 5) Cuckoo all on the far ridge of the valley 3 Pied Flycatcher (all male) 1 Redstart 1 Dipper downstream 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Raven Chiffchaff Willow Warbler one very brief snatch of Wood Warbler song but no sightings and bird of the day Garden Warbler giving brilliant views
Chris Harper said
Thu May 9 12:12 AM, 2013
Brief visits to Gronant sands SSSI whilst on a weekend away at Presthaven Sands, Presatyn (classy!) High-lights: Sat 4 May8-9am: 2 Yellow Wagtail on saltmarsh 4 Sedge Warbler 1 Reed Warbler 4 Whitethroat 8 Reed Bunting 3 Sandwich Tern 4 Skylark 8 Linnet 4 Meadow Pipit 6 Dunlin 2 Gannet Many Swallow, Shelduck, Cormorant
Sun 7.30-8 am: Higher tide 60 Dunlin 35 Little Tern Sparrowhawk Plus similar to day before
4-5.30pm: No Little Terns at nesting viewpoint, but were Terns on a distant sandbar(too hazy to determine species) Grasshopper Warbler reeling Little Egret 200+ Oystercatcher Swift Grey Heron
sid ashton said
Sun Apr 28 4:59 AM, 2013
Arrived on Ruabon Moors at 07.45 in brilliant sunshine and a biting wind. Could only find one small Black Grouse lek, comprising 6 males, across the moor close to the RSPB hide. There were also lots of Skylarks, Wheatear and Meadow Pipits on the moor and strange to see 2 passing Greylag Geese.
At World's End it was very quite with several more Meadow Pipits, and a pair of Stonechat on the hill above the wood viewed from the path.
Further down the valley found three Dipper on the stream and Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Garden Warbler in the bankside vegetation. Also noted three circling Buzzards.
Pete Welch said
Sun Apr 28 4:28 AM, 2013
Visited a few areas of North Wales today on a family trip - plenty of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff but no Redstarts, or Wood Warblers seen or heard. Dippers and Grey Wagtails on two of three rivers checked and plenty of Wheatear in the higher sheep fields. Some of the warblers had a sticky black substance around the bills which I'm sure I've read somewhere is from feeding on migration and suggests they're new in.
Phil Owen said
Sat Apr 27 10:25 PM, 2013
Myself and Alex Jones made the long but pleasant trip to the Aberdaron area today for the reported male Western Subalpine Warbler.
On arrival at around 1.45pm at Mynydd Marr (with Bardsey Island as a lovely backdrop in the sunshine) the bird had been seen 20 minutes earlier but had become elusive and didn't show for over an hour until thankfully it was re-located on top of a gorse bush. We then enjoyed really good views through the binoculars as it moved amongst the hillside vegetation.
Also present:
1 Chough 4 Stonechats 2 Common Whitethroats 2 Chiffchaffs 1 Yellowhammer 2 Swallows Lots of Wheatears
On our way back we called in for a quick look at the male Woodchat Shrike a couple or so miles down the road and had good but distant 'scope views as it was perched in a small tree and also on the fenceline.
A great day out in a lovely part of the world!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 28th of April 2013 08:54:32 AM
Lawrence Hindley said
Fri Apr 26 9:32 PM, 2013
I had a great day in Wales today.
8.00 Llangollen
1 Dipper 1 Common Sandpiper 1 Grey Wagtail
8.45 World's End (from road)
10 Black Grouse - 2 male 8 female 2 Red Grouse - 2 m 2 Whinchat - 2 m 2 Wheatear - 1m 1f
12.30 Llandegla Forest
10 Siskin 2 Tree Pipit
14.30 Three Ways Wood, Clwyd Forest
2 Redstart 1m 1f
Then it was back to England to finish on a Garganey at Haydn's Pool near Newmans Flash in Northwich. 59 birds in the day and much rejoicing.
-- Edited by Lawrence Hindley on Friday 26th of April 2013 09:49:22 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 27th of April 2013 11:52:40 AM
Doc Brewster said
Thu Apr 25 5:03 AM, 2013
Given a favourable weather forecast I decided on a long trip from Cheshire to have a day out in the Aberdaron area, given the couple of cracking birds in that vicinity. Arriving very early at the shrike site myself and a couple of other birders drew a blank, but later once the sun had warmed everything up the Woodchat Shrike gave fantastic views coming right up to the fenceline by the B4413 about 500m in the 'Pwllheli direction' from Hendre Bach just to the N.of Aberdaron. For photography I was always looking into the sun but managed a few acceptable shots
I also popped along to Mynydd Mawr on the headland past Aberdaron where a Subalpine Warbler had been found a few days earlier. The Subalpine Warbler had been ringed early morning so a sizeable group of us birders stuck it out until the afternoon when the bird started showing well again. Everyone present had great views and no-one left early thank goodness. Again all my pictures were taken into the sun but with a bit of work there were a couple of record shots amongst them. We also had a solitary Swift over the headland, my first of the year, whilst a few Wheatears fed on the short cropped turf of the clifftops too.
The weather didn't disappoint and the company was great, especially good to meet Andy Clarke & thank him for finding the Subalpine Warbler, amazed to find he was born in the same hospital as me in Sheffield, small world!! In the end, after all the nail-biting over the long no-show of the warbler, I now know that the near 300 mile round trip was the right decision and it won't be long before I return to take up Andy's kind offer of a few days birding with him on his tremendous local patch
Austin Morley said
Mon Apr 22 3:02 PM, 2013
I have had a few recent trips to theses places bagged the Golden Oriole yesterday at Cemlyn and the Subalipne Warbler at Aberdaron the other day I also spent a few hours on The very Great Orme and got 6 Ring Ouzel and 2 Chough
I have updated my Blog with the full report and a few pics please check it out guys
http://austinmorley.blogspot.co.uk/
Jon Bowen said
Sun Apr 21 3:26 AM, 2013
Afternoon spent on the Great Orme, with the Birding and Beyond crew in fantastic weather with some great birds. Walked across the limestone pavements to the cafe on the cliff then walked back along the road then up the hill and what a hill but well worth it. On the top Redstart Black Redstart (stunning bird giving great views) Stonechat Chough (4) Kestrel 3 Wheatear Kestrel Tree Pipit
On the rocks below the cafe and the walk back Fulmar (including looking inland for 5) Kittiwake Razorbill Guillemot Cormorant Shag Gannet Lesser and Great Black Backed Gulls Herring Gull Raven Jackdaw
Great afternoon
Doc Brewster said
Sun Apr 14 11:45 AM, 2013
There's a post from well respected NW birders on the North Wales Birding Forum about Black Grouse that I have been asked to pass on here. It has been noted by several of my Welsh birding mates that there are a few posts on these forums talking about walking around at Worlds End to see the Black Grouse. Whilst walking footpaths is by no means illegal if folk are deliberately looking for Black Grouse then disturbance could be frowned upon. I think with Schedule 1 species we all have a reponsibility.
The posting I was asked to relay was from Alan & Ruth Davies & is as follows:
"The best way to view all the birds at World's End is from the car. Birds are fine with cars but flush easily once people get out and walk about. Use the car as a mobile hide along the minor road and with patience you will get great views of all the birds here. Black Grouse are Schedule 1 protected birds so you need a licence to photograph them, but have never heard of anyone having problems taking pics from the car. Head out across the moor with a camera and that would be illegal if birds flushed, which of course they would. Not only illegal but not good for the birds so please this Spring can people view ONLY from the road. Every year some people just have to get a little closer and the birds are disturbed.
Enjoy the birding but please leave the birds in peace for their sake and other birders that follow.
Many thanks and good birding
Alan and Ruth"
Thanks
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 14th of April 2013 11:47:19 AM
steven burke said
Sat Apr 13 11:38 PM, 2013
a day out to Llandudno, great orme.
had a look for the ring ouzels, no luck ! but still had a good day adding 11 new birds to my year list.
guillemots and razorbills on the cliffs below the lighthouse, not as many as expected but still in the hundreds. surprisingly only found 2 kittiwakes. 20+ fulmars 2 gannets at least 8 shags, plus plenty of cormorants. 6-8 chough lots of wheatears & meadow pipits around & on the orme, several stonechats also. 2 ravens 2 common sandpipers in with the turnstones, redshanks & oystercatchers on the rocks near the pier. 2 sandwich terns feeding close to the beach 1 rock pipit (eventually) being very obliging & within 4 ft from me 1 female blackcap, next to the grand hotel. 1 willow warbler plus a unusual site of 2 mute swans on the sea, close to the pier plus usuals around
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 13th of April 2013 11:39:15 PM
DavidBowman said
Sun Apr 7 1:31 AM, 2013
Annual visit to Vyrnwy to see the Goshawks and had excellent views of a displaying pair. En route stopped at Worlds End, where 32 Black Grouse were counted at three lekking sites.
Cheers David
sid ashton said
Sat Apr 6 8:54 PM, 2013
With John Barber and Paul Crawley (Frodsham photographer) arrived on Ruabon Moors at 07.40 in brilliant sunshine with singing Skylarks to find, as expected the road to World's End blocked by deep snow drifts. I had been warned about this by a local contact but nevertheless we were able to find the Black Grouse lek closest to Hafod Farm - 10 males and 1 female. With that we decided against walking any further in the snow although we were told about the other birds further on.
Then on to Llanbedr-y-Cennin where we had 6 of the Hawfinch with excellent views of two of them feeding on the ground. Also nice to see two over-flying Red Kites.
Last stop Morpha Madryn where we spent time checking the wood next to the sewage works where the trees seemed to be alive with birds including singing Chiffchaff as well as Treecreeper, Goldcrest and a single Grey Wagtail. On the pools:- Little Egret, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal and common Snipe.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 6th of April 2013 09:27:34 PM
Vicky Harper said
Mon Apr 1 8:02 PM, 2013
Breakwater Point
6 Meadow Pipit 7 Rock Pipit 3 Oystercatcher Pair of Red-Breasted Merganser Shag
1 Sandwich Tern
Southstack
2 Chough 2+ Raven 6 Stonechat Several Meadow Pipit 2 Gannet Good numbers of Fulmar and Kittiwake Several Black-Backed Gulls
Valley Wetlands
Great Crested Grebe Little Grebe Pochard Good numbers of Shoveler Greylag Geese Several Meadow Pipit
Maltraeth Marsh
3 Little Egret 11 Black-Tailed Godwit Curlew Shelduck 2 Buzzard
Maltraeth Pond
3 Little Grebe Chiffchaff Raven
Newborough Forest
9+ Crossbill 3 Lesser Redpoll
Hollyhead
1 Badger
-- Edited by Vicky Sumner on Monday 1st of April 2013 09:06:03 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Wed Mar 20 1:23 AM, 2013
Mark - might be going tomorrow - which ridge was Shrike favouring?
Matt Potter said
Mon Mar 18 4:22 PM, 2013
Mark Rigby wrote:
Ex Oldham RSPB trip with old originals Messers Chorley and Ausberger and interlopers Rayner and Foulkes (latterly joined by a Potter)
Worlds End
Min 47 Black Grouse 10 Red Grouse Great Grey Shrike Stonechat 3 Raven
Llanbedr y cennin
Min 10 Hawfinch probably 16 8 Buzzard
Llandulas
1000's Common Scoter 5 Velvet Scoter but no sign of Surf Scoter but flock well out near windfarm
Then dipped the Twite at Flint before a fast car to Castleshaw for an Oldham Mega-Gadwall!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 17th of March 2013 09:07:12 PM
You forgot Caspian Gull and Common Crane!!
Mark Rigby said
Sun Mar 17 7:51 PM, 2013
Ex Oldham RSPB trip with old originals Messers Chorley and Ausberger and interlopers Rayner and Foulkes (latterly joined by a Potter)
Worlds End
Min 47 Black Grouse 10 Red Grouse Great Grey Shrike Stonechat 3 Raven
Llanbedr y cennin
Min 10 Hawfinch probably 16 8 Buzzard
Llandulas
1000's Common Scoter 5 Velvet Scoter but no sign of Surf Scoter but flock well out near windfarm
Then dipped the Twite at Flint before a fast car to Castleshaw for an Oldham Mega-Gadwall!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 17th of March 2013 09:07:12 PM
Jon Bowen said
Thu Mar 14 4:12 AM, 2013
Grand day out with Patrick Earith across North Wales today, some highs and lows but more highs
Started at Worlds End 9 Black grouse Red Grouse heard but not seen Hen Harrier 4 Raven 2 Peregrines including one that mobbed both a Buzzard and Raven continually stooping and actually striking the Raven twice. The buzzard flipped over as the Peregrine buzzed it. fantastic to watch
then on to Clocaenog Forest for Grey Grey Shrike and Goshawk but failed to get either not helped by spending 40 minutes at the wrong mast
Next stop Llandullas and despite best attempts couldn't pick up any Surf or Velvets in amongst the Common Scoters. A few Great Crested Grebes and plenty of gulls and cormorants.
Not down hearted head on to Caer-Hun church where we had great views of a Red Kite circling over the valley below the church.
Llanbedr-y-cennin produced 7 Hawfinch flying up the lane beyond the church.
Before heading back we managed to spend an hour before closing at Conwy RSPB where there were some great close in views of Red Breasted Merganser
and finally on to Kinmel Bay where we managed to catch up with 2 Snow Bunting 2 Stonechat.
A fully on day only downside is it's back to work tomorrow rather the doing it all again
Ian Campbell said
Tue Mar 12 8:56 PM, 2013
Will be staying in Conway 22/23rd March for a family event but should be able to go birding early Sat morning. I've never been to Worlds End and really fancy a visit for the Black Grouse. Could anyone provide me with details of best viewing points/postcodes etc as I don't wish to blunder into an area and cause disturbance. Cheers Ian
sid ashton said
Tue Mar 12 2:23 PM, 2013
Ian I shall send you a PM later - Sid
20.38 - Ian PM sent, hope it is of use.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 12th of March 2013 08:41:31 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Mar 3 4:36 AM, 2013
Brilliant trip to North Wales with Audenshaw birders. Highlights included the following
Worlds End Black Grouse 50+ including at least 7 grey hens Great Grey Shrike, giving distant views near mast on opposite side of the valley
Llanbedr-y-cennin 2 Hawfinch showed on ground and in trees in one of the driveways Red Kite drifted slowly through
Llanddulas 1 possibly 2 Long Tailed Duck Amongst the masses of Common Scoter, we were rather fortunate when 5 drake Velvet Scoter decided to fly along a significant length of the Scoter flock, then another birder told us he had seen a female Surf Scoter flying. We looked in the area where he had seen this bird and picked up a distant drake Surf Scoter 15+ Red Throated Diver 1 Black Throated Diver
Unfortunately our birding was somewhat curtailed when we managed to join a traffic queue which we were in for an hour and a half!
Henry Cook said
Sun Feb 24 8:54 PM, 2013
24/02/2013 - am:
Conwy RSPB - 2 Firecrests, 3 Jack Snipes, 1 Peregrine, 1 Stonechat, 3 Water Rails Little Orme - 1 Little Gull, 6 Grey Plovers Rhos Point - 1 Purple Sandpiper
Doc Brewster said
Mon Feb 18 8:41 PM, 2013
David Duncan wrote:
Cracking day at Kimnel Bay yesterday. Almost tripped over the Snow buntings! I counted 9 and they showed well all afternoon. A walk alomg the shore at low tide produced Oystercatchers, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin? Turnstone, Sanderling? and the odd Redhank. Other birds seen were a Kestrel, Skylarks, Meadow pippit and Starling. A cracking day was rounded off by watching the Latics see off Huddersfield on TV.
We done David, if the question marks mean that you are unsure then yes Dunlin & Sanderling are very regularly seen on the shore there, so you are correct
I popped down to Clocaenog Forest and caught up with the Great Grey Shrike that is again near the Craig bron Banog radio mast. The bird showed early morning and then when I arrived had been missing for about 4 hours but showed instantly as I arrived at the mast. The bird showed well for the next hour until I left. The sunny weather had several raptor species up in the air too Crossbills were not seen by any of the locals present who told me it was a very poor year for this species at Clocaenog. I then went for a couple of hours walk in the Bod Petryal area but again no Crossbills, just plenty of cronking Ravens overhead.
David Duncan said
Mon Feb 18 4:29 PM, 2013
Cracking day at Kimnel Bay yesterday. Almost tripped over the Snow buntings! I counted 9 and they showed well all afternoon. A walk alomg the shore at low tide produced Oystercatchers, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin? Turnstone, Sanderling? and the odd Redhank. Other birds seen were a Kestrel, Skylarks, Meadow pippit and Starling. A cracking day was rounded off by watching the Latics see off Huddersfield on TV.
4 Hawfinch on Hornbeam in garden along the road approx 50 yards from the church at 07:30 Bullfinch Chaffinch Buzzard Red Kite
-- Edited by Vicky Sumner on Monday 18th of February 2013 02:17:17 PM
Henry Cook said
Mon Feb 18 6:26 AM, 2013
Late sightings from 16/02/2013 -
Conwy RSPB - 1 Firecrest and 1 Med Gull Rhos Point - 2 Great Northern Divers and 1 Red-throated Diver Little Orme - 40+ Fulmars, 2 Ravens Colwyn Bay - 1 Med Gull Llandulas - 1 Iceland Gull
Mike Chorley said
Sun Feb 17 7:56 PM, 2013
Highlights of a Welsh Wander with Karen Foulkes, Mike Ausberger & Riggers.
Hawfinch 2 min male and female showed well on the ground at the side of one of the driveways north of the church at Llanbedr-y-cennin Peregrine 1 over the Conwy vallwy from Llanbedr Smew 1 red-head off the car park at Aber Ogwen Rock Pipit 1 on the beach at Aber Ogwyn Greenshank 2 ditto Spotted Redshank 1 ditto Kingfisher 1 The Spinnies Pools, Aber Ogwyn Slavonian Grebe 3 (min) Llanfairfechan Red-throated Diver 10 (ditto)
Good numbers of Eider, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser etc. Total of 71 species seen (and Siskin heard at Llanbedr-y-cennin) on a very pleasant day out.
-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 17th of February 2013 07:57:53 PM
-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 17th of February 2013 07:59:29 PM
Joe Wynn said
Sun Feb 3 5:20 AM, 2013
Nice day out at Kinmel watching 12 Snow Buntings, though there were 11 by the end as a Kestrel took one of them. Never seen a Kestrel stoop like that but obviously knew what it was doing! Glaucous Gull also present over the Clywd, very pleased as I spotted it myself. Great day out, if slightly marred by the lack of Snow Bunts for the last few hours due to the Kestrel attack.
Tanmay Dixit said
Sun Jan 27 9:15 AM, 2013
Part of a v good day to N wales and Cheshire (late post for yesterday)
Started with about an hour at Llanbedr-y-Cennin where we got views of at least 6 hawfinches, pretty decent views too! A great start to the day!
Followed this with a quick visit to Rhos Point where i immediately picked up a purple sandpiper among the turnstone opposite College Road, another one showed soon after. good numbers of oystercatcher, gulls, great crested grebes on the sea, and a couple of dunlin. Great views of the waders, and some decent photos!
Finally (in Wales) to Kinmel Bay. Huge flocks of sanderling on the shoreline, with the odd ringed plover amongst them, as well as numerous gulls (nothing unusual among them). The highlight was, of cousre, a nice flock of snow buntings (double figures), some of the males just showing hints of summer plumage.
Thanks to Doc Brewster and Joe Wynn for their help!
Then we moved into Cheshire (see relevant thread)
-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Sunday 27th of January 2013 09:23:30 AM
Keith Mills said
Sun Jan 13 9:19 PM, 2013
Today. A full day on the North Wales coast for 12 members of Bolton RSPB. Weather : Fine until 1pm then some light drizzle,with some sleet on the way home.
Kinmel Bay: Shortly after arriving at the end of the Broadwalk, at least 12 Snow Buntings came into view from behind the shingle bank.Two gave great aerial views, chasing about above our heads. A Stonechat was seen. On the shore: An abundance of Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover,and Oystercatchers, with some Turnstone and Redshank. At sea: Many rafts of Common Scoter, Lesser Black-backed,Herring and Common Gulls. Several Cormorants. A pair of Red-breasted Merganser.
Conwy RSPB: No sightings of the Firecrest this day (or the Bittern) A Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard gave good views low over. From Cuddfal Carneddau Hide: Curlews..c60 Redshank 35 Quite a few Wigeon and Teal. Lapwing..10 Shoveler..1 Pochard..2 Song Thrush..1 Red-breasted Merganser..3 Mix of Herring ,Common, Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls. From the Trails: Lesser Redpoll..2 Bullfinch..1 Common tits including Coal Tit. Greenfinch..2 Common Snipe..flight of 8 House Sparrow..c20
Caer-Hun: Hawfinch..1 on the topmost twig of a Yew tree. (lifer for myself) Chaffinch..c50 Great Spotted Woodpecker..1 Nuthatch..1 Greenfinch..2 Song Thrush..1 Shelduck..48 Red Kite..1
LLanfairfechan: Red-throated Diver..3 Slavonian Grebe..1 Common Scoter..c30 Kittiwake..1 Red-breasted Merganser..2 Plenty Herring Gulls Great Crested Grebes..c20 well out to sea
Bodelwyddan: Across from the ''marble church'', on the westbound side of the A55. Waxwings..6, perched on a tree by the verge next to heavy trunk road traffic just feet away!
-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 14th of January 2013 07:44:47 AM
Doc Brewster said
Sat Jan 12 10:23 PM, 2013
Took another trip along the North Wales coast today because my wife was able to join me & felt like a day out together. Concentrated on sites not covered on Thursday & on birds missed.
First site was Burton Outer Marsh, accessed from the A548 between Queensferry & Connah's Quay. Here we had a huge flock of swans, but beware if viewing from Denhall Lane - most were Mute Swans. We could see around 10 Whooper Swans & 3 Bewick's Swans but much of the flock was hidden in gullies. A male Hen Harrier gave nice views as it floated past & put the willies up a flock of Lapwings! We next dropped in at Llanfairfechan where a biting cold wind made viewing a choppy sea pretty difficult. Hardly anything was out on the sea but a small feeding group of Great Crested Grebes contained 2 Slav Grebes. A Dipper and a Grey Wagtail showed on the river inland of the prom. From here we popped over to The Spinnies, Aber Ogwen where from the hide looking out onto the rivermouth we had 2 Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Little Egrets and 3 Goldeneye. Final port of call was Conwy RSPB and another vigil by the 'Bridge Pond', this time with success, a single Firecrest eventually showing well and two more Firecrests calling whilst we were watching that one.
Not that I'm yearlisting ( ) but in the 2 days I added 19 species for 2013 and that was starting from 82 before the trips, no doubt it will all slow down now!! If nothing else work will get in the way
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 12th of January 2013 10:24:03 PM
Doc Brewster said
Thu Jan 10 9:38 PM, 2013
I decided to take a trip out of foggy Cheshire into (eventually) sunny N.Wales today. Arrived at dawn at Llanbedr-y-cenin & within minutes of it becoming properly light 3 Hawfinch flew in along the gently sloping tack at the end of the village (near the yellow grit bin) & gave good views in a tall tree by the track. Having limited time I pressed on. Next stop Rhos Point as the high tide was 9am, so just right for me. After a brief search, going in the opposite direction to 2 birders who had just left saying no Purple Sandpipers were around I found a single bird on the rocks opposite College Avenue, as usual. Another birder came down the prom & said that he had been over the wall onto the rocks & flushed 7 more a bit further down but to optimise my photo opportunities I stuck with the single bird. The large roost of Turnstanes, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers & Redshank here gives fantastic, point blank, photo opportunities, if anyone who hasn't been before fancies it.
Next to Conwy RSPB where a couple of hours searching with several other birders failed to find a Firecrest. Double figure numbers of Bullfinches kept us entertained & in the Wildlife Garden Siskins & Redpolls showed fantastically well. Lllandulas was the next port of call to catch up with the thousands of Common Scoters offshore, one flypast Velvet Scoter was the only unusual bird in the flock that I recorded. A Red-throated Diver & several Red-breasted Mergansers also showed well here.
Final destination was Kinmel Bay & after the short walk east to near the viewing platform I picked up a dozen Snow Buntings which gave frame-filling opportunities for digiscoping, fantastic. Locals continue to put seed down so this area is ultra-reliable to find the flock. Sanderlings skittered along the tides edge with a couple of Dunlin and several Curlew feeding on the beach.
Then with the afternoon drawing in I headed home - back into the fog, which my wife told me had lingered all day around our home in Northwich, definitely a good decision to head west
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 10th of January 2013 09:41:24 PM
chrisdorney said
Mon Jan 7 4:01 AM, 2013
A truncated trip to Conwy today on account of the fact the Mrs wasn't feeling too clever(could have told me before we left!).worth the short visit though...
Caerhun church
2 raven 2 buzzard
Llanbedr y cennin
3 hawfinch(after an hour of searching) Raven Nuthatch Lots of thrushes knocking about here.
Pete Welch said
Mon Jan 7 12:55 AM, 2013
Walked up to the summit of Moel Famou yesterday for the sunrise - birds included: Kestrel, Wren, Raven [pair displaying], Red Grouse and Meadow Pipits - also disturbed a reasonable sized, fast flying bird from a very boggy area next to the path on the way up too dark to see but maybe a Snipe or Woodcock.
Ollie Wright said
Wed Jan 2 7:19 PM, 2013
A super New Year at the Anglesey Outdoor Centre, near Holyhead. While not playing parlour games and boozing with friends, managed to fit in some birding.
31/12
Couple of hours walking along the coast turned up:-
Group of 29 Curlew, an impressive sight Flock of 75+ Oystercatchers feeding in a farmer's field Pair of Choughs in a horse paddock, always great to see them in this part of the world.
Then a quick trip to RSPB Valley Wetlands, which was pretty quiet, with few notables:-
Pair Great Black-backed Gulls Two Kestrels Groups of Pochard and Shoveler, plus a single 1st winter male Goldeneye
1/1
Proper good walk to Trearddur Bay from the centre:-
Male Bullfinch feeding on berries, seen at very close range 20+ Turnstone Pair Stonechat on pebbly beach, along with Rock Pipit In Trearddur Bay itself, a pair of Red-breasted Merganser and a Shag, along with - I think - a Great Crested Grebe (didn't come very close and refused to turn into a Red-throated Diver, no matter how long I looked at it)
Groups of geese went overhead low, but only when I was taking rubbish out to the bins and didn't have my binoculars - this happened twice. The only geese I managed to identify were two Greylags at rest in a farmer's field.
-- Edited by Ollie Wright on Wednesday 2nd of January 2013 07:20:07 PM
Jon Bowen said
Mon Dec 17 4:26 AM, 2012
Great day today in Wales with Patrick Earith. After a slight altercation with my satnav managed to make it to Caerhun where we got on to two Hawfinch that flew out of the churchyard into the bare trees in the opposite field also plenty of thrushes, finches and tits. Then onto Conwy and the Firecrest which showed really well for a couple of minutes, also great views of Siskin and Redpoll, Next stop Llanddulas but no Velvets or Surf Scoters to be seen but plenty of other birds so finally on to Kinmel for good views of Snow Bunting and a good variety of waders. 66 species in the day - fantastic
sid ashton said
Thu Dec 13 7:00 AM, 2012
pete berry wrote:
..........but since the advent of digital photography there seems to be a hell of a lot more of these idiots about.
All the gear, and no idea seems to be it in some cases
pete berry said
Wed Dec 12 10:14 PM, 2012
Yeh,these guys certainly lacked any fieldcraft at all.It was the same at the Desert Wheatear last week,some idiots were lying on the beach less than 6ft away from the food put down for the bird with massive long lenses,no wonder it kept being disturbed and flying off down the beach.I got a perfectly good shot of the bird with my snappy camera by simply leaning over the seawall,this didn't disturb the bird at all,it simply carried on feeding.One guy even said to me,I don't think the wheatear likes the mealworms.Hardly surprising when a bunch of idiots were constantly harrassing it whenever it got near them.There seem to be too many people nowadays more interesed in getting a "great shot" than are interested in the actual welfare of the bird.I'm not saying all photographers are like that,but since the advent of digital photography there seems to be a hell of a lot more of these idiots about.
sid ashton said
Wed Dec 12 4:56 PM, 2012
John I have have sent you a PM - also for "coarses" please read "courses"
sid ashton said
Wed Dec 12 7:07 AM, 2012
pete berry wrote:
.....The birds were probably flushed by a couple of "photographers" who were trying to get 10ft from the birds.Why is photographers with lenses as long as their arms feel the need to get this close and inevitably flush the birds?........
Pete I think these people are lacking knowledge of field craft and respect to others who may be present. A couple of weeks ago I was at Rhyl watching the Desert Wheatear and got chatting to one of these guys - he was telling me about his web site and the fact that he ran photography workshops and generally what an ace guy he was. The next thing the idiot was trying to stick his lens up the bird's beak in front of about 20 other birders/happy snappers and almost caused a fight. Doc Brewster mentions the incident in his first posting on 25th November below. The bloke seemed quite oblivious to what he had done but more alarmingly if he does run coarses what will he be passing on to newcomers to birding photography who know no better
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Dec 12 7:05 AM, 2012
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 12th of December 2012 01:08:39 PM
pete berry said
Wed Dec 12 5:53 AM, 2012
Decided to pop down to North Wales as too sunny for Richmond Bank,glad we did.First call was at Kimnel Bay where the Snow Buntings were obliging.We found 4 about half way to the point,which we spent 10 mins watching before a flock of 12 Snow Buntings flew over,calling.The birds we were watching took off and joined this flock and headed off east,and disapeared completely out of sight.The birds were probably flushed by a couple of "photographers" who were trying to get 10ft from the birds.Why is photographers with lenses as long as their arms feel the need to get this close and inevitably flush the birds? Next stop was at Llandullas where after a good half hour or so searching I finally managed to pick out 3 Surf Scoters(2 males and a female)amongst the 10,000 or so Common Scoters.The males were doing a neck stretching display to the single female.Also at least 10 Velvet Scoters seen,Red Throated Divers,Great Crested Grebes ,Red Breasted Mergansers and a couple of early Fulmars prospecting for nest sites. Plenty of common waders in the area including,Dunlin,Sanderling,Turnstone,Curlew etc.
Gary Gorner said
Sun Dec 2 7:08 PM, 2012
Saturday 1.12.12 Conwy rspb
Decided to head for Conwy rspb first light and spend most of the day here with the hope the desert wheatear would still be at rhyll on the way back home. We had good sightings of a green winged teal and a firecrest which showed very well on several occations near the small wooden bridge on the reserve. There were lots of redshank and curlew on the estuary along with shelduck , teal and wigeon. Lots of reports on site saying the desert wheatear had not been found during the day so decided to give it a miss and stayed on the reserve generaly having a great time chatting to lots of birders and good to meet up with Ivan again and thanks for the tip with the spay .
Doc Brewster said
Sat Dec 1 11:35 PM, 2012
So far the reports I have had back from the site are of no sign of the Desert Wheatear today, it could still be re-located so anyone still wanting to go shouldn't give up hope yet. But up til now it had been very faithful to the area & had been looking more lethargic as time passed
Frank Whitney said
Sat Dec 1 2:29 AM, 2012
Gary Gorner wrote:
Desert Wheatear at Rhyl still showing if anybody is going over the weekend also 200 waxwings at rhuddlan kfc and possible firecrest at conwy rspb I feel a twitch coming on
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 30th of November 2012 04:56:33 PM
How is the bird looking Gary , a few negative reports lately on it's condition
Frank http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/
Great Orme, North Wales: -
Breezy
Several Chough, Several Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Carrion Crow, Kestrel, Linnets, Lesser Redpoll, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipits, Great Blacked Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Guillemot, song thrush, common whitethroat and Cormorant.
Quite a few plants in flower. Limestine Cliffs, headland and pavements very special site
Carpets of Spring Squill, Kidney Vetch, Thrift, Wild Thyme, Green Winged Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid (going over) , wall rue, wood sage, Dogs Mercury, maidens hair spleenwort, Heart Tomgue Fern, Milkwort, Sea Campion, birds foot trefoil, salad burnet, primrose, cowslip, blue bell, common dog violet, tormentil black medic, common eyebright, hoary rock rose, dwarf gorse, and a couple more to ID. Plants here do not appear to be delayed by the weather.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 30th of May 2013 10:30:54 PM
Made a good start to the visit with 7 Black Guillemot at the entrance to Holyhead harbour viewed from the fish quay.
At South Stack many of the usual sesasonal species were on show:- Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet, Fulmar, three Puffins, two Manx Shearwaters and Chough. A small area of Spatulate Fleawart was coming into flower.
At Cemlyn Bay the Tern colony was very busy with good numbers of Common, Arctic and Sandwich. Also plenty of Black headed Gulls with a Mediterranean Gull around the big island on the lagoon. There were reports of Roseate Terns being present late in the afternoons until last weekend but not since. A pair of Red-breasted Merganser also present and a group of 5 Dunlin.
On the way home during a short stop at the Spinnies we found a group of Eider with 6 males showing really well on the sea.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 30th of May 2013 09:22:40 PM
Mike Ausberger & I had a very pleasant day out on Anglesey and various sites along the North Wales coast, in increasingly good weather (until we got back to gloomy Manchester)
61 Species in total, the highlights being:
Black Guillemot 7
Puffin 3
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Whimbrel
A good collection of flowers inc.
Birdsfoot Trefoil, Marsh? Lousewort (from the reddish tinge to the emergent leaves), Yellow Rattle, Spring Squill, Sea Campion, Thrift, Wood Sorrel, Wood Aenemone, Lesser Celandine, Herb Robert, Lilac Ivy-leaved Speedwell.
Looking at the weather & having a day off I decided to head over to Anglesey for a day out & to meet up again with ex-Manchester birder Norman Rowbotham again, now a core member of the Anglesey Birding fraternity. Arriving pretty early I met up with Norman at Penrhos CP and soon we were scanning Beddmanarch Bay. Late Bar-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover, several Dunlin & Ringed Plovers and two Arctic Terns with the Sandwich Terns were all picked out as well as a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers.
We then headed doen a private road (oh the joys of birding with a local!) to a woodland where I was told Red Squirrels still thrive. No luck with them but soon we had up to 8 Crossbills and I picked out a first for the year for Norman in the shape of a Spotted Flycatcher, soon seeing a second bird nearby. Red Admirals were everywhere and we also had Green-veined, Small & Large Whites on the wing.
Next stop was a pop into the harbour to see the 4 new nextboxes that have been put up for Black Guillemots and 2 of the aforementioned auks loafing about nearby. Then we visited South Stack RSPB where at least 5 Puffins were seen - 2 in & out of seperate nest burrows & 3 on the sea. Chough were overhead, A Raven was close in the roadside fields and a pair of Stonechats showed well too. At sea a couple of Gannets glided past joining the Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Razorbills & Guillemots just offshore.
Back to Penrhos CP for lunch but that was brought to an end by a text about a Cattle Egret nearby
Back in the car, on my own now, I headed up the A5025 to Llanfachraeth and parked but no birders were about - strange! Walking the paths I bumped into rarity-finder extraordinair Ken Croft & later local birder Grahame Morgan. As there was no sign of the egret in the field in which it had been seen we went for a wander. After tring every farm field to the west and about 1.5hrs later we glanced down into fields to the east & there it was, a superb Cattle Egret, we had relocated it We then watched it for the next half hour, I put the news out on RBA pagers too with the new location and folk started to arrive. I luckily got a few decent piccies and then said my farewells. The bird is still preesent today at an approx grid ref of SH316832 where we left it!!
To be 10mins away when a rarity breaks is fantastic, always read about it happening to others but never me - well now it has & it was great
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 15th of May 2013 12:13:53 PM
4 (possibly 5) Cuckoo all on the far ridge of the valley
3 Pied Flycatcher (all male)
1 Redstart
1 Dipper downstream
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Raven
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
one very brief snatch of Wood Warbler song but no sightings
and bird of the day Garden Warbler giving brilliant views
High-lights:
Sat 4 May8-9am:
2 Yellow Wagtail on saltmarsh
4 Sedge Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
4 Whitethroat
8 Reed Bunting
3 Sandwich Tern
4 Skylark
8 Linnet
4 Meadow Pipit
6 Dunlin
2 Gannet
Many Swallow, Shelduck, Cormorant
Sun 7.30-8 am: Higher tide
60 Dunlin
35 Little Tern
Sparrowhawk
Plus similar to day before
4-5.30pm:
No Little Terns at nesting viewpoint, but were Terns on a distant sandbar(too hazy to determine species)
Grasshopper Warbler reeling
Little Egret
200+ Oystercatcher
Swift
Grey Heron
At World's End it was very quite with several more Meadow Pipits, and a pair of Stonechat on the hill above the wood viewed from the path.
Further down the valley found three Dipper on the stream and Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Garden Warbler in the bankside vegetation. Also noted three circling Buzzards.
On arrival at around 1.45pm at Mynydd Marr (with Bardsey Island as a lovely backdrop in the sunshine) the bird had been seen 20 minutes earlier but had become elusive and didn't show for over an hour until thankfully it was re-located on top of a gorse bush. We then enjoyed really good views through the binoculars as it moved amongst the hillside vegetation.
Also present:
1 Chough
4 Stonechats
2 Common Whitethroats
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Yellowhammer
2 Swallows
Lots of Wheatears
On our way back we called in for a quick look at the male Woodchat Shrike a couple or so miles down the road and had good but distant 'scope views as it was perched in a small tree and also on the fenceline.
A great day out in a lovely part of the world!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 28th of April 2013 08:54:32 AM
8.00 Llangollen
1 Dipper
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Grey Wagtail
8.45 World's End (from road)
10 Black Grouse - 2 male 8 female
2 Red Grouse - 2 m
2 Whinchat - 2 m
2 Wheatear - 1m 1f
12.30 Llandegla Forest
10 Siskin
2 Tree Pipit
14.30 Three Ways Wood, Clwyd Forest
2 Redstart 1m 1f
Then it was back to England to finish on a Garganey at Haydn's Pool near Newmans Flash in Northwich. 59 birds in the day and much rejoicing.
-- Edited by Lawrence Hindley on Friday 26th of April 2013 09:49:22 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 27th of April 2013 11:52:40 AM
I also popped along to Mynydd Mawr on the headland past Aberdaron where a Subalpine Warbler had been found a few days earlier. The Subalpine Warbler had been ringed early morning so a sizeable group of us birders stuck it out until the afternoon when the bird started showing well again. Everyone present had great views and no-one left early thank goodness. Again all my pictures were taken into the sun but with a bit of work there were a couple of record shots amongst them. We also had a solitary Swift over the headland, my first of the year, whilst a few Wheatears fed on the short cropped turf of the clifftops too.
The weather didn't disappoint and the company was great, especially good to meet Andy Clarke & thank him for finding the Subalpine Warbler, amazed to find he was born in the same hospital as me in Sheffield, small world!! In the end, after all the nail-biting over the long no-show of the warbler, I now know that the near 300 mile round trip was the right decision and it won't be long before I return to take up Andy's kind offer of a few days birding with him on his tremendous local patch
I have updated my Blog with the full report and a few pics please check it out guys
http://austinmorley.blogspot.co.uk/
On the top
Redstart
Black Redstart (stunning bird giving great views)
Stonechat
Chough (4)
Kestrel
3 Wheatear
Kestrel
Tree Pipit
On the rocks below the cafe and the walk back
Fulmar (including looking inland for 5)
Kittiwake
Razorbill
Guillemot
Cormorant
Shag
Gannet
Lesser and Great Black Backed Gulls
Herring Gull
Raven
Jackdaw
Great afternoon
The posting I was asked to relay was from Alan & Ruth Davies & is as follows:
"The best way to view all the birds at World's End is from the car. Birds are fine with cars but flush easily once people get out and walk about. Use the car as a mobile hide along the minor road and with patience you will get great views of all the birds here. Black Grouse are Schedule 1 protected birds so you need a licence to photograph them, but have never heard of anyone having problems taking pics from the car. Head out across the moor with a camera and that would be illegal if birds flushed, which of course they would. Not only illegal but not good for the birds so please this Spring can people view ONLY from the road. Every year some people just have to get a little closer and the birds are disturbed.
Enjoy the birding but please leave the birds in peace for their sake and other birders that follow.
Many thanks and good birding
Alan and Ruth"
Thanks
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 14th of April 2013 11:47:19 AM
had a look for the ring ouzels, no luck ! but still had a good day adding 11 new birds to my year list.
guillemots and razorbills on the cliffs below the lighthouse, not as many as expected but still in the hundreds.
surprisingly only found 2 kittiwakes.
20+ fulmars
2 gannets
at least 8 shags, plus plenty of cormorants.
6-8 chough
lots of wheatears & meadow pipits around & on the orme, several stonechats also.
2 ravens
2 common sandpipers in with the turnstones, redshanks & oystercatchers on the rocks near the pier.
2 sandwich terns feeding close to the beach
1 rock pipit (eventually) being very obliging & within 4 ft from me
1 female blackcap, next to the grand hotel.
1 willow warbler
plus a unusual site of 2 mute swans on the sea, close to the pier
plus usuals around
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 13th of April 2013 11:39:15 PM
Cheers David
Then on to Llanbedr-y-Cennin where we had 6 of the Hawfinch with excellent views of two of them feeding on the ground. Also nice to see two over-flying Red Kites.
Last stop Morpha Madryn where we spent time checking the wood next to the sewage works where the trees seemed to be alive with birds including singing Chiffchaff as well as Treecreeper, Goldcrest and a single Grey Wagtail. On the pools:- Little Egret, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal and common Snipe.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 6th of April 2013 09:27:34 PM
6 Meadow Pipit
7 Rock Pipit
3 Oystercatcher
Pair of Red-Breasted Merganser
Shag
1 Sandwich Tern
Southstack
2 Chough
2+ Raven
6 Stonechat
Several Meadow Pipit
2 Gannet
Good numbers of Fulmar and Kittiwake
Several Black-Backed Gulls
Valley Wetlands
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Pochard
Good numbers of Shoveler
Greylag Geese
Several Meadow Pipit
Maltraeth Marsh
3 Little Egret
11 Black-Tailed Godwit
Curlew
Shelduck
2 Buzzard
Maltraeth Pond
3 Little Grebe
Chiffchaff
Raven
Newborough Forest
9+ Crossbill
3 Lesser Redpoll
Hollyhead
1 Badger
-- Edited by Vicky Sumner on Monday 1st of April 2013 09:06:03 PM
You forgot Caspian Gull and Common Crane!!
Worlds End
Min 47 Black Grouse
10 Red Grouse
Great Grey Shrike
Stonechat
3 Raven
Llanbedr y cennin
Min 10 Hawfinch probably 16
8 Buzzard
Llandulas
1000's Common Scoter
5 Velvet Scoter but no sign of Surf Scoter but flock well out near windfarm
Then dipped the Twite at Flint before a fast car to Castleshaw for an Oldham Mega-Gadwall!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 17th of March 2013 09:07:12 PM
Started at Worlds End
9 Black grouse
Red Grouse heard but not seen
Hen Harrier
4 Raven
2 Peregrines including one that mobbed both a Buzzard and Raven continually stooping and actually striking the Raven twice. The buzzard flipped over as the Peregrine buzzed it. fantastic to watch
then on to Clocaenog Forest for Grey Grey Shrike and Goshawk but failed to get either not helped by spending 40 minutes at the wrong mast
Next stop Llandullas and despite best attempts couldn't pick up any Surf or Velvets in amongst the Common Scoters. A few Great Crested Grebes and plenty of gulls and cormorants.
Not down hearted head on to Caer-Hun church where we had great views of a Red Kite circling over the valley below the church.
Llanbedr-y-cennin produced 7 Hawfinch flying up the lane beyond the church.
Before heading back we managed to spend an hour before closing at Conwy RSPB where there were some great close in views of Red Breasted Merganser
and finally on to Kinmel Bay where we managed to catch up with
2 Snow Bunting
2 Stonechat.
A fully on day only downside is it's back to work tomorrow rather the doing it all again
Cheers Ian
20.38 - Ian PM sent, hope it is of use.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 12th of March 2013 08:41:31 PM
Worlds End
Black Grouse 50+ including at least 7 grey hens
Great Grey Shrike, giving distant views near mast on opposite side of the valley
Llanbedr-y-cennin
2 Hawfinch showed on ground and in trees in one of the driveways
Red Kite drifted slowly through
Llanddulas
1 possibly 2 Long Tailed Duck
Amongst the masses of Common Scoter, we were rather fortunate when 5 drake Velvet Scoter decided to fly along a significant length of the Scoter flock, then another birder told us he had seen a female Surf Scoter flying. We looked in the area where he had seen this bird and picked up a distant drake Surf Scoter
15+ Red Throated Diver
1 Black Throated Diver
Unfortunately our birding was somewhat curtailed when we managed to join a traffic queue which we were in for an hour and a half!
Conwy RSPB - 2 Firecrests, 3 Jack Snipes, 1 Peregrine, 1 Stonechat, 3 Water Rails
Little Orme - 1 Little Gull, 6 Grey Plovers
Rhos Point - 1 Purple Sandpiper
We done David, if the question marks mean that you are unsure then yes Dunlin & Sanderling are very regularly seen on the shore there, so you are correct
I popped down to Clocaenog Forest and caught up with the Great Grey Shrike that is again near the Craig bron Banog radio mast. The bird showed early morning and then when I arrived had been missing for about 4 hours but showed instantly as I arrived at the mast. The bird showed well for the next hour until I left. The sunny weather had several raptor species up in the air too Crossbills were not seen by any of the locals present who told me it was a very poor year for this species at Clocaenog. I then went for a couple of hours walk in the Bod Petryal area but again no Crossbills, just plenty of cronking Ravens overhead.
Fulmar
Shag
200+ Common Scoter
Raven
Gannet
Redshank
6 Turnstone
Oytercatcher
Seals playing in the surf
conwy RSPB reserve:
Siskin
Raven
10 Wigeon
8 Pochard
4 Goldeneye
10 snipe
Shelduck
15 Golden Plover
8 Ringed Plover
100 + Curlew
Llanbedr-y-cennin Church:
4 Hawfinch on Hornbeam in garden along the road approx 50 yards from the church at 07:30
Bullfinch
Chaffinch
Buzzard
Red Kite
-- Edited by Vicky Sumner on Monday 18th of February 2013 02:17:17 PM
Conwy RSPB - 1 Firecrest and 1 Med Gull
Rhos Point - 2 Great Northern Divers and 1 Red-throated Diver
Little Orme - 40+ Fulmars, 2 Ravens
Colwyn Bay - 1 Med Gull
Llandulas - 1 Iceland Gull
Hawfinch 2 min male and female showed well on the ground at the side of one of the driveways north of the church at Llanbedr-y-cennin
Peregrine 1 over the Conwy vallwy from Llanbedr
Smew 1 red-head off the car park at Aber Ogwen
Rock Pipit 1 on the beach at Aber Ogwyn
Greenshank 2 ditto
Spotted Redshank 1 ditto
Kingfisher 1 The Spinnies Pools, Aber Ogwyn
Slavonian Grebe 3 (min) Llanfairfechan
Red-throated Diver 10 (ditto)
Good numbers of Eider, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser etc. Total of 71 species seen (and Siskin heard at Llanbedr-y-cennin) on a very pleasant day out.
-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 17th of February 2013 07:57:53 PM
-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 17th of February 2013 07:59:29 PM
Started with about an hour at Llanbedr-y-Cennin where we got views of at least 6 hawfinches, pretty decent views too! A great start to the day!
Followed this with a quick visit to Rhos Point where i immediately picked up a purple sandpiper among the turnstone opposite College Road, another one showed soon after. good numbers of oystercatcher, gulls, great crested grebes on the sea, and a couple of dunlin. Great views of the waders, and some decent photos!
Finally (in Wales) to Kinmel Bay. Huge flocks of sanderling on the shoreline, with the odd ringed plover amongst them, as well as numerous gulls (nothing unusual among them). The highlight was, of cousre, a nice flock of snow buntings (double figures), some of the males just showing hints of summer plumage.
Thanks to Doc Brewster and Joe Wynn for their help!
Then we moved into Cheshire (see relevant thread)
-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Sunday 27th of January 2013 09:23:30 AM
Weather : Fine until 1pm then some light drizzle,with some sleet on the way home.
Kinmel Bay:
Shortly after arriving at the end of the Broadwalk, at least 12 Snow Buntings came into view from
behind the shingle bank.Two gave great aerial views, chasing about above our heads.
A Stonechat was seen.
On the shore:
An abundance of Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover,and Oystercatchers, with some Turnstone and Redshank.
At sea:
Many rafts of Common Scoter, Lesser Black-backed,Herring and Common Gulls. Several Cormorants.
A pair of Red-breasted Merganser.
Conwy RSPB:
No sightings of the Firecrest this day (or the Bittern)
A Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard gave good views low over.
From Cuddfal Carneddau Hide:
Curlews..c60
Redshank 35
Quite a few Wigeon and Teal.
Lapwing..10
Shoveler..1
Pochard..2
Song Thrush..1
Red-breasted Merganser..3
Mix of Herring ,Common, Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls.
From the Trails:
Lesser Redpoll..2
Bullfinch..1
Common tits including Coal Tit.
Greenfinch..2
Common Snipe..flight of 8
House Sparrow..c20
Caer-Hun:
Hawfinch..1 on the topmost twig of a Yew tree. (lifer for myself)
Chaffinch..c50
Great Spotted Woodpecker..1
Nuthatch..1
Greenfinch..2
Song Thrush..1
Shelduck..48
Red Kite..1
LLanfairfechan:
Red-throated Diver..3
Slavonian Grebe..1
Common Scoter..c30
Kittiwake..1
Red-breasted Merganser..2
Plenty Herring Gulls
Great Crested Grebes..c20 well out to sea
Bodelwyddan:
Across from the ''marble church'', on the westbound side of the A55. Waxwings..6,
perched on a tree by the verge next to heavy trunk road traffic just feet away!
-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 14th of January 2013 07:44:47 AM
First site was Burton Outer Marsh, accessed from the A548 between Queensferry & Connah's Quay. Here we had a huge flock of swans, but beware if viewing from Denhall Lane - most were Mute Swans. We could see around 10 Whooper Swans & 3 Bewick's Swans but much of the flock was hidden in gullies. A male Hen Harrier gave nice views as it floated past & put the willies up a flock of Lapwings! We next dropped in at Llanfairfechan where a biting cold wind made viewing a choppy sea pretty difficult. Hardly anything was out on the sea but a small feeding group of Great Crested Grebes contained 2 Slav Grebes. A Dipper and a Grey Wagtail showed on the river inland of the prom. From here we popped over to The Spinnies, Aber Ogwen where from the hide looking out onto the rivermouth we had 2 Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Little Egrets and 3 Goldeneye. Final port of call was Conwy RSPB and another vigil by the 'Bridge Pond', this time with success, a single Firecrest eventually showing well and two more Firecrests calling whilst we were watching that one.
Not that I'm yearlisting ( ) but in the 2 days I added 19 species for 2013 and that was starting from 82 before the trips, no doubt it will all slow down now!! If nothing else work will get in the way
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 12th of January 2013 10:24:03 PM
Next to Conwy RSPB where a couple of hours searching with several other birders failed to find a Firecrest. Double figure numbers of Bullfinches kept us entertained & in the Wildlife Garden Siskins & Redpolls showed fantastically well. Lllandulas was the next port of call to catch up with the thousands of Common Scoters offshore, one flypast Velvet Scoter was the only unusual bird in the flock that I recorded. A Red-throated Diver & several Red-breasted Mergansers also showed well here.
Final destination was Kinmel Bay & after the short walk east to near the viewing platform I picked up a dozen Snow Buntings which gave frame-filling opportunities for digiscoping, fantastic. Locals continue to put seed down so this area is ultra-reliable to find the flock. Sanderlings skittered along the tides edge with a couple of Dunlin and several Curlew feeding on the beach.
Then with the afternoon drawing in I headed home - back into the fog, which my wife told me had lingered all day around our home in Northwich, definitely a good decision to head west
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 10th of January 2013 09:41:24 PM
Caerhun church
2 raven
2 buzzard
Llanbedr y cennin
3 hawfinch(after an hour of searching)
Raven
Nuthatch
Lots of thrushes knocking about here.
31/12
Couple of hours walking along the coast turned up:-
Group of 29 Curlew, an impressive sight
Flock of 75+ Oystercatchers feeding in a farmer's field
Pair of Choughs in a horse paddock, always great to see them in this part of the world.
Then a quick trip to RSPB Valley Wetlands, which was pretty quiet, with few notables:-
Pair Great Black-backed Gulls
Two Kestrels
Groups of Pochard and Shoveler, plus a single 1st winter male Goldeneye
1/1
Proper good walk to Trearddur Bay from the centre:-
Male Bullfinch feeding on berries, seen at very close range
20+ Turnstone
Pair Stonechat on pebbly beach, along with Rock Pipit
In Trearddur Bay itself, a pair of Red-breasted Merganser and a Shag, along with - I think - a Great Crested Grebe (didn't come very close and refused to turn into a Red-throated Diver, no matter how long I looked at it)
Groups of geese went overhead low, but only when I was taking rubbish out to the bins and didn't have my binoculars - this happened twice. The only geese I managed to identify were two Greylags at rest in a farmer's field.
-- Edited by Ollie Wright on Wednesday 2nd of January 2013 07:20:07 PM
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 12th of December 2012 01:08:39 PM
Next stop was at Llandullas where after a good half hour or so searching I finally managed to pick out 3 Surf Scoters(2 males and a female)amongst the 10,000 or so Common Scoters.The males were doing a neck stretching display to the single female.Also at least 10 Velvet Scoters seen,Red Throated Divers,Great Crested Grebes ,Red Breasted Mergansers and a couple of early Fulmars prospecting for nest sites.
Plenty of common waders in the area including,Dunlin,Sanderling,Turnstone,Curlew etc.
Decided to head for Conwy rspb first light and spend most of the day here with the hope the desert wheatear would still be at rhyll on the way back home.
We had good sightings of a green winged teal and a firecrest which showed very well on several occations near the small wooden bridge on the reserve.
There were lots of redshank and curlew on the estuary along with shelduck , teal and wigeon.
Lots of reports on site saying the desert wheatear had not been found during the day so decided to give it a miss and stayed on the reserve generaly having a great time chatting to lots of birders and good to meet up with Ivan again and thanks for the tip with the spay .
How is the bird looking Gary , a few negative reports lately on it's condition
Frank
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