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

Had a bit of a wander round North Wales today with John Barber and Dave Hughston and had another look at the Desert Wheatear at Rhyl. It was still on the beach and showing well but didn't seem as perky as it had been at the weekend, spending a lot of time sheltering behind rocks.

I think we just cross-posted Alan!! Given the number of Lapland Buntings seen annually on the N.Wales coast it shows that this is a passage route for this species and this bird may have done just that - passed through. Given the low temperatures & keen wind who can blame it?!

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

Desert Wheatear and Lapland Bunting still present in the seawall at Rhyl this morning.

Info thanks to James Walsh

---

The Desert Wheatear was showing well around lunch time when I arrived. However the opinion among several of the observers was that the bird was not in the best of health. We stayed well over an hour and it stayed on the beach never moving more than a few yards.

No one knew anything about the Lapland Bunting

alan patterson wrote:

---

Doc Brewster wrote:

---

Thanks for that Pete, will give it a try, obviously works looking at the vid. May go back for seconds of the Desert Wheatear tomorrow, try it with fewer birders & photographers around

---

Hi Paul,

I am hoping to go to look for the Desert Wheatear tomorrow, have you any ideas if there are any probelms on the road with flooding. I heard there is flooding at ST Asaph so not sure if the coast road will be better option.

Alan

---

Sorry I didn't get a chance to reply before you went,Alan, but I know you got there OK because we were birding together there this morning Nice to see you again & as you said to me St.Asaph looked pretty bad from the A55, there were emergency services everywhere & a helicopter over when I went past. The Desert Wheatear site is pretty accessible from several directions (for anyone else going) but not via Rhuddlan if you come off near St Asaph.

The Desert Wheatear showed exceptionally well but wasn't looking as healthy as when I visited on Sunday. Several N.Wales birders were there today & made the same comments as they too have seen the bird become more lethargic. On Sunday it was whizzing around along the seawall, over onto the golfcourse & on the beach, feeding continuously on small flies & regularly regurgitating pellets (as mentioned earlier by Pete & I. Due to the drop in tempereature there are now very few flies for it & it is feeding on mealworms put down by photographers. Given it's condition I reckon it won't now move far, so folk waiting for the weekend should be OK, as long as it doesnt succumb to predation in its weakened state.

Good luck to anyone going, if anyone needs any extra info please PM me. By the way the best place to park now is near Lyons Holiday Camp on the A548, many cars just pulled up onto the kerb there, I parked in the holiday camp itself & got no grief at all Then cross the road & take the tarmac track over the golfcourse & the bird favours the area around the steps immediately in front of you when you reach the prom

Quality day in North Wales

Lapland Bunting Rhyl (at Desert Wheatear site) showed well at 8:30am along seawall adjacent to golf course then flew north-east

2 Firecrest Conway RSPB showing very well (at a bout 1 yard range!) around the Bridge Pool at 3pm, also 1 Little Egret & 5 Pochard

2 Purple Sandpipers Rhos-on-Sea

3 Red-throated Diver & 4 Great Crested Grebe Llanfairfechan

4 Red-throated Diver & 7 Common Scoter Penmaenmawr

1 Velvet Scoter & 1,000+ Common Scoter Llandulas

-- Edited by James Walsh on Wednesday 28th of November 2012 06:41:50 PM

Desert Wheatear and Lapland Bunting still present in the seawall at Rhyl this morning.

Info thanks to James Walsh

Doc Brewster wrote:

---

Thanks for that Pete, will give it a try, obviously works looking at the vid. May go back for seconds of the Desert Wheatear tomorrow, try it with fewer birders & photographers around

---

Hi Paul,

I am hoping to go to look for the Desert Wheatear tomorrow, have you any ideas if there are any probelms on the road with flooding. I heard there is flooding at ST Asaph so not sure if the coast road will be better option.

Alan

Thanks for that Pete, will give it a try, obviously works looking at the vid. May go back for seconds of the Desert Wheatear tomorrow, try it with fewer birders & photographers around

What editing software do you use, Pete? My wife has lots of footage of past rarities but needs to edit stuff together.

---

Windows Live Movie Maker. Not sure if it comes with Microsoft Office. Just right click on the thumbnail. I've only just started to experiment with it and I've been pleasantly surprised by the results so far. Cheers

Pete Hines wrote:

---

As Doc said he collected a sample, I offered him some Waxwing doo doo, but he only does pellets and doesn't take sh*t from anybody

Also 2 drake Surf Scoter and 6 Velvet (5m 1f) at Llandulas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tZoRcnT-CA&feature=plcp

---

Excellent footage, Pete, brings it all back, like the wheatear kept doing with pellets - the one I collected has dried out lovely, watch out for an appearance by it on Springwatch nexxt year Reminded me how windy it was, lots of my photos have the feathers blowing up like marylin monroe's dress!!

What editing software do you use, Pete? My wife has lots of footage of past rarities but needs to edit stuff together.

Some quality photo's on other sites but surprisingly no video footage, until now. The opening sequence (rather distant) shows the bird regurgatating a pellet. As Doc said he collected a sample, I offered him some Waxwing doo doo, but he only does pellets and doesn't take sh*t from anybody

Also 2 drake Surf Scoter and 6 Velvet (5m 1f) at Llandulas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tZoRcnT-CA&feature=plcp

Doc Brewster wrote:

---

Hi Sid - saw what was prob your car at the roundabout on the road near the bridge, did you park & go over the gate at the usual point?

---

Paul I have sent you a PM

Hi Sid - saw what was prob your car at the roundabout on the road near the bridge, did you park & go over the gate at the usual point?

Desert Wheatear - as everyone has said a smashing bird, that didn't get bothered by much as far as I could tell

Paul, I also saw the Waxwings in Bagillt but didn't stop - that was about 11.30.

Then had a look at White Sands, the marshy area to the left of the road after going over the Dee cable stayed bridge. I could see what I had been told was a mixed flock of Mute, Whooper and Bewick Swans but the sun was by now not in a good position and the birds were too distant to allow positive id.

A window of opportunity this morning saw me on the prom at Rhyl at 7.50am. The weather conditions at this time were less than favourable with a strong westerly and patchy rain. As I was the first birder on the scene I wasn't confident of finding the bird in these conditions. Ever the optimist though I soldiered on and soon picked up the bird happily feeding on the prom about 400 yards west of the Roy Avenue footpath. Another birder then appeared from the west who said he'd seen the bird a few minutes before but lost it again.

The bird then gave us beautiful views of down to just 3 yards at times. It was completely unbothered by any of the birders present as it flitted about near us. Due to the strength of the wind the bird spent a lot of time feeding on the beach where it appeared to be slightly more sheltered. Needless to say I managed to get quite a few shots albeit in not very good light.

A cracking little bird and another lifer for me. Nice to see Sid Ashton and John Tavenner there too.

Popped across today to take advantage of the November sunshine. The Desert Wheatear showed suoerbly well along the prom, on the wall & the fence as well as making occasional forays down on to the beach & onto the golfcourse. Despite the large crowd of birders (nice to meet a couple of Manchester Forum-ers ) the bird gave close views most of the time. A couple of arguments broke out with accusations of chasing of the bird going on but despite staying armed with phone camera at the ready a fight never broke out for me to post on Youtube In true Chris Packham mode I collected a pellet of indigestible insect parts that the bird disgorged onto the seawall & it is drying out in the sunshine on my windowsill now!!

On the way back I found a group of Waxwings in a new location, not reported out previously. There were 20 birds feeding by Station Road in Bagillt, 1.5ml NW of Flint just off the A648 in an industrial estate by AdHoc Conservatories!! Not an unexpected find given the numbers around at the mo but still nice & I stopped to get piccies & enjoy them all by myself!!

Cheers Sid, will get onto it right now

p.s. Yep it's the usual access spot, think it's pretty well known

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 25th of November 2012 10:10:57 PM

Anyone planning on going to Rhyl should be aware that the M56 is closed J2-5 today for Metrolink bridge work. Traffic could be very bad heading that way...

It's been quite a few years since I last saw one, so may have to make the journey abroad tomorrow!

Cheers
Jason

As John says, the Desert Wheatear did show brilliantly this afternoon for myself and Henry Cook on the seawall at Rhyl Golf Course and the 30 Waxwings over were a nice bonus too.

Definitely one to take the camera for!

Also 30 Waxwings just south of the golf course flew west towards Rhyl town center at 1pm

Had extremely good views of the Desert Wheatear this afternoon on the prom in front of Rhyl Golf course.

Arrived around 2.15 with just enough time to watch the bird closely on the sea wall for about 20 minutes at distances down to 10 feet before the weather began to deteriorate This bird is very confiding and continued to feed on tiny black flies which it flushed from the top of the wall as walkers, joggers and birders passed close to it.

Directions: I followed my sat nav. to Roy Ave, Prestatyn, turned left at the end which is a dead end. Park up and followed the public footpath sign across the field to the sea wall / prom ( about 150 yds or so ) Turn left on the prom and the bird was on the sea wall opposite the golf club about two hundred yards along.

In Denbighshire there is a female Desert Wheatear present for its 2nd day. The bird is at Rhyl on Rhyl Golfcourse viewed from the prom . Access from Roy Avenue, Prestatyn.

Popped down to look for the Surf Scoters on Wednesday, sea was flat calm and the sun was shining. Despite this we found it impossible to see the Surf Scoters from the elevated position, others had failed too! Moving down to Llandulas beach made all the difference and the birds were spotted, although at distance. We saw the birds at about 2.30 in the afternoon so perhaps the position of the sun favoured the lower viewpoint?

kerry skelhorn wrote:

---

Has anyone ever managed to get a photo (e.g digiscoped) of the Surf Scoters at Llandulas? I have never had any luck seeing them despite looking from the lower road & the road higher up. I'm convinced some people are stringing ...I'm sure the birds are there & there are genuine sightings but, from conversations I've had with others (one chap had been 5 times the previous yr & not seen them) I suspect a lot claiming to see them haven't...especially when they just turn up, look through the scope & then drive off (after conveniently 'losing' the bird in the scope so they can't show it. Seen plenty of velvets...they are possible to pick out so I would have thought it would be possible to pick the surf scoters out fairly easily if they were there - I'm wondering if they move about a lot? Would be nice to see a photo - they've been around for more than a month now.

---

Lets not use the 'S' word unless we've personal first hand knowledge of it occuring folks. Just because we didn't see them doesn't mean they're not there and I'm never sure why photos seem to necessary for proof nowadays; all very sad sometimes. I saw my first Surf Scoter off Abergele back in the mid(ish) 80's and have seen more than a few (or the same returning drakes anyway) along the North Wales coast since and I can only concur with Nick and Jonathon's comments.

They can be a real pain; the scoters, not Nick and Jonathon

There's a huge flock of Scoter out there, stretching way out towards the wind turbines. I've no doubt the Surfs move about, in fact I spotted them flying in on one visit last spring. As Nick suggests, they can be easy to find at times, especially when the sun's shining on them. At other times, when they're far out and the sun isn't shining, they can be very difficult to find - you're talking extreme long-range birding! Once found it can then be very difficult to get anyone on to them - it's hard to give directions with your scope zoomed right up and nothing but a sea of Scoter for landmarks!

Choose your day carefully, preferably a calm, sunny one around high tide.

Has anyone digiscoped them? Here's a pic . . .

http://webirdnorthwales.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/four-surf-scoters-and-strange-redshank.html

Kerry, I'm not a digiscoper personally but I can tell you that the birds are present. I had quite reasonable views of three drakes a few weeks ago - see my post further down. They can be a bit tricky to pick out at first but once you get on to them they're easy to keep track of. As I said in my earlier post, you need a sunny day so that the sun reflects on the white patch on their nape.
It's also much easier from the higher viewpoint too.
All I can say is persevere with it and hopefully when you go next time there'll be other birders present to make finding them easier with the extra eyes on the job.

Has anyone ever managed to get a photo (e.g digiscoped) of the Surf Scoters at Llandulas? I have never had any luck seeing them despite looking from the lower road & the road higher up. I'm convinced some people are stringing ...I'm sure the birds are there & there are genuine sightings but, from conversations I've had with others (one chap had been 5 times the previous yr & not seen them) I suspect a lot claiming to see them haven't...especially when they just turn up, look through the scope & then drive off (after conveniently 'losing' the bird in the scope so they can't show it. Seen plenty of velvets...they are possible to pick out so I would have thought it would be possible to pick the surf scoters out fairly easily if they were there - I'm wondering if they move about a lot? Would be nice to see a photo - they've been around for more than a month now.

Tanmay Dixit wrote:

---

"You say all the right things If I'm in next time you call make yourself known & I'll brew up for you, maybe on the way through for that lifer Firecrest"

Cheers, might see you sometime soon then!

And in keeping with saying the right things, the bins are excellent, and some very nice feeders outside the building too (got my first LARGE flock of tree sparrows there!!)

---

Thanks Tanmay

If anyone does want to tick Tree Sparrow, especially for their 2013 Year List then feel free to pop down in January - absolutely no need to buy anything, just pop in for a chat & hopefully we'll keep the feeders filled & the Tree Sparrows will keep showing well We have even had them breed in one of the nest boxes just a few feet from the window!

Two Firecrests together this morning west of the bridge, plus a female Blackcap past the bridge. Also two Chiffchaffs, one near the feeders, the other up towards the railway line.

1 Firecrest showing well at Conwy RSPB yesterday mid pm.

"You say all the right things If I'm in next time you call make yourself known & I'll brew up for you, maybe on the way through for that lifer Firecrest"

Cheers, might see you sometime soon then!

And in keeping with saying the right things, the bins are excellent, and some very nice feeders outside the building too (got my first LARGE flock of tree sparrows there!!)

Tanmay Dixit wrote:

---

hmmm, will have to bear that in mind

and btw, I got my bins from focalpoint!

Thanks

---

You say all the right things If I'm in next time you call make yourself known & I'll brew up for you, maybe on the way through for that lifer Firecrest

hmmm, will have to bear that in mind

and btw, I got my bins from focalpoint!

Thanks

Hi Tanmay

We probably saw it before you arrived, around 1.15pm, I know that as I reported it to the RBA pager after it had flown off & we couldn't relocate it. It was total luck that that was the exact time that we decided to go back to the car for lunch. For info 3 Firecrests were reported by the wooden bridge at 2.15pm yesterday & 2 at the same location at 8.15am today. So definitely still worth a trip to bag that lifer

hi Doc

Ah, gutted, would have been a lifer for me, but as they say, there's still time. can't complain though, still a great day out...

What time did you see it? (at the risk of making me more disappointed if you saw it at a similar time to when we were there)

Hiya Tanmay

I also made the short trip over into North Wales on Sunday & decided to start at Conwy RSPB to give myself the optimal chances of catching up with my first Firecrest of the year, surmising that the Waxwings would hang around for later! After hangign around the usual spot for over 2.5hrs I had had enough & decided to give up and retire to the car park for lunch. That was a good move as it turned out as just a couple of minutes before we arrived somebody reported having seen a single Firecrest with a single Goldcrest in the trees by the car park on the A55 side. A rapid search revealed 2, then 3 Goldcrests and doubt was setting in, but then bingo, a single Firecrest gave brief views, before moving off with the Goldcrests behind the visitor centre.

After lunch a trip up to Llandudno allowed us to connect with 80-100 waxwings in the trees near B&Q and allowed very close digiscoped pictures of a single very obliging bird that fed a few metres away at head height. A very succesful day completed by petrol at Llandudno Asda a good 5p a litre cheaper than my usual fuel in Northwich

Part of a great sunday to north wales and the wirral (see appropriate thread)
Highlights:
LLandulas:
1 guillemot, some great crested grebe and quite a few scoters, mostly common. managed to pick out some velvet in flight but really distant. Sadly no surf scoter. but were seen later on in the day

Then to B&Q LLandudno where there were around 50 waxwings about with over 50 curlew flying over.

Then to Conwy
Water rail glimpsed from coffee shop
at least 8 red-breasted merganser
Lesser redpoll
Sadly dipped on firecrest (had been seen in the morning)

then over to Burton mere and Denhall Lane quay...(see Cheshire)

c. 100 waxwing at B&Q in Llandudno, hopefully get them tomorrow.

info thanks to Joe Wynn (and others!)

A window of opportunity presented itself this morning so I took it and shot off down to Llandulas to try and see the Surf Scoters that have been present for a while now.

Viewing from the 'new' viewpoint on Llysfaen Station Road, the sun shone down on literally hundreds of Common Scoter off shore. I managed to pick out a passing Velvet Scoter within minutes of arriving but it took me nearly twenty minutes to pick out the three drake Surf Scoters. They immediately took flight but luckily flew nearer to shore and settled again to give better views. Once picked out they were fairly easy to keep track of as the sun reflected really well on the white patch on the back of the head and also the white patch above the bill; even the yellow on the bill could be picked out too.

The three drakes were also in the presence of a female bird which presumably was a female Surf Scoter but picking out any detail at that range was difficult and in the time I was there I didn't get the chance to see it dive which may have helped with the identification.

As well as the Surf Scoters I also managed two Velvet Scoters plus three Red Throated Divers, several Great Crested Grebes, Red Breasted Mergansers and Auk species.

Clocaenog

I'd just sat down at the picnic table by the mast at Craig Bron-banog when the Great Grey Shrike flew past me! It landed briefly in a tree about 30yds away before moving away to a more discreet distance (east of the mast), giving excellent scope views for ten minutes or so. Not many other birds up there - a flock of c30 Fieldfare and calling Crossbills. Nice flock of c200 Chaffinches with plenty Brambling mixed in half mile east of Pennant feeding on a weed-strewn sheep field.

Jonathan Platt wrote:

---

As John alluded to, the Surf Scoters are much easier to pick out when the sun is shining on them. Later, when the sun went in and the birds tucked their heads under their wings, they were very difficult to find.

I've not scoped from this spot before, thanks for the info John

---

No problem Jonathan. Glad you found the Surf Scoters in the end.

Had a trip up to the Great Orme today & what a difference a few days make. After Tuesday's high winds, dull, grey skies & a birdless vista, today was warm, sunny & a bird-filled success. Three Lapland Buntings showed ridiculously well, almost scurrying over our feet as they fed. Gathered photographers moved backwards as the birds came too close for long lenses to focus Hardly being able to walk away from these beauties I watched them a couple of times either side of a picnic lunch - eaten in bright sunshine with only my rugby shirt on my top half - in late October, and on a coastal headland where sea breezes can bring the temperature down a few degrees!!

A search of the rest of the Orme failed to find an earlier Richards Pipit, Ring Ouzel & Snow Bunting - all had left before I arrived but we had a fly over Twite, more flyover Golden Plovers and several Ravens. A fantastic day with plenty of lovely photos - most of them head & shoulder shots, as the birds were so close - to remember it by

As Burton Marsh was quiet and there was little wind, I decided to nip over to Llanddulas to have a look for the Surf Scoters. Conditions were ideal as the sea was very calm and there was no haze initially, however the majority of the scoter flock was distant. It took me two hours to find them (three drakes), I presume they must have flown in from the more distant flocks as I'd scanned the nearer birds several times without success, as had several other birders. Also seen were four Velvet Scoter, many Red-throated Divers (more off the beach at Llanddulas later), Common Guillemots, Great Crested Grebes, Mergansers and several Shags.

As John alluded to, the Surf Scoters are much easier to pick out when the sun is shining on them. Later, when the sun went in and the birds tucked their heads under their wings, they were very difficult to find.

I've not scoped from this spot before, thanks for the info John

Viewing information:

After spending a fruitless hour scanning the Scoter flock from the sea level car park at Station Road last weekend ( along with many other birders ) it came as a welcome surprise when a local birder pulled up and suggested we follow him to a much better viewing point up the hill out of LIanddulas where went on to see the birds within minutes !

For anyone who doesnt already know about this particular location: Take the A547 out of LIanddulas ( the road to Old Colwyn ) About half a mile or so up the hill turn right at the blue sign for the Cemex plant. View immediately on turning right from the top of the hill. Although you are much further back from sea, the height more than compensates, and given a calm sea and some bright sunshine we had no difficulty picking out the birds.

Popped over to N.Wales today but had a fruitless morning on the Great Orme. The winds were so strong that every bird was keeping in cover, anything that did pop its head up would probably be blown over to Ireland

Then onto Anglesey where I fared much better. I met up with local birders at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park & was rewarded with an almost immediate sighting of the 1w Barred Warbler that has been there for the last few days. The bird showed well a few times preening in the sun and taking advantage of the now almost wind-less conditions. It headed into cover for long periods & the locals tell me that it can be really difficult to catch up with at times - so I suppose I had a day of two halves really!! In the same bushes as the Barred Warbler were 2 male & 1 female Blackcap, several Greenfinches and in the area over 30 Goldfinches. A Peregrine soared overhead, 4 Choughs frequented the adjacent fields and 7 Crossbills flew over, chipping away. A pleasant afternoon and a Welsh tick to boot

Just met a chap in Northenden who told me he'd just got back from Great Orme, where he had seen four Lapland Buntings at close range. Didn't get his name, because I'm rude and was knackered from wandering around the water parks!

A productive visit to the Great Orme today, in dull but almost windless conditions, turned up the elusive Firecrest - on the path between the church and limestone pavements - in a Hawthorn bush by the wall near the gully. The bird showed well for several minutes at less than 10 yds. Thirty minutes later a local birder picked up a single Lapland Bunting, almost opposite in rough grass, which we managed to view briefly both on the ground and in flight.

Mon 8th Oct 08:00 - 17:30:

Went out for a day with Alan Davies from The Biggest Twitch and with Alan's local knowledge, keen ear and contacts we notched up an amazing 87 species in our tour of the island. For me there were 3 lifers to start with in the form of Lapland Bunting, Great Skua and Richard's Pipit, plus other birds that I don't see often such as great Northern Diver, Spoonbill, Eider etc.

Cemlyn Bay 09:00 - 10:30 ish
A quick scan of the lagoons, a bit of Sea-watching and a walk around the adjoining fields. Alan's keen eyes picked out distant Great Skua, Great Northern Diver, Kittiwake, Common Scoter, Razorbill and Guillemot and more or less as soon as we had picked up our scopes, Skylark then Linnet flew overhead and then a Lapland Bunting shot skyward, before heading out to sea and then back again disappearing, as far as we could tell, into a field of stubble. A fantastic start to the day, with the list including all of the above plus
- Greenshank, Redshank, Dunlin, plenty of Curlew and Golden Plover
- Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Greylag Goose,  GC and Little Grebe
- Rock and Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Reed Bunting
- Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven

Beddmanarch Bay 11:00 - 11:30 ish
The flats here were not so busy, but some careful watching showed up some decent birds including:
- Grey and Ringed Plover
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Red-Breasted Merganser
- Knot
- Large numbers of Pale-bellied Brent Geese
- large numbers of Golden Plover on the other side of the bay

Hollyhead Harbour 11:45 - 12:15 ish
A quick visit to the harbour area only gave up a short list of birds:
- Redshank, Oystercatcher
- Common Guillemot
- Shag 

South Stacks 12:30 - 13:45
A stop for lunch more than anything as we had picked up Chough and a Goldcrest during a stop mid-way bringing the morning total to 66 species. Very few birds on the cliffs themselves, so just a tiny list of
- Buzzard
- Chough
-  Great Black-backed Gull

Inland Sea 14:00- 14:30
By this time, we had news of the Richard's Pipit, so we had decided to make for Penmon Point, driving quickly through Trearddur Bay (where the tide was in and what beach there was, was occupied with dog walkers) and on to the Inland Sea in the hope of perhaps catching sight of the Osprey which has been seen in the area. Our short stop was extremely timely and no sooner had we gotten out of the car than we had a Spoonbill in our sights
- Spoonbill
-20+ Little Egret
- 22 Mute Swan
- c6 Pintail
- c50 Wigeon
- c6 Red-breasted Merganser
- c7 Mediterranean Gull
- c40 Pale-bellied Brent Geese

Valley Wetlands 14:45 - 15:15
Lightning quick visit to check the lakes and to pick up a few 'easy' spots which had evaded us up to this point.
- Tufted Duck
- Pochard

Penmon Point 16:00 - 17:00 ish
We drove over to the area where the Richard's Pipit had been seen a number of times during the course of the day. The large field was filled with substantial numbers of Curlew and Greylag Geese, plus 2 Canada Geese (a species that was also missing from our lists for the day). Mipits flew around much closer to us and after a short wait, we were also treated to a short flight from the Richards Pipit which appeared to be following one of the Meadow Pipits. It disappeared into a ditch in the field, out of which subsequently flew upwards of a dozen Meadow Pipits, but we did not see the Richard's Pipit again.

We then continued on to Penmon Point itself and looked out onto Puffin Island which was largely deserted, save for a few Great Black-backed Gulls and a single Eider. However the bushes nearby and the drive back were both productive, yielding more species that we had missed up to this point
- Great and Blue Tits
- Blackcap
- 2 Sparowhawk
- 5 Swallow
- Jay

All is all a fabulous day, even if the weather wasn't the greatest.


-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Monday 8th of October 2012 09:37:24 PM

-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Tuesday 9th of October 2012 08:56:57 AM