thanks for the help guys, hopefully we will find something of interest to keep the unbirding majorority happy long enough to stay the distance! If there be puffins still in view that will do the trick for sure. who doesn't love a puffin!!

Hi Brandon

Henry is correct with his viewing location for the BGs but without a doubt the best place to view them is from the Holyhead Millenium footbridge - indeed up to a couple of years ago the AA used to have a sign pointing up Market St to the car park for the "Black Guillemots". There are two ways to access the bridge either drive up Market St (first on left past the war memorial) and park there free for an hour or park on Victoria Street itself if you are early and walk to the bridge where you will see some steps going up to the walkway. Once you are on the bridge you have excellent views on both sides of the water in the harbour. You sometimes have to be patient as there are lots of nooks and cranies but you won't fail to see the birds. At the end of the A55 get in the left hand lane for the town centre - right hand lane takes you to the ferry terminal.

You should also have a look at the the Range which is just down the road from the end of the South Stack road towards Trearddor - it's an RSPB controlled area and the guys at South Stack will point you in the right direction - Good luck


-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 8th of August 2009 09:54:32 PM

Hi Brandon. You should have no probs at South Stack, the RSPB welcome many non-members to their Ellin's Tower center. They may try and ask you to join though! Wonderful views from here of the sea and cliffs. Some birds start to leave the cliffs soon as the young are ready to jump into the sea but there is bound to be stuff around still. The heathland can have Grasshopper Warbler, Whinchat, Chough and if lucky the resident Hooded Crow and dodgy offspring.
Black Guillemots can be seen in the fish quay at Holyhead harbour. To get there, at the roundabout which has the turn off to queue up for the ferries, take the following turnoff and drive along along 'Turkey Shore Road'. The views from the top of this road overlook the fish quay and larger harbour area and you should see them here. Shags, Cormorants, Rock Pipits and Wheatears can also be seen around here.
Cemlyn lagoon on the north coast is always worth a visit for the breeding terns and waders plus maybe a Roseate Tern.
Hope you have good hols. Henry.

We would love a little advice from anyone with experience of this area as to what we need for access and where we should go, in and around Anglesey. Area of main interest will be south stack, this is rspb site and we would love to know what kind of access is there for non rspb members as 3 of our group are non members (will we have to split up?) Also would love to see the 2 Black Guillemots where ever they are! Any help would be appreciated, we will be in Wales for a week from 16th aug onward.

Steven Nelson wrote:

---

Long weekend staying near Lligwy beach Fri 25th - Mon 28th July

Main things of note:

Sun 27th - wet am, cool,windy,dry pm
Point Lynas (pm):
2 Black Guillemots in cove - didn't realise they got this far round the coast
30+ diving Gannets close inshore with lots of Porpoises and a few Common Dolphins harrassing presumably a large shoal of fish - great spectacle !
3 Manx Shearwaters
3 Guillemots

Lligwy Beach:
2 Whimbrel flew west
Grey Seal

Mon 28th - warm, sunny
Moelfre:
a few Kittiwakes, Shags, and Cormorants with Herring Gulls on island

Sandwich Terns all round coast

---

There used to be a small colony of Black Guillemots on the island at Moelfre. Not seen them around for a good while though.

called in at Conway on the way back from a weekend on the Llyn peninsula.

Pretty quiet - 1 Dunlin, 3 Common Sand, 30+ Black-tailed Godwit
Missed the 2 Greenshank which were hiding somewhere.

"We" were at RSPB Conwy on Thursday, but there was not a lot doing, apart from a very large flock of Curlew on the River Sandbanks opposite the far side of the Reserve.

Long weekend staying near Lligwy beach Fri 25th - Mon 28th July

Main things of note:

Sun 27th - wet am, cool,windy,dry pm
Point Lynas (pm):
2 Black Guillemots in cove - didn't realise they got this far round the coast
30+ diving Gannets close inshore with lots of Porpoises and a few Common Dolphins harrassing presumably a large shoal of fish - great spectacle !
3 Manx Shearwaters
3 Guillemots

Lligwy Beach:
2 Whimbrel flew west
Grey Seal

Mon 28th - warm, sunny
Moelfre:
a few Kittiwakes, Shags, and Cormorants with Herring Gulls on island

Sandwich Terns all round coast

Suprised I didn't bump into you yesterday Sid.
I was out at Rhos Point for a bit but the high water didn't bring much into shore here in terms of seabirds for me either. The turnstones were very nice though!
Henry.

Spent the afternoon between the Little Orme and Rhos-on-Sea and of note had 5 Whimbrel over Penrhyn beach, a Rock Pipit feeding a single chick, Kittiwake on the Little Orme cliffs, lots of House Martins around the houses on the LO. There were several Gannet out past the new wind farm and many Cormorant in and around the bay. With the receding tide there were 5 Turnstone on the rocky beach at Rhos, 3 in striking summer plumage plus the usual Curlew, Redshanks and Oystercatchers.

Given that a 10m tide was predicted a little disappointed not to find Manxies at any stage during the afternoon.

Holly Page wrote:

---

Last place I wanted to mention was the forestry commission reserve of Nant Yr Arian.

p>

---

We live 5 minutes from here!! It is an amzing place! As they feed the birds in front of the hide, the views from the hide are amazing!

Spent 5 days in Wales, stayed in Dollgellau. Went to Conwy in the pouring rain, didn't really see much of note (probably because I couldn't see through the rain!!).

Ynis-Hir - spent a sunny morning walking round all the hides. Had good views of a Spotted Flycather fledgling sitting on a barbed wire fence, still being fed by a parent. The bird I really wanted to see here was the Redstart as I'd never seen one before. About 5 minutes into our walk to the first hide, one came and sat on a tree trunk next to the path as if to say "Here I am" and then flew a bit further away and sat ina small sapling for 10 minutes allowing me to get a good view with the bins and a couple of photos. Lovely to see Swallows nesting in nearly all if the hides, not bothered by all the birders traipsing in and out all day. Other birds of note were an Osprey and a Red Kite passing over, Siskin, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed & Sedge Warblers, loads of Reed Bunting, and an Egret on the estuary. Plenty of grey squirrels too including one sat up in a tree making funny grunting & squeaking noises which I had never heard before.

Visited the Dyfi Osprey Project just south of Machynlleth - got wonderful views of Willow Warbler which was nesting just below the newly buit hide - lots of trips in with food and out with faecal sacs and they kindly sat on the fence too for a closer look. Also saw a Bank Vole (my first which I was very excited about!!!) and the Osprey itself appeared just before we moved on. Also heard a Cuckoo.

Last place I wanted to mention was the forestry commission reserve of Nant Yr Arian. I initially wanted to visit Gigrin Farm to see the Red Kites being fed but it was too far from where we were staying. I was then told about this place where they also feed kites. What an incredible site!!! The feeding is at 3pm bt the birds began to gather in the sky some 40 mintues before, the numbers building until feeding time when there must have been 150 birds. All were Red Kites apart from one Buzzard. It's a beautiful setting with the food being put out on a grassy bank on the side of a small lake surrounded by beautiful pine trees. Unfortunately we didn't have time to walk round the rest of the site to investigate further.

I was wonderfully surprised by how many Red Kites there are in that area. I had hoped to see one at least (aside from the feeding site) but we must have seen 20 or so, everytime we drove somewhere we would look up in the sky and see another kite! One actually dived down to the side of the road about 20 metres in front of my car which was somewhat disconcerting (I didn't hit it by the way - not sure what it was doing dropping down so close to moving vehicles but it emerged unscathed!!!!).

For anyone wanting close-up views of choughs, I strongly recommend Porth Ceiriad, a beach a couple of miles west of Abersoch. Spent a wonderful couple of hours there on Saturday, picnicking and watching a couple of family groups of choughs feeding on the grassy cliffs just above the beach and tumbling overhead.

Paul

A little trip up to Anglesey gave us excellent views of Puffins, Razorbills, Guillimots, Kittewakes and Fulmar, plus the usual Gulls and a few Chough at South Stack.

Quite a few good views of chicks being fed.

Off to Cemlyn Bay for Sandwich, Common and Artic Terns before rain stopped play.
Again, quite a few good views of chicks being fed.

No time and too much rain to go and have a look at Fedr Fawr but a good time anyway.

On the way home we stopped off at Cors Dyfi to see the Ospreys.

Excellent day!

Yep Jonathan - possibly more birds, definitely more midges

Hi Sid,

You may well be right - I wasn't sure when they stop churring, hence the question mark. I normally look/listen for them late May/early June. Yesterday wasn't a particularly good night as there was some rain and mist. A better night might produce more birds.

Cheers
Jonathan

Jonathan Platt wrote:

---

Churring was infrequent, I suspect they will stop completely soon?

---

Jonathan

I always understood that the Nightjar was always one of the last summer visitors to arrive typically mid May - why do you think that "they will stop completely soon"? There are reports in the literature of the churring going on until August and indeed I have previously seen and heard the birds in Clocaenog in July and was hoping maybe to find them again.

Cheers

Sid

Me and warfy are currently sunbathing on black rocks beach. No sign of royal tern by 1140hrs.

Went back to Clocaenog Forest last night, to an area that looked good for nightjars. One bird churring, possibly two, but it was difficult to say whether it was the same bird moving around. Churring was infrequent, I suspect they will stop completely soon? Road closure, then mad detour signs that took me back into Wales meant it was gone 1.00am before I arrived home!

Royal Tern at Black Rock Sands tonight, previosly at Abersoch, and before that Eire....

hi guys i have pictures from 27 06 2007 showing mixed colony of terns sandwich and commons approx 300 birds and 400 ish oystercatchers in same area how sad to see NONE in same area yesterday.Thanks for your comments though

Had an excellent trip to North Wales and Angelsey - thanks for all the pointers:

Little Terns on the way down at Gronant and a chat with the friendly wardens.

Black Guillemot, Ringed Plover and Raven at the old fish quay in Holyhead - at least four in total and excellent views at 7.15am...

Then work intervened for a few hours until my half days leave kicked in - next quick look at Inland Sea at 4 mile bridge - nothing much to report other than the Red Arrows doing a fly by into Valley and lots of blue trainer hawks.

South Stack was next with Puffins, Choughs and the normal stuff [didn't spot a Kittiwake though]

Then Rhoscolyn saw Shag offshore, Rock Pipits, Ravens and Choughs [at least another two pairs]. Also a Grey Seal dozing and two Stoats which flashed across the path then stuck their heads up for a look out of an old stone wall - and no I wasn't quick enough with the bloomin camera!

Quick 30 mins at Conway before they shut for excellent views of Sedge and Reed Warblers, buzzards, egrets, oystercatchers etc

Also had a flying visit to Cemlyn last week - really good views of Common, Artic, Sandwich and a solitary Roseate Tern along with Merganser off the beach

I was in north Wales on Saturday. Spent a few hours at Bod Petrual from 6.00am. Three singing wood warblers - we had six there a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't walk as far on Saturday. Also half a dozen crossbills feeding in the pine tops plus usual garden and willow warblers, blackcaps, chiffchaffs, goldcrests, lots of siskins and a couple of bullfinches.

Spent the rest of the day around the south west margins of Clocaenog Forest. Found at least 10 male redstarts, interestingly none of them in what text books would possibly describe as ideal redstart habitat - I found one pair nesting in a stone wall on a comparatively bare hillside, a tiny 40ft square of 15ft saplings being the only nearby cover. Plenty of tree pipits around too, and numerous soaring buzzards - though no gosses unfortunately!

Like you Henry I have never been aware of a Tern colony at MM. From what I have seen at Cemlyn and Gronant the Terns tend to go for shingle beaches.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Monday 15th of June 2009 10:17:37 AM

Glad you saw the Redstarts Gary, cracking little birds.
I didn't know terns nested at Madryn? In the autumn a roost builds up on the spit but many of these are failed or early breeders from other colonies along the coast.
Sounds like Cemlyn Lagoon is finally having a good breeding year, great news!
Cheers. Henry.

First stop was Conwy rspb more than 300 canada geese here and 4 greylags,great crested grebes and tufted duck. herons and egrets just across the estuary and 6 buzzard .Lots of tit families about and several goldfinch and chaffinch.Reed and sedge warblers showing well, along with willow warbler ,whitethrote and chiffchaff. Curlew , oystercatcher,blacktailed godwit and lapwing also scattered around the reserve and a single knot.

Next stop was at morfa madryn where we were dissappointed to see the first hide had been vandlelised with loads of empty beer bottles left there(pitty they werent full) could have murdered a pint as the weather was hot. Very quiet at the reserve pied wags,3 little egret,swan,lapwings, warblers included sedge, willow,whitethrote.Biggest dissappointment was no tern collony maybe theyve found somewhere else with less predation from the herons.Also a good roost of oystercatchers at llanfairfechan.

Best till last was a walk up to aber falls for the redtarts and we wasnt dissappointed we saw 4 male and females which all showed very well .Also a few buzzards soaring on the thermals.

Weekend Outing Local RSPB Group
Fri 1st Stop Gronant
Over 200 Little Terns here spoke with the warden as they had started doing a nest count and on 2 sectors alone they had counted 52 nests but no hatchings yet also Ring Plover and Oystercatcher here
Over to Anglesey
and a walk round the cliffs at Rhoscolyn which was very productive
2 juv Raven on a nest under the cliff
at least 8 Rock Pipits most feeding young
4 Choughs
a passage of Manx Shearwaters 100+
10 + Shags ,Stonechats Linnets
A cracking little area this is.
Sat First Stop Holyhead Harbour at least 4 possibly 6 Black Guillemots very active in ad out of the Harbour. A Foggy South Stack apart from 1 Chough coudnt see a thing::
so off to Cemlyn
Over a 1000 Sandwich tern,which have had 2 awful breeding years but hopefully this one will make up as they was bringing in lots of food Fantastic Sight
Also Common and Arctic here Ring Plover also 5 Grey Seals off shore
Back To South Stacks fingers crossed fog had cleared
It had Yippee Now we had cracking views of the colony
Guillemots Razorbills Fulmars Kittiwakes at least 14 Choughs and 1 Peregrine my nerve just holdin looking over looking over the cliffs as i havent a head for heights that is till it failed when some one had a Puffin in the water below the cliffs NO- NO for me ,
So over to the steps to see the Breeding Puffins with me clinging on to the wall for dear life Then they made there grand entrance 2Puffins coming out of there burrows
Then off to Valley to get brief glimpses of Cettis Warbler
A Grand Time was had by all

Late record:

Had a Red Kite circling low over a small patch of woodland next to the main road about 3 miles before you reach Bala on Monday 25th May

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Sunday 7th of June 2009 11:02:49 AM

Thanks very much both, I'll report back in a couple of weeks, Peter

Pete

Without a doubt the best place to view the Black Guillemots is from the Millenium footbridge - indeed up to a couple of years ago the AA used to have a sign pointing up Market St to the car park for the "Black Guillemots". There are two ways to access the bridge either drive up Market St (first on left past the war memorial) and park there free for an hour or park on Victoria Street itself if you are early and walk to the bridge where you will see some steps going up to the walkway. Once you are on the bridge you have excellent views on both sides of the water in the harbour. You somestimes have to be patient as there are lots of nooks and cranies but you won't fail to see the birds. At the end of the A55 get in the left hand lane for the town centre - right hand lane takes you to the ferry terminal. Good luck.

Pete, I parked in a little carpark at the end of Victoria Road and looked back into the harbour through the fence, towards Turkey Shore Road. I had two in the Harbour mouth there. I got speaking to one of the locals and she said that sometimes they can be viewed from a footbridge over the harbour near/next to a co-op.

Cheers Phil

Sid and Phil, is the best spot for the guillemots at the end of Turkey Shore Road to the east of the main harbour? I'll be there in just over a weeks time and am planning just about the same spots plus maybe the Inland Sea from 4 mile bridge - last time I was there there were interesting looking water birds out of visual range [no bins] and a sprawk that did a high speed flypast about twenty feet from me. Cheers, Peter

Did Phil's trip of yesterday in a slighty different order starting at Gronant at 0700 for the Little Terns, 300 birds reported there now - as well as a big flock of Dunlin on the beach lots of Skylarks in the dunes as well as House Martin, Swifts, Swallows, Sedge Warbler.

Holyhead harbour produced two Black Guillemots.

Then on to South stack where we found Chough, Guillemots, Razerbill, Kittiwakes, Fulmar, Raven, Stonechat, Mipits and a good number of Puffins on the grassy bits of the cliff viewable as usual from the steps leading down to the lighthouse.

Also found the rare plant Spatulate Fleawort and painted Lady butterfly - see we are not just birders

We decided to have our lunch down on the Range but all we saw there was a "flock" of helicopters so decided to move on to Cemlyn where we had Arctic, Common and Sandwich Tern, a pair of Merganser and a pair of Shelduck with an amazing 11 young in tow - and finally a spot of sea watching from the bench near the lifeboat memorial found several Gannets offshore and a steady prcession for at least the half hour we sat there of Manx Shearwater an amazing sight.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 5th of June 2009 10:38:46 PM

Early start this a.m. saw me arrive at Holyhead Harbour at 7.30ish - looked but couldn't find the Black Guillemots so moved onto South Stack.

The Stack was great, 4 Chough before I'd left the carpark, masses of M'pipits, Linnets and Stonechats, a Wheatear aswell along the cliff top path.

At Ellin's Tower good views of the usual stuff Guillemots, Razerbill, Kittiwakes and so on. Only the odd puffin though. The weather was calm and still, the sun shinning so sat down for a good long watch. Noted there was several Gannets, on the sea diving for fish, so got the scope on them. They put on a good show, but then the star birds for me turned up upto 35 Manx Shearwater joined in - some of the best views I've ever had, sitting on the sea, diving down and flying best all just beyond the light house. A brilliant start all before 9.00am.

Next back to Holyhead Harbour to try again for Black Guillemot, within minutes of parking the car same place as before two Black Guillemot were on the water.

Moved onto Cemlyn Bay next for Sandwich, Common, Arctic Terns, in amongst them was a Brent Goose! Good show by the terns feeding. Also on the bay was another single Balck Guillemot.

Then the bad news the wife phoned daughter poorly, home I was bound, not before a peak at Parkgate on the Dee, to pick up two Spoonbill and the usual Little Egrets - in the distant heat haze.

Home for 2.45 ready for the Doctors, she's fine, 'Slap Faced' virus would you believe. Great morning and relief the kids okay.

Anual Snowdon climb up the llanberis path in sweltering heat .Birds seen included
2 cuckoo
8 wheatear
20 meadowpipits
8 skylark
4 buzzard
2 raven
16 hering gull at the top
8 willow warbler
surprisingly only 2 stonechat although they do tend to like the heather areas lower in the valley.

Another quick run through World end valley/moors - stunning Whinchats - first of the year for me plus lesser white throat, mippits - too windy for much else though!

Had a drive through to Worlds End today - had kids with me so no serious birding - but what a beautiful part of Wales! Saw three grouse too far off for an ID without the scope but all either Red or greyhens, plus a bank of scopes and three blokes set up for possible lek site but they didn't look they'd seen anything.

Also:

loads of pipits - just need to work out if they were all Meadow now...
Wheatear
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Raven
Dipper - just east of LLangollen on the way home [from the bridge below the Aquaduct]

I'll be going back for a proper mooch around sometime soon!

Trip to Worlds End With Wigan RSPB Group
No sign of Black Grouse heard 1 calling distantly
Cracking views of a Male Hen Harrier also brief views of female in the distant
Red Kite passed through
also 2 Peregrines
4-6 Ravens
6+Buzzards
2 pr Stonechats with 1 Male singing which for me is a first
4 Kestrels


Cheers Jimmy:

Nice to meet you too Sid. Hope you get the car battery sorted.

After I left you, I got the 2 Snow Buntings at Penrhyn but other than 1 bacon butty (only seen briefly) not much else!

Cheers

David

Just got back from Worlds End or should that be the "end of the world" it was freezing for the first day of spring - arrived there at 06.45 and had to wait until 10.00 to see three Black Grouse heads and one full bird

Then over to Clocaenog forest - had to climb a whopping big hill to get to the Great Grey Shrike spot at Craig Bron Bonag - found that ok but alas no Goshawks. Three Ravens down the valley later. Nice to meet Mr Spencer and thanks for the push David.

Followed the same route on Wednesday, several Black Grouse but all feeding, no sign of any displaying, although the odd "bubble" heard.

GG Shrike performed well, if distantly, as did 4 Goshawk, at one stage 1 f, 3 m and a Buzzard sharing a thermal.

No Crossbills either, but the Sow Buntings showed their socks off providing the first photo op of the day.

Intended to get up really early today and look for Black Grouse near Worlds End as Warfy, Woosey and Melanie did but the bottle of wine to dull the shellshock from Old Trafford put paid to that.
I thought I would go anyway and was surprised to find 4 males still displaying at 9.00 o'clock. They soon flew and another 4 joined them.
Moved on to try for the Great Grey Shrike and got the usual "It's been out all morning until 10 minutes ago"! It finally showed up after an hour for which I was immensley grateful having been up there about 6 times before with no success. Only 1 distant Goshawk for me but I was told there had been others. I spent some time looking for crossbill but couldn't even find a siskin!
Finally called at Penrhyn Bay and found the 2 gorgeous Snow Buntings and a couple of Rock Pipits joined in.
The photos did improved through the day as the birds got closer or more likely as the wine wore off! Really enjoyed it today.
Steve

Spent the weekend on Anglesey and despite family pressure not to go looking for birds I saw:

Flock of 20 or so dark Brent Geese in flight at high tide at Beaumaris [30 seconds after packing my camera away!]

Chough [pair: one color ringed] feeding beside a road near South Stack - beautiful to see up close!

Buzzards and Ravens putting the gulls at South Stack on edge

Sparrowhawk putting Redshank to flight at Four Mile Bridge

Red Kite just outside Bala on the way back

And being flown at Rabbits by a local falconer - a Gyr

Plus loads of normal stuff - just need a day of dedicated birding in North Wales now!

Simon Warford wrote:

---

Couldnt resist another visit to Denbighshire today in the company of Mr Woosey and Melanie. A very early start was rewarded with 8 male Black Grouse "lekking" good style at Worlds End, there bubbling calls heard from the comfort of the car. 2 Peregrines also here. Nearby the wintering Great Grey Shrike performed nicely but even better and highlight of the year so far was not one but at least 5 Goshawks, the first one being a stunning female which flew right over our heads, followed by several males then another female displaying.

---

Great day!
That was my plan for the day but trying tomorrow as went to Old Trafford today!!!
Enough said! Hope I get half of what you had to make up for it!
Cheers
Steve

Simon Warford wrote:

---

Couldnt resist another visit to Denbighshire today in the company of Mr Woosey and Melanie. A very early start was rewarded with 8 male Black Grouse "lekking" good style at Worlds End, there bubbling calls heard from the comfort of the car. 2 Peregrines also here. Nearby the wintering Great Grey Shrike performed nicely but even better and highlight of the year so far was not one but at least 5 Goshawks, the first one being a stunning female which flew right over our heads, followed by several males then another female displaying.

---

pah! you 3 idiots missed a sand martin at leighton moss!

Couldnt resist another visit to Denbighshire today in the company of Mr Woosey and Melanie. A very early start was rewarded with 8 male Black Grouse "lekking" good style at Worlds End, there bubbling calls heard from the comfort of the car. 2 Peregrines also here. Nearby the wintering Great Grey Shrike performed nicely but even better and highlight of the year so far was not one but at least 5 Goshawks, the first one being a stunning female which flew right over our heads, followed by several males then another female displaying.

Well at least you didn't mention "the joy of SIX"

Mike Chorley wrote:

---

A soggy, soporific start for Messers Rigby, Rayner & self, but we thought 'what the lek', headed for the End of the World, and were rewarded with 8 blackcock in total.

Joined up with the rest of the group at Llanbedr-y-cennin (Red Kite en route) for good views of 2 pairs of Hawfinch. On to Holyhead Harbour, where we had 2 Shags,-quiet at the back there- 6 Red-breasted Mergansers and 6 Black Guillemots. No Hooded Crows around South Stack but at least SIX Chough and several Ravens ( inc. a party of SIX - anyone seeing a pattern here?)

Missed out on the Scaup at the Inland Sea but SIX parties of 7 Pale-belied Brent Geese (plus a spare)

Llanfairfechan was relatively quiet, apart from 2 Razorbills, a single, distant Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Divers .....and at least SIX Slavonian Grebes.

Matt & Charley (and their excellent Caramel Slices) had to set off back to Aberystwyth, leaving SIX of us to enjoy great views of the Short-eared Owls at Kinmel Bay -- 77 species seen & heard (without the pigeon)

---

sounds like a really 'SIX-sessful' day........sorry l couldn't resist
YOU've done the same Mike

A soggy, soporific start for Messers Rigby, Rayner & self, but we thought 'what the lek', headed for the End of the World, and were rewarded with 8 blackcock in total.

Joined up with the rest of the group at Llanbedr-y-cennin (Red Kite en route) for good views of 2 pairs of Hawfinch. On to Holyhead Harbour, where we had 2 Shags,-quiet at the back there- 6 Red-breasted Mergansers and 6 Black Guillemots. No Hooded Crows around South Stack but at least SIX Chough and several Ravens ( inc. a party of SIX - anyone seeing a pattern here?)

Missed out on the Scaup at the Inland Sea but SIX parties of 7 Pale-belied Brent Geese (plus a spare)

Llanfairfechan was relatively quiet, apart from 2 Razorbills, a single, distant Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Divers .....and at least SIX Slavonian Grebes.

Matt & Charley (and their excellent Caramel Slices) had to set off back to Aberystwyth, leaving SIX of us to enjoy great views of the Short-eared Owls at Kinmel Bay -- 77 species seen & heard (without the pigeon)

Trip out today with Local RSPB Group Highlights Include
Llandullas
Fulmars on the rock face
!00+ Common Scoters off shore but to misty to see if any Velvets among them
3 Turnstone on the shingle beach
4 R B Mergansers off shore
Llanferfechan
6 Slavonian Grebe
1 G N Diver
10 +R T Divers
50 + G C Grebe
20 +Common Scoters
1 Razorbill
1 Shag
R B Megansers
Wigeon
At Kinmel Enterprise Park
2 Short Eared Owls hunting

Cheers Jimmy