What species of worm was the man digging up?

The stunning contrast of a bright orange sun rising behind the purple profiles of Snowdonia, with the azure sea in the foreground, promised a day of better weather at Silver Bay. The wind had dropped too, so I abandoned my normal circuit and walked across the headland to Borthwen. The improvement did not bring out many new birds: thrush species were the highlight, led by a flock of about 30 Redwing; I also counted 23 Blackbirds on the site and four Song Thrush.

I headed out on a cycle circuit mid-morning. There were plenty of the commoner waders around Four Mile Bridge, but they had all been dispersed from Valley Doors, as per yesterday, by a man digging up worms. Teal, Little Egret and Little Grebe remained, along with a few Redshank estuary-side. As usual, small parties of Gadwall were in the roadside pools.

Llyn Penrhyn was surprisingly short of birds: a few Tufted Duck, a drake Shoveler, a Great Crested Grebe. However, the well-marked adult Long-tailed Duck, which has been around for about three weeks, was still showing about 50 yards from the road, near the bus stop. It should stick around now to provide a good 2015 tick, as one of his family has for the past couple of years.

I spent some time in woodland near the Anglesey Shooting School, amusingly situated close by its own burial chamber, and could hear a Nuthatch (a good bird in these parts), but didn't see it. Nearby Llyn Llywenan was disappointingly quiet, apart from a small distant group of Greylags on the far bank - viewing is always a challenge here.

The tide was good at the mouth of the Alaw, and I could see good numbers of Grey Plover and a few Bar-tailed Godwit while I lamented that carrying a scope is not practical for cyclists.

Norman reported a Great Northern Diver from the Inland Sea, plus three Slav Grebes in Beddmanach Bay. Monty and I took a walk from Four Mile Bridge around 'the island' and managed distant views of the GND (I had my scope with me this time). There was plenty of variety around the muddy edges and on the water, and many Lapwing on the small islands, but nothing that you wouldn't expect at this time of year. As usual, there were large numbers of wader roosting at the Holy Island end of the cob, too distant to identify even with a scope. I need to find a route to get closer to this tantalising group.

I brightened up a trip to Lidl with a quick stop at the old fish quay, but there was no sign of Black Guillemot, which is used to be as reliable here as the bratwurst at Lidl.

The weather has been hard in Anglesey during the week, with high winds and much rain. It had improved today, but the stiff wind meant that it felt much colder than the 6C that it showed on the thermometer as I headed down to the beach at Silver Bay with Monty at 08:10.

The tide was low and remnants of the Cymyran Wigeon flock were out in the bay. It was a small flock, but when I scrutinised it more carefully, I found a Razorbill alongside the 22 Wigeon, and also a fine male Goldeneye - a patch first, bringing the total to 118 for the three years that I have been coming here.

The rest of the morning walk was much as expected. Two Redshank, two Turnstones and four Oystercatchers were around the rocks at the eastern end of the beach; a Meadow Pipit and two Stonechats fed on the high tide line. Out at sea, a Common Gull and two Kittiwakes were noteworthy. Goldcrests and a Sparrowhawk were in the plantation, a Little Egret over the mouth of the estuary, and we flushed five Snipe from the headland.

It is quiet around the local hotspots. There was little on the Inland Sea, other than the expected Great Crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers. There are a few Shoveler around, and the number of Gadwall seems to get forever higher.

Purple Sandpiper used to be a good challenge on a day trip to North Wales. There must be no easier spot than Trearddur Bay. With the right tide they can be picked up from the car from the layby by the RNLI station, on the rocky outcrop opposite the slipway. There were just four this afternoon, along with two Ringed Plover, but I have seen nearly twenty here in the past.

The tide was unfavourable at Penrhos CP, where two Brent Geese were a tiny fraction of the 250+ that have settled for the winter.

Yet another lustrous weekend blessed by calm, mild and dry weather.

The tide was low for my first weekend walk over the beach at Silver Bay. Small numbers of wader, most of them Oystercatchers, feed on the rocks at the eastern end on this tide. Saturday mornings count of five Redshanks and twelve Turnstones (I flushed the same flock from the tide line on Sunday afternoon) was a record high here for each species. Four Oystercatchers and a Curlew made up the numbers, and a Shag fed on the water nearby. Once again, a Stonechat patrolled the top of the beach I found three others on my circuit the next day.

Shooting started at Bodior at 09:15, and troubled birds of various species headed towards the sanctuary of Silver Bay: two Buzzards and three Fieldfares the most notable.
After a coffee, I cycled out to the Inland Sea. At least ten Red-breasted Mergansers were in the eastern corner, with several Great Crested Grebes and a few Goldeneye. I found my friend Norman at Penrhos CP, and he graciously unpacked his scope (scopelessness is the main handicap of cyclo-birding) and put me onto two Slavonian Grebes far out in the bay my first of this winter. He also picked out a drake Pintail with four ducks in tow out near the mouth of the Alaw. This is an unusual sighting in the bay, and we suspected that shooting had moved them off the estuary.

We headed back to the Inland Sea, where Norman managed to pick out a very distant Long-tailed Duck.

The afternoon was given to a walk, with Monty and Mrs T, around the western edge of Llyn Penrhyn, Valley Wetlands. The usual wildfowl were present, though in relatively small numbers: Little Grebe, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Shoveler (there will be 200+ by end of January). We also got much closer views of an obliging male Long-tailed Duck (best viewed from the bus stop near the officers quarters).

Sunday morning at Silver Bay was much as Saturday, though new garden ticks included a noisy Goldcrest in a gorse bush and a passing Snipe as I enjoyed my morning coffee.

I set off on my bike at 09:30 on a circuit that included Cemlyn Bay: I had counted 47 species by the time that I arrived there. Most productive spot was Valley floods gates, which produced Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Little Egret, 80+ Wigeon on the Cymyran (these flew onto the sea on the afternoon high tide), and half a dozen Teal. Eight Gadwall and a Tufted Duck were on an adjoining pool, and a Bullfinch flew across the road near Lon Ty Main. A small mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare was a good find near Llanddeusant.

On arrival at Cemlyn, my physical output was promptly rewarded when, at the third attempt, I located the small flock of Twite that has been feeding on the shingle ridge, right by the edge of the lagoon, near the western car park. I watched a flock of nine birds feeding, with a Linnet, from close quarters. They are an uncommon winter visitor on Anglesey, though this flock has been around for at least four weeks now. Following last weekends Purple Heron and Whooper Swans, this gave me a total of three Anglesey lifers in eight days.

I stopped at Llanfachraeth on the way home to look over the Alaw. The path to the stone bridge has been heavily used by horses in the past few weeks, and was so slippery that I fell into a drainage ditch just short of the stone bridge. My reward for this indignity was two Redshanks.

There were two adult and a second winter Mediterranean Gull on the water as I crossed Four Mile Bridge.

Weekend total 66 species.

I met a couple of guys out & about yesterday Rob, who said when they were there a couple of photographers had strayed across the field to get closer to the bird. As Mike says there's no need the birds shows very well from all public rights of way. In fact the day I was there and the previous day (1st day it was reported) everyone viewed from the road so no disturbance would cause the bird to flush & stop others enjoying it. I have heard since that the footpaths off road are being used without disturbance. As the pagers say - 'View only from Public Rights of Way', then no-one can have any gripes about 'chasing' the bird.

A further comment regarding the bad limp that the bird has. I have heard more folk report this since the day I saw it and there is even a photo that seems to show a malformed leg. One leg appears to be much spindlier than the other, some type of genetic defect possibly? Explains the limp!

Obviously I wasn't there Mike, it was purely what others have observed and tweeted. I must say judging by some of the photos, the bird doesn't seem bothered by human presence.

Unless something unacceptable happened on Sunday afternoon there was no need for anyone to chase the bird, Rob. It was standing in the ditch it frequents while we were there, which is where it was while the lady landowner and her 4 dogs walked past it. According to her it doesn't seem bothered by them. It was accidentally flushed from the river bank earlier in the morning by someone walking back from a different viewpoint, but that was quite a bit earlier than when we were invited into the field. It certainly wasn't getting the hassle I've seen elsewhere with birds being continually flushed.

Seems the Purple Heron is still present in Anglesey and might try for this at weekend should it remain a bit longer, but it was reported on Twitter yesterday (how true I don't know and hopefully doesn't imply M/C Birders) that some photographers were chasing the Heron through the field again and apparently the AGAIN comment referred to them doing it over the weekend too.
I suppose if that carries on, the bird will be frightened off before the weekend!

Llandulas 9.30 - 11.45am over high tide,

Better conditions than Friday's visit to Pensarn bright and sunny.

Several thousand Common Scoter
Red Throated Diver 8, easily picked out in the sunshine
Red Breasted Merganser 7
Great Creasted Grebe 6

No sign of any Surf or Velvet Scoters

A Tawny Owl was calling 100 yards from the door as I took Monty down to the beach for his last walk of the day at 22:00 on Saturday. It was a Siler Bay patch first, and seemed a good omen.

Sunday morning was clear and bright. I spent longer on the Silver Bay circuit than the previous day, and built a larger species count as a result: 34. Ten Lapwing and twelve Curlew passed over as I drank a coffee. A Sparrowhawk shifted the finches and tits from the feeders. Down on the beach, Oystercatcher and Redshank were on the rocks, a Shag was fishing close offshore, two Stonechat were feeding on the high tide line, two Ravens passed through, and Monty flushed three Chough from behind the sand dunes. Unknown numbers of Goldcrest fed in the conifers, I saw three.

When I returned to do battle with the Purple Heron around 10:30, I found a group of around twenty assembled, which included Manchester birding dignitaries John Raynor, Mark Rigby and Karen Foulkes. The target had been recently seen, and when the lady landowner appeared with dogs in train we all expected it to be flushed from its last known position. There was no sign. As she passed, we expressed our surprise that the bird had not appeared, on which we were kindly invited to enter the marshy area and look for ourselves. The group courteously accepted.

Five minutes later, there it was: sitting tight in a drainage ditch. It remained absolutely stationary for the next 20+ minutes, neck slightly elevated, almost bittern-like, as birders and photographers closed to 20 yards. At first, the hushed silence was reverential, but eventually it began to feel like staring at an elderly statesman caught with no trousers on. We dutifully dispersed. There will be some amazing photos on the web sites. I dont know Purple Heron behaviour, but I wonder whether this bird is well.

One hour later, I was on another Anglesey lifer. Whooper Swans are annual, but their small number means that finding them is either down to good fortune or local knowledge. I had a bit of help from my friend Norman Rowbotham, once a Manchester birder, and picked them out: a small herd of 13, from the B5111 between Llangefni and Llanerchymedd in a field of root veg (SH429802).

Light and tide were perfect back at Silver Bay. I watched a flock of about 40 Wigeon as I ate lunch. When I went down to the plantation for the last walk of the weekend I picked out four Ringed Plover, a Dunlin, two Curlew and a Greenshank at the mouth of the Cymyran.

9-10.30am at pensarn at high tide.

just like mark hundreds/thousands of common scoter but no signs of any surf or velvet scoter, conditions were great & plenty of scoters close in as were red throated divers (at least 16). 30+ red breasted merganser, 8 great crested grebe, 2 auk sp.
2 harbour porpoise.
1 grey seal.

-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 23rd of November 2014 12:30:20 AM

Birding has long since taught me that to travel with keen anticipation is a recipe for disappointment. I am not a twitcher, and I would have been travelling there anyway, but a Purple Heron less than a five mile flight from my door dominated plans. It was not the only attraction: Snow Buntings and Twite were photographed at Cemlyn during the week, Spotted Redshank has been reported from Malltraeth, and Whooper Swans are at Tre Ysgaden during the day and on the Cefni marshes to roost. On top of that little bundle, a Black Redstart was found in Amlwch during the day.

Needless to say, my total harvest of the above riches was zero, but no day birding on Anglesey is a poor day.

Silver Bay is quiet. My circuit was a little early, and shorter than usual, but the sum total of notable birds around the beach on a high tide was a Rock Pipit, a Stonechat, a Great Black-backed Gull and a Curlew. The Cymyran was too high for waders, but a Great Crested Grebe was an oddity here.

Though I have not covered the area before, the Purple Heron site was easy to find. Another birder was already present when I arrived at 09:00, and by the time I left at 10:30 there were eight cars there biggest Anglesey twitch that Ive seen. There was no sign of the bird while I was there, and not too much else to entertain the crowd: a dozen Fieldfare, distant Greylags, a Grey Heron, Meadow Pipits, Stonechats, a Reed Bunting etc.

Cemlyn was no more successful. The lagoon was inundated by a high tide, so a snoozing Greenshank was the only notable wader. Out on the trwyn, four Grey Plover and two Dunlin took refuge, alongside larger numbers of Turnstone and Oystercatcher. The weedy field above Tyn Llan, which produced a Short-toed Lark a few weeks back and has been laden with Linnets, was devoid of all life, other than Starlings. The sea was busy with Black-headed and Herring Gulls, and there was a Great Northern Diver feeding in the bay.

By the time that I got home, Birdguides had finally announced the discovery of the Purple Heron: four and a half hours after the first birder arrived. Glad that I hadnt camped there for the day, and tired of driving, I set off by bike, expecting to find a host of birders who would point me instantly to its hiding place. Ominously, there was nobody there when I arrived. I can now assume that this is because the assembled crowd dispersed when it was seen to fly off. I hung around for an hour, and had a short period of false fulfilment when what turned out to be an immature Grey Heron emerged from Afon Crigyll, but the day turned out to be a double dip.

So, its back tomorrow.

Pensarn 8.15 - 10.00am over high tide, Highlights.

Common Scoter 2000+, No sign of any Surf Scoters which have been seen regularly at this location recently, although light conditions weren't favourable today.
Red Breasted Merganser 2
Great Creasted Grebe 12
Large flock of Linnet c40 feeding on the high tide line weed seeds


-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Friday 21st of November 2014 09:12:36 PM

A day off yesterday and a good weather forecast so I decided to get out & make the most of a day in the penultimate month of the year. Since I hadn't gone over to Anglesey all year and have mates on there I hadn't seen AND a Purple Heron had been found too, I decided that would be my destination

Nothing appeared on the pagers but I knew a mate was going before work to check it out so a quick call to him confirmed its prescence, although he had seen it flushed by 9 dogs

I headed over and thanks to his directions got straight to the area where the bird was SW of Bryngwran. Three birders already present said that the bird had been missing for over 3 hours - since the dogs flushed it. The dogs belonged to the landowner who used the area daily to exercise them so no complaints really, just a shame it had gone to cover. Within 2 minutes of me arriving the immature Purple Heron suddenly popped its head up out of a ditch and there it was!!! This caught me on the hop as I hadn't picked up my camera, so back to the car and a few record digiscoped shots were fired off. The bird then showed on & off for the next hour or so in and out of ditches but always in quite deep, dense cover and we were always looking into the sun. Not the best conditions for pictures but great scope views. We did notice however that the bird had a very bad limp and struggled to walk around much, something not seen the day before. Later the bird flew closer to the road from which we were viewing from and into the open. Still into the sun I got my best pictures of the day, but that limp was very pronounced as the bird took a few steps around the field in which it had settled. It stayed in the open only a short time before flying back inti light cover and then as a final birder arrived Sods Law kicked in and before she had seen it, it flew distant & into the densest cover on the whole site

Most of us then left the site but on checking my RBA Pager there was a scrambled message about a whale on Anglesey. A quick call to Chris Batty confirmed that a probable Pygmy Sperm Whale had beached itself at Newborough and was being refloated. This was a mega, so a quick call to a mate on the island had us meeting and heading out to the beach at the end of Newborough point. The bad news was that the whale was not still on view, but the good news, on chatting to the Marine Conservation crew there, was that it had recovered and swum strongly out to sea about 2.5 hours before we arrived. I would have loved to see this very rare cetacean but was glad that the rescue had been a success

A long day, meeting up with pals, seeing and photographing the Purple Heron and almost seeing a very area whale, an interesting enjoyable day out, Anglesey really is a Magic Isle

Great Orme: At least one calling Lapland Bunting flew east over me from the car park above the cafe. It turned and flew back west without me actually spotting it, I wandered around for 20mins in case it had landed but failed to find anything. Half an hour later five Snow Buntings flew south with a large wave of finches as I walked past the cultivated field. Brambling, Siskin and Redpoll over, along with many Chaffinches. Several Stonechats around, a Peregrine, and two obliging Choughs in the churchyard which gave incredible views.

Black redstart 100yds east of golf club house at Rhos-on-Sea, flitting between sea wall and houses; and five drake Surf scoters (2 and 3) from the very (eastern) end of the promenade (Cliff Gardens?), half a mile west of Rainbow Bridge.

Hi Scott, whereabouts in the Gwydyr were the Willow Tits? I'll have a look next time i'm passing.

TIA, Mike.

Scott robinson wrote:

---

Was working in blaenau Ffestiniog yesterday so decided to have a very quick walk around gwydr forest park on my dinner break

2 pied flycatchers
1 spotted flycatcher
3 willow tit

Plus all usual woodland birds, was hoping for wood warbler but didnt see or hear any.

Also had a red kite yesterday while driving down the A470 towards Ffestiniog.

---

After a run of sparkling weekends through late August and September, I cannot complain that the last two visits have seen weather closer to the typical for late autumn on Anglesey. The winds have been strong and blustery, and there is greater evidence of rain, though much of this has fallen midweek, or overnight, so birding has not been curtailed. Unfortunately, there has not been much of a westerly influence in the wind direction, and seabird passage, apart from the day that Gonzalo passed through, has been weak.

The seasons have moved slowly on. Wigeon were back on the Alaw by 28 August and Brent Geese on the Inland Sea by 28 September; numbers of each are now much higher. Lapwings were back at the mouth of the Cymyran Strait this morning, alongside c110 Curlews a flock of around 30. Little Egrets were in double figures around the Inland Sea closer to home, one was feeding in the drainage ditches at Bodior.

I saw no late summer stragglers today. My last Swallow was at Cemlyn on 11 October, while twitching a Short-toed Lark; my last Chiffchaff was on the same day. Two late Wheatears were on The Range the following Saturday.

Winter visitors was the theme of the morning round. A Woodcock was flushed from the headland, and I was to see three more of these before the day was out obviously recent arrivals. A Snipe was nearby, and I later found two more along the edge of Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea, along with a Jack Snipe.

Winter thushes made passes through the plantation at the back of Silver Bay beach the largest flock comprised c25 Redwing and half a dozen Fieldfare. Surprisingly, I had not seen either species on the patch in the early portion of the year, and this double success bought my patch year count to 100. Ring Ouzels are still passing through one was at South Stack during the week, and I managed to catch up with a first winter bird at Breakwater CP two weeks ago, but I have yet to find one at Silver Bay. Unknown numbers of Goldcrest can be heard in the plantation, only a small subset seen.

Pipits and larks had been numerous during the clearer weekend days, but two Meadow Pipits and a Rock Pipit were all I saw around the beach this morning. Choughs continue to be easy to find on the headland or the cattle fields adjoining the Cymyran Strait.

Whooper Swans were seen at Valley gates yesterday, but they had left overnight. Water levels were too high for waders and the Kingfisher that I have seen on most recent visits did not show.

Nearby, the wader numbers around the Inland Sea have increased: 30+ Curlew, 50+ Redshank, 100+ Dunlin. There were also single figures of Turnstone and a single Ringed Plover. Med Gulls are generally easy to find at this time of year, and four were visible from Four Mile Bridge as I cycled over, so too were double figures of Red-breasted Merganser, a few Great Crested Grebes and growing numbers of Shelduck and Wigeon. Teal, Gadwall, Little Grebe and Tufted Duck were on the freshwater pool. Gadwall, always in pairs, turn up in many of the roadside pools and ditches.

The forecast for the remainder of the weekend is for unsettled and windy weather: chances of the classic autumn passerine migrants are receding.

Spent from 08.15 to 14.00 yesterday at Cemlyn Bay in very windy conditions looking for the Short-toed Lark that had been present for a few days. This was the first real chance I had of getting over there but it turned out to be a journey in vain. The bird had been moving about with a Linnet flock which I found ok but alas no Short-toed Lark. Also present was a flock of Skylarks occasionally joining in with foraging alongside the Linnets - needless to say these birds were given a good dose of looking at.

Other species present included Golden Plover, Stonechat (pair), a single Wren, Ravens, Reed Bunting, Curlew, Lapwing, Redshank and a couple of Chough . As always I enjoyed Cemlyn, pity about the target bird though.

Highlights of a few visits to Great Orme in the last two days:
Pair of Chough
Razorbill
Many Kittiwake
6 Fulmar
40 Common Scoter
2+Raven
5 distant Gannet
Kestrel
6 Goldcrest
2 Stonechat
2 Wheatear
Great Spotted Woodpecker
7 Oystercatcher
Terns distant, species unsure

Fox
Mountain Goats

A week on the north coast near Porthwen Bay last week. Glorious sunshine every day. Some highlights below:

Around Porthwen/Bull Bay -

Swallows, loads of them, everywhere
Many Stonechat, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Rock Pipit along the coastal walk
Peregrine, Buzzard and Kestrel representing the raptors
A pair of Raven along the coast
A pair of Chough giving terrific views
On the coast - Cormorant, Shag, Dunlin, Turnstone, a single Whimbrel, loads of Oystercatcher and the usual Gull suspects.

Cemlyn Bay - what a superb place this is -

Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern and Common Tern in great numbers. Fantastic, close range views.
A juvenile Peregrine swooped in and took a juvenile Sandwich Tern in the air. Despite being mobbed as a result, it escaped to the rock face with its bounty
Waders - Ringed Plover, Black Tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Common Sandpiper
A family brood of Red Breasted Merganser
Common Scoter out at sea

Red Wharf Bay -

3 Little Egret
Loads of Oystercatcher and House Martin in the mud

RSPB South Stack -

Loads of Guillemot and Razorbill - they are apparently 'a month late'
20-30 Puffin
Many Kittiwake
Shag
Chough always around and about
Peregrine x 2 (adult female and juvenile)
Many Rock Pipit and Linnet

On the way home, stops at RSPB Conwy (Large Curlew flock, a single Ruff, a single Green Sandpiper, many Little Egret and 2 Snipe the highlights) and Gronant, where there were loads of Ringed Plover and still 5-10 Little Tern.

Highlights of a long weekend on Anglesey.

Red Wharf Bay 25th July

Little Egret x 2
Oystercatcher x many
Curlew x many
Whimbrel
Fulmar
Red Breasted Merganser

Penmon Point 26th July

Sandwich Tern
Little Tern
Shag
Great Black backed Gull

Puffin Island (RSPB boat trip) 27th July

Eider duck x6
Kittiwake c80
Fulmar x3
Black Guillemot x5
Guillemot just a few remaining
Razorbills as above
Puffin x10
Shag c50
Huge numbers of Cormorant c150
Many Herring, Great and Lesser Black backed Gulls

An hour around Aber falls and surrounds this morning,

9 mistle thrush, surprising how many thrushes were up there today
3 peregrine falcons, 1 juvenile
3 wheatear
4 stonechat
2 raven
Lots of meadow pipit and lots of young birds also
2 bullfinch (pair)
1 kestrel

Very busy with people today but understandable with the stunning weather.

15.07.2014
Cemlyn
Still 1000+ sandwich terns with young
Little Egret -2 in the pool by the car park
plus the usual's
:)


Penmon Point
Black Guillemot -2
Shag-plenty
Sandwich tern -30+

:)

Llandudno East Shore

1Gannet out to see this afternoon.

Also, a seal catching fish in full view of the pier.

Was working in blaenau Ffestiniog yesterday so decided to have a very quick walk around gwydr forest park on my dinner break

2 pied flycatchers
1 spotted flycatcher
3 willow tit

Plus all usual woodland birds, was hoping for wood warbler but didnt see or hear any.

Also had a red kite yesterday while driving down the A470 towards Ffestiniog.

Had a walk up and down the river wnion in dolgellau yesterday why i had a bit of spare time from work,

3 spotted flycatchers
4 grey wagtails
2 pied wagtails
1 dipper
Numerous house martin and swalllow
Mallard with ducklings

Still working in anglesey and another life tick yesterday,

2 manx shearwater circled over bull bay, Lifer

Couple of birds to add to Wednesdays sighting's and 1 lifer

1 Fulmar, a lifer for me
2 rock pipit

Been working in Anglesey this week in amlwch, so had quick mooch around coast and around bull bay yesterday,

30+ sandwich terns, diving and feeding
2 Little tern
10+ oystercatcher
4 redshank
1 whimbrel flew over
3 curlew
10+ stonechat, never seen so many stonechats, quite a few youngster's present
3 common whitethroat
Quite a few meadow pipits also

There was 2 smallish birds flirting about on the rocks which i could not id, they were about the size of a robin and they were very dark colour almost black and had a slightly lighter breast, very mobile so i couldn't really get a good look at them, every time i got close they flew away and into cover.


Possibly black redstart?



-- Edited by Scott robinson on Wednesday 18th of June 2014 10:51:59 AM

South Stack RSPB

The resident Peregrines have reared 1 juvenile that looks likely to fledge any day soon,
Interestingly I watched the two adult birds which were perched at higher vantage points apart from each other on the cliff face some 25/30 metres away from the juvenile, The young bird started to call frantically the female bird immediately flew to another position on the cliff face then flew down to the young bird with a half eaten offering, Obviously cached in a crevice/ledge away from the nest. Not what I was expecting to see but interesting behaviour nevertheless. I'm assuming when the opportunity arises the adults birds take prey then cache it on the cliff face until it's needed.

Other birds of note.
Raven 2
Chough 2 adults 1 juvenile
Big numbers of Guillemot and Razorbills
Puffin 8
Fulmar

Holyhead Harbour
4 Black Guillemot loafing around the yacht pontoons
Arctic Tern




-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 15th of June 2014 10:11:40 PM

Originally posted today by Matt Keating:


Just had a very chilled 4 days in Conwy and following my new found love for twitching, I went prepared with bins and camera! Ticked off some firsts (I've put a 1 in a bracket for these) for me over the 4 days with an amazing display from a Red Kite on Saturday afternoon. I was watching a pair of Buzzards over the valley and then caught sight of what I thought was one being mobbed by a crow. Upon closer inspection through my bins I could quite clearly see it was a Red Kite!!! It then headed straight towards me and ended up only about 20 feet from my face! Amazing! Other sightings were:

Red Kite (1)
Treecreeper (1)
Jay (1)
Nuthatch (1)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Dunnock (1)
Jackdaw
Buzzard
Great Spotted Woodpecker (male and female) (1)
Robin
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff (heard only)
Owl (heard only)
Wood Pigeon
Collard Dove
Herring Gull
Magpie

Back in the office now with only Feral Pigeons on show!

Just back from a family holiday on Anglesey. The accommodation for the week was a cottage on a working farm near to Malltraeth. As we were only five minutes drive from the estuary there then Cob pools and the estuary became my patch for the week and I managed to get down there every day.

Easily the highlight of the week was the Osprey I found on the estuary on Tuesday morning. The bird circled around for a while before flying off northwards. After about 40 minutes though I sighted the bird again (possibly another bird as it did seem smaller) circling over the estuary again. I watched it for another 15 minutes when it hovered and dropped down and caught a Mullet. It then circled up high with its prize and drifted off westwards.

Another good sighting here was a summer plumage Knot in amongst some Dunlin one evening at high tide. This was the first time I'd seen a summer plumage bird and was amazed how stunning it looked in its rusty red colour. On Friday evening I was gobsmacked when I found a red squirrel in a gorse bush along the cob footpath. It was about a mile from the forest and was either lost or searching out new habitat.

Elsewhere on the island the Puffin island boat trip was well worth it with excellent up close views of Guillemots, Razorbills, Shag, Kittiwakes and several Puffins. I always seem to see more Puffins here than I do at South Stack. Also present here were several Grey Seals lounging about on the rocks plus several Black Guillemots that we passed on the way up and back on the Menai.

South Stack held the usual high numbers of birds on the cliffs and several juvenile Stonechats around Ellins Tower.

At Cemlyn the Tern colony didn't disappoint as they are apparently having a bumper year there. Sandwich, Arctic and Common Terns were present in good numbers plus I also managed to score a 2nd year Mediteranean Gull too.

Each time I go away I always try and do a holiday list just as a bit of fun and I ended the week on 90 birds which is not too bad at all.

Walk from Prestatyn- Rhyl harbour and Clwyd estuary Tue 10:00-14:00(tide falling from high):

60+ Sandwich Terns, some perched obligingly on groynes
7 Little Terns at sea
Peregrine Falcon
Turnstone
18 Ringed Plover, one nest distraction
15 Sanderling
30 Dunlin, some fantastic summer plumage
3 Curlew
Blackcap
10 Linnet
18 Shellduck, including young
Common Buzzard
3 Great Black Backed Gull
100's of Oystercatcher

Also up to 12 Grey Seals

Anglesey for the weekend with the family
Sunday - South Stack
Peregrine x 3 (m&f plus 1 chick), close to viewing platform
Puffin x 2
Guillemot
Razorbill
Chough
Rock Pipit
Linnet
Stonechat
Wheatear
Wren

Cemlyn
Whimbrel
Buzzard
Sandwich Tern
Stonechat

Monday - RSPB Valley and surrounds
Grey Heron
Buzzard
Sedge Warbler
Chiffchaff
Oystercatcher

Other warblers, not yet had chance to Id as only just streamed photos.

Regarding Mark's comment about Gronant and Little terns, I arrived on the beach on the 3rd May (See Gronant thread) at around 9am and only saw them when the tide was almost fully in between 1 and 2 pm. I read that they disperse to feed at low tide but come in on the high tide. The Sandwich Terns only came in to roost on the high tide too. Clearly they weren't nesting yet either, although they were associating as pairs and offering sand eels to each other etc I counted myself quite lucky to be having quite a 'pure' experience, as the fences and so on weren't in place

Just had to share a report off my RBA Pager this evening as I was totally blown away by it:

284 Spotted Flycatchers Bardsey Island today

Hopefully just a few of those will head our way, amazing report!!!

3 Stonechat, near the old copper mine at Amlwch, also 1 male Wheatear. Both species seen from my work van as i was driving through.

Trip over to North Wales today, Highlights,

Gronant

Skylark
Sedge Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Stonechat
Swallow
Wheatear
Ringed Plover
Dunlin in summer plumage
Common Scoter
Surprisingly no sign of any Little Terns?

Nant Y Coed, Stunning scenery

Pied Flycatcher 1m
Redstart 1m
Nuthatch

Lllanfairfechan prom

Red Breasted Merganser
Razorbill
Arctic Tern
Common Scoter

Great day yesterday on Anglesey and the North Wales coast starting off at Fish Quay for Black Guillemot. Then in to South Stack highlights;
3 Peregrines
Tumbling Raven and Chough in the strong wind
Puffin
Rock Pipit
Shag
Fulmar
Kittiwake
Auk colonies are awesome

On to Cemlyn where viewing the islands from the road revealed
122 Arctic Terns
300+ Sandwich Terns
6 Mediterranean Gulls
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
Red Breasted Merganser
And star of the show single Roseate Tern

On to the headland
Whimbrel
Manx Shearwaters and Gannets off shore
Ringed Plover and Dunlin on the rocks
Turnstone

Took the train to Llanfairfechan today and had a walk up through the Nant y Coed (south of the village) and up over the moors to Foel Lys and Tal y Fan. Nant y Coed is a small-but-beautiful steep sided mixed deciduous woodland with lots of oak growing on the side of the scree-laden Dinas. Towards the tree line of Dinas there were plenty of Redstart calling - quite elusive to see, but some quite good views. And then a lifer for me - a beautiful pair of Pied Flycatcher. A Dipper was racing up and down the stream.

Further up on the moor, Skylarks, plenty of Meadow Pipit, Ravens over and 3-4 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.

The other highlight of the day was two pairs of Ring Ouzel - while not a lifer for me, I haven't seen one for years in spite of being a keen hillwalker.

It's always interesting to visit the outlying hills and moors - I suppose being that little bit lower and less exposed, and not attracting so much hiking traffic, they are more rich in wildlife than the more well known honeypots around Ogwen and Snowdon.

Oh - forgot to mention a social group of Sandwich Tern at the water's edge at Llanfairfechan where I paid a quick visit after emerging from the station.

A cracking day - and with my new Senior Rail Card, great value at under £17 - beats driving that's for sure!



-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Monday 28th of April 2014 09:24:28 PM

-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Monday 28th of April 2014 10:21:51 PM

Really enjoyable walk today to the west of Dolgarrog up the Afon Porth Llwyd valley to Lyn Eigiau then down to Llyn Coedty and followed the roads back round. Many migrants present including Tree Pipit, Redstart, Willow Warbler plus singles of Cuckoo, Whinchat [the biggest surprise of the day] and Wood Warbler. Other species included Raven, Buzzard, Wheatear, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Redpoll, Grey Wagtail and Dipper. In the morning the woods were bursting with bird song [which is how I found the Wood Warbler] and whilst it was a lot quieter in the afternoon there were still plenty of birds - also saw Common Lizard, Rabbit and Hare and not a single other human until I got back to the car park. The road to the far car park is gated but the road up from Dolgarrog which splits off to Coedty has had lots of passing places added as there is some serious construction going on up there at the moment - makes it a much less dodgy drive!

-- Edited by Pete Welch on Sunday 27th of April 2014 04:44:07 PM

-- Edited by Pete Welch on Sunday 27th of April 2014 07:08:52 PM

Nice early start yesterday 0330hrs, got to Worlds end about 0530 was getting great views of at least 16 black cocks displaying. About 0630 bloke on motorcycle cruised down the hill to watch the lekking. Birds weren't bothered by this but he only stayed about 15mins , upon starting his bike up to leave the birds flew off over the hill leaving 3 which only remained for a further 5 mins. Not the best form of transport to watch shy birds, if you are reading this let me know when you intend to visit again and I will make sure I stay in bed that morning.
Some cracking views of male redstart on the road to Llangollen but no pics due to twigs etc in way.

Late post from yesterday when we covered Sychnant Pass, Aber Valley, Great Orme and Pensarn.

Beautiful day and some good birds in each place and stunning scenery. Highlights

Cuckoo at Sychnant
Pied Flycatcher, Redstart at Aber Valley
Manx Shearwater, Chough, Raven, Fulmar, Shag, Kittiwake, Gannet at Great Orme although watching the feeding frenzy as sand eels came close to the surface was amazing.
6 Summer plumage Red Throated Divers, Male Long Tailed Duck, still some scoter knocking about and some very distant Terns

Fantastic days birding

late post for yesterday 15th. on my way to Llandudno a quick stop at pensarn before my next train arrived...

1 great northern diver, summer plumage.
20+ red throated divers, several of them now in summer plumage.
3 red breasted mergansers
2 sandwich terns
12 turnstones
lots of scoters way out, but few did fly by a bit closer, they were common scoters.
1 swallow

Llandudno, great orme...

the cliffs on the great orme now full of razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes, shags, cormorants & herring gulls.
10 gannets out at sea
4 shelducks
1 red throated diver
turnstones & oystercatchers.
6 chough
4 ravens
1 buzzard
1 kestrel
4 rock pipits
3 blackcaps
2 chiffchaffs
1 goldcrest
1 ringed plover, over
several stonechats & wheatears on the top, plus lots of meadow pipits & linnets.
4 sandwich terns feeding/diving close in to the beach.

a great day out in lovely sunshine


-- Edited by steven burke on Wednesday 16th of April 2014 10:42:10 PM

A quick return and an early start to the World's End area today found four separate Black Grouse leks on the moors, one giving views to within 50m of the track. Down the valley checking for summer visitors, Blackcap and Wheatear were found but no sign of Ring Ouzel.

An ascent of Snowdon this morning (up via Miners, down via PYG) only produced 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Carrion Crow and 1 Herring Gull. Conditions were awful (all items of clothing with the word "waterproof" on them, weren't !!) and visibility very poor !!

Arrived for my annual visit to Ruabon Moor, above World's End at 06.30 this morning and immediately found a Black Grouse lek comprising 14 birds (12 male, 2 female). Further down the track and closer to World's End another lek of 8 males and only 1 grey hen as far as I could see. There were a number of Red Grouse and lots of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks in the area. Also found 2 Stonechat (1 male, 1 female) and on the stream through the plantation a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail. It was a rather dull morning weather-wise but very peaceful with only two other birders seen in the 4 hours that I was there.

Woke up at a ridiculous time to have a ridiculous (in a very good way!) day at World's end and Lake Vyrnwy RSPB, with Austin Morley.

Reached World's End at about 6am and immediately got 18+ male black grouse lekking. It was a great experience hearing the calls of the birds ('like aliens slashing tyres', according to Iolo Williams - what an accurate description!) and watching them jumping and fencing. One even came within 10-15m allowing for great photo opps - for Austin mainly, the light was too poor for my tiny camera.

Also present were many skylarks and meadow pipits, no sign of the shrike unfortunately but definitely worht the early start.

Thanks again for the lift Austin

Cheers Patrick. It was a bit of a surprise. the male was gleaming white so no doubt whatsoever I'm afraid. Should have mentioned it was a pair.

In that case, well done on seeing a great bird in an unusual location!