North Wales and Anglesey

Nigel Troup · Status: Offline

RE: North Wales and Anglesey

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

Worlds End - 10:30 - 13:00 - grey and blustery weather

Walked from the Road (parking area up near the top of the valley) to the pine forest;
- Red Grouse c.8
- Crossbill - stood on edge of the forest for about 10 minutes and had at least 5 sightings of pairs of crossbill - some coming down and displaying around the smaller replanted trees
- Raven
- Stonechat

Had my sarnies in a layby about 200 yards beyond the watershed;
- Black Grouse 13 males in a lek displaying on green patch on the other side of the valley at 12:30

Interestingly I didn't see one bird of prey

Chris

Dave Ousey · Status: Offline

Black Grouse & Anglesey 12/3/2017

A nice trip to the principality to see some birds that, sadly we dont get to see very often, which is a good enough excuse to visit Wales. We met in Norden at 6am with myself, Steve & Chris Brown with Chris driving. There was a feel of spring in the air as we gained height towards World`s End, we were hoping to get some pictures of the lekking Black Grouse. We first saw a distant couple of males but, as we reached a pull in around 14 male Black Grouse were all doing their posturing, displaying etc, only problem was a car was stopped right in the middle of the road! We headed along the single track road and watched from the car as another 20 male birds were displaying. Raven, Peregrine, Meadow Pipit & Stonechat also observed. As we headed back downhill around 6 more birds were seen and a few pictures taken. Great birds to watch and in a really good place.

The long drive to Anglesey was brightened up with lots of Daffodils in full bloom along the roads, very nice. We reached Holyhead Harbour and soon managed to watch a single Black Guillemot. The tide was very high and we remarked that we had never seen it that high before. We headed up to South Stack with its impressive seabird colony, Guillemot, Razorbill and Herring Gull. We were a bit early for Kittiwake and Puffin but a few Sand Martin heading north made up for that. The local Chough flock also put on a good display for us, Steve searched in vain for a Rock Pipit and we all missed a Hooded Crow that had been seen in the area.

We called in at Penrhos, but could not find a Slavonian Grebe that had been seen earlier in the day, next stop was the Spinnies or Aber Ogwen. We managed to see a Greenshank in the tidal pools along with Redshank, Teal, Shelduck and lots of Oystercatchers. Got home by 6pm after a good trip out.

Dave O.

Nigel Troup · Status: Offline

Early March is slack birding time on Anglesey: wintering wildfowl and wader numbers are in decline and it is too early for spring passage; the weather didn't help much either. Nonetheless, there are some good birds around.

The Black-necked Grebe that arrived in December was showing on the Inland Sea on Saturday afternoon, from the tip of Ynys Leurad. The Scaup flock has dwindled to four, but a Long-tailed Duck had joined them. Goldeneye numbers remain at around 20 and Red-breasted Merganser around a dozen. A Grey Plover and twelve Knot were with commoner waders.

I peered forlornly from the window late Sunday morning, hoping that the rain might stop; it didn't. Some compensation was available in two distant Red-throated Divers and thirty Wigeon in Cymyran Bay, a small passing flock of Linnets, and a Grey Wagtail that dropped in to feed on muddy ground beyond the hedge (quite scarce here). We went to the shops before lunch and I called in at Holyhead fish quay on the way, where I finally caught up with the Glaucous Gull, at the sixth attempt. This juvenile bird, ringed at Svalbard, was an Anglesey lifer for me, and for my patient wife, who couldn't care less about such things. I took an unsatisfactory photo on my mobile; it was close enough to read the letters on the ring.

A few hundred Guillemots were back on the ledges at South Stack, their backs turned to the constant driving rain. I couldn't see any Razorbills in the brief scan that I made, nor any Kittiwakes. It is still a little early for the first returning Puffin.

My Silver Bay patch was quiet. There were 20 Dunlin and half a dozen Ringed Plover on a sand bar in the mouth of the Cymyran near high tide, and five Turnstones on the beach. A Tawny Owl was calling when we arrived on Friday night. Small sensible birds kept their heads down.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Mid morning visit to Old Colwyn for high tide and stayed until 2.30ish.

Birds of note...
- Glaucous Gull 1 juv with small group of Common Scoters
(Didn't expect to see this at all)
- Great Black-backed Gull 1
- Common Scoter 1000's
- Velvet Scoter 2 drakes
- No sign of Surf Scoter despite thorough search
- Red Throated Diver 2
- Long-tailed Duck 1 (female type?)
- Scaup 4 (inc 2 drakes)
- Great Crested Grebe 1
- Shag 2
- Cormorants
- Turnstone 7

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Three full days and a few hours today in and around Rhosneigr; not exactly lucky with the weather, sea fret on Tuesday morning, incessant rain on Wednesday, then, yeah, yesterday, whilst today, obviously, was a gorgeous, bright late winter's day. Still, every day was productive. Highlights:

Stonechat
Meadow pipit
Rock pipit
Skylark (beautiful views, as always, here)
Rook
Raven
Teal
Wigeon
Red-breasted merganser
Shelduck
Brent geese (peak count 47)
Great crested grebe
Ringed plover
Golden plover
Grey plover
Lapwing
Dunlin
Sanderling
Purple sandpiper (a first for me; delighted)
Turnstone (could watch them all day)
Snipe
Redshank
Greenshank
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Little egret
Grey heron
Shag
Cormorant
Black-headed gull
Common gull
Lesser black-backed gull
Herring gull
Great black-backed gull
Kestrel
Buzzard

Llyn Maelog (from two visits; peak counts):

Goldcrest, meadow pipit, pied wagtail
2 moorhen
24 coot
22 teal
2 shoveler
2 gadwall
24 tufted duck
3 pochard
7 goldeneye
1 red-breasted merganser
4 great crested grebe
3 snipe
1 redshank
38 oystercatcher
Several curlew over (one scooting low over the water)
1 grey heron
11 cormorant (all first winter birds)
1 great black-backed gull

Nice gull roost forming on the occasion I was there later in the day, but other than the odd lesser-black backed, I couldn't make anything out other than good numbers of black-headed and herring.

-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Saturday 25th of February 2017 12:04:11 AM

Nigel Troup · Status: Offline

Further to my note from Friday, there follows a belated weekend note for anyone planning half term break on Anglesey.

After an unproductive circuit of my Silver Bay patch, followed by an unsuccessful check for Glaucous Gull at Holyhead fish quay, my first stop on Saturday morning was Malltraeth Marsh, Pentre Berw. This site requires patience and some leg work, but it can be very rewarding. On arrival, a local had seen both Marsh Harrier and Merlin. I had no luck with either of these, but managed my first Black-tailed Godwits of the year, along with many hundreds of Wigeon and large numbers of Lapwing and Teal. There were a small numbers of winter thrushes along the Cefni, along with a few pairs of Stonechat. This is a good site during spring passage.

I headed on to the estuary mouth at Malltraeth, but didnt spend long there in a cold wind. There were the usual high numbers of Redshank and Pintail out on the estuary, and Golden Plover on the cob pool, also a Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit on the river, viewed from the road.

I drove back along lane that runs parallel to the Cefni, turning north just past Pont Marquis. Five Cattle Egrets were found in a roadside field near here in December, though reports have been sporadic since. The first couple of fields drew a blank, but 400 yards up the road I could see white blobs two fields back. There are few parking opportunities, but I managed to stop in the middle of the road for long enough to get positive scope views of three of the birds: two Little Egrets and a Cattle Egret. The remainder of the birds were obscured by hedge and cattle.

A brief late afternoon stop at windy, wet, and misty, South Stack, produced three Fulmars back on the ledges, though the Guillemots had disappeared for the day.

I finished back at Holyhead fish quay, where a Great Northern Diver on the sea was compensation for the missing Glaucous Gull.

Sunday started with a dog walk along the southern shore of the Inland Sea, starting at Four Mile Bridge and taking in Ynys Leurad. It was on good form, with a fine variety of waders, including Greenshank, Knot and Grey Plover. There were double figures of Red-breasted Merganser and Goldeneye. I also managed to pick out the long-staying Black-necked Grebe, though couldnt find the Long-tailed Duck or small raft of Scaup that is still around. Two Mediterranean Gulls were in the channel by the bridge.

I followed this with a cycle ride that started well with Barn Owl (undisclosed site). The Hooded Crow was still on wires by the chapel at Llanfachraeth. Just up the road, on the Alaw, a single Greenshank flew over. On the other side of the track, on the blind side of the clapper bridge, I flushed a wintering Green Sandpiper.

Llyn Llywenan held many common ducks and twenty or so Mute Swans, but no sign of Whoopers. A pair of Goosander was a good find in these parts. I congratulated myself on a pair of Linnets in the hedgerow south of the lake - my first of the year. By the end of the day, I had seen separate flocks of 30+, followed by 60+ and then 15, all at Silver Bay. There were six Snipe on the headland here.

Total species count for my long weekend on the island was an impressive 94. I added Common Scoter at Colwyn Bay on the way home.

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

Good start to our tour of North Wales this morning with leks of 6 and 19 Blackcocks at the usual locations along the road to World's End. Plenty of posturing and sparring from the birds at the first lek in particular. Most of the wood at World's End has gone so we headed off to Anglesey. As the satnav route took us via Denbeigh, we had a brief stop-over at LLandudno but it seems the Snow Buntings had moved on since Wednesday.

An incident on the A55 meant that Riggers and co had scanned the Holyhead Marina to no avail and headed off up Turkey Shore Road by the time Mike A. and I got there but we managed to find 2 Black Guillemots from the quay by the long-stay car park. Two Great Crested Grebes were there too, but nothing else of any note. Poor visibility at South Stack persuaded us into the cafe for some refreshment. No sooner was everyone settled when the fog cleared enough for Mr. Rayner to pick out a Chough on Ellen's Tower, where it was soon joined by a second bird. There was nothing else to hold out attention when we went back out so we set off for a circuit of the Inland Sea.

The Great Northern Diver showed very well from the embankment at Beddmanarch Bay, with Pale-bellied Brent Geese very close in on the eastern shore of the bay and 3 Red-breasted Merganser a little farther out. The enclosed section held good numbers of most of the commoner waders and waterfowl. Further viewing from Four Mile Bridge produced c.57 more Pale-bellied Brent to the south of the road and 85 Pintail to the north. A single Grey Plover was on the nearest spit to the north of the road, with a Turnstone 'near the traffic cone"! on the same spit. Karen spotted a Peregrine on the ground which flew towards us and then managed the very neat trick of splitting into two birds heading in opposite directions!! Both birds harassed the gulls, waders and wildfowl before one bird vanished and the other returned to perch up ready for the next attack. We had no luck with the Cattle Egret near Malltraeth but all in all not a bad day with 61 species seen.

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

Worlds End

I arrived on site at 7.10am, In previous years the first Lek to the right of the first left hand bend had held the greatest number of birds, This morning no birds at all, Swiftly moving on Windows down periodically stopping I could hear the birds hissing and bubbling sounds but couldn't see any, Eventually came across a Lek which contained 20 Blackcock and a smaller one of 6, Great spectacle, Also plenty of Red Grouse heard and 3 seen.

Nigel Troup · Status: Offline

Today was day one of a three-day spell at Silver Bay after a six-week absence.

I picked up just under 40 species on my morning walk over the patch: Rock Pipits (3) and Chough (3) were the first of the year. Wader numbers were unexceptional, as the tide was low, but 115 Curlew roosted with the Lapwings at the Cymyran mouth. There were 25 Brent Geese there this evening, and a couple of dozen Wigeon. I flushed seven Snipe on the headland.

I spent the rest of the day at local spots there is plenty to look out for. A Little Owl was at Cromlech, Rhoscolyn, and a drake Shoveler on the nearby pond. The Long-tailed Ducks seem to have left Trearddur Bay, but a Red-throated Diver was very close offshore, and a Purple Sandpiper roosted on the offshore islet, just after high tide.

A Great Northern Diver was in Beddmanarch Bay, feeding 20m from the embankment. Two Slavonian Grebes were distant, on the far side of the channel. Fourteen Scaup were on the Inland Sea, and 20+ Goldeneye. Singles of Long-tailed Duck and Black-necked Grebe are here too, but I didnt see either.

A Glaucous Gull has been a regular at Holyhead harbour for a while. I had no luck with this, but found a Black Guillemot and three Red-breasted Merganser in the fish harbour.

I walked along the shore north of the Alaw at high tide: 500+ Dunlin, 50+ Grey Plover, a Golden Plover, 30+ Ringed Plover and 10 Turnstones were among the waders on the rocky islets. I scoped the Alaw from the sand dunes and noted four Med Gulls in the channel (there were probably more), along with two recently-returned Lesser Black-backed Gulls. There were five Pintail in the distance.

John O'Neill · Status: Offline

World's End

10.00amish

Despite late arrival in site, active and very vocal Black Grouse lek still in full swing. 7 males . A further solitary cock much closer to road. A female distantly perched up on a tree.
Single male Red Grouse also seen very close to road; calling.

.

Lauren Hough · Status: Offline

A trip around much of the coast gave me a few highlights on Wednesday;

Glaucous Gull - 1w was at Holyhead Harbour, ringed 'CLD', it is around 7 months old from Svalbard.

Black Guillemot - 3 in Holyhead Harbour

Snow Bunting - 3 still on the west shore of Llandudno

Brent Goose - 66 Pale-bellied and 8 Dark-bellied at Caernarfon

Rock Pipit - plenty showing well at Caernarfon

Common Scoter - 5000+ off Old Colwyn

Red-throated Diver - 10+ off Old Colwyn

Lauren

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 12th Feb.

Old Colwyn high tide 11.35am.

- 1 drake Surf Scoter
- 500+ Common Scoter
- 2 Cormorant

I located the corking Surf Scoter fairly close in but just my luck the swell was massive and it was constantly in and out of view so I just couldn't get a photo as hard as I tried.
Further up the promenade, the waves were crashing right over the whole driveway and I'd been there less than 15 minutes when Conwy Council vans turned up and the guys told me they were closing it off and locking the barriers for safety reasons.
Lots of debris (branches, wood, bric a brac etc) was being thrown up onto the promenade.

Carl Fletcher-Poole · Status: Offline

Went to see the Snow buntings yesterday at Llandudno west beach. Head along the top past the café and you will come to an old fence, they will be there (as someone is feeding them) or look amongst the stones near the fence and was not disappointed as all 3 birds are showing really well plus a very obliging Rock Pipit. Added a few pictures so you can see how near they come.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Was going on patch today BUT....... a sunny, windless day seemed too good to miss to go look for seabirds off the North Wales coast, something I love to do. So off I headed the short distance to Old Colwyn, following a report of a Surf Scoter offshore still early this morning.

Initially I was the only birder but eventually 4 of us over the morning had a go at grilling the scoter flocks. I had my Swarovski STX95, so plenty of power, 70x at the top end, and a mate was using a Zeiss Diascope with 75x at the top end, so we were well equipped! Unfortunately, even with that arsenal of firepower we all failed. A total watch of about 2 hours failed to produce a Surf Scoter amongst the thousands of Common Scoters. I was pleased to find a drake and 3 female Scaup out in the flock which were feeding with a Long-tailed Duck, probably harder to pick out than a Surf Scoter! The Scaup were a welcome year tick too and a self-found one at that smile Over 10 Red-throated Divers were seen, some pretty close in and showing well. Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes were on the sea and Turnstones and Redshanks on the outfall rocks.

Next birding stop was the Little Orme where numerous Fulmars were now claing nesting ledges on the cliffs and showing very well. A pair of Ravens were skydancing in a spectacular display too. At the end I did another lengthy seawatch which paid dividends with two Great Northern Divers, several flypast auks, including both Guillemots and Razorbills. A long way offshore I picked up two, small and very buoyant gulls, almost looking tern-like, zooming up I could see that they were adult Kittiwakes, another yeartick! Lots of Shags and Cormorants were also seen as well as the commoner gull species.

As is usual with me I was on limited time so I headed home mid-afternoon, but it was a great day in the sun and definitely the correct decision with me being back to work tomorrow!!

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Originally posted today by Andy Voisey:

Thought I'd try for the Black Grouse before the days got too long and an early start got really early.

I took the road to Minera and then turned off on the Worlds End road to a bend in the road marked with a spot height of 409m adjacent to a spring (on the OS map) and parked in the passing place to wait for dawn.

The birds started arriving at the lek and displaying about 40 mins before dawn and started to leave in 1s and 2s about 30 mins after dawn.

There were a total of 19 birds displaying today at this lek, the closest was about 15m from the car. When I left about 500m down the road another 9 flew across the road , presumably from another lek.

28 black grouse in one morning!

*Note. If you haven't been before and are thinking of going, DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR or the birds will leave.

Craig Higson · Status: Offline

Good mornings birding at LLanfairfechan. Sadly no Slavonian Grebes but loads of Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-throated Divers, Common Scoters and two Long-tailed Ducks. Quick visit to the salt marsh pools just to the west produced all the expected birds. Nothing unusual but a really nice site and somewhere to revisit.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Highlights of High Peak RSPB group North Wales coast trip today:

Kinmel Bay: 100 Sanderling, 50 Dunlin, 6 Red Breasted Merganser, 5 Skylark, Knot

Rhos on Sea: Black Redstart, 2+ Purple Sandpiper, 6 Common Scoter, 4 Rock Pipit, Diver sp

Llandudno: 2 Snow Bunting on West Shore, 30 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, Peregrine Falcon over.

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Long tailed Duck (4) still present - all morning - Trearddur Bay, Anglesey.

Photos attached, birds distant and I've lost a bit of clarity trying to downsize, which I think I have done successfully. Apologies, Ian, if I haven't!

steven burke · Status: Offline

late post for sun 1st jan 2017. Llandudno, west shore.

3 snow buntings showing really well further down the beach from the cafe.

also 1 rock pipit.

Andy Voisey · Status: Offline

No thrush at St Asaphs for me today, no one had seen it by the time I left at 1300.

Got some good shots of a dipper in the river though.

Went on to Kinmel Bay at high tide. One sanderling was the only bird seen on a walk along the beach, but there were 3 moterised paragliders in the car park waiting for the water to drop.
I can only assume they cleared all the wildlife earlier on the rising tide.

Perhaps things will improve when winter really bites.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

A visit to St.Asaph with Simon Gough.

No sign of the Black-throated Thrush for us. Plenty of birders around so lots of eyes on the job but despite that, it seems one birder only had a brief glimpse of it but it disappeared.

Other birds of note...
1 Dipper
3 Grey Wagtail
1 Treecreeper
2 Goldcrest
Lots of Goldfinch
Small party of Long-tailed Tits
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Common Buzzard
1 Goosander
Lots of Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Blackbird.

Quick visit to Old Colwyn and the waves were crashing right over the road and the cars so we didn't stop long before we got washed away.

Quick visit to Rhos-on-Sea which was a little calmer.
Of note on the harbour groyne...(but not counted)
Oystercatchers
Redshanks
Turnstones
Wigeon in the bay

A second stop at St.Asaph produced nothing, I didn't even get out of the car I was that cold.

steven burke · Status: Offline

st asaph

I arrived at 11.10am & was watching the black-throated thrush within minutes when it was feeding in the field next to the new inn pub, good views, but they got better as the day went on. I also seen it on the opposite side of the river in full view on the pitch but failed to get any photos, but the best views were later in the afternoon when it was located just yards away from us & gave fantastic views as it fed on the path biggrin

nice to see many familiar faces & yes stuart it is becoming a bit of a habit of lately wink

other birds around...

1 dipper
2 nuthatch
1 treecreeper
1 great spotted woodpecker
1 buzzard
plenty of blackbirds, redwings, song thrushes, few mistle thrushes.

stuart lewis-gough · Status: Offline

Black-Throated Thrush showed well this afternoon just behind the New Inn pub at St. Asaph. Nice to bump into Steve Burke again, becoming a habit of late.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 31st of December 2016 06:54:00 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Much the same as Mark really re the Black-throated Thrush!! Had a spare day after getting back from S.Wales & wanted to blow the cobwebs away so headed to St Asaph. My wait was a tad shorter than Marks and I was relieved to get those first views, in flight and then perched albeit amongst a tangle of branches. I stayed a while longer after Mark had departed and he will not be surprised that the bird showed much better later. It was on a path in the open on the far side of the river & perched up in a Yew in full view. Later if flew into the chapel garden and showed really well, but to only 6 of us who had gone in that direction after the throng had split up to re-find the bird (small size pic attached). I managed a few record shots and was back home by 3.30pm.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 30th of December 2016 05:44:43 PM

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

After having dipped on yesterday's Black-throated Thrush at St Asaph, by not waiting long enough, I went back for a second attempt today. Most birders were gathered to the rear of the New Inn which tends to be a regular spot for the bird, certainly in the afternoons. We were tempted to have a walk downstream in an effort to find it feeding but at the same time didn't want to run the risk of missing out should the bird fly in to the bushes nearby, as it did yesterday. Anyway, some birders had had the same idea as us and I'm glad to report the Thrush was found about one hundred yards downstream of the New Inn area. It had been perched in a tree out in the open for a few minutes but for us, we had to be content with brief perched views, together with half decent flight views as it crossed the river. It disappeared shortly thereafter.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

My best shot of the female Black Throated Thrush in St Asaph this morning. Showed well for 20 minutes just behind the New Inn pub from 11.45-12.05.

Also Little Egret over.

Vicky Harper · Status: Offline

Black-throated thrush showed well at 11.50 on fields behind the New Inn pub at St. Asaph.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Decided on an afternoon visit to St Asaph as the Black-throated Thrush has been regularly reported later in the day, and I wasn't disappointed. Had really good views of the bird at about 15.30, feeding on the ground in the field behind the New Inn, on the opposite side of the river to the football pitch. I watched the bird for about 15 minutes along with good sized group of birders. Nice to meet Manchester birders Tony Broom and Mike Cooper.

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

St Asaph, 9.00 - 10.30am, Black-throated Thrush still present at St Asaph FC football ground, Viewed on west side of river in a rear garden, Also present in the general area C40 Waxwings.

-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Thursday 22nd of December 2016 04:59:53 PM

John Rayner · Status: Offline

10th December:

Started at South Stack with the intention of picking up a few year ticks.
Choughs were easy at South Stack followed by Black Guillemots at Holyhead Harbour and a Slavonian Grebe at Penrhos, also here were many Pale-bellied Brent Geese feeding on the mud flats.

Interestingly one Brent was wearing a couple of Darvic rings (Yellow D, Red 7). I have just found out that it was ringed as a nestling in Iceland (May 2007), spent the next 7 years mainly commuting between Iceland and Dublin Bay, then went missing for 2 years before now turning up on Anglesey.

The Snow Buntings at Llandudno were reported in the morning but had gone missing in the afternoon, however, I did find a Hooded Crow on the beach dropping mussels onto the rocks to break them open.

Finished the day at Llandulas where the gloomy weather defeated efforts to tease out a Surf Scoter from the 1000s of Commons and ran out of time to try for Water Pipits at Burton.

Cheers John

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Having the latter part of the day free and not having seen a Waxwing yet this year I headed out to North Wales, and to Llysfaen in particular.

After a short wait, although others had been there over an hour, I picked up 4 Waxwings in the tops of tree next to the most berry-laden hawthorns I think that I have ever seen! Two of these birds continued to show well for the next three quarters of an hour at least from 2pm when I found them to 2.45pm. Also in the area were large numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares, no surprise given the berries, and a nice Treecreeper next to me in an elder whilst I was photographing one of the Waxwings!

In poor light I tried a brief seawatch from Llysfaen Station Road but despite scanning through over several hundred (if not over a thousand) Common Scoters I failed to find any Surf Scoters. A bit of reward though was a single drake Velvet Scoter!

Nigel Troup · Status: Offline

This is the fifth winter in which I have visited Anglesey on alternate weekends, and this one was the coldest that I have known: even the beach was frozen at Silver Bay this morning. However, the sun shone, the easterly wind didn't trouble the west coast, and the quality and quantity of birds was top class.

The best place to be was the Inland Sea. The freezing of the smaller ponds had driven freshwater ducks onto the estuary to join the usual winter residents. From the roadside between Four Mile Bridge and Trearddur Bay the masses comprised Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck, Mallard, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser. There were many waders too: Dunlin (500+), Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Grey Plover, Greenshank. A return visit to the A55 side at lunchtime added a Slavonian Grebe, a Blck-necked Grebe (first on the island for me), a Razorbill and a raft of 19 Scaup.

Llyn Llywenan, north of Bodedern, was on form too. I finally managed to connect with two long-staying Greenland White-fronted Geese on Saturday afternoon(2) and also found a Long-tailed Duck. Today there were two Whooper Swans at the southern end. This site is not helped at weekends by its proximity to Anglesey Shooting School.

A Hooded Crow was feeding in front of the chapel at Llanfachraeth on Saturday lunch time.

My own patch, as always, produced a good variety, which included Chough, Knot, Reed Bunting, Fieldfare, Redwing, Lapwing, Stonechat, Snipe etc. The last bird of the weekend was a Woodcock, which jinked past in the dusk, 50 yards from my door.

Final tally for the weekend was 81 species.

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

Westshore Deganwy 8.30 - 9.30am

Hooded Crow feeding on the beach, Looked to be picking up cockles then inflight dropping them onto rocks to break open the shell
Rock Pipit
Curlew
Oystercatcher

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

An evening, three full days and a morning around Rhosneigr this week, to have a look to see what's about. Explored all along the beach, which runs from rocky headland in the south to tidal mudflats in the north, the extensive dune networks and a couple of visits to Llyn Maelog. Highlights:

Beach, village, and surrounding habitats:

Linnet
Stonechat
Pied wagtail
Meadow pipit
Rock pipit
Skylark
Starling (ubiquitous)
Song thrush
Jackdaw (ubiquitous)
Chough
Raven
Kingfisher
Wigeon
Shelduck
Red-breasted merganser
Brent geese (a first for me)
Little grebe
Ringed plover
Golden plover
Grey plover
Lapwing
Dunlin
Sanderling (just the one)
Turnstone (plenty; I love turnstones)
Redshank (ubiquitous)
Greenshank
Snipe
Oystercatcher (ubiquitous)
Curlew (including one roosting flock of 82)
Little egret
Grey heron
Shag
Cormorant
Black-headed gull
Common gull
Herring gull
Great black-backed gull
Kestrel
Buzzard

Llyn Maelog:

Goldcrest, house sparrow, goldfinch, stonechat, meadow pipit, skylark, rook and usual passerines (dunnock in good numbers)
Water rail heard
Moorhen
Coot (over 150)
Teal
Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
Pintail (just the one; the last species I noted on the holiday)
Goldeneye
Tufted duck
Pochard
Goosander
Great crested grebe
Mute swan
Redshank
Oystercatcher
Grey heron
Cormorant
Black-headed gull
Common gull
Herring gull
Great black-backed gull

Nick Hilton · Status: Offline

Hundreds of Common Scoter from Llanddulas this pm, also a dozen or so Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Shag, Guillemot, Razorbill, Great crested Grebe.

Nick Hilton · Status: Offline

2 Common Scoter on Llyn Brenig this pm, at the north end. Lots of Fieldfare & Redwing in the area. A pair of Crossbill gave good roadside views on the B4501just north of the reservoir.

Nigel Troup · Status: Offline

I was on Anglesey over the weekend, primarily to carry out the Beddmanarch Bay WeBS count for October. It is not the best month for variety with the passage waders already through and most of the winter specialities not yet arrived. Assisted by my friend Peter Rowland, we made the best of difficult weather conditions and a very high tide, recording just eleven species: 44 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and seven Little Egrets the highlight.

It is no understatement to say that we had a much better afternoon. A text came to me as we finished the count at 13:00 to say that local birding legend Ken Croft was finding some good birds in Breakwater CP. Within five minutes of arrival, we were onto a Firecrest, with a Yellow-browed Warbler to follow minutes later. The pick of the bunch made us wait about an hour before it eventually appeared in the same small bush: a Pallass Warbler. We also found several Blackcaps, many Goldcrests, and two further Yellow-browed Warblers in the same area. Ken had seen three Ring Ouzels earlier in the day, but these eluded us. He also found a second Firecrest on his way home.

My home patch, Silver Bay, was quiet in the unsettled weather, though a flock of about thirty Redwings dropped in as Sunday mornings heavy rain stopped the first of the autumn.

Resident waders are offering some variety on Saturday these included 94 Curlew, c20 Oystercatchers, 15 Turnstones, two Lapwing, a Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach, and small numbers of Redshank. Wigeon numbers are at about 80. Two Chough passed over the headland, where I flushed six Snipe.

I spent some time on the Inland Sea later in the day and eventually had a brief flight view of the Great White Egret that has been here for a week. Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes are in double figures and a Razorbill looks out of place. Two female-type Scaup have been on the water for the past few days, but I didnt find these.

I saw what I expect to be my last Swallow of 2016 flying low over the fields at Pwll Preban, Rhoscolyn.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Saturday 8th October
Seawatch at Old Colwyn with Chris Chandler.

Of note...
- Common Scoter literally 100's of them.
(No sign of the Surf Scoter)
- Red-throated Diver 6
- Great Black-backed Gulls 2
- Oystercatcher 2
- Great Crested Grebe 1

See out of county wildlife for our Dolphin sighting.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Saturday 8th Oct.
Early morning visit to the Great Orme with Chris Chandler.

- Booted Warbler 1 (Lifer)
Showed really well virtually the whole time we were there, sometimes quite close but was mobile over all the car park area, mainly on Gorse bushes but also showed well on the ground and then at the base of the moor on opposite side of main driveway.

Also of note...
- 5 Chough
- 1 Raven
- 4 Wheatear
- lots of Linnet and Meadow Pipit around
- Chris had a brief view of a Black Redstart behind the Quarry

No sign of the reported Firecrest for us, but we did see in the immediate area...
- at least 9 Goldcrest
- 2 male Blackcap
- 3 Chiffchaff
- and a close up Stoat caught a bird at the base of one of the berry shrubs.

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

Booted Warbler still present on Great Orme and showing well @ 9.00am,

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 8th of October 2016 09:35:40 AM

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Booted Warbler photos attached from this morning on Great Orme. Also one of the three Black Redstart from the Copper Mines area which eventually showed after an hour's wait. Nice to meet John Tymon at last!

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 8th of October 2016 09:36:19 AM

Tom Jones · Status: Offline

The Booted Warbler showing well at 1330hrs on Great Orme today, in the very spot of Doc's directions, well done Paul.

steven burke · Status: Offline

excellent views of the BOOTED WARBLER on the great orme this afternoon as it was flitting around one particular gorse bush near the car park. lifer.

I had a wonder around to the bronze aged mines & managed 2 of the black redstarts there, one of them wearing a metal ring on right leg.

other birds around...

5 chough
3 raven
1 wheatear
7 stonechat
1 goldcrest
few linnets & meadow pipits around.
smile

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Glad to be of help Mike, whilst watching it yesterday evening we had two Choughs fly over calling, luck of the draw I suppose!

Mike Cooper · Status: Offline

Went this morning after dropping my wife in central Manchester got there with Doc's great directions just before 11:00 and bird had just flown from grass heather by car park to gorse bushes before great views but concerned by pale feet and toes but other features were more Booted than Sykes.

Also had a mooch around the headland as it looked ideal for Choughs but none found.

Second good look in shelter of gorse scrub above car park at 13:00 where it sheltered in a nook path in bushes and sunbathed and ran about mouselike. Brilliant bird hope it stays longer for others

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Great close views of the Great Orme Booted Warbler this morning - never keeping still for long:- fly catching, flitting from gorse to gorse with the occasional wing flick when perched - very entertaining. However it could have been a different story as it had apparently been attacked by a Kestrel minutes before I arrived at 08.00, according to a birder who saw this happen.

Also of interest around the car park area, two Chough and a Blackcap.

Then round to the Great Orme copper mines where, within the boundary fence were three Black Redstarts (all fem/juv) and then looking from the path up to the Rainbow Bridge from the promenade at Colwyn Bay, distant views of a Surf Scoter amongst a small group of common Scoters.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 5th of October 2016 04:37:52 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Dash after work saw me add species number 301 to my Welsh List, Booted Warbler on the Great Orme. Take Marine Drive round until you pass, first the Lighthouse, then the 'Rest and Be Thankful Cafe' (on your right). Then round a sharp right bend before taking the steep ridged track up on your left. Follow this round to the top to reach the 'limestone pavement car park'. The bird is favouring several patches of gorse around this area. Just before I arrived it was in gorse above the car park, but as I arrived it moved to a patch very close to the car park on the seaward side. It does show superbly well, so well worth the trip if it sticks. A bit murky by the time I arrived but got a record digiscoped shot (low res version attached).

Chris Greene · Status: Offline

Booted Warbler showing well, on and off this morning,near the top limestone pavement car park, up the Great Orme in sunny Llandudno .Alas no sign of the reported Firecrests or Yellow Browed Warbler, down "millionaire's row" for me. However a nice freshly in Redwing at the "hawthorns".

Cheers Chris

-- Edited by Chris Greene on Tuesday 4th of October 2016 07:14:15 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 4th of October 2016 10:55:57 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

I'm working next 3 days, but for anyone with a spare hour or three, there's a Booted Warbler on the Great Orme today. It's in gorse at the N.end of the limestone pavements car park showing well.