Henry Cook wrote:

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22 Buzzards counted on a journey along the M56+A55 over to Colwyn Bay from Manchester. In comparison just 2 Kestrels.

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Interesting how bird popns change. I always used to count the Kessies on the same route as you, btwn Alty and my grandparents in Rhos in the late '70's/early'80's. Technically it was slightly different coz you had to go past Stanlow but anyway i'd get c. 7-9 each time. Used to dream about seeing Buzzards in Cheshire. Great to see them now, and Ravens, where they belong.

22 Buzzards counted on a journey along the M56+A55 over to Colwyn Bay from Manchester. In comparison just 2 Kestrels.

Made a third attempt for the Surf Scoters yesterday - was at the Rainbow Bridge, Old Colwyn from 0700 to 0915 - plenty of Common Scoter and several Velvets but the sea was far too bumpy for me to pick out the elusive Surfies. Watched Fulmar on the cliffs behind the bridge and called in at Kimnel where only three Snow buntings remain and they were very flighty - may not stay round much longer.

PS the Swan flock at Shotwick appeared to consist only of Whoopers now - approximately 50 birds - couldn't pick out any Bewick's.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 13th of March 2010 11:21:21 AM

It's not called "World's End" for nothing ! I try to get up there at least once a year and I usually get a bit lost on the back roads. Basically, head for Minerva from Llangollen. (or , better, head out of Llangollen towards Horseshoe Pass, then turn right sometime before reaching Vale Cruis Abbey and head up for Minerva)

"World's End" is at the small car park after you've crossed over the top of a little waterfall (really)

Might seem like a bit of a trek, but well worth it. Top spot.

steve ashworth wrote:

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Could any of you nice birders help out an old confused man by explaning how i might get to worlds end, i have googled it but it just comes up with differerent sites trying to sell me things.
Many thanks Steve

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Steve put Llandegla Moor in your Google search that will do the trick.

We went about three weeks ago midweek and didn't arrive until about 9:00 and had at least 8 lekking male at the same spot - midweek is a lot less disturbed than weekends.

We watched twice from the car, one the way to the car park and again on the way back -both times the birds were happy to let us carefully leave the car and (digi)scope from the road.

Was over at the Great Orme yesterday, lovely day over there with sun shining all day. Lots of Ravens about, and sea ducks now joined by returning auks. Was hoping for an early migrant or two, but cou;dn't find any, unless you count the endless flocks of Meadow Pipits. Great views over the bay to Conwy, Llanfairfechan, the menai straits and Anglesey:

Red-throated Diver 6
Great Crested Grebe 3
Cormarant 100+
Shag 6
Common Scoter 1000+
Eider 4
Peregrine 2
Buzzard 4
Kestrel 2
Curlew 2
Oystercatcher 12+
Redshank 2
Puffin 2
Razorbill 30+
Guillemot 50+
Stonechat 2
Meadow Pipit 80+
Siskin 2
Linnet 4
Raven 8

Plus a herring Gull that tried swooped down for my icecream on the front in the town, but my quick reactions just saved it!!?

Maybe a bit early afterall for most migrants, but was a lovely walk in the sunshine all the same.

Twenty one blackcock and a single greyhen at Worlds End this morning. They were leking by the quad track about quarter of a mile from the larch wood car park, though I could only pick four out on the ground (I saw them in flight twice - 16, then 21 plus the greyhen). Plenty of siskins and half a dozen crossbills in the larches too.

No m8.

Quick trip over to Pensarn this afternoon in the hope of Surf Scoter after reports from elsewhere

More Common Scoter than last week with several Velvets as well as Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver and Great crested Grebe, but no Surfies or Long tailed Duck for me unfortunately.

After de-icing the car and battling the foggy M56 arrived at Pensarn at 07.30 in glorious sunshine. In the car park, on the prom, next to the larger cafe there was a nice little flock of 8 Twite that someone has put seed out for, a good start. There were hundreds of Common Scoter on the sea including 8 Velvet males, a couple of which obligingly flapped white wing patches for me - also on the sea Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser and Ringed Plover on the beach. Alas no sign of the recently reported Surf Scoters.

At Kimnel Bay the Snow Bunts (3F & 1M) duly put in an appearance as did the Black Redstart (F) I was looking for. As usual at this time of year there were several Sanderling at the waters edge.

On to Presthaven caravan park/beach to look for the long-staying Shore Lark no luck there although two birds were reported by the security guard as having been present around the adjacent caravans this morning there was no sign in the hour or so I spent before I had to leave. These two could be the birds that I saw on the beach at Talacre in December I suppose. On the beach at the high tide lots more Sanderling, Knot, Grey Plover and Dunlin.

The final stop was at Shotwick Fields where the 90 strong mixed flock of Whoopers and Bewicks is still present including the yellow legged Whooper that to me does not look in such good health - looks to be having trouble walking and there appears to be three lumps in its neck - the birds were very close to the road this afternoon so it was very easy to see.

So all in all not a bad day's birding - hope old yellow legs is ok.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 18th of February 2010 08:09:43 AM

3 drake Surf Scoters this afternoon off Old Colwyn, in with 10000+ Common Scoters. Quite a sight with hardly a wave on the sea and good sunlight making good viewing. First time i've ever seen the whole scoter flock in it's entirity, stretching from Colwyn Bay right over to Rhyl at least 1km offshore.

Hi Henry, was a lovely day out thanks. You are right with the site names, i've still not grasped the welsh language! The Twite were not on the saltmarsh though, as it was underwater during high tide. They were flitting between a field and an allotment nearer to the prom. Some were even perching on a lucky householders fence! Lovely birds and they seemed quite content. Perhaps a place they go during high tide, as they looked to have a plentiful food supply.

Spent the day with some old friends in North Wales birding like past days in my youth!?!

We started at Lllanfairfechan promonade before the high tide to seawatch the coast, then walked down the coast towards Aber over the saltmarsh and back again to scan the sea and have a big brekkie, lots of decent birds, including:

Off the coast of Llanfairfechan:
1 GN Diver
12-14 RT Diver
20+ Eider
50+ Common Scoter
60+ GC Grebe
4 Fulmar (flying round cliffs on route, near Conwy)
8 RB Merganser

Saltmarsh (although under water during high tide) and freshwater pools south of Llanfairfechan:
55 Twite
20+ Redwing
200+ Teal
250+ Wigeon
12 Pintail
20+ Shelduck
16+ RB Merganser
1 Goldeneye
1000+ Dunlin
12+ Bar-tailed Godwit
200+ Curlew
80+ Redshank
1 Greenshank
600+ Lapwing
40+ Ringed Plover
30+ Turnstone
1 Snipe
1 Little Grebe

Small reserve near Penryn
1 Little Grebe
6 Little Egret
1 Greenshank
4 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Kingfisher
2 Nuthatch
Lots of other distant waders including more of the same as above...

Conwy Valley highlights
1 Hawfinch
1 Common Sandpiper

Lovely day out, although freezing start during seawatch. Glad sun came out and well worth the travelling with Hawfinch an absolute brilliant battleship finch!?

To be fair, including Sunday, I've had a cracking three days birding picking up Ring-necked Duck in Yorkshire on way home, Shorelark in Bolton before football !! and Hawfinch in North Wales, it's what dreams are made of heh

Geoff Walton wrote:

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What no snow ice or wind chill?High Peak group should have gone last Sunday, but none of us got get the cars out, and did not fancy a 90 mile drive, or the cold.
Seems you were lucky. Even Chadkirk was out, you could have slid from my house to the Pylon Field without stopping.

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No Geoff we weren't lucky - just checked the weather forecast and used Henry's amazing knowledge of the local climate to decide on the likely local weather conditions today

PS Saturday. The Woodlark are still present this morning anyone going over should take wellies because parts of the path are a bit bad from the snow. A couple of people of asked for directions - it may be a bit late in the day now but check northwalesbirding.co.uk, Wood lark thread - also some pics there. Also please note the message about sticking to the paths.



-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 16th of January 2010 11:37:23 AM

Henry how could you forget the Llandudno Twite

A cracking day's birding with Henry C today - in sunshine for most of the time. The highlights for me were 10 Woodlark at Glanwydden, Penrhyn Bay (Henry counted 12), the Purple Sands at Rhos and the Hawfinch at Llabedr-y-Cennin up past the church yard. The only downside was we couldn't find the Black Redstart at Llandudno. Over to you Henry for the full list.

Had a day out with the kids today and managed to stop off at Kinmel Bay for the snow buntings - a bird I'd always wanted to see and five of them obligingly fed on the coastal path and in amongst the scrub and shingle just beneath the path and if we kept still approached to about 10 feet away at times - magical birds!

Both Shore Larks still reported present today - east of the lighthouse.

Henry Cook wrote:

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Nice one Pete.
I've never heard of such an large influx locally there but the Little Orme can get the odd overwintering bird.
That bit of rocky shore with the little church by it is known as Rhos Point.
Henry.

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Thanks Henry, there was also a chap from the NorthWales forum digiscoping the three in the quarry [he's posted some good pics I notice] and I've sent a few photos in for Ian for "out of county" in case they're of use. My feeling is there were two females at the quarry and one maybe first winter male [more colour to it round the eye and head] and the one at Rhos Point an older male as darker again. One birder thought there could have been five in the quarry.

Rhos point was really interesting as the tide came in with at least ten Great Crested Grebes right out into the distance plus all the other stuff I mentioned. Cheers, Peter

Another quick trip to North Wales... this time to try and see some of the Black Redstarts that have been around - started at the Little Orme and having climbed up to the top quarry found a Little Owl being mobbed by two Black Redstarts and a mixed party of Goldfinches, Great Tits and Jackdaws! [I even managed a photo with one of the Black Redstarts and the Little Owl].

Then joined some other birders to watch three of the BRs feeding including flycatcher style and if you kept still they approached to with about 25m. After nearly an hour watching them I dragged myself away and went to the shore line near the Little Church [where the cafe and the small harbour is] after a top tip from some friendly birders. Had another Black Redstart pointed out to me [male with more colour to it than the other three]. Then went for a walk and found five Purple Sands, plus many Turnstone and Ringed Plovers on the rock armour and whilst driving away stopped to look at a large bird about 200m off the shore which swam in and turned out to be a Great Northern Diver - two lifers in a day and some really enjoyable birding.

It's possible the Stonechats have not headed to lower areas as the weather has been so relatively warm Pete. Give it a cold snap and they may clear out and head for the coast.

Henry Cook wrote:

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Winds had picked up to a force 8 on the orme this afternoon Pete and I saw even less than you but the fieldfare in the churchyard was still present, not quite a Pallas's Warbler!

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Was a bit fierce wasn't it Henry! Even the goats looked a bit put out...

Must've crossed with you at some point today Gary! I did a tour round Great Orme early this morning and found Fieldfare, thrushes, Siskin and assorted finches at the cemetry. Then quite a few parties of Rock and Meadow Pipits around the cliffs with some Ravens enjoying the wind but as it was blowing about force 7 - well enough to rock the car when it was parked - I headed down to Foryd Bay not having seen the snow bunting that had been on the Orme all week.

Once at Foryd I was really pleased to see the Brent flocks, hundreds of wigeon, a few Pintail and one Teal, lots of curlew, dunlin, redshank, turnstones, oystercatchers and a snipe - which looked good on a three second glance for a Jack Snipe [would've been a lifer and my 200th species] until some rather selfish individual encouraged his spaniel onto the beach to put everything up and away. The glimpse I got of the snipe and fleeting impression was a bit bigger than the Turnstones, a lot smaller than the Oystercatchers, really bright stripes on the back and a very pale/white belly and vent area - one that I'll have to file as "I'll never know..."

Sadly I had to get back for lunchtime but I really recommend that road around Foryd Bay [I just put the postcode for Caernarfon Golf Club in the satnav].

Cheers, Peter