Sunday 4 November 2012

Conwy 'winter' Birding - Snow Buntings, Purple Sandpipers and Surf Scoters

An enjoyable wintery walk around the Orme this morning was rewarded with five showy Snow Buntings (2 males and 3 females), 20+ Brambling, 6 Bullfinch, 8 Mistle Thrush and 5 Redwings. 30+ Bottle nosed Dolphins offshore were a superb sight too. No sight or sound of Pete Alderson's Tawny pipit today.

One of the five showy Snow Bunting on the Orme this morning. Can anyone assign it to race? I presume it's 'insulae' due to the ground colour of the rump, although the mantle seems frosty and the 9th primary seems to have a lot of white on it.
The Purple Sandpipers have returned to Rhos Point with at least three birds present over high tide. Great Northern Diver there yesterday too.


Four Surf Scoters, three drake and a femlae still present off Llanddulas and best viewed from Llysfaen at station Road. at least two Velvet scoters here too ( 6 reported yesterday).

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