Birdrace on foot - who's idea was that?

Well, I don't think I will be able to walk properly for a week now! I was birding from 7am till gone 6pm, and Les came along for the craic. The first hour I saw Blackbird and heard Snipe and never had the desired Tawny and Little Owl, so I could have had an extra hour in bed. We did Cemaes,Wylfa,Cemlyn then finished at Llyn Llygeirian. We managed 76 species but it was a stuggle and was hard work in more than one way.Hats off to Tony White who did a similar route Llygeirian, Llanfairynghornwy, Hen Borth and Cemlyn and he got 78 inlcluding good views of a female Marsh Harrier. I know Eddie got 63 around his gaff and Geoff and Kate got 44 in 4 and a half hours around Aber/Morfa Madryn. What did anyone else get? Reg had a flyby Little Auk at Cemlyn Yesterday. I think the Auk and Kittiwake passage off Wylfa was one of the highlights for me. Martin Jones had Red Squirrels showing well at Llyn Parc Mawr today (a day late and not birds!) ;-) Another Marsh Harrier was on Llyn Penrhyn yesrday and 2 Firecrests were at SH 414672 yesterday (ta Alan), by the way Alan had 36 species on the Orme yesterday,so even Geoff and Kate Gibbs beat Alan ;-) Also thanks to Steve Stansfield for wishing me Happy New Year 6 times. Finally I'm off to tend to my sore feet. I thought walking was supposed to be good for you? Maybe not in wellies? See Marcs post for other scores but did anyone else have a go?

January 1st 2013 - Penrhyn Bay

I love New Years Day; up early and out the door with everything feeling new. This year I left the car keys behind and set off on foot as the darkness slowly made way to a murky gloom, nine hours and 13 miles later I returned home, shattered but having enjoyed every minute of the day. Despite the brisk breeze the weather was good and it was nice to finally see some sunshine!

I'm sure the festive fireworks from last night's celebrations meant that a few of my 'pinned down' birds had departed - Mute Swans, Shovelers and Coot - all difficult birds in Penrhyn Bay but present over the last few weeks and all there yesterday. However, no sign anywhere today! I can't complain too much though as I managed to log a total of 74 species in the area including the following highlights;

Lapland Bunting - I saw this bird a few weeks ago but haven't seen it since, so I was thrilled that today in showed well as it flew around the middle stubble field between Glanwydden and Rhos on Sea Golf course with some twenty Skylark. If you go and look, take your wellies!

Water Rail - at least 7 birds logged along Glanwydden Lane. Surely a site record.

Purple Sandpiper - 11 logged at Rhos on Sea, 1 at Rhos Point and 1 at Penrhyn Bay.

Brambling - at least one in the stubble fields at Glanwydden.

Other nice January 'local' records included several Grey Wagtails, Kestrel, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Knot, Grey Plover, several Kittiwake, Fulmar, Red throated Diver, several Rock Pipit, Guillemots, Razorbills, Stock Doves and 20+ Reed Buntings.

 The local Purple Sandpipers didn't disappoint showing well along the prom along with 30+ Turnstone, on rocks in front of the house with the Monkey Puzzle Tree in the garden. It was nice to also see one on the Penrhyn Bay breakwater - haven't seen one here for ages.

 A good patch bird - Grey Plover was once a regular bird at Penrhyn Bay but the last 5 or 6 years have seen them become quite scarce.

The reeds at Glanwydden are holding 20+ Reed Bunting at the moment and also contain many Water Rails and several Snipe. Great local birds.

Still several birds to get on the patch over the next month of foot it challenge - jay, peregrine, Red breasted Merg, Woodcock, Owls, Marsh Tit, Chough, Little Grebe, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll all up for grabs and hopefully Shoveler, Mute Swan and Coot will all make a return now the celebrations have calmed down.

Birdrace -1st Jan - on foot!

In the style of "foot it" being organised by the BTO hows about having a 1 Jan Birdrace solely on foot from and back to your front door? I'm going to be doing it on the 1st Jan around my Cemaes home so it will be more interesting if there is some competition. Remember walking only allowed, no cars, public transport or bikes. Anyone else up for it? Tony from Tregele is also competing. Let us know if you are up for it and post your results and pics here on the blog. Good luck and all the best for 2013!

Lens for sale

Hi everyone,

I was thinking of upgrading my lens soon, and so thought I would post a little advertisement here in case someone is interested. The lens I am selling is a Canon 100-400mm f4-5.6 L series zoom lens. I have had it since August 2010, and it has served me well. Almost all the images on the Bardsey Wildlife blog were taken with this lens, on a Canon 7D body.

The lens itself is still working perfectly fine, although has quite a few scratches on the lens hood, and the writing on the lens is a bit faded. I still have most of the bits and pieces that it first arrived with, including a lens case, the lens hood etc. 

Attached to Canon 40D

 Fully extended plus lens hood

Fully compacted with inverted lens hood

If anyone is interested, please contact me at: bardseyben@gmail.com

Clwyd Sandpiper Sp.

Had quite a good selection of birds down on the Clwyd lately with a male and female Merlin, Wildfowl consisting of Shoveler, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, plenty of Wigeon, 3 Little Grebes, the odd Little Egret and a few Swans and Geese.

 

Waders have been good too with Grey Plover, Bar Tailed Godwit and over 1000 Lapwing wintering at the site. On 27th December I came across a Common Sandpiper type species. By the time I saw it, it was 3.30pm, light was fading and the bird was quite a distance. Although not a clencher for Spotted Sandpiper, it did appear to have a less of a primary projection than what a Common would have, it appeared to have 'light' legs and was very active, and ocassionally getting chased by a Redshank.

 

Probably the most unhelpful picture i.d wise, but it brightens up the post a little!

If anyone in the area, the bird was seen on the muddy banks along the water's edge just south of the railway bridge and I was on the Rhyl side viewing. Weather was horendous today and the tide came in quicker than I wanted so only got 30 mins this morning but worth a look if in the area. It was last seen heading in the direction of Rhuddlan and there are a few shingle edges and islands that way that Common Sands like to favour in the Summer.

 

Conwy RSPB - festive treats!

The Bittern showed well to one lucky observer along the boardwalk this morning before melting into the reedbed. Could well be feeding on dead or injured starlings that roost here each night. Unfortunately no sign for birders soon on site. A single zitting Firecrest was near the Bridge Pool while Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Bullfinches were also in the area. Trotting ponies flushed 2 Jack Snipe, 10+ Common Snipe and a Woodcock from the flooded marshy area at the far end of the reserve. Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufties, Pochard, Teal, Wigeon, Goldeneye and Red Breasted Merganser were all present too. This fine cock Pheasant followed me around for at least half an hour- I'm sure I'm going mad as I found myself chatting away to it!

Bittern in the rain.

A few bits and pieces around and about in the rain today.
Bittern outside the RSPB coffee shop at Conwy while at least one Firecrest present by the bridge pond.
4 Waxwings were just east of rainbow bridge along the side of the A55 while a single Great northern diver was off Rhos on Sea.
A spectacular sight was a flock of 2000 Lapwing along the River Clwyd. 5 Goosander, 4 Golden Plover and a Merlin here too.