Floodgates opened - Great Orme and Conwy RSPB

Early morning saw the first proper fall on the Great Orme (that invloved multiple species) of the year. One of the first birds seen and heard was a 1st for the Orme - a cracking Little Ringed Plover that circled low over the pavements. 2 male Redstarts, 2 male Whinchat, female Ring Ouzel, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, 7 Tree Pipits, 60+ Wheatears with the vast majority being Greeland birds, 30+ Willow Warblers and a few Chiff-chaffs on the limestones. Many Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin were also on the move. Superb! Late afternoon saw 2 Black Guillemots and 100+ Sandwich Tern off the western edge of the gunsite. Four Whitethroat in the scrub here, while a birder met there had seen 2 Redstarts and 2 Whinchats along Invalid's Walk.

This evening at Conwy RSPB a nice walk with Paul Derbyshire saw 22 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpiper, 30+ Dunlin (including a a good 'artica' candidate), 2 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Ringed Plover, 1 full summer plumaged Icelandic Black tailed Godwit and 2 Bar tailed Godwits. Excellent numbers of alba wagtails included 60+ White Wagtails, while a single Yellow Wagtail called amongst them. Hundreds of hirundines over the lagoon and a superb arrival of 50+ Swifts screaming around. Reed and Sedge Warblers were singing away and Pochard, Gadwall and a number of Tufted Ducks were on the lagoon. Cracking views o Fox here too.

The Floodgates have cretainly opened.