Polly's back!

Well she probably never actually went anywhere its just the leaves have now fallen off the trees and she's easier to spot at this time of year. The Female ring necked parakeet that has been aroun Fern hill estate in Benllech is coming back to feeders again. There's also a nice little woodland walk along a stream that's a good spot to look for Polly and other birds, grey wag, crests, roving tit flocks etc.... Along the side of that estate.

Twite n Diver

I had 5 Twite on the ridge at Cemlyn this morning at 7.45am and David Wright had a RT Diver close in at Cemaes.

That's why it's limping!

Colin Davies from St Helens sent me this photo of the Anglesey Purple Heron recently and he pointed out that the left leg is much smaller than the right leg, presumably a developmental abnormality, so it's not surprising it's got an exaggerated limp! Either that, or the left leg is abnormally pointing sideways? Which again would cause a limp.Thanks for that Colin.

Purple Heron still on Anglesey

The Purple Heron was still showing this afternoon. See post below for directions.
ps Please view from public rights of way and don't tress-pass (apparently some people were today), so as not to spoil relations with the landowners and local birders thanks.

Black Redstart at Amlwch Port today

Whilst enjoying a spot of lunch with the kids at Coffee Cups Cafe at the Sail Loft in Amlwch Port I looked out of the window as a few weeks earlier I had had great views of Risso's Dolphins. But a lot closer this time was a Black Redstart sitting on the wall before it flew up onto the roof. I ran outside to get a few photos with the three kids following me with their ice creams like ducklings as I tried to follow it as it flitted around the port area. Five minutes later it was back ontop of the cafe again. Black Redstarts are scarce passage migrants/winter visitors to North Wales and are always nice to see, with their quivering ginger tails !

Anglesey Purple Heron

The Purple Heron was showing well again today north of Llanfaelog near Rhosneigr. See the map, X marks the spot. It often hunkers down well but will come out into the open. It has developed one hell of an exagerated limp today which it didn't have yesterday, so it may not be in the best of health!

Anglesey Update

Here's a few recent photos I've taken at Cemlyn. Yesterday I had 14 Whooper Swans near Tre Ysgawen hall near Llangefni. There's been 18 Twite at Cemlyn 50 m in from the west car park on the shingle ridge, but they do wander around. There are three very confiding Snow Bunts at the top of Tyn Llan field ( the dead weedy field by the farm viewed from the coastal footpath. They're so close, you can easily walk past them unless they move! There are also these two showy divers. The GND came into the sluice pool by the west car park today giving great views.

RSPB Conwy news

A green-winged teal was reported here a few weeks ago, and again today, when it was apparently photographed. If you're reading this and this was you, we'd be keen to see the photo.  No sign on the WeBS count today.

In other news, Cetti's warbler singing near the Bridge Pond, juvenile Scaup on the Deep Lagoon, Rock Pipit on the estuary, and regular views of Kingfisher, of which there are at least two birds here.

Old Colwyn Surf Scoters

Me and Mike had 6 Surf Scoters off Old Colwyn this morning, 5 ad drakes and an imm drake. Little Auk flew west past Pensarn too. Typical poor picture from me,

Great Orme- late autumn rush

The last week has seen a bit of late autumn action on the Great Orme. Visible migration has been in full flow with the floodgates opening. Max daily counts of 3 Lapland Bunting 3000+ Chaffinch, 500+ Siskin, 16 Twite, 100+ Linnet, 25+ Brambling, 7 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Crossbill, 5000+ Starlings, 5 Coal Tit, 6 Fieldfare, 12 Mistle Thrush, 50+ Meadow Pipit, 15 Blue Tit, 50+ Goldfinch, 200+ Greenfinch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 5 Redpoll meant for a busy few hours each morning. Some super flocks contained upwards of 3-400 mixed finches- awesome.

Highlights were 2 Woodlark - one on Oct 29th and Nov 2nd, Yellow browed Warbler Oct 30th- Nov 2nd at least, Lapland Bunting- at least one seen each day with 3 on Nov 1st, female Merlin each day, 16 Twite on Nov 2nd, Hawfinch on Oct 31st. While Snow Buntings have been in residence this past few days with up to five present. 

4 Twite down on Conwy Morfa last weekend too showing well.

Twite on Conwy Morfa last Sunday.

Autumn is not quite over yet :) 

Cemlyn Twite and Fieldfares

I popped over to Cemlyn this morning to throw out more seed on the shingle ridge accessed from the west car park, for the flock of Twite that has been there for a week and was 13 strong on Tuesday. A lark , probably skylark flushed from this area, but it was a bit blustery this morning and as I tried to get onto it my seed pot flew off into orbit! There was a report of a possible Great white egret at Malltraeth near the estuary/salt marsh last week. Driving to work today there were quite a few flocks of Redwings milling around and I had 2 flocks of c. 25 birds each of Fieldfares flying over Llangefni dingle. My first this winter.

Dan Brown is back in Town!

There's going to be fireworks on Wednesday night! But then again it is November the 5th. Nevermind that, come down to Bangor Birdgroup instead and meet Dan as he goes through some of the Svalbard imagery that he collected earlier this year. One not to miss!

Another Great Grey Shrike

A call to the office this morning of another Great Grey Shrike. This one in the Church yard in Llangower, Bala. Norman the lucky finder had it out of his living room window.  Photo to follow. For those of you unsure where Llangower is SH 904322

Kelvin BTO Cymru