Scaup still at RSPB Conwy

The male scaup was seen again on the Deep Lagoon (Glan Conwy end) this morning by Glyn Roberts.  He also saw a couple of juvenile common sandpipers, confirming that they have nested here again. 12 dunlins came in on the tide, but today's black-tailed godwit count was just a single bird, well down on yesterday's 40.  And this afternoon, a superb summer-plumage knot is with dunlins on the high tide roost outside Benarth Hide.

SEO on Clwyd

Tony found a nice Short eared Owl on the River Clwyd this morning, originally seen half way between Rhyl and Rhuddlan it moved to the Caravan site at Rhuddlan a while later. It was still there at 9.30am sat on a post.

Waders have started to move and at elast 9 Common Sandpipers were along the length of the Clwyd, a single Dunlin and 2 Black tailed Godwits. 3 1st summer Common Gulls and a single adult were also back on site.

Scaup at Conwy RSPB

As Julian has said earlier, a nice drake Scaup was present at Conwy RSPB this morning although it did appear to be quite oiled as you can see from the pic below.

Other birds included up to 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a handful of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. A Sedge Warbler made an appearance and a brief view of a young Reed Warbler was also nice to see.

House Martins and a couple of Swallows drifted past and atleast 40 Black Tailed Godwits were also reported earlier in the morning along with a female and juvenile Redstart.

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Conwy RSPB

Male scaup seen from the second hide at Conwy RSPB this morning, appears to be oiled underneath. Also lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, redstart and common sandpiper seen today.

Traeth Dulas

Two summer plumage Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Dunlin, 4 Little Egrets.  Best of all - female Red-breasted Merganser with two young chicks (on river, close to the road).  Good photo' opportunity if you are over this side of the Island.

Skerries- an hour in heaven

My first trip to Skerries today with the RSPB and with only an hour there the main objective was to ring as many Arctic Tern chicks in the time allocated.  Think we did 130+ in 40mins but always keeping disturbance to as little as possible and moving to different spots to allow birds to return in with food.  Everything soon resettles.  The island is totally buzzing with life, 2700 pairs of Arctics, 300 Common and similar number of Puffin.
Few images taken quickly after ringing.  The island is wardened with 2 RSPB staff/vols.

Return migration

Two whimbrel east calling high over the house in Penrhyn Bay tonight, presumably first signs of return migration getting underway.