RSPB Conwy

Plenty of waders at Conwy still today: little stint (up to six this week), two spotted redshanks and two curlew sandpipers. Also today, plenty of black-tailed godwits, single greenshank and knot, and increasing numbers of snipe and wigeon.

Star bird today was a Cetti's warbler, a great find by Rob Sandham picked up on call. No sign later in the day, but could well still be here. It had the decency to land in both the Caernarfonshire and Denbighshire parts of the reserve. Our first for several years, Rob managed a quick snap on his iPhone, which was impressive since it didn't stop still for more than a nano-second.

Malltraeth - estuary and cob pool: Curlew Sand (8), Little Stint (1), Greenshank (4), Black-tailed Godwit (5)

Wader Mix at Malltraeth

I was at Malltraeth Cob Pool at dawn this morning, very picturesque as the sun rose over the marshlands. As the mist cleared a wide variety of waders could be seen. There was a single Little Stint, five Curlew Sandpipers, one Ruff, 110 Dunlin, three Greenshank, at least 100 Redshank, eight Black-tailed Godwit, one Knot, 40 Golden Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing and 20 Snipe. Wildfowl present included small numbers of Wigeon, Pintail and Teal. A Kingfisher was on the River Cefni ( two on Tuesday). A Yellow Wagtail flew over the Cob and Water Rail squealed from the fringes of the pool.
Conditions are ideal there at the moment, the tidal gates seem to have become 'stuck' and there is always plenty of mud. As the tides decrease in height next week, more mud will be exposed and could well be worth a visit. Levels are also dropping on Cefni Reservoir at the Bodffordd end, and some mud is being exposed.

Cattle Egret in Flints and other bits

The Cattle Egret was found on 5th and stayed briefly before relocating to BMW and on occasions straying back into Flints at Shotwick fields.  This is a county first.

The Great White Egret was still on Llyn Tegid/Bala today (9th).

A juv Curlew Sand was on the River Clwyd at Rhyl this afternoon (9th) and Bardsey still held a Wryneck and a Turtle Dove was new in today also.

Yesterday there was 8 Curlew Sands at Malltraeth cob pool and there was a male Redstart on the Great Orme gunsite.

Otherwise the east coast is getting all the glory with the SE and E airflow so get the car running!

It's all kicking off...................................

Bardsey is always the local Barometer as to what birds are in North Wales. A small offshore island with a few keen birders will always pick up more birds than the rest of North Wales due to Geography and concentrated local expertise. The nearby Wirral has also had good stuff recently. However, similar stuff will also be out there in a Neighbourhood near you! WE just need to find it.
On Bardsey on the first there was a flyover Red throated Pipit, Pied Fly and a Tree Pipit. There on the 2nd there was a LT Duck, Redstart and Whinchat and on Anglesey there were 4 Curlew Sands on Malltraeth Cob (Alaw Est will be good now too). On the 3rd there was a Rosefinch at Porth Meudwy and an Ortolan on Bardsey. Yesterday on Bardsey was Mega! Singing Greenish and Marsh Warblers! Ortolan Bunting, Wryneck, Firecrest, 2 Pied Flys, 4 Whinchats, and a Wood Warbler!
Today there were 2 Wrynecks on Bardsey, One at the Farm and 1 on the Hillside. There were also 2 Pied Flys, Marsh WArbler and Ortolan again!
Dotterel may be around as there was one last weekend and at the start of the week on the Orme. Cemlyn, Mynachdy, Carmel Head  and the Range are always also worth a look for this species. Plus they can turn up Buff breasted Sands this time of year.
There's been a Kingfisher at Cemlyn since Sunday, plus up-to 3 Black-wits, 1 Greenshank, Little Stint and Curlew Sand, plus 5 Sanderling and 5 Wigeon  last Sunday. Wheatears and Warblers are still moving through and the Mandarin was still at Cemlyn a week last Wednesday. Thanks Alan, Eddie,Tony and BG.



ps. Don't forget Ken had a Melodious Warbler at South Stack Plantation last week.

Great White Egret on the Menai Straight

Hi Steve

Great White Egret on the Menai Strait below the Faenol estate, Felinheli, this morning, then flew over the Strait into your patch, landing on the shore somewhere below Llanedwen Church.

Rhion

Welsh Ornithological Society conference, Saturday 8 November

A quick plug to mention that the WOS conference returns to North Wales this autumn, in partnership with BTO Cymru and RSPB Cymru.  Tickets are now on sale for the event, which is at Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin, from http://www.birdsinwales.org.uk/activities/conference.htm.

Speakers include:

• The BTO's Dawn Balmer, who organised the 2007-11 Atlas of Breeding and Wintering Birds, will reflect on what the results mean for Wales, and how it should guide our monitoring, research and conservation in the coming years.
• Skokholm Bird Observatory, the very first UK bird observatory, has recently been reinstated after almost three decades. Former WOS President, David Saunders, will take us back in time to the pioneer years of this special Pembrokeshire island.
• Upland bird habitats have suffered more than a century of damage and deterioration from intensive agriculture and forestry in Wales. RSPB Cymru'sStephen Bladwell will report on the trials and tribulations of restoring North Wales' moors for black grouse, curlew and other iconic species.
• Pied Flycatchers are one of Wales' classic woodland species, and the subject of a long-term study in Denbighshire by Pete Coffey of Merseyside Ringing Group, one of WOS affiliate groups.
• BirdTrack has proved a popular way for birdwatchers to record their sightings online, and even in the field with a smartphone. Nick Moran, scheme organiser, will show us what its data is showing, why higher participation in Wales will help our knowledge, plus some of the plans for the future.
• RSPB Cymru's Arfon Williams will round off the day with some thoughts on the future of bird conservation in Wales.

In addition, WOS President Iolo Williams will present the WOS Lifetime Achievement Awards and the 2014 Student Research Award, there will be information stands from RSPB Cymru and BTO Cymru, and Subbuteo Natural History Books will have a wide range of quality wildlife books.