North Wales and beyond.

My highlight of today came when I went up Craig Bran Banog in Clocaenog forest. I went up there as you get a great vista over the vast area of forest and its probably the best place in north Wales to scan for Goshawk. However although a few birds had been seen in the area today I never connected but I did get great views of the Great Grey Shrike which was hanging around the summit occasionally giving very good views. There were also lots of Crossbills present giving close views at times.
Migrant-wise Simon had Swallow and Sand Martin at Dinas Dinlle. A Wheatear was at South Stack and Tony W had the following counts  at Cemlyn. 2 Lapland Buntings, 2 Sand Martins, 300 Mippets, 18 Reed Buntings, 16 Stonechats and 40 Pied Wagtails.
Slavonian Grebe was at Penrhos and the Black necked Grebe is still on the Inland Sea. 4 Hawfinches were showing at Llanber-y-cennin.
Just over the border at Moore near Runcorn Green Woodpeckers were very vocal but the  Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers seen earlier in the week were more elusive this morning but there were lots of Greater spotted Woodpeckers and Willow tit at the feeders. Scarce Spring migrants hit the UK today including Alpine Swift and Hoopoe in Kent but a report of a Lesser Spotted Eagle over Canterbury is massive - if it's true?

North Wales Spring News

The anticipation of Spring migrants gets more people out into the field at this time of year, myself included. Birds are just trickling into the UK at present with an early singing Willow Warbler in Derbyshire today, LRP in Worcestershire and a flurry of Wheatears. There were a few Sand Martins appearing two days back also but none in North Wales yet. However John Roberts won the prize for the first North Wales Wheatear at Kimnel bay today- nice one John!
Cemlyn is starting to feel a bit spring like as the Gulls gather on the Islands and the Mediterranean Gull numbers are starting to rise, with David Wright having at least 8 over the last few days, with some in fine breeding plumage. There were a pair of adult Meds feeding in the field. One has a White Darvic ring on it's left leg, ? E718 (see photos)? Otherwise the overwintering Whimbrel is still present, 11+ Grey Plover, c100+ Golden Plover, Greenshank and a few Purple Sandpipers. I added Peregrine and Mediterranean Gull to my "office" list in Cemaes Bay this week which were both overdue yet still greatly appreciated.
Other recent local news includes the following.
Today on Bardsey there was a Glaucous Gull and the Iceland Gull was still in Nefyn. Another was seen from the Great Orme on the 5th March. The 3 Snow Buntings are still at West Shore Llandudno today. A Black throated Diver flew past South Stack on the 6th and on that date there was still a male Long tailed duck in the scoter flock off Old Colwyn. The Holyhead Glaucous gull was still present until at least the 5th, and is best looked for from the Fish Quay or the small car park in the corner of the Harbour on the other side of the stretch of water by the Fish quay.
Early March is a good time to go looking for Black Grouse at Worlds end near Wrexham, Goshawks in Clocaenog forest and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, if you know where any are? Moore Nature Reserve near Runcorn used to be good, but I'm not sure how reliable they are now, or if they are even still present.

Andy Clements: From Bangor Birdgroup to the BTO - an amazing journey!

Andy Clements used to be an active member of Bangor Bird-group at the University of Bangor. He had since climbed the ladder and is now the head of the British Trust for Ornithology. He will be telling us about his amazing journey this Wednesday night at 7.30pm in the Brambell building ground floor lecture theatre. Doors open at 7pm. All welcome.

Birding Texas in Bangor this week

Local Birder and Ringer Robin Sandham is currently taking orders for his eagerly anticipated book on Rare Birds in North Wales. However this week he will be taking a bit of time out to talk to us at Bangor Bird-group this Wednesday night. He will be talking about his recent birding trip to Texas so there should be lots of pictures of beautiful North American Warblers and the like!

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start. All welcome.

An appreciation of the birds around the Menai Straight

Tonight at Bangor Bird-group local Birdwatcher Arfon Thomas will be giving us a talk about the birds found locally around the Menai Straight. Doors open at 7pm at the Brambell building for a 7.30 start. All welcome.

GPS tracking of Curlew, Terns and Seabirds

Local Bird Ringer and Ornithologist Steve Dodd will be giving us a talk tonight at Bangor Bird group. He will be telling us about GPS tracking of Curlew, Terns and Seabirds. Doors open at the Brambell building at the Uni at 7pm for a 7.30 start. All welcome.

This week at Bangor Birdgroup -Alaska : Birds and Wildlife

Spectacled Eider is one of the many reasons I would like to go to Alaska. This Wednesday night at Bangor Bird-group local Ornitholidays Bird-guide Paul Rodgers will be giving us a talk on the Birds and Wildlife of Alaska. The talk will be in the usual venue in the ground floor lecture theater in the Brambell Building at the University of Bangor. Doors open at 7 for a 7.30 start. All welcome.