RNP story

Since my chance encounter with the Ring necked Parakeet yesterday, I have been contacted by Dr Lionel Bloodsworth who lives on the estate. He took the cracking picture above. Apparently two birds have been around for quite a while and regularly feed on the garden feeders in the gardens here and seems to roost and rest in the large Spruce trees along the small track that runs parallel with the estate. The above picture appeared in the Daily Post last week and was referred to as a Green Parrot. Steve, how long has the Benllech bird been there? I could only see a female at llanrhos yesterday and as I could see Benllech from where I was, I wonder if the male has moved on. Will be good to be able to get this species on the county year list for 2012 if it hangs around.

Anglesey Ring necked Parakeet in Benllech

The male ring necked parakeet has been hanging out at SH 515824.
It has been between Fern Hill estate and Breeze Hill. Walk SW from the police station along the path that follows a stream through a linear woodland. The bird has been hanging around a garden in this area.

Titchwell "exilipes" Arctic Redpoll photos

Here's some shots I got of the Titchwell Arctic Redpoll on Monday. It was with a flock of about 20 lessers. There had been upto 3 Mealies in the flock but they didn't show when I was there.

Welsh lifer

Thanks to Marc's quick phone call managed to catch up with him and Alan to see the ring-necked parakeet, a Welsh lifer for me. As Marc says two are said to be in the area and a resident said the 'parrots' had been featured in a local newspaper recently.

Ring-necked Parakeet - two present for months!

It's already been twitched by a nameless top Welsh lister! However, it may prove to be a 2012 year list banker as according to the locals there have been two present in the area for months. They favour the gardens around the Coed-y-Glyn estate and frequent the bird tables on a daily basis.

Exotic Christmas gift

This colourful and noisy character flew in front of my car this morning and landed in a nearby tree. A Welsh tick for me so chuffed to bits. The female / 1st winter type bird was seen to the south of Llandudno on the road between Llanrhos and Deganwy, in the large garden which contains some 20-30 mature trees to the north of the Coed y Glyn housing estate. I hope she stays into the new year.

The Far East

Ventured over to the eastern border of North Wales today and eventually called in at Burton Mere Wetlands. Plenty of teal, shoveller and wigeon on the pools along with a flock of a couple of hundred lapwing which included 2 golden plover. Three Eurasian white-fronted geese dropped in along with 5 pink-footed geese. A dozen blackwits there and a few dunlin.
Work continues on the reserve, the sand martin bank is now finished to the left of the visitors centre and plans are afoot to build a 'birders' hide further along the bank without double-glazed windows to make better viewing and work proceeds with the path/boardwalk to IMF hide.
The Shotwick fields held 33 whooper swans, the great northern diver was still on Rhyl Marine Lake when called in on way back and 2 velvet scoters and a returning fulmar were off Llandulas.