Spurn Migration Festival - next weekend

Many North Wales birders enjoy a visit to the east coast every now and then to see migration in full swing. Bush bashinjg on the west coast can be rewarding but hard work compared to what goes on over on the east coast. Next weekend Spurn Bird Obs together with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and usder the leadership of Martin Garner are holding the first ever 'British' Migration Festival. There are a number of events going on including visible migration watches, bird ringing, moth trapping, talks and even a hog roast. More to be found here - http://birdingfrontiers.com/2013/08/24/what-they-are-saying/ and here http://www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/blog/post.php?s=2013-06-27-spurn-migration-festival-6th-8th-september-2013---a-first-for-britain

Lots going on....

Dotterel still Great Orme late afternoon at least. Stilt Sandpiper at Neumann's Flash, Northwich Cheshire. We will be at Pensychnant Nature Reserve just west of Conwy off Sychnant Pass Road tomoz, Sunday, from 10 - 4pm with the Leica Birdbox. Free draw for a pair of Leica bins, free cake and a cuppa, come along and talk birds, birding and bins. Also Focal Point Optics will be there to answer any questions and help with all your optics needs. Be an all day birders social! Hope to see you there. Alan and Ruth www.thebiggesttwitch.com

Dotterel on Great Orme

A juvenile dotterel was found on the Great Orme by Pete Alderton this morning, spending most of its time asleep on the limestone slope up towards the top cairn. First August record for me at this site. Made up for missing 2 in the spring.

Where are the birds?

Well the short answer is on the East coast from Shetland to Kent! Huge arrival of birds last two days including many scarce migrants and a scatter of rares. Wrynecks in particular arriving with up to 20 at Spurn alone! Must be a chance of some of these birds relocating to our coast in the next few days - get out and find them! Black Tern and Curlew Sandpiper at Morfa Madryn today, only local news, unless you have seen something? We have one place left on our Norfolk Migration trip Monday 23 Sept - Weds 25 September come and join us for great birds and great fun. Alan and Ruth info@thebiggesttwitch.com

Citrine Wagtail - Conwy RSPB

A super find by Rob H of a first winter Citrine Wagtail, good to secure some nice close views

 

 

More pics of this bird on the blog below:

 

http://birdingnorthwales.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/citrine-wagtail-3rd-record-for-conwy.html

At last a rare bird!

Rob Hughes, fresh back from Fair Isle broke the rarity drought this morning when we found a first winter Citrine Wagtail. Still present early pm at least. Managed to get some ok record shots have a look at www.thebiggesttwitch.com for more details and the photos. Many thanks to Rob for finding this great bird and for getting the news out quickly. Alan and Ruth info@thebiggesttwitch.com

Funky Chickens

Happened to be in the car just before 2pm today and tuned in to Radio 4.  There was an interesting article on Prairie Chickens in Kansas.  Looks like it was first run back in 2011, but it was the first time I had heard it.  You can listen to it at:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0150p92

There appears to be three separate series, with a number of episodes.  Hope that someone finds them of interest.

Martin