Birders Diary 1 Cheshire talk and Great Orme
White crested helmet Shrike, South Africa
Last night we gave our new talk "Southern Africa - birding below the equator" to North Cheshire RSPB Group, in Warrington. Very glad to report the talk went down very well with the group, whew! Always a bit nerve racking giving a presentation for the first time, but we had plenty to talk about from trapped by bush fire, money laundering, illegal border crossings, sea-sickness, wonderful mammals and of course lots and lots of birds! If you have a group that would like an entertaining talk do get in touch.
Early morning and it was back to the Great Orme, Llandudno, the headland behind our house. Conditions looked good with calm overcast and a hint of drizzle in the air, would there be migrants? Short answer, no. At least two Common Snipe flew about overhead, scarce here, but that was about it. Flocks of Meadow Pipits moved around the limestone pavements but nothing rare amongst them.
Walking out to the cliff top above the lighthouse gives a good view of the cliffs below and the calm sea beyound. A Peregrine Falcon was sitting on a ledge gazing out to sea, perhaps wondering where are the migrants? Just below the falcon a pair of Chough were feeding on a grass ledge and it was just possible to get all three in one binocular view, nice.
Offshore a pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins were near the cliffs giving good views as the broke the surface of the calm sea. A surprise when eleven Common Eider flew in and landed, not a regular sight here at all. Further out small flocks of Common Scoter could be seen and a Red-throated Diver, still in breeding plumage, flew east.
Walking back to the car three Stonechats were sitting on the gorse bushes and a Sparrowhawk drifted slowly overhead as a Buzzard watched from a stonewall.
Not many migrants but a good morning in the field and there is always tomorrow....
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