A Day on the Bay

Birding around Foryd Bay, North Wales

With the sun actually shining for once, we decided to put the admin on hold, grab our bins and make the most of it with some birding on Anglesey. But it looked like being one of those days. First we found ourselves in a long queue for the Britannia Bridge over to the island which was closed because of an overturned lorry carrying chickens.

Not quite the birds we had in mind so we decided on Plan B, to go birding around Foryd Bay. We escaped the traffic jam and all was going well until we reached the narrow lane which runs right along the edge of Foryd Bay. Then we met a large red sign saying 'Road Closed'. Yes, it really looked like being one of those days. But we weren't about to let a sign get in the way of our birding, so we cautiously continued down the lane. It was easy to see where the tide had recently completely covered the road as seaweed and stones still lay strewn all over it in many places, but we were able to carefully pick our way along the edge of Foryd Bay.

And the birds showed really well in the sunshine. We watched four Great Northern Divers feeding just offshore, diving and then returning to the surface with crabs which they would sometimes swallow whole.

Great views of Great Northern Diver

Great Crested Grebe dived in the shallows.

Great Crested Grebe close inshore

This Redshank's legs really glowed in the sunshine!

Even the humble Redshank looks stunning in the sunshine

It's not often you get to see the glorious green plumage on the head of a Goldeneye but in the sunshine we could really appreciate the colours of this close drake.

Have you ever really studied the plumage of a glorious Goldeneye?

There weren't many small birds about, but this Stonechat popped up on top of the hedgerow.

Stonechat popped up for a look at us

Fortified by a quick bacon butty in the Apron Cafe at Dinas Dinlle Airfield, we followed the footpath out across the marshes. It was great to be walking in the sunshine, though the hills of Snowdonia still looked very wintry in the background.

The hills of Snowdonia live up to their name

It was a very high tide and it was touch-and-go whether the footpath would be underwater or not.

The path was only just above the water

In the rough grass along the edge of the estuary we encountered good numbers of Skylarks and pipits.

Skylark could be hard to spot amongst the grasses

We scrutinised the pipits carefully, but they were all Rock Pipits, with their dirty-grey underparts.

Rock Pipit pottering about in the grass

Then one bird gave a higher pitched call and showed not only a white belly as it flew, but two clear white wing bars could easily be seen when it landed: Water Pipit. Unfortunately it didn't stay put long enough to get a photo of the bird, but here's where it was just a moment earlier!

Foryd Bay, there's a Water Pipit out there!

There were plenty of waders and wildfowl out on the bay...

Alan scans the huge expanse of Foryd Bay

... though with the tide so high, there was standing room only on one patch of exposed dry land.

Bird island!

The birds seemed very jittery for some reason...

Sky full of Lapwings

... the reason for their nerves became clear as a Peregrine Falcon tore past us at close range.

There's snow on them there 'ills!

We drove back along the shore of Foryd Bay. We stopped to watch the Carrion Crows showing off their special technique for cracking shellfish. The birds fly up in the air with the mussel in their bill and then drop the shellfish onto the stones to smash open. The crows then land and pick out the meat: clever stuff! And while we watched the 'Carrion carry-on', this Turnstone obligingly gave us very close views.

Close encounter with a Turnstone

It was time to go home, but just time enough to take one last photo of the interesting skies across the bay.



If you'd like to join us on one of our birdwatching daytrips around North Wales, do take a look at Guided Birdwatching Trips in North Wales for our next set departure daytrips. For more information or if you'd like to arrange a custom tour on a date just to suit you, please email us on info@thebiggesttwitch.com.

We look forward to hearing from you and sharing great birds with you!