A very small twitch
Any thoughts of breakfast went out of the window this morning when Rob Hughes called. Rob was down at nearby RSPB Conwy and had just discovered a Citrine Wagtail! Hectic phone calls and texts were sent then out of the door.
Nightmare, tractor on the road with a tail of cars behind, just what you don't need when on the way to see a rarity. Of course the tractor was going the same way, almost all the way to the reserve. We were imagining Rob telling us you should have been here a few minutes ago.
Finally reached the reserve and dashed towards the Benarth hide, on the estuary side of the reserve. Marc Hughes was walking back, he had beaten the tractor. Bad news, the Citrine Wagtail had flown off a few minutes ago, ahhhh!
Marc was pretty sure the rarity had landed again but had seen where. Change of plan we headed for the shallow lagoon and that is over looked by the coffee shop. No sign of the bird there.
Quick move along the boardwalk and down to the viewing screen. Plenty of Pied Wagtails on show but no sign of the bird. Plenty to see here, joined by Alex, we watched Green Sandpiper, Ruff, Black tailed Godwits and Common Snipe.
Had we missed this great bird? perhaps it did not land? Maybe it had moved on? Then my mobile came to life, it was Rob, the finder of the bird. He had just seen it again from the other side of the lagoon and thought we should be able to see it! Frantic scanning, then, bingo! The Citrine Wagtail was feeding on the far side of the lagoon at the base of a reedbed and very easy to overlook.
Then it was flying, oh no! The Citrine Wagtail flew behind an island and was lost to view, frustrating, but we had seen it.
We scanned the mud but no sign. We were just thinking of heading home when a movement caught our eye, the Citrine Wagtail was now much closer off to our right.
A lovely bird and great to see a first winter bird, amazingly RSPB Conwy has had two previous records of Citrine Wagtail both males and both Spring birds. Strange how a site can attract multiple records of a particular rarity. The reserve has also recorded three Wilson's Phalarope, a fourth would be very welcome!
We will be at the RSPB Conwy this Saturday 24th August from 10am - 12 noon showing people birds as part of "The Pledge to Fledge" global birding event. Do come along and share some great birds, it is free, and perhaps the Citrine Wagtail will still be about? Fingers crossed!
A huge thank you to Rob Hughes for finding this great bird and getting the news out so quickly so that others could enjoy the bird.
For details of Saturdays event or for details of our day trips and other birding trips simply email us on
info@thebiggesttwitch.com
We look forward to enjoying great birds with you soon.