With Ruth safely dropped off at work Alan sneaked off for a quick hour or two of birding. Where to go? As always we are very lucky and spoilt for choice so many good birding sites nearby. A report of some 8,000 Common Scoter just along the coast at Llandulas sounded interesting surely a chance of a vagrant Surf Scoter amongst them? But the sea was pretty choppy so no chance of finding a rarity in these conditions. A quick rethink required. A sheltered spot was needed so down the Conwy valley and Caerhun near Tal-y-cafn. Caerhun is a beautiful place with a 13th century church on the site of a Roman Fort overlooking the River Conwy. It has ancient Yew trees which can on occasion attract a very special bird, the Hawfinch. This muscle bound finch which has a massive bill capable of crushing cherry stones like to feed on Yew berry seeds. A good look around the church yard produced not one Hawfinch. Scanning the river below produced a good selection of birds including a gang of noisy Shelduck, Common Redshank and great views of a Common Buzzard sat on a fence post hoping for a passing rodent. The grass around the church was awash with Snow Drops forming a stunning white carpet around the ancient grave stones.
With no Hawfinches on show it was time for plan B, or was it now plan C? Not far away lies another church at Llanbedir-y-cennin and like Cearhun has ancient yews and sometimes Hawfinches. A walk up the narrow lane past the church soon produced the goods! A soft tick call first gave away the presence of the finches. Suddenly four of these heavy bull necked birds were flying low overhead, great! Luckily the birds turned and flew back and landed in top of a bare oak. The scope was quickly set up and the birds were in view. The light was poor so no decent photos were possible but the scope views were good. The Hawfinches were in no hurry to move on and sat preening and surveying their surroundings, wonderful birds. As the Hawfinches showed off a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed its territorial claim and gave hope that Spring is not that far away.
Roll on Wheatears, Ring Ouzels and Sand Martins!