Best of North Wales November

We spent a wonderful day guiding, with Paul and Katie, one of those days that really shows what an amazing place North Wales is for birds and birdwatchers! We met at RSPB Conwy and soon headed down the Conwy Valley. A Whooper Swan was our first surprise, not a bird we see here often. This was quickly followed by another great bird - a Hen Harrier! The rare raptor was in the mood to show off and floated over the reeds. Then to our amazment and pleasure the harrier landed on a log and we soaked up the views. Then things got even better as the Hen Harrier moved closer and landed again in full view. Through the telescopes we could see every detail, suddenly the bird was airborn again and was immediatly mobbed by two Carrion Crows and a real "dog-fight" began with the Harrier really putting on a show, wow!

Back to the coast and we timed our arrival for the high tide. Masses of waders and wildfowl were pushed close by the rising waters, Pintail and Wigeon fed on the flooded saltmarsh as ranks of roosting Oystercatchers, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin gathered on the shingle spit.

The nearby pools held more roosting waders and we enjoyed views of two Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit amongst more Redshank and Dunlin. Both Little Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers show off here. Skylarks were above us and Goldfinch flew over.

A stop at a nearby fast flowing river we were thrilled by two Dippers feeding in the tumbling waters. What lovely birds, they threw themselves into the water to pop up cork like and jumped out onto a rock to repeat the whole thing, magic!



We headed over the Menai Strait and onto Anglesey, we were soon at Beddmanarch Bay and enjoying close up views of pale-bellied Brent Geese, newly arrived from Arctic Canada! There was lots to see here, an Eider dived in the bay with Great crested Grebes, Turnstones and Ringed Plovers roosted with Dunlin on the small beach and nearby rocks. A lovely adult Mediterranean Gull was amongst a flock of Black-headed Gulls and then we picked out a second Med, this time a first-winter bird.







A short drive took us to Holyhead Harbour and almost instantly saw two Black Guillemot on the sheltered waters of the harbour. We had brilliant views of these lovely pie-bald auks and saw another five!





Up at RSPB South Stack we marveled at the stunning scenery, what a sea and sky scape! The strong wind was whipping the sea into a frenzy and even at our height way above we felt spray in our faces! Chough soared and swooped through the air, loving the wind as only they can. Kittiwakes and Gannets were fighting the gale as they made slow head-way past the lighthouse. Stonechats chased around the small fields and we had great views in the sunshine. A Chough was found feeding in a cattle field and we had amazing views as it picked through a cow pat with enthusiasm! At the nearby Inland Sea a Slavonian Grebe dived for fish and nearby two Rock Pipits strutted by the roadside.







Back to RSPB Conwy and we added lots of birds to our already very impressive list. Wildfowl were well represented with Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck and Pochard all showing off. Lots of Common Snipe were all around the lagoons and it was great fun picking them out amongst the rocks and reeds, the more we looked the more we saw!







It had been a brilliant day really show casing just what an amazing place North Wales is for enjoying great birds in stunning places! Huge thanks to Paul and Katie for making it such a fun day, hope we see them again soon!

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