We headed west down the Llyn peninsula with the usual high hopes of finding something good in this far flung corner of North Wales. This under-watched area, lies close to Bardsey Island which regularly pulls in wonderful birds and we have always believed that at least some goodies must miss the island and make land-fall on the adjacent mainland. Over the years we, and a small number of other North Wales birders, have made rather sporadic attempts to cover the area with mixed results. When we say mixed that means mostly negative results, but with just enough success to keep us thinking next time we will find a mega!
This morning started well enough, we reached the lovely little village of Aberdaron soon after first light and found a first-winter Mediterranean Gull on the beach loafing around with a gang of Black-headed Gulls.
We headed out on to Uwchmynydd headland further west still and over-looking Bardsey Island to begin our search for migrants in urnest. A cool wind had sprung up, from the north-west, not hopeful for rarities. Very few birds were moving about apart from gangs of noisy charismatic local Choughs! Always a joy to watch these wonderful corvids, but where are the migrants? A small sheltered patch of sycamore trees looked just the spot for that mega bird, we sat down and waited. A movement, a warbler, a Chiffchaff, hopes dashed. Two more Chiffchaffs but that was it, so we moved on. We checked the network of small fields and found flocks of Linnets and Goldfinches, another moment of hope when a bunting flew up from a weedy patch and landed on a distant wire. A scramble to set up the scope, and a Reed Bunting came in to focus, damn!
A flock of thirteen Jays flew over high above, weird but not going to have us grabbing the mobile to let the birding world know.
As our thoughts turned to lunch we tried one more patch of willows before heading off back to Aberdaron in search of a café. The willows were pretty wind swept and appeared bird less. We moved to the sheltered side and immediately found three Chiffchaffs feeding above a wet area under the willows. Then came a call, no Chiffchaff this, it sounded like a Yellow-browed Warbler! We stood motionless and hardly dared breath, would it show, was it one? Movement in the willows close and below eye-level, then up it popped, Yellow-browed Warbler all green, white and stripy! Wow! What a lovely bird and here right in front of us showing off!
Luckily we had a mobile phone signal, unusual in these parts, so quickly alerted other birders. A friend of ours Stu was birding just down the road near the village but was a long way from his car, no problem; we will be there in minutes. We grabbed Stu off the roadside and dashed back and after a tense wait enjoyed great views. By now local birder Andy Clark had arrived and also enjoyed this tiny gem of a bird.
We our find now seen by others we were very happy to head off for that lunch, Stu joined us in the café and we toasted our success with mugs of hot chocolate, just the job!