Blusterly day on the Great Orme
With a cold northerly wind blowing it didn’t look very encouraging for a walk on the Orme, but with the sun shining we thought we’d brave the winds anyway. A dog walker on the path just ahead of us made us feel even more disheartened about the prospect of seeing any birds before we’d even started, but we’d made the effort to go out so we weren’t giving up now.
In the fields bordering the limestone pavement area we were fascinated to watch a mixed gang of corvids sorting out the pecking order at a sheep carcase. The huge Raven was in charge and tore meat from the exposed rib cage until his crop bulged. When he headed off to the cliffs, no doubt to feed a hungry brood, a Magpie instantly took his place and grabbed a beakful of food, before himself being displaced by a raucous gang of Carrion Crows. Minutes later, the Raven swept back across the field and slammed into the crows, scattering them to the winds. He had reclaimed the carcase.
Out on the limestone area, a few Wheatears sheltered from the wind and a male Blackbird had us thinking ‘Ring Ouzel’ for a split second before we got a good look. Disappointed with our lack of Ouzels, we turned for home only to see a brown blur twisting and turning over the gorse just yards away. A female Merlin was jinking and jiving in hot pursuit of a Meadow Pipit which tried to shake off its attacker. Unable to outwit this avian Red Baron in the air, the Mipit plunged headlong for cover into the gorse bush just millimetres away from certain death from the wicked talons of the Merlin. Thwarted, the Merlin bombed off across the headland in search of easier prey.
A distinctive call from behind had us turning around and gazing upwards as a pair of Chough flew inland, cruising right over our heads, their red bills and legs showing clearly in the sunshine.
We weren’t done quite done with raptors as we turned our backs to the wind and returned to the car. As we walked along the footpath, a Peregrine powered its way along the cliff edge towards its nesting point near the tip of the headland, always a great sight to see such a powerful falcon slicing through the air.
Back at home on the computer again, the clouds have gathered and the sun’s disappeared, so we don’t feel quite so guilty for our quick escape out into the blustery morning.