Thursday and Friday were booked up for guided birding here in North Wales. On Tuesday we watched the weather forecast in grim silence. The whole of North Wales was under blue rain clouds and the presenter was telling of over an inch of rain on Thursday and Friday. Floods were mentioned and strong winds were likely! Great, how are we going to find birds in that? Well we nearly did not have to. Not surprisingly we were not the only ones watching the forecast and the phone soon rang. We of course understood entirely that the clients wanted to cancel, who would want to go birding in those conditions? Well one person did! Alan phoned Dave and explained about the awful weather and was very honest in saying birds would be very hard to see and perhaps he would like to choose another date? Dave was undeterred, he was looking forward to his two days birding with The Biggest Twitch and no way did he want to cancel. Torrential rain and wind was going to be tough. What could we see?
On Wednesday night the forecast was still very bad but arrangements were made to meet Dave in Mold at 6am on Thursday morning. The alarm went off and we lay in bed and listened for the torrential rain against the window, nothing. Peeping past the curtain no rain. Great at least the drive to Mold might be in the dry. It was and still no rain as we met at Tescos. There might not be rain yet but there was fog. Up on the moors we could barely see fifty meters. We drove slowly in the vain hope we might see anything. Suddenly two game birds were on the road, but no, not Black Grouse, but Red-legged Partridge. We reached the best area and stood in the thick fog. Male Black Grouse bubbled and cooed away on the moor, so close, but hidden in the cloud. Very frustrating, but at least it was not raining! We waited and listened, listened and waited but the fog refused to lift. We cut and ran, not far though, we soon found Whinchat, Wheatear and Cuckoo all close enough to see. Dropping down off the moor we left the fog behind and we enjoyed a singing male Common Redstart. Two Grey Wagtail skipped along the road and landed giving great views. A Dipper was next up. Then we heard a Pied Flycatcher singing and soon tracked it down, what a beauty. As we soaked up views of him both Nuthatch and Great spotted Woodpecker competed for our attention.
Breakfast next and we enjoyed a traditional fry-up and washed it down with mugs of tea, just great.
Back out for more birds and still it was not raining, this is great. Clocaneog Forest next and we were soon watching a flock of Common Crossbills dismantling pine cones right above us. A few meters away two Wood Warblers sang heartily and we soon found one of them showing nicely. What amazingly long wings these beautiful birds have, their whole body shudders with the effort of belting out their songs. Lots of Siskins about and we enjoyed close views of Goldcrests. Further into the forest a Tree Pipit posed on a fence wire and we could study the identification features.
Out of the woods and we headed for the moors again. En-route we screeched to a halt to admire a majestic Red Kite drifting over, and still no rain.
Up the moors the fog returned to haunt us and we could not find any Hen Harriers, mainly because we could not see where they should have been! But luck had not deserted us completely, a Red Grouse showed in the heather and we watched Dunlin and Common Sandpipers. As we headed down off the moor we again encountered a Red Kite, this time sat very close on a fence post, just magic.
We ended our birding with a brief visit to RSPB Conwy and as always added greatly to our day list. A Little Ringed Plover and two Greenshank were the highlights and a great end to a dry day! Tomorrow we head for Anglesey and the forecast is even worse, but after today, who cares?Would you like to come birding with The Biggest Twitch? Well now you can!
We are putting together a package of birding tours here in the UK, Europe and further a field using our huge experience to share our enthusiasm for birds, wildlife and wild places with you. We offer custom tours throughout the year in North Wales, day trips or longer to see all the special birds, dates to suit you. Who better to guide you than the author of “The Best Birdwatching Sites in North Wales”?
Highlights could include Red-billed Chough, Black and Red Grouse, Dipper, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Goshawk, Atlantic Puffin, Ring Ouzel, Hawfinch.  Expect to see a lot of birds!
info@thebiggesttwitch.com or call Alan on 07778 677141