It snowed in Llandudno today! We have pretty much missed out on all the snow here, despite all around being white. But today the snow settled in the streets here and looked like it was going to be a heavy fall. Ruth had a meeting in St Asaph to the east and did not fancy driving in heavy snow so Alan drove her to the seminar and then went birding in the snow.
Luckily the snow soon eased to a light fall and Alan headed down to the nearby coast at Kinmel Bay. The though of Snow Buntings in the snow was appealing, just one thing missing, the buntings. With no sign of the star birds a flock of Sanderling at the waters edge took the attention and photos were taken. While doing this small calls drew Alan’s attention and he looked down to see the five Snow Buntings shuffling along the shingle pretty close! Luckily the birds were feeding happily and gave wonderful views slowly moving across the beach at the edge of the snow, lovely sight.
Happy with these delightful birds it was time to pick up Ruth. Leaving the car park of the venue a Woodcock flew low over the parked cars! Seem to see this species all over the place at the moment.
A call told of a flock of Wood Larks back near home but Ruth had to head back to the office in Conwy. Alan went down to the stubble fields near Penrhyn Bay and was soon watching 14 Wood Larks in the snow, wow! These birds are very rare in Wales so a flock this was amazing to see. The larks were showing very well on a snow free area below some oak trees at the edge of the stubble. A small group of local birders soon gathered and enjoyed these birds.