North Wales at its best
We have just done six days back-to-back guiding here in North Wales and what an amazing six days it was! It really brings home to you what a wonderful area we live in with an array of diverse habitats, all within easy reach, and a wealth of great birds.
Our resident birds showed off in great style with close up views of Chough at South Stack and Cemlyn, with Dipper and Grey Wagtail in the same scope view! Stonechats were seen regularly at coastal sites and hunting Peregrines set our pulses racing. Black Guillemots showed off. Hawfinch at a traditional site was great to see and both Goosander and Red-breasted Mergansers were seen at a number of sites.
October has a great mix of birds with some of our summer birds still with us, a highlight being lovely views of Ring Ouzel. A late Willow Warbler was a surprise as was a Redstart, and still we enjoy Swallows passing through.
Passage migrants were a real thrill and we encountered some amazing birds. A Yellow-browed Warbler which gave stunning views near Holyhead was a real treat. We found two Lapland Buntings both of which we had prolonged views of. A Richard's Pipit was seen at Penmon Point. A juvenile Osprey was lingering on Anglesey at the same site we had great views of a Spoonbill and Pale-bellied Brent Geese. We logged a record count for Anglesey of 23 Mediterranean Gulls, and they were very close indeed.
Our trip to the Dee Estuary produced great birds, five Whooper Swans got the day off to a great start. A Marsh Harrier, at least two Hen Harriers and a Peregrine were watched hunting the marshes. A Great White Egret was off Parkgate where Spotted Redshank and Greenshanks were on the pools as a flock of Pink-footed Geese fed beyound. Ruff showed well amongst flocks of Black-tailed Godwits and Common Snipe.
Seawatching produced Great Skua, Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Arctic and Sandwich Terns. Flocks of Common Scoter were offshore with Eider, Razorbills, Guillemots and Great Crested Grebes.
A wonderful six days packed with amazing birds in beautiful scenery and all at a relaxed pace allowing lots of time to really enjoy all the birds.
Come and join us soon for the very best in birdwatching.
Contact us on
info@thebiggesttwitch.com for details of all our days out and tours.
We look forward to hearing from you and sharing great birds with you!