With Ruth down in Oxford seeing her mum Alan made a very early start on Saturday morning. He headed west in the vain hope he could relocate the Royal Tern which had not been seen since Monday, some chance!
Starting at Llanfairfechan he worked the coast west to Bangor but of course there was no sign of the Royal Tern, no surprise. Lots of Little Egrets were a feature of the morning with birds at all sites visited including Conwy RSPB reserve which was checked quickly on the way home.
At ten o’clock Alan went to friends of ours in Llandudno Junction to help them with moving house down the Conwy valley to Trefriw. Five hours of hard work later the majority of heavy items were moved and Alan headed back to Llandudno for a hoped for rest.
Just as he reached the front door his mobile rang, a report of a possible royal tern at Llandudno! Surely not? Alan hurried to the window over-looking Llandudno bay raised his binoculars and could not believe his eyes, a large tern was flying across the bay close in-shore! A mad panic to set up the telescope, adjust the focus, and yes, a large tern with a bright orange bill! Surely it must be the Royal Tern, from our front room window just incredible.
A very quick call to Ted Abraham giving him details to update Birdline Wales and North West then Alan was out of the door and running towards the promenarde on his mobile constantly alerting other birders. Arriving breathless amongst the Saturday crowds of ice-cream eaters and punch and judy show watchers he scanned the bay. Panic, he could not see it. A small wooded jetty stuck out into the bay and Alan dashed to the end for a better view narrowly avoiding knocking several small children into the mud below! Skidding to a halt on the slippery wood at the end another scan and yes there was the tern! Much closer now and wonderful views were enjoyed with the scope. The mobile was ringing constantly and distracted Alan. One caller was Marc Hughes who had just arrived on the beach and was asking for directions. Alan said where he had last seen it, about half-way along the bay in front of the Victorian Hotels but had now lost sight of it. Marc had it and told Alan it was flying towards the wooded jetty. At first he could not see it then Marc said “it must be very close” and he was right! Alan had been looking to far away the Royal Tern was almost on top of him, wow! As they watched the tern rose up and flew west over the roofs of the hotels and was lost to view.
The mobile was again in action and birders were told to head for the west shore at Llandudno in the hope the bird could be relocated there. A small group of local birders gathered here, including some that had missed the bird at Black Rock last Monday, tension was high as they scanned the huge bay that stretches to Anglesey. Time past and no sign, either here or back at north shore where it was first seen. Then suddenly Alan had it again off west shore flying east, luckily everyone present got on it before it was lost behind the Great Orme, not a great view but a whole better than no view!
They all dashed back to north shore but the tern beat them to it and was showing off patrolling up and down just off the promenarde giving wonderful views. More birders were arriving all the time and very relieved to see this mega rarity showing off. But not for long, it soon flew north-west past the pier and was lost to view about 5.45pm and was not seen again by dusk except for a very brief report at 8.10pm by a few birders.
We would never have guessed the Royal Tern would be seen here in Llandudno just fantastic!