Two days wonderful birds and scenery

The best thing about guding in North Wales is the variety of birds and scenery in a small area. On Friday we ran one of our very popular "Best of North Wales Tours" and despite some grim weather we enjoyed a wonderfu day.


After a look at the seabird colony on the Great Orme, where we very lucky to see a Puffin a rare bird here, we headed inland. We were soon watching a pair of Ring Ouzels showing off very well up in the hills. A Red Kite drifted over these mountain blackbirds. A family of Stonechats were nearby and a Great spotted Woodpecker looked lost on a stonewall.



Next we enjoyed Buzzards, Ravens and a gang of Little Egrets on the Conwy river before heading further south into a forest area. A stunning male Redstart posed on a fence post, what a gorgous bird.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch as the rain came down, good timing. We then drove through Snowdonia but the views were a little hidden by the low cloud. But we enjoyed great looks at Wheatears and three Chough were a bonus.

Back on the coast the weather was much better and we quickly saw lots of new birds. Eider floated offshore with Great crested Grebes and Red breasted Mergansers. Three Sandwich Terns did a circuit of the bay. Maasses of Oystercatchers were roosting on the beach.

A wonderful day with over eighty species recorded at a relaxed pace with plenty of time to enjoy them all.

The following day we guided our "Best Of Anglesey Tour" which gives a whole host of different birds and habitats. Excitment came early as we heard news that a Common Rosefinch, a rarity in North Wales, was still at Point Lynas. We changed our plan and headed over. We were soon enjoying Black Guillemots, Shag and Manx Shearwaters but the rosefinch was keeping deep in cover. However, we did hear the bird singing his simple "pleased to meet you" song. In fact every time we decided to leave the rosefinch would sing again, though always out of sight!

It was a great area for bird and we had very good looks at Lesser Whitethroat, Chough and Crossbills flew over, a pair of Bullfinch were in the scrub and we also enjoyed Kestrel, Gannets and Common Whitethroat.

We walked back to the car park, intending to head off, but the Common Rosefinch decided to sing again! This close, very close, and after a tense few minutes of searching we had brief views of this elusive bird. Very happy group!

Next stop Cemlyn Lagoon which was alive the masses of terns, 2,200 pairs of Sandwich Terns are nesting this year a record number! We also had brilliant views of both Common and Arctic Terns. Two Mediterranean Gulls were great to see and a Kittiwake amongst the terns looked out of place. A lovely lunch at the nearby Jam Factory was very welcome.

Over to RSPB South Stack where the seabird colony gave the usual wow! The cliffs were thronged with birds and we just stood and stared. Puffins stole the show but gangs of noisey Chough right overhead vied for our attention. Singing Rock Pipit and passing Manx Shearwaters added to the scene. A stunning male Stonechat and more Chough showed off in the nearby fields.

A trnquil wetland area gave us yet another boost to our long list of birds. Both Great crested and Little Grebes were fishing by the reedbeds, Pochard and Tufted Duck dived further out, plenty of Gadwall too. A Sedge Warbler belted out it's song and a Reed Warbler skulked in the reed, a stunning male Reed Bunting posed on top of a reed. Orchids were all over the grassland. Just as we turned for home a Peregrine Falcon swept overhead and attacked a nearby flock of Starlings, great end to the day!

Come and join us soon for some great birdwatching soon!

info@thebiggesttwitch.com For details of all our day trips and tours. We have a new tour, to look for Honey Buzzards and migrant waders, 27 and 28 July 2013, sure to be great fun!