Visitors from up north.

Alan met Graham Clarkson, an old friend, and Graham’s birdwatching group from Lancashire at Conwy RSPB. They come down for a days guided birding along the North Wales coast and luckily the weather was being kind to them. After the visitors drive we quickly got out in the warm autumn air and took the path along the estuary. This route gives stunning views across the Conwy Estuary to the medieval castle at Conwy and mountains beyond. Little Egrets fed in the channels as the tide fell and many Teal were on show. From the Benarth hide great views of Shoveler and Snipe with Little Grebes bobbing about on the open water. At the south end of the track they had great views of waders with both Black and Bar-tailed Godwits on show. Gangs of Wigeon were on the sandbanks and Red-breasted Mergansers dived for fish in the main river channel. A Raven sat up on a pine tree and Reed Buntings flitted through the reeds. Next stop was the Great Orme at Llandudno where the spectacular sea-cliffs never fail to impress visitors. Exploring the limestone pavement area Wheatears were soon in evidence and “cronking” Ravens overhead. Large numbers of Linnets, three Skylarks and a Stonechat were in the ploughed field. Migrants also included some very unlikely birds for this barren rocky landscape with Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Stock Dove all local rarities! Arriving at Llanfairfechan, to the west, the tide had just turned was creeping back up the beach pushing the birds closer. Ranks of Oystercatchers shuffled forward as the water rose calling excitedly. Redshank, Curlew, Turnstone and two Little Egrets all showed well. But it was the birds off shore that really took our attention, three breeding plumaged Red-throated Diver rode the tide with dozens of Great-crested Grebes. Gangs of Razorbills were diving for food often attracting gulls to try and mug the auks as they returned to the surface. A single Guillemot swam east very close in giving great looks and comparison with the winter plumaged Razorbills. A Gannet arrowed in to the sea and bobbed back up like a huge white cork. Cormorants, Shags and Red-breasted Mergansers all added to the scene. In the stream at the west end of the promenade a Dipper showed off on the rocks, a lovely dapper little bird. Lunch was enjoyed taking in all the action. Moving further west to Aber Ogwen just east of Bangor the timing was again perfect as the tide was pushing masses of birds in to the bay in front of the car park. Flocks of Wigeon were lining the incoming waters and amongst them a single Pintail. Flocks of waders wheeled over the shrinking mudflats with hundreds of Dunlin and two tight gangs of Knot. Walking around the pool and reaching the far hide the views were even better as the tide concentrated the hordes of birds. At least 14 Greenshank strode through the shallows and were joined by an elegant Spotted Redshank. It was great to have these two species and Redshank all in the same scope view! Little Egrets were arriving on the beach all the tide as the high tide roost gathered, over forty birds. Twenty-two Goosanders were in the main river and it again nice to compare, Goosander with adjacent Red-breasted Mergansers. A flock of Black-headed Gulls were scanned and a handsome Mediterranean Gull, a really smart bird. Black-tailed Godwit and Ringed Plover boosted the wader tally as we headed back to the car park and home. A great day birding with great company, hope we can do it again soon!



RSPB Conwy great place to start a days birding