Eagle Owl and Tree Pipit

Singing Tree Pipit - Great Orme

After a quiet week a few bits and pieces on the Ormes today. Highlight was a singing Tree Pipit on the Great Orme, the third year on the trot that this species has bred on the headland.

The Great Horned Eagle Owl is still present on the Little Orme and is slowly working its way through the local Fulmar population! The sooner this bird is caught the better. Henry Cook watched it land on a helpless Fulmar today, kill it and eat it. The Fulmar didn't put up much of a fight and seemed stunned as the Owl approached it and landed on it.

Julian Wheldrake reported Manx Shearwaters off the Little Orme mid week as well as a bizarre incident where a Crow was chased off the cliffs by hundreds ofJackdaws as it caught and carried away a poor Jackdaw chick! Seems like the Little Owrme cliffs are the killing fields at the moment!

Happy Birthday Great Orme Country Park

This weekend saw the 30th Anniversary of the Great Orme becoming a Country Park. Lots of events took place including Nature walks, Historical walks, a disply tent and discounts at all the attractions. Birds seen during the weekdn included Razorbill, Guillemot, Chough, Peregrine, Wheatear, Stonechat and Skylarks - all of which entertained the public. The children of Llandudno had a mask making competition and above are somne of the wining enteries with Chough, Gannet, Peregrine, and Little Owl all represented. The middle picture is the birdthday cake - what a fantastic work of art and a shame to cut into (however, it tasted very good too!).

Eagle Owl - Little Orme

Great excitement when a report of a Long eared Owl on the Little Orme came through earlier. However on closer inspection the bird in question was a fine Eagle Owl. Unfortunately it was immediately apparent that it wasn't a European bird but of the subspecies 'Subartica' which is found in Arctic Canada. The bird is much greyer than European birds. However, it was still an impressive sight and looked rather wild as it was mobbed by Jackdaws on the middle quarry cliff face of the Little Orme. Unfortunately it seemed to have already taken a liking to he blocal bird life and was sitting on a freshly dead bird with a white belly - Fulmar and male Peregrine came to mind!!

The bird has been traced to Bodafon farm Park and is a female called Danielle. It escaped when thieves broke in to try and steal a chick a pair had laid. Lets hope it's caught soon or we risk loosing a lot of the Little Ormes birdlife over the next few weeks.

30th Anniversary of being a Country Park

Early Purple Orchid on the Orme - there are a few left at various locations on the Headland. However, most have now disappeared. It is the 30th anniversary of the Great Orme becoming a Country Park this weekend and lots of events taking place tomorrow. These include guided walks, exhebitions, children's quizzes etc.

A week away - butterflies on the wing.

I've been away for he week down the Lleyn looking for migrants so I haven't given the Orme coverage this week. Julian Wheldrake has been out and about though and informs me that the Silver studded Blues - an Orme speciality are on the wing on the western slopes and above Llys Helyg. Also showing were Grayling (bottom photo), Small heath and Large Skipper (top photo). Birdwise a single Garden warbler was the only late migrant at the cemetery.