tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57242310985184644092024-02-18T20:11:17.071-08:00Great and Little Orme BirdingBirds and Wildlife blog of the Great Orme Country Park and Little Orme LNR, ConwyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-44582095441131183072013-06-11T13:35:00.000-07:002013-06-11T13:38:13.945-07:00Late Spring finally delivers!Subalpine Warbler - June 8th, 2013. A Goodie at last!
It's been a long hard spring on the Orme with not many migrants and only a few expected goodies turning up - Dotterel, Firecrest and Lapland Bunting. I was about to give up for the summer to be honest, however yesterday's Paddyfield Warbler on Bardsey gave me the boost for one last push on the headland.<br />
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The morning started well with a nice singing male Whinchat in the cemetery and a couple of Willow Warblers that looked new arrivals; things were looking up. I walked along the wall towards the limestones, checking the bushes as I went. A nice Goldcrest was an unusual June migrant and again gave me some hope that migration wasn't over. As I approached the main patch of hawthorns a small grey warbler flew into a hawthorn and immediately flew out and back along the wall from where I had come from. The brief view was enough to excite me and I retraced my steps. The Goldcrest was still present and I decided to attract it closer with a bit of pishing. What happened next, I didn't expect. A head popped out of the nearest hawthorn.........Subalpine warbler!<br />
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Luckily Pete Alderson was in the cemetery so I phoned him. I didn't actually see the bird again in the next 20 minutes as I waited for him to arrive. And as I had only seen the head, I started to doubt myself. I'm sure the bird uttered a quiet but harsh 'teck' sound from deep within the bush so was confident it was still there.<br />
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Pete arrived and after a short wait, the bird performed well and a few pics were obtained. Rob Sandham then jogged up the path and the bird showed well to the four of us present. <br />
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This is the first record for the Great Orme, and the third for the county of Conwy. The other two were in a Llandudno garden in May 2000, while the other was in Penmaenmawr, also in May 2000. Just six have been recorded in North Wales outside of Bardsey, which holds the monopoly on the species with an incredible 26 records! Surely the best site in the UK to see this species. This bird, follows hot on the heels of the popular Uwchmynydd male in April of this year.<br />
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Just goes to show, even when you feel like giving up, the good one might be around that next corner. <br />
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Spring is not over yet - June 2nd, 2013
A few bits and pieces are still on the move, and hope is not all; lost yet of a goodie or two before the spring is out. The last few days have seen a good arrival of Spotted Flycatchers on the end of the Lleyn and on Bardsey. On Friday morning, I had 40+ birds around the Aberdaron headland early morning along with 2 Whinchat and 4 Lesser Whitethroats. Bardsey had a similar number of birds on the island as well as a nice singing 1st summer male Common Rosefinch.<br />
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Back to the Great Orme this monring and a new bird for the year came in the form of a smart Hooded Crow in the Sheep fields. The bird, which looks every bit the real deal, is associating with a group of nine or ten Carrion Crows and seems to be frequenting the fence posts in the centre of the fields. It was also seen near the cairn. Two groups of Crossbills moved west early morning with one flock of 18 and another of 7 including some singing males! Very strange hgearing them sing in flight as they flew over.<br />
Finally a smart female type Yellow Wagtail was on the limestone pavements, associating with some 5 Wheatears.<br />
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Still time for the biggie :-)<br />
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This morning's female type Yellow Wagtail on the Great Orme limestone pavements.
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An arrival 40+ Spotted Flycatchers on the Lleyn on Friday was cool, however it was eclipsed by the 1000+ that arrived at Portland Bill the following morning!!<br />
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Plenty of local birds on show on the Great Orme at the moment, including Kestrels, Stonechats, Peregrines, Black Guillemots, Chough, Ravens and Wheatears.</div>
Up close and personal with a Dotterel - June 25th, 2013
I was up with the sunrise this morning on the Great Orme - stunning! Almost immediately after arriving I stumbled upon a point blank range Dotterel on the limestones. It was still there at 9.45am at least and looked settled.<br />
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A fine female type Common Redpoll flew into the hawthorns, part of a movement of 70+ Lesser Redpoll (of which a few others could have been Common too). Three Stock Dove were a patch year tick for me, which Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Pipit, a few Siskins and 10 Wheatears were also migrants.<br />
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This fine male Dotterel was quite a late migrant for the Orme with most passing through in April and early May. I almost stood on it before I spotted it and then enjoyed lying in the grass while it ran around me.<br />
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Redpolls on the move today, mostly nice Lessers like this one. However, one fine Common Redpoll alighted briefly in the Hawthorns revelaing all the features needed to clinch it.<br />
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The Orme Berry (Cotoneaster Cambricus)- the only place in the world to find this rare plant. I found a few this morning whilst mooching around.
Hen Harrier - May 18th, 2013
A ringtail Hen Harrier was the highlight this morning on the Orme. The bird appeared over the reservoir area from the SW and continued on gaining height to the NE, disappearing to view over the wind turbines. The first I've seen here for over two years. A Spotted Flycatcher was at the back of the cemetery and Pete Alderson had a male Whinchat below the summit.<br />
Migrants this week have included Yellow Wagtails, up to four different Whinchats, max counts of 7 Tree Sparrow and a few Sedge Warblers amongst the usual migrants.<br />
The feathers below were found and look like the sad end to a poor migrating Wheatear. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KsTjwCcfliCCJV4PWc9jEVR1aY580yIPTcMeGuxbUxgGp2ZwbBo4xbQtNbqyocTzSiV_zln6aDwOOAm10iThikmGZEInX6SQsY5zqB7zXTtaNMelNgYlZfjMwyW5pXIt5mVf7uDk9yWh/s640/blogger-image--1338193111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KsTjwCcfliCCJV4PWc9jEVR1aY580yIPTcMeGuxbUxgGp2ZwbBo4xbQtNbqyocTzSiV_zln6aDwOOAm10iThikmGZEInX6SQsY5zqB7zXTtaNMelNgYlZfjMwyW5pXIt5mVf7uDk9yWh/s640/blogger-image--1338193111.jpg" /></a></div>
On May 19th, Pete Alderson and Alan Davies scored with a superb Marsh Harrier that flew north over the limestone pavement - a good record for the Orme.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-31747827473963415632013-05-11T02:41:00.002-07:002013-05-11T02:46:51.939-07:00The spring so far - 2013March 16th, 2013<br />
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Target bird on the Orme early morning was Wheatear. My average earliest date over the past 20+ years has been March 16th so today was as good a day as any for seeing my first of the year. With the first Orme record of the year appearing over a week ago when Ray Tilsley had one on March 8th, and a record of one from Cwm Prysor on the very early date of March 2nd, I half expected one today. I wasn't disappointed either with a lovely male near the cairn - a very blue and white bird, very different to the 'Greenland' birds that pass through next month.<br />
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Apart from some lovely Rock Pipits (below) and Meadow Pipits displaying, and a few Redwings in the gorse, the limestones were pretty quiet. A scan of the sea produced many flocks of Common Scoter moving west. I soon realised that this was an unprecedented movement with literally thousands of seaduck passing the headland and landing on the sea to the North West of the Orme. It didn't take long to pick out a few Velvet, with seven in total picked up in three groups. As the flocks began to reduce in size and frequency I noticed a 'white' duck followed one group. As it approached I was thrilled to see that it was a drake Long tailed Duck; I think this is my first for the Great Orme - bingo! Several Great crested Grebes, Red throated Divers, Auks and Red breasted Mergansers off here too. The scoters seemed to drift west towards Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan - an opportunity to score with a Surf Scoter off here perhaps?<br />
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This morning's early Wheatear - on the western cliffs by the Cairn.<br />
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At least eleven Rock Pipits counted around the Marine Drive, many of which were displaying.<br />
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March 17th, 2013<br />
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I got caught in a blizzard on the limestone pavements this morning - quite an experience. It felt more like the Arctic Tundra rather than the Orme! A single Chiff-chaff was in the Hawthorns - my first of the year here. Five Fieldfare were grounded in the snow storm, but soon took off high to the north as the sky cleared. A single Black Guillemot, again my first of the year was close inshore below the lighthouse. Later, during a run around the Marine Drive I was accompanied by flive superb Bottle nosed Dolphins just offshore and a little while later a couple of Porpoise by the pier.<br />
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One Purple Sandpiper remains at Rhos on Sea with 100+ Turnstones and as I walked back home from a family walk a scan of the breakwater produced a fine drake Eider. I popped down in the car but failed to find the Eider again. However, three lovely Common Scoter were on the breakwater along with 20+ Wigeon. Ten Red breasted Merganser and 3 Red throated Diver were also offhsore. 3 Grey Plover were nice to see roosting at high tide.<br />
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Unfortunately on closer inspection the female Common Scoter seemed to have fishing wire wrapped around it; perhaps the reason it was so close inshore?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmEhHJGJTSK7uGLWSgB_-wjATl3v_tF2-D4x1jIMe8Mwjz9BWWamXsgKUo-wTW7WKz4UNCCvz-bBx4HFrUvsP6UNgiQEI81ATaJ8EFbPFVWKso0Lv6c10Z0CfujjBcyQkGixP73kXmpSo/s1600/17-3+c+scoter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmEhHJGJTSK7uGLWSgB_-wjATl3v_tF2-D4x1jIMe8Mwjz9BWWamXsgKUo-wTW7WKz4UNCCvz-bBx4HFrUvsP6UNgiQEI81ATaJ8EFbPFVWKso0Lv6c10Z0CfujjBcyQkGixP73kXmpSo/s320/17-3+c+scoter2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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You can see the fishing wire wrapped around the breast of the female. The last Common Scoter I had on sitting on the breakwater had a plastic drink bottle wrapped around its neck! <br />
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April 4th, 2013<br />
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A fine male Black Redstart was on the Great orme this morning. It first showed at point blank range on the wall by the hawthorns but unfortunately flushed when it saw me and flew to the boulders in the sheep field. Although distant it could be seen hopping around this area. Our variation of Black redstart is called <em>Phoenicurus ochruros ssp. gibraltariensis </em>the males of which show a sooty black cao, back and lower belly. Last week I was struck by how different the Iberian sub-species looked <em>Phoenicurus ochruros ssp. aterrimus;</em> it was jet black in comparison, especially on the back and lower belly. <br />
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Two bad pictures I know but the difference can be seen below. The Portuguese bird was taken last week at Europes most south-westerly point, Cape St. Vincent, while the second photo shows a Great Orme bird taken in the last week of March, 2012.<br />
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There's also a female Black redstart on the Orme at the moment above the Gun-site, while 6 Northern Wheateasr and 5 Sandwich terns were the only other birds of note this morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCpZD2yPlA80JXL6dq19Fk-e3fkfHnh_40X-KSndE1RgR3Kz1XZspVRQ_j10H_7XuobvLHPSdgH5JZa4hrnCa_5DHPsMVh57lo0qhEUh5dhFpsOh_E3GyzzuzaGRWIs0PkXikyy7CiVQv/s1600/black-red-cape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCpZD2yPlA80JXL6dq19Fk-e3fkfHnh_40X-KSndE1RgR3Kz1XZspVRQ_j10H_7XuobvLHPSdgH5JZa4hrnCa_5DHPsMVh57lo0qhEUh5dhFpsOh_E3GyzzuzaGRWIs0PkXikyy7CiVQv/s320/black-red-cape.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<em>Phoenicurus ochruros ssp. aterrimus - </em>Cape st. Vincent, Portugal March 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35Ab3fDZI2gOBAmNaUfCchlUz3_7F0h-IhF__s1fwdfHOopl50puMFsJknvlSBbHT9rSnLG5WNto-A7gaw4Gtro9zMTpyjhyphenhyphenqoPd0linMRCcdwUXVooGmXVNKmZgJOW5T49dzvAfquvAb/s1600/Orme+Black+Red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35Ab3fDZI2gOBAmNaUfCchlUz3_7F0h-IhF__s1fwdfHOopl50puMFsJknvlSBbHT9rSnLG5WNto-A7gaw4Gtro9zMTpyjhyphenhyphenqoPd0linMRCcdwUXVooGmXVNKmZgJOW5T49dzvAfquvAb/s320/Orme+Black+Red.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<em>Phoenicurus ochruros ssp. gibraltariensis - </em>Great Orme , March 2012<br />
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April 6th, 2013<br />
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Two Black Redstarts were on the Great Orme today - a male on the cliffs at the very end of the gunsite track. The bird could be seen distantly from the path but could be heard beautifully as it sang during the windless afternoon. A female bird was also reported.<br />
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Two Ring Ouzels have spent the last few days on the western cliffs. To see these birds it's best to nestle down in amongst the cliffs and wait and they soon pop out of the crevices and feed amongst the scree.<br />
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A Woodcock showed well along Llys Helyg Drive giving a couple of flybys in the bright sunshine. Early morning saw an arrival of thrushes overnight with six Blackbirds and three Son Thrushes in the heather and gorse at the far end of the limestones. As the sun came up they took to the skies and flew high south-east over Llandudno. Five Wheatears, three Siskin and a Great Tit were the only other migrants present. <br />
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South-easterly winds tomorrow. Hopefully the start of the migrant rush!<br />
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April 13th, 2013<br />
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Many more birds on the Great Orme this morning. Highlight of the morning were excellent point blank views of a <strong>Grasshopper Warbler</strong> in the dead bracken behind the churchyard. Five <strong>Tree Pipits</strong> 'buzzed' overhead during the morning with one grounded bird also behind the churchyard. <strong>Northern Wheatears</strong> were on the move with several waves of birds appearing. At least 50 birds were present, possibly many more. Amongst them were a couple of fine Greenland birds, stunning in the early morning sunshine. 500+ <strong>Meadow Pipits</strong> were present with birds seemingly everywhere at times. A nice movement of 25+ <strong>Goldcrests</strong> were on the headland with several birds making their way along the stone wall and most gorse bushes containing at least one bird. The first hirundines of the year up here consisted of six <strong>Swallows</strong> through and a couple of <strong>Sand Martins</strong>. Four <strong>Redwing,</strong> 2 <strong>Fieldfare</strong> and 3 presumed 'continental' <strong>Song Thrushes</strong> were resting before flying high in to the sky and continuing on their journey. Three <strong>Willow Warblers </strong>were new in and were joined by a few singing <strong>Chiff-chaffs.</strong> A <strong>White Wagtail</strong> was picked out amongst the six <strong>Pied Wagtails</strong> seen while a few <strong>Redpoll </strong>and <strong>Siskin</strong> passed overhead.<br />
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A <strong>Golden Plover</strong> called over head and presumably came down in the sheep fields, while a male Yellowhammer flew west without stopping. Two lovely <strong>Black Guillemots</strong> were close in below the cliffs and look set to breed. 15 <strong>Magpies </strong>were possibly migrants as were the 24 <strong>Woodpigeon</strong>, 2 <strong>Mistle Thrushes</strong> and 2 <strong>Collared Dove</strong> flying west. Surprise of the mornings sessions was a female <strong>Pheasant </strong>lurking deep in a gorse bush at the north end. Where had it come from or going to?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStCMYmJd5VC7liSOBC353bcTTIgFzSnWqC6fMYueD_PEVcERT8wHSWt_wUFtuUkR70YzxAGK0052d9W0H7_Am2PJ2FlPrGL63p8pvN1oM7KVj1-z3O5kKNBlbETWHocLmY-NuezDm13qo/s1600/13-4+Black+Guillemot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bua="true" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStCMYmJd5VC7liSOBC353bcTTIgFzSnWqC6fMYueD_PEVcERT8wHSWt_wUFtuUkR70YzxAGK0052d9W0H7_Am2PJ2FlPrGL63p8pvN1oM7KVj1-z3O5kKNBlbETWHocLmY-NuezDm13qo/s320/13-4+Black+Guillemot.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Looks like Black Guillemots are breeding once again on the Great Orme with up to three pairs being seen below the lighthouse area this week. The two above were seen from the limestone pavements and could be picked out at some distance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QpeGCuTGfQ3QeMy217kEX2cGbjg70xw_D360yoQqfP-xVrxSgQB1t_idSDl6NJqlyG-RwTS0TKaUY2-Rt9E9IE87Jp1QlAXbWKnmx5K_Mk_QdM9qjp-GP3Yno-modj6_HqtT7hpaMGDL/s1600/13-4+Pheasant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bua="true" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QpeGCuTGfQ3QeMy217kEX2cGbjg70xw_D360yoQqfP-xVrxSgQB1t_idSDl6NJqlyG-RwTS0TKaUY2-Rt9E9IE87Jp1QlAXbWKnmx5K_Mk_QdM9qjp-GP3Yno-modj6_HqtT7hpaMGDL/s320/13-4+Pheasant.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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I didn't expect this beady eye peering back at me as I peered into a gorse bush on the limestone pavements. I have seen the odd one in the farm area of the Orme but can't ever recall seeing one on the limestones. I later flushed it again from the bracken above the churchyard. Had it 'come in off the sea'? !!l<br />
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April 17th, 2013<br />
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A superb early morning walk on the Great Orme this morning saw hundreds of birds on the move. Mike Nesbitt had seen and photographed a Dotterel on the limestone pavements last night and hopes were high that it was still there. Alean arrived with a tour group and we set off it different directions in search of our quarry. Within minutes I almost trod on the lovely little plover as it ran up the path in front of me. Result! I was soon joined by Alan, the group and Pete Alderson and we watched the male Dotterel perform in front of us. Unfortunately it wasn't seen after we had seen it with a Sparrowhawk getting the blame for spooking it and making it take flight.<br />
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Tree Pipits were buzzing overhead and as many as seven passed over during the next hour amongst the many Meadow Pipits. Ring Ouzels were putting on a good show with at least five birds present in the sheep fields; their chack, chacking call giving away their presence. While watching the Ouzels, Alan called out a nice female Black Redstart amongst them. The bird was still present at 10am when Julian Wheldrake saw it. A few Swallows passed west as did a group of 15 Siskin and some Chaffinches.<br />
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As I returned to the car to get to work, Wheatears were pouring in from the sea. At least 20-30 birds were around the car park with over double that around the headland. At least one of the birds was a cracking male 'Greenland' Wheatear.<br />
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Yesterday, Pete Alderson had stonking views of a Short eared Owl as it sheltered from the wind amongst the grass tussocks on the pavements.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcjv15Zpm86D_MSE0QVl8P8N5g9b_DYuQcjZA7nT8WA9by_VvvhX-jaHvsx9H-_pdTHdclLEtqzQARw_46BBa7lyEdeYkpY4HUsV61WtzO5YB-XYAZpl1xU_u3N-KujRLI0W2BVExh2mX/s1600/17-4Dotterel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcjv15Zpm86D_MSE0QVl8P8N5g9b_DYuQcjZA7nT8WA9by_VvvhX-jaHvsx9H-_pdTHdclLEtqzQARw_46BBa7lyEdeYkpY4HUsV61WtzO5YB-XYAZpl1xU_u3N-KujRLI0W2BVExh2mX/s320/17-4Dotterel.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Always a thrill to see. Hopefully not the last of the spring. A nice bright female would be good. <br />
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April 20th, 2013<br />
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A beautiful morning on the Orme today with perfect light and calm winds. Highlight was a cracking male Lapland Bunting that flew low over the north end, calling at 10am. It sported a jet black throat and upper chest and gleaming white belly. Five Ring Ouzels were in their usual spot, ranging from the hawthorns to the boulders in the sheep fields. Chris had another three in Bishop's Quarry! Two Common Redstarts were present, my first up here this year, while a female Black Redstart continued the excellent run of this species on the headland in 2013. Three Tree Pipits flew over while other migrants included 4 White Wagtails, 40+ Wheatears, including several 'Greenland' type birds, small groups of Siskins and Redpolls and a scattering of phyllosc warblers and Goldcrests. A female Merlin has been present for a few days and put in the briefest of appearances this morning and Rob Sandham scored with a male Yellowhammer at the summit. <br />
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Yesterday a lone Bonxie flew west after a timely text from Henerz said one had passed the Little Orme. Probably the rarest of all 'Orme' sightings over the past week was a lone Greylag Goose that flew in off the sea and continued west over the sheep fields yesterday!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb_7UWBv7-SvHNx5ZBh7pQ05zjBukqhhzNedINYxk1O67UUfVW3rOYceDOh8zudcXL8_7WbIDVcZuvBoc8Z_ndisXsHsVkbfc1KBQVm6qBkawz-c0Yz2gYxmRo8a6FA6zEGCidUA3y_eL/s1600/20-4BLRedstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb_7UWBv7-SvHNx5ZBh7pQ05zjBukqhhzNedINYxk1O67UUfVW3rOYceDOh8zudcXL8_7WbIDVcZuvBoc8Z_ndisXsHsVkbfc1KBQVm6qBkawz-c0Yz2gYxmRo8a6FA6zEGCidUA3y_eL/s320/20-4BLRedstart.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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A very bluey grey looking female Black Redstart on the limestones this morning. A male Redstart had been in exactly the same spot an hour earlier.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jzFUQ6r2e3_zv-bj3UrUbbceWM14zT1mzyt8joRdQPXnNDbxftYegwliszDmZAlSVT1HT8rKMotwwLCMniv_RisgkDO7gnfJeDPizHdh57pCyvqosEKARgnTEdEiZK5FTap3XFp061-E/s1600/20-4Redstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jzFUQ6r2e3_zv-bj3UrUbbceWM14zT1mzyt8joRdQPXnNDbxftYegwliszDmZAlSVT1HT8rKMotwwLCMniv_RisgkDO7gnfJeDPizHdh57pCyvqosEKARgnTEdEiZK5FTap3XFp061-E/s320/20-4Redstart.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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One of two stonking male Redstarts that graced the Orme this morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GE7Q6vPdj7mYO0aC4it2DQEbPoLewDJOzDjyOYK81Ows7mbG3rA8lC1h6yN-zLWOGiPlM8M6ONlByrqGMD8X-ss2Y5RFyPm4d5TIT1vyYc-9wcMg9Yjg9rP5V4FDKx0XrmCJvq3S7TWY/s1600/20-4RingOuzel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GE7Q6vPdj7mYO0aC4it2DQEbPoLewDJOzDjyOYK81Ows7mbG3rA8lC1h6yN-zLWOGiPlM8M6ONlByrqGMD8X-ss2Y5RFyPm4d5TIT1vyYc-9wcMg9Yjg9rP5V4FDKx0XrmCJvq3S7TWY/s320/20-4RingOuzel.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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This has to be one of the best year's for Ring Ouzels for many a year. The birds can be quite distant at times, feeding around the boulders in the sheep fields.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuS92zgPhMhEsJ-6jG6oyVYxJtY6Z-XLQnftfA5MGZfYXGRBemYQXPFYpNs-nfwLXMlQiYNGIrfaCP7N0KtV73_zkmDkeYfmFfFx-UGep5MokLh1joibIeG5cYaK5QP7d3S3Rpg5LzxR3/s1600/20-4Greylag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuS92zgPhMhEsJ-6jG6oyVYxJtY6Z-XLQnftfA5MGZfYXGRBemYQXPFYpNs-nfwLXMlQiYNGIrfaCP7N0KtV73_zkmDkeYfmFfFx-UGep5MokLh1joibIeG5cYaK5QP7d3S3Rpg5LzxR3/s320/20-4Greylag.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Yesterday's Orme mega; my first Greylag Goose up here for three years!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ql-TvfFW1Xhrsnx5fq4JpzC1wJ5tCJEsVQC6O7bYsFpqztE14ET9yeeDailLPLsFYVYKGxu4c7dwy9AmtMGHDHAVyPmpETIk_IiACrUTIvPMdiVXoZgDqNKz2n5tpNID6ASQnvmVEyjF/s1600/20-4Med+Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ql-TvfFW1Xhrsnx5fq4JpzC1wJ5tCJEsVQC6O7bYsFpqztE14ET9yeeDailLPLsFYVYKGxu4c7dwy9AmtMGHDHAVyPmpETIk_IiACrUTIvPMdiVXoZgDqNKz2n5tpNID6ASQnvmVEyjF/s320/20-4Med+Gull.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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The afternoon was spent searching Cemlyn for the elusive Golden Oriole. A split second flash of bright yellow was all I got. However, up to seven cracking Mediterranean Gulls more than made up for the disappointment of not seeing the Oriole well.<br />
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April 21st, 2013<br />
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In comparison to yesterday's lovely morning, today saw a cold brisk wind blowing from the south and low single figure temperatures. That didn't stop a few birds arriving with the Orme's first two Whitethroats of the year; a male and female in gorse on the limestones. Highlight was a lone Cuckoo that appeared from nowhere being chased by Jackdaws and quickly disappearing over the sheep fields. Two Ring Ouzels remain by the hawthorn behind the stone wall while a single male Redstart was at Pink Farm. 40 + Wheatears were dotted around as were the 250+ Meadow Pipits. Four Tree Pipits overhead and 10+ Willow Warblers present.<br />
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Most handsome bird prize went to the three 'northern' Golden Plovers that circled the headland for ten minutes, uttering their mournful calls.<br />
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First Whitethroat on the Great Orme this year - well done him for winning the race north! <br />
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April 25th, 2013<br />
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Loads of birds on the Great Orme limestone pavements early this morning. 3 Grasshopper warblers reeled away; two in the gorse at the north end and one in the gulley. A single Sedge Warbler was also skulking about in the gorse along with 20+ Willow Warblers, 3 Goldcrests and a Whitethroat. A dapper male Redstart was in the Hawthorns, it's been a good year for this species already! Eight Tree Pipits included five together on the ground near the north car park while 30+ Lesser Redpolls were part of the first largish movement of this species of the year. 15 Dunlin were a surprise with ond bird displaying in flight! A Golden Plover was alos present while a Ring Ouzel was reported later in the morning.<br />
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Highlight for me though was the large movement of Wheatears; an amazing 130+ moved through before 8.15am. The movement must have kept on going through the morning as I counted 15+ come in off the sea along Colwyn Bay Prom at lunchtime.<br />
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April 27th, 2013<br />
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A lot quieter on the Great Orme this morning due to the cold North easterly wind. However, perseverance paid off with a very showy Whinchat on fence wires above the cemetery. The bird fed on the floor and kept watch from the fence oblivious to the fact I was close by admiring it. A nice male Ring Ouzel was by Bishop's Quarry and gave close flight views flying from gorse bush to gorse bush. 2 Tree Pipits and 30+ Wheatears left over from Thursday's fall of migrants. Alan had 3 Black Guillemots amongst the breeding Auks.<br />
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What a little superstar this dapper male Whinchat was this morning, Certainly made going up there on a clod bleak morning worthwhile.<br />
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Spent late morning with Rob and Iwan putting nestboxes up at Pensychnant Nature Reserve. Rob's been hard at work making all kinds of boxes and is spending his weekends distributing them to suitable areas. Three male Pied Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 2 Cuckoo, Whitethroat and Great Spotted Woodpecker all present on the reserve. <br />
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April 28th, 2013<br />
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Another morning with a cold blustery wind putting pay to any big numbers of numbers. However, a nice Cuckoo was around the Churchyard and showed well at times, even uttering a soft subsong on occasions. A Grasshopper Warbler was flushed from the gorse at the north end and showed well but briefly. The male Redstart was still by the hawthorns while yesterday's male Whinchat showed by the gulley. Number wise, 30+ Wheatears was notable as was the 200+ Goldfinches that flew west with a few Siskin and redpoll. <br />
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Only a few records of Cuckoo are reported on the Orme each year. This is the second seen in the space of the week. <br />
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May 2nd, 2013<br />
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A quiet morning birdwise on the Great Orme, probably due to the glorious weather. A couple of hours before work produced very little until I returned to the car to find a dapper female Black Redstart feeding under the vehicle! 2 Tree Pipit and 30+ Wheatear also present up there this morning.<br />
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May 5th, 2013<br />
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After three almost birdless mornings, today was much better. You could hear a pin drop up there as the sun rose with near calm conditions. Birds had arrived overnight and I used my 'pocket counter' to tally up the Wheatears as there were a fair few around. Five hours later and having covered most parts of the Orme, the tally had reached an impressive 156 birds, most of them Greenland types. Amongst the fall, a fine Whinchat was by the churchyard while two bright male Yellow Wagtails were in the sheep fields. Warblers were represented by a Lesser Whitethroat singing from the hawthorns and a single Sedge Warbler near the Old Cafe. Four Crossbills flew over, much lower than they usually do and shwoed that one was a male and the others female type birds. An excellent count of 13 Tree Pipits flew over head as did a fine male Yellowhammer, one of the first birds of the day as the sun appeared over the horizon. 500+ Hirundines moved through during the morning, mostly Swallows. Siskins and Redpoll were plentiful with all landing being Lessers. A Common Sandpiper calling overhead was unusual too. Days like this make the quiet ones worth while!<br />
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May 11th, 2013<br />
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This morning was blustery, cold and quiet for the first three hours of light. A lone Swift and 2 Black Guillemots were the highlights and I wish I'd stayed in bed. I returned to the car and grabbed my flask for a final five minutes sat on the picnic tables at the north end. Rain was in the air and the wind increased even further. Suddenly four Redpolls battled their way against the wind, flying in off the sea straight in front of me....lesser, lesser, lesser..... Common! A cracking large, pale bird with nice pale cheeks and white rump and tramlines. As I lifter my camera, they lifted into the air and away they went with the wind. Almost immediately a Yellow Wagtail started calling from behind me and a quick scan revealed two cracking male birds, perhaps the two that were seen last weekend and on and off during the week. As I enjoyed cracking views I became aware of a crest calling from the northern most gorse bush. The pulse quickened as thoughts turned to my first Firecrest of the year. A few seconds later this was confirmed as a super little jewel of a bird performed well in the, by now, driving rain. As I watched a strange moment when a Grey Heron flew in off the sea, struggling against the wind before landing on the limestones. I've seen them fly over before, but this was the first I'd seen land on the pavements!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-17024281714542264132013-02-13T13:49:00.000-08:002013-02-13T13:49:02.574-08:00Little Orme Footit JanuaryThis January I spent 95% of my birding time on foot from the front door taking part in the Foot it Challenge - http://birdingbyfoot.blogspot.co.uk/ What great fun it was and a real opportunity to discover the Littel Orme and its surrounding area. I usually ignore the Little orme (except on a North Westerly and head to its larger cousing The Great Omre. During the Month of January I clocked up 98 species within a three mile radius of my Penrhyn Bay House.
Since January 31st I've also added another three species on the Little Orme - Black throated Diver, Little Auk and a flock of 6 Whooper Swans over, meaning that I've managed 102 species in the small area in the first six weeks of the year! The Great Orme will have a lot to live up to this year.
Seals have also been a big part of January and early February with up to 23 Atlantic Grey Seals in Angel Bay at low tide including some gorgeous pups. A Common Seal was also seen by Jonathen Harty in the bay at Penrhyn Bay this week.
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This is the last day of birding by foot for me. With over 80 miles walked this month from the house, all within a three mile radius of Penrhyn Bay, I feel I've really got to know my local area during January. With just a few days left in January, I've managed to log 97 species within the area.<br />
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Yesterday I spent the morning around Glanwydden lane and the stubble fields just to the east of the village. A cracking female Merlin was hunting the Ganol area and rested up in the middle of the field on a muddy mound. After 25+ Common Snipe, a Jack Snipe finally gave itself up from the muddy field as I was slowly trying to approach the perched Merlin. The Ganol held a lovely Little egret and the nearby flooded fields hosted a Black tailed Godwit, drake Shoveler, 100+ Wigeon, 100+ Redshank, 500+ Lapwings, 30+ Common Teal and a nice 3rd year'argentatus' Herring gull with the local Gulls. Still good numbers of winter thrushes too, however the large lark flock seems to have moved on.<br />
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Today, I had my first proper seawatch of the year of the Little Orme. Fulmars were moving in numbers with over 150 birds past in 2.5 hours. The first six Gannets of the year flew west while over 40 Red throated Divers were joined by two Great Northern Diver. A single winter plumaged Black Guillemot whizzed past along with 200+ Guillemots and Razorbills, while some 30 Kittiwakes flew out of the bay. High tide produced 100+ Dunlin along the rocks at Rhos Point, 25 Ringed Plover, 100+ Turnstone and 14 Purple Sandpipers. Highlight for me, possibly even the highlight of the month was around eight Red throats calling to each other close in under the Little Orme cliffs. A kind of croaking trumpet call - quite magical on a cold winters day.<br />
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Black tailed Godwit - it's second time I've seen this bird in Tech stretch fields this month - a good bird for Penrhyn Bay</div>
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Roosting Dunlin - the right hand bird already starting to moult some of its feathers into rusty summer ones.</div>
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This Little Egret has been knocking around the Golf course and river Ganol all month.</div>
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Distant Merlin in the stubble fields. It doesshow much better than this giving stunning fly bys at times.</div>
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Red throated Diver under the cliffs of the Little Orme. There were at least eight birds feeding close in and constantly calling to each other.</div>
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These two Purple sands were at Rhos Point, while another flock of 12 were closer to Penrhyn Bay.</div>
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The local Peregrines are having a field day with all the waders in the flooded fields. Two birds were keeping a watchful eye from the pylons at Penrhyn Bay.</div>
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A gorgeous 'hiaticula' Common Ringed Plover - nice and pale with a big black bib.</div>
Probably being the only place in Wales without snow has its advantages. The walk around the 'inland' part of my Penrhyn Bay 'foot it' patch this morning paid off with loads of new birds in. Until today, I hadn't seen a <strong>Fieldfare</strong> despite much searching; today they were everywhere!<br />
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I bumped into fellow 'foot it' competitor, Julian Hughes who was having a day off from being Conwy RSPB warden and we wandered around the fields at Glanwydden. 100+ Skylarks were new in as were 250+ Fieldfares, 500+ Redwings and loads of Reed Buntings and finches. The finch flock included 2 Brambling. Several Meadow Pipits were also in the fields and 30+ Common Snipe were flushed. A real bonus bird was Golden Plover, certainly arriving due to the weather amongst the hundreds of Lapwings that have arrived over night. Five birds flew in first and another 7 seen later, while Julian had 17 later on! 3 Water Rail were in the small marshy area and another January foot it tick came in the form of 2 Mute Swans. These birds had been present during December but had got AWOL but showed well on the River Ganol today along with 30+ Common Teal, Wigeon, Mallards and several Moorhens.<br />
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Julian and I said our goodbyes and went off in separate direction. Within minutes he texted to say he'd got Jay which I need, and I texted back to say I'd got Kestrel, which he needs! Luckily the Jay stayed faithful to the copse Julian found it in and I managed to get it a little while later. A stomp along the woodland edge revealed the hoped for Woodcock, probably a displaced bird from the local woods where shooters were having a morning hunt. Four hours later, 10 miles under the belt and 5 foot it ticks meant a successful morning. That's 93 birds now seen this month on foot from the front door; dare I start thinking of the magic 100?<br />
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Several hundred Lapwings in today, possibly up to a thousand. It's been years since I've seen this many around Penrhyn Bay.</div>
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Mute Swan above and Shoveler below - both birds that disappeared on me on December 31st but have finally seen sense to make it back to the patch. The Shoveler was seen midweek along Tech stretch, while the 2 Mute Swans were back on the Ganol today.</div>
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Here's my patch - Glanwydden fields at Penrhyn Bay. Note the green island with white hills all around. A recipe for lots of birds :-)</div>
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I love New Years Day; up early and out the door with everything feeling new. This year I left the car keys behind and set off on foot as the darkness slowly made way to a murky gloom, nine hours and 13 miles later I returned home, shattered but having enjoyed every minute of the day. Despite the brisk breeze the weather was good and it was nice to finally see some sunshine!<br />
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I'm sure the festive fireworks from last night's celebrations meant that a few of my 'pinned down' birds had departed - Mute Swans, Shovelers and Coot - all difficult birds in Penrhyn Bay but present over the last few weeks and all there yesterday. However, no sign anywhere today! I can't complain too much though as I managed to log a total of 74 species in the area including the following highlights;<br />
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<strong>Lapland Bunting</strong> - I saw this bird a few weeks ago but haven't seen it since, so I was thrilled that today in showed well as it flew around the middle stubble field between Glanwydden and Rhos on Sea Golf course with some twenty Skylark. If you go and look, take your wellies!<br />
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<strong>Water Rail</strong> - at least 7 birds logged along Glanwydden Lane. Surely a site record.<br />
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<strong>Purple Sandpiper</strong> - 11 logged at Rhos on Sea, 1 at Rhos Point and 1 at Penrhyn Bay.<br />
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<strong>Brambling</strong> - at least one in the stubble fields at Glanwydden.<br />
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Other nice January 'local' records included several Grey Wagtails, Kestrel, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Knot, Grey Plover, several Kittiwake, Fulmar, Red throated Diver, several Rock Pipit, Guillemots, Razorbills, Stock Doves and 20+ Reed Buntings.<br />
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The local Purple Sandpipers didn't disappoint showing well along the prom along with 30+ Turnstone, on rocks in front of the house with the Monkey Puzzle Tree in the garden. It was nice to also see one on the Penrhyn Bay breakwater - haven't seen one here for ages.<br />
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A good patch bird - Grey Plover was once a regular bird at Penrhyn Bay but the last 5 or 6 years have seen them become quite scarce.<br />
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The reeds at Glanwydden are holding 20+ Reed Bunting at the moment and also contain many Water Rails and several Snipe. Great local birds.<br />
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Still several birds to get on the patch over the next month of foot it challenge - jay, peregrine, Red breasted Merg, Woodcock, Owls, Marsh Tit, Chough, Little Grebe, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll all up for grabs and hopefully Shoveler, Mute Swan and Coot will all make a return now the celebrations have calmed down.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-42763310293727864252013-02-13T13:31:00.002-08:002013-02-13T13:31:50.163-08:00Great Orme Patching starts once againI spent an enjoyable few hours on the patch this afternoon, catching up with my patchwork challenge www.patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com<br />
I started at the summit and walked out to the limestones picking up a nice Golden Plover on the way. Corvids were in evidence with one field containing 4 Chough, 70+ Jackdaw, 6 Raven, 2 Magpie and 12 Carrion Crows. I also came across an interesting feather which after trawling the Internet I'm quite sure it's Short eared Owl- yellow with brown barring.<br />
Highlight came on my way down whilst scanning the west shore- a gleaming 2nd winter Iceland Gull amongst the 5000+ Herring Gulls at the mouth of the estuary. 4 Lesser black backed Gulls and 30+ Greater black backed there too. I winder if the Iceland is the Llanddulas bird?<br />
Any comments on the feather would be appreciated. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-25789720326925431102013-01-02T11:03:00.002-08:002013-01-02T11:03:33.540-08:00Autumn update 2012Sorry for the complete lack of updates for the Autumn - a disgrace I know. I have been posting on the We Bird North Wales web-site but have decided to put the most informative Orme postigs here for reference. Last year I managed 125 species on the Orme with 4 new birds for the patch - Quail, Little Ringed Plover, Greenish Warbler and Red backed Shrike. I also mssied a few goodies with Yellow browed warbler and Woodchat Shrike turning up on days I was away. I think some 131 birds were recorded over the year.<br />
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With taking part in the Patch challenge this year I hope to keep this blog up to date. If anyone else wants to contribute with orme sightings please let me know and I can arrange for you to have access.<br />
Keep up to date with the patch challenge here - <a href="http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/">http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/</a><br />
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August 24th, 2012<br />
This morning was quiet on the Orme with very few mogrants at all. However, a cracking juvenile Golden Plover was sholwing superbly on the limestones. The bird has been present for around eight days and you virtually have to tread on it before you see it.<br />
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The past week (per Rob Sandham and Pete Alderson) has seen 2 juv Whinchat, up to 3 Spotted Flycatchers and good numbers of Willow Warblers moving through. Notable today was an increase of Meadow Pipits with at least two flocks of 40+ present.<br />
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August 25th, 2012</div>
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Highlight on the Orme this morning was a lovely juvenile Whinchat that sat around the thistles with a Stonechat. 10+ Willow Waeblers were scattered around the headland gorse bushes with a few seen coming in off the sea. 3 Whimbrel called as they flew over and a Little egret flying along the cliffs was a bizarre sight. 2 Whitethroats were behind the cemetery (per Pete Ald).</div>
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August 26th, 2012</div>
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A strange morning on the Orme really, but a memorable one! The first hour was grim with not a passerine in sight. 2 Arctic Skua and a handful of Manx Shearwaters were the only birds of note. Rob Sandham and Kelvin Jones were ringing down in the cemetery so I went and joined them. Not five minutes later, 2 cracking sparrowhawks - a 1st year male and a 2nd year female hit the nets and the next quarter of an hour we were treated to two superb Sparrowhawks in the hand.<br />
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After that excitement, Rob pointed out a flycatcher at the back of the cemetery and as we both watched it, it dawned on us that this was no Spotted Flycatcher - it was a cracking juvenile Red-backed Shrike! The bird showed quite well for ten minutes or so before flying over the top of the cemetery and off towards the sheep fields. I managed a few dodgy pics before it disappeared:-<br />
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Funnily enough, about an hour later I picked the bird up again, some half a mile from the cemetery, sitting on fence posts in the sheep fields. The local Meadow Pipits soon put pay to that and off it continued west. Best of the rest included the first Yellow Wagtail of the autumn over, Goldcrest and a Grey Wagtail. The R B Shrike is the strangely the first record for the Great Orme, with 3 Woodchats, 3 Great Grey and an Isabelline already on the list. Lesser Grey, Brown, Long-tailed or Masked anyone?<br />
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August 28th, 2012</div>
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Got a real adrenaline rush this morning. I met up with Karl Lawson for an early morning jaunt around the limestones. 2 Wheatear, a Swift and Grey Wagtail were a good sign that a few things were on the move. As we reached the hawthorns we were greeted by the sight of Pete Alderson running up the track towards us - he had seen a bright warbler fly over his head and into a bush. We waited for ten minutes with no sight or sound of anything and began to talk about moving on. Suddenly the bright warbler darted out and disappeared low into the next hawthorn - this looked interesting. As we waited a Willow Warbler and Goldrest appeared, but perseverance paid off when the bird in question popped out to the top of the bush- a small bright warbler with a square peaked forehead revealing a cracking supercilium and best of all a nice bright wingbar! A few expletives were heard as Pete and I locked onto it at the same time. A few minutes later the bird was watched again in the base of a bush, revealing the pale above the upper mandible, making the supercilium appear as it it went all around the front of the head - quite distinctive. The bird then played cat and mouse as it crept around in the bushes making its way from bush to bush along the wall, calling just once - a characteristic ' chii-vee'. Over the next few minutes several Willow Warblers, a Chiff-chaff and Goldcrest all moved along the hedgeline, making their way towards the churchyard (birders arriving later reported some Warblers dropping in and disappearing high to the south).<br />
Unfortunately at the time of writing the bird had not been seen again. Fingers crossed it's lurking somewhere.<br />
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September 9th, 2012<br />
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After a fairly quiet week on the Orme a few bits and pieces this morning. Highlights were an imm/ fem Black Redstart on by the limestone carpark, a Common Crossbill (see below for sonogram), 2 Snipe (+ another 2 different birds seen by Pete Alderson), 4 Blackcaps, an influx of 10+ Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Overhead were 5 'alba' Wagtails and 4 Grey Wagtails, while 50-60 Meadow Pipits were present. A nice flock of 10 Chough were also present with another 3 seen at the opposite end of the headland. Offshore, 45 Common Scoter flew east while 2 Grey Heron flew west.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlzZbs4Q3UMt4i-p4sUPMaD4atH_Tzyh6mjp_XiXpjCFv9gAmRK_q5pofKjxNzy-lE73byPDBPC7kxiqHNZPWaG_GIH8aovu3pbLR0Q9Wn4N7A2qXVEah3WdNwVsRIS0_e11WVC5tC6Vd/s1600/Crossbill+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlzZbs4Q3UMt4i-p4sUPMaD4atH_Tzyh6mjp_XiXpjCFv9gAmRK_q5pofKjxNzy-lE73byPDBPC7kxiqHNZPWaG_GIH8aovu3pbLR0Q9Wn4N7A2qXVEah3WdNwVsRIS0_e11WVC5tC6Vd/s320/Crossbill+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sonogram of a Common Crossbill over the Great Orme this morning. Referring to the Sound Approach book, this is a classic 'Glip' Crossbill due to the V shape in the graph.Click on the image for a clearer picture. There are a number of different Crossbill vocals and possibly indicate different sub-species or even species! A good introduction here - <a href="http://birdingfrontiers.com/2010/11/28/glip-parakeet-and-british-crossbills/">http://birdingfrontiers.com/2010/11/28/glip-parakeet-and-british-crossbills/</a><br />
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Best bird of the morning and one of the last I saw as I arrived back at the car. A good case of keep going. After being out for over four hours and seeing very little to be honest this was a welcome find - a fine imm / female type Black Redstart. It was immediately mobbed by the Meadow Pipits and disappeared down towards the Rest and be Thankful cafe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hE63bfcaY_49UZfMfJUhRgnlQWpUoD3I2DGW9TaWT7N_wXal-F6xW6CmoGpUjJAhwPiViA2nX2RMxZQmVlK_SjV_67QLZ6Fi-dpGBknECl4nLPVXaDzyr6BaCOUjuFY45h6cwpP-sQTy/s1600/9-9+Northern+Wheatear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hE63bfcaY_49UZfMfJUhRgnlQWpUoD3I2DGW9TaWT7N_wXal-F6xW6CmoGpUjJAhwPiViA2nX2RMxZQmVlK_SjV_67QLZ6Fi-dpGBknECl4nLPVXaDzyr6BaCOUjuFY45h6cwpP-sQTy/s320/9-9+Northern+Wheatear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At least five Northern Wheatears present, looking very fresh and smart .</div>
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There is a large flock of Goldfinches near the churchyard at present with some 200 birds present. Fingers crossed it pulls in a goodie ove rthe next few months.<br />
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October 2nd, 2012<br />
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Despite the "wrong winds" the Great Orme still produced some great birds today. Pete A had a Firecrest in the garden below the cemetry early morning. Raplph M had a juv or female Red backed Shrike in the bushes at back of cemetry early afternoon. No sign of either bird later in the afternoon but a Redstart below cemetry.<br />
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October 6th, 2012<br />
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A pleasant walk around the Great Orme this morning started off quietly until a nice Lapland Bunting gave some nice flight views on the limestone pavements continually calling. As the morning wore on more birds started to appear with a sprinkling of migrants - female Redstart in the cemetery, Whinchat on the limestones, 4 Crossbill overhead (which were earlier in the pines in the cemetery), Garden Warbler at the back of the cemetery, Wheatear (J Wheldrake), Merlin and late morning the Black Redstart reappeared in the fenced off area at the north end (P.Alderson) <br />
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This female type Redstart has been in the cemetery for nearly a week now.</div>
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This fine autumn Whinchat has also been around for a week on the limestones.</div>
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Good passage of Goldcrests this week with several moving through.</div>
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Tits have been on the move with good numbers of Great, Blue, Coal and Long tailed tit during the week. This Great tit was at the north end with the Whinchat.</div>
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Lapland Bunting sonogram. Click for larger image. The 'peeuu' on 11.5sec and 16, while the trill is on 13.5.</div>
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Brief soudn recording here - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEFAaI0OPRA&feature=youtube_gdata">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEFAaI0OPRA&feature=youtube_gdata</a></div>
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October 14th, 2012</div>
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A productive morning on the Great orme today with some good birds, good views and a bit of a social occasion with good numbers of birders too.<br />
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A Richard's Pipit was picked up by Steve Culley and Tony White mod morning over the limestones and was later head calling along the northern edge. Five Lapland Buntings showed well at times. The three birds from yesterday were showing from dawn and another two flew in off the sea before hooking up with the original three. These were proving quite popular amongst visiting birders. A superb Short eared Owl appeared late morning during a rain shower, being mobbed by a throng of Jackdaws. A smart female Merlin darted along the Marine Drive at sunrise. Migrant numbers were as follows:-<br />
Brambling 3, Goldcrest 20+, Long tailed Tit, 12, Coal Tit 7, Great Tit 10+, Blue Tit 15+, Black cap 1, Redwing 2, Pied Wagtail 3, House Sparrow 15+, Greenfinch 150+, Chaffinch 50+, Siskin 5, Lesser Redpoll 4, Great Spotted Woodpecker 3, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch 30+, Robin 10+, Blackbird 7, Song thrush 5, Jay 1 and Magpie 20+.<br />
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The Lapland Bunting are showing superbly with up to 5 on the limestones by mid-day. There will be much better pics than these..........</div>
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Common Migrants were on the move with good numbers of Tits. Long tailed Tits were on the limestones in the gorse and hawthorns - a sure sign that stuff is on the move.</div>
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A smart Short eared Owl appeared in a rain shower, not really knowing what to do it circled the pavements at some height before drifting west.</div>
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A pod of 30+ Bottle nosed Dolphins entertained offshore - a great spectacle.</div>
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Unidentified Bird of Prey! This got birders going big style. Alex's voice increased in pitch by at least 2 octives as he shouted the bird. Stve will have better pics. 6 primaries, broad tail band, barred underwings. Any takers? </div>
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October 12th, 2012 part 2 by Steve Culley</div>
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Me and Tony headed over to the Orme this morning as Robin had invited us over to see the rare Sibe he was going to catch at his new ringing station at the back of the cemetery. Two female Bramblings showed well in the bushes plus a few Redwings and lots of common finches.The ringing was a bit quiet but we did get fantastic views of Wren in the hand.As my Ritilin started to wear off we headed over to the Limestone pavement. The bunts were initially somewhat elusive but we did have a very vocal Richards Pipit flying over our heads around the end of the Orme but we never saw it land. After a while Robin and Kel called it a day and we all tried again for the Lap Bunts which had reappeared around the Limestone Pavement giving great views.A Short eared Owl appeared getting mobbed by the local Jackdaws.Then a dodgy propeller driven raptor appeared overhead, causing a bit of excitement and mirth for Marc and young Alex!<br />
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October 21st, 2012</div>
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A first for me this morning - Lapland, Snow and Reed Bunting in the same scope view - hatrick! A lovely morning weather wise on the Great Orme was livened up by a few good birds. A few early morning migrants were immediately evident - a Brambling and 10 Great Tits on show at the north end before sunsise. The Lapland Buntings soon gave themselves up in the usual place, with at least three birds present. While watching them with Alan Davies, a Richard's Pipit announced its presence with its loud 'shreeep' calls. Unfortunately, despite being heard a few times again, it didn't give itself up. Later in the morning a fine male Snow Bunting appeared alongside the Laplands; surely just in. Two Redwings were in the gorse, 5+ Goldcrest, 12 Great Tit, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 20+ Brambling, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 19 Skylarks and a good passage of 25+ Coal Tits during the morning. Chris had a Ring Ouzel above Llys Helyg drive too.<br />
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This fine male Snow Bunting appeared mid morning alongside the Lapland Buntings. At one point they flew into the air calling and were joined by a Reed Bunting; a nice hatrick of Great Orme buntings.</div>
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The Lapland Buntings are drawing good numbers of visitors from across the North West. With a little patience they give good views. Up to seven have been seen during the past week, with three birds staying faithful to a small area just south of the northern cairn on the limestones.</div>
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There has been an excellent movement of Coal Tits on the Orme over the past fortnight with sometimes upwards of 60 birds moving through. All I have seen so far have had lovely white cheek patches, like this one above taken this morning at the most northern gorse bush on the head land. Surely there is an outside chance of a 'hibernicus' Coal Tit from Ireland joining up with them. The Isles of Scilly have recorded birds that recall 'hibernicus' already thsi autumn. However, I'm not aware of any proven records in Wales. The bird below was on the Mullet, County Mayo and the buffy / off white cheek patches can clearly be seen. Now there's a challenge for any west coast vis-migger.</div>
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Coal Tit - coutersy of Dave Sudderby, Mullet, County Mayo, October 2012. Follow him on twitter @<u><span style="color: #0066cc;"><span class="username js-action-profile-name"><b>davesudds62</b></span> </span></u><br />
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<span style="color: black;">November 11th, 2012</span></div>
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As Julian has said - at least 45 Waxwings in and around B&Q this morning and seeminly more and more dropping in as the time went on. Superb watching the general public getting involved and enjoying the spectacle too. There's also another 10 in Conwy Road. The Invasion has started! NB 200+ recorded this afternoon!</div>
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November 18th, 2012</div>
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A small number of birds still moving over the Great Orme this morning- a single Lapland Bunting gave good flight views over the churchyard before pitching down in the sheep fields. A male Snow Bunting was in the small quarry above the lighthouse on the limestones, while a few Brambling, Reed Bunting and Siskin flew west amongst the Chaffinches. 2 Woodcock were a nice surprise, flushing from the bracken above the churchyard. </div>
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A look for Waxwings in Llandudno finally paid off early afternoon with a group of 12 near the hospital. Later, Pete Alderson had 17 by Liddell Park, Craig y Don.</div>
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Off Llysfaen, two drake Surf Scoters showed in the perfect sunlight, while 8 Velvet Scoter were also amongst the thousands of Common Scoters.</div>
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Not a bad morning all in all.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-82545837493905994112012-08-14T07:01:00.001-07:002012-08-14T07:01:28.080-07:00Warbler RushAutumn migration got underway today with 40-50 Willow Warblers around the headland - great to see. Most bushes held at least one bird with a concentration of 15-20 birds at the bottom of the concrete road. 2 Spotted Flycatchers were along the stone wall while a lovely summer plumaged Golden Plover was in the sheep fields.<br />
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Limestone gorse bushes held good numbers of Willow Warblers today</div>
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2 Spotted Flycatchers were on the move</div>
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Some Willow Warblers shoed very well feeding out in the low gorse.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-5739891562876770102012-05-21T10:12:00.000-07:002012-05-21T10:12:18.017-07:00Going Cuckoo for a Courser!Walking around the Orme in a state of disbelief this morning having received a text about the Hereford Cream Coloured Courser at 4am, I was brought to my senses by a singing Cuckoo. The bird showed well around the cemetery. Pete Alderson had another two birds in the limestone area, meaning there had been an influx of cuckoos overnight. 20+ Redpolls, Tree Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat and a handfull of Phylloscs were present too. Saying that, I may well have missed something as my mind was elsewhere........
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NhpaIEMzedYhslrtZ28PvMkrIwa_2ueadhc9aDWhzLxTRAXhyphenhyphen4L79CUI83oLR6TuvuOAhsVJw32Vg90mG3AbL18aMFLjWI2HVZ_DEEaGafgVPes81jvLGdQcT5sBNmZJcc6Pa4G4k3g/s1600/cuckooa21-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="272" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NhpaIEMzedYhslrtZ28PvMkrIwa_2ueadhc9aDWhzLxTRAXhyphenhyphen4L79CUI83oLR6TuvuOAhsVJw32Vg90mG3AbL18aMFLjWI2HVZ_DEEaGafgVPes81jvLGdQcT5sBNmZJcc6Pa4G4k3g/s400/cuckooa21-5.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-41365206487094028642012-05-19T01:44:00.000-07:002012-05-19T01:44:33.623-07:00Bleak morning brightened up by Short eared OwlThis morning was pretty bleak, cold and wet and I was about to give up when a super Short eared Owl was flushed from the enclosed grassy field above the cemetery giving some nice fly-bys. This field has had some Tree Pipits in over the past few weeks so I hoped over the gate to see how many I could find. It was a nice surprise that the first bird out of the grass was this lovely Owl. It was later seen at the north end. My latest spring Shortie on the Orme by a few weeks. Lesser Whitethroat and Tree Pipit the only other birds of note.
Last night Wendy Mcarthy had a singing Cuckoo behind the cemetery. Excellent stuff!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJlAoPX68Zav_dmr30Xsz6VeD07jZgwJMvkBvkcODONuddm92TgJZlVzkyOUbC_aQPC0gbviWOaCtnC2jJyvK6GMoz0G2p_GINHNg9ZD13YgEyJj90W9C3PcG_Tf0Hw9yo-koYqp6TkT7/s1600/SptFly217-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="237" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJlAoPX68Zav_dmr30Xsz6VeD07jZgwJMvkBvkcODONuddm92TgJZlVzkyOUbC_aQPC0gbviWOaCtnC2jJyvK6GMoz0G2p_GINHNg9ZD13YgEyJj90W9C3PcG_Tf0Hw9yo-koYqp6TkT7/s400/SptFly217-5.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-5670662948101962752012-05-13T04:27:00.000-07:002012-05-13T04:27:29.685-07:00Mealy Mêlée - Redpolls everywhere todayExcellent numbers of Redpolls over and on the Great orme this morning. I counted at least 400 birds through, which must have been a fraction of what flew over. At least two fairly standard Mealies were seen - white rumps, tramlines, cheek disks etc, while a number of birds were Redpolls that certanly weren't from around here. My guess is they are from somewhere North West of here - hebridies, Iceland? who knows. Other migrants included two lesser Whitethroats, a Tree Pipit, 40+ Siskin, 13 Collared Doves and 30+ Greenland Wheatear. A Golden Plover called from the fields (Pete Alderson had five Plover - either Golden or Dotterel fly from the fields too). Two male Peregrines gave a fantastic arial display when one wandered into the resident pairs territory. <br />
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A nice small Lesser Redpoll - a typical Welsh breeding bird</div>
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A large pale Redpoll - presumably a Mealy - it's rump and back had a lot of white.</div>
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A large Redpoll with a lot of white in the back. Warm brown tones were replaced by darker tones. Note the butch looking expression.</div>
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Two Redpolls seen very early on. For a start not many Redpoll make landfall on the actual limestone pavements but today a few did using anything as a perch. Note the butch appearance, darker tones and the white face disks. The front bird also had a lot of white in the back.</div>
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Collared Doves on the move today - 13 logged.</div>
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Lots of Greenfinches are breeding in the gorse.</div>
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I've never known such a good year for Lesser Whitethroats. They are in full song around the cemetery and one was showing on the limestone pavements today!</div>
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What a fantastic display by the Peregrines today - this male saw off another male and engaged in aerial battle - once he saw him off he sat overlooking his kingdom with pride.</div>
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Siskins were involved in the Redpoll movement today, but in much smaller numbers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ka_A2xa8bA8OgJFlfbdiwnlyKRk289UwIKlebr0dOQ15LarLlM621N5M2VXUhdIpEI8b4DUYbtV8kd4DmxDi4svZmiF77FUtGEfz7Zn8wYYjM7bD9byQaIvsYr20LlssiymqN1vgHGY/s1600/siskin13-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ka_A2xa8bA8OgJFlfbdiwnlyKRk289UwIKlebr0dOQ15LarLlM621N5M2VXUhdIpEI8b4DUYbtV8kd4DmxDi4svZmiF77FUtGEfz7Zn8wYYjM7bD9byQaIvsYr20LlssiymqN1vgHGY/s400/siskin13-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-53048753295514959392012-05-12T07:46:00.000-07:002012-05-12T07:46:57.995-07:00Nant y GamaA walk on the limestone area between the two Ormes - Nant y gama this afternoon produced a nice selection of birds - Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats, Long tailed Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard and Nuthatch all holding terretory or breeding. Early Purple Orchids very much in evidence as they are on both Ormes. Two Greenland Wheatears on the tops too.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_OJUUkZh18bKJxsDHKXXYnsKboG1O3GkcXKmnqNOiP1Vr75aDs23xP4B4OEZRNyuwcDWXnydp8tyDl0I9Dfhbrc4lJoihT937bbkHxXX5OiyapbYeZae5IIJLcgWvQg4aIR887ohp2k/s1600/Great+Sp12-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="301" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_OJUUkZh18bKJxsDHKXXYnsKboG1O3GkcXKmnqNOiP1Vr75aDs23xP4B4OEZRNyuwcDWXnydp8tyDl0I9Dfhbrc4lJoihT937bbkHxXX5OiyapbYeZae5IIJLcgWvQg4aIR887ohp2k/s400/Great+Sp12-5.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-24737944934703799942012-05-12T02:54:00.003-07:002012-05-12T02:54:21.876-07:00Cuckoos, Whinchats and Redstart - May 12th, 2012Today's North Westerlies didn't bode well on arrival with a quiet, cold Orme at first light. However, with a bit of patience a few bits and pieces showed. Highlight was a couple of Cuckoos flying around. One on the southern end above Bishop's Quarry and the other above the cemetery. As ever, they were flighty and elusive but did give a couple of nice flybys. Two Whinchat showed well, a male and a female, while a single male Redstart sang near in the copper mines. Best of the rest were a Yellow wagtail, Tree Pipit, 50+ Wheatear, 4 Lesser Whitethroat (including a pair copulating!), 2 Whitethraot, 5+ Willow Warblers, Blackcap and a steady passage of hirundines and 4 Swift. A single Shelduck took advantage of a bathe in the pools created by the recent deluge of rain - a few have been flying around the limestones recently, but this is the firstI've seen on the ground for a while. Chris had 5 Crossbill over, while Pete Alderson had 2 White Wagtail.
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A lone Shelduck in the fields had a bathe and a preen before flying off.
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This showy male Whinchat was by the dung heap and flew on and off the wall.
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Same Whinchat in a more usual pose.
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This beautiful male Redstart sang its head off from deep down within the Copper Mine basin.
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A Cuckoo - honest! Two birds today included a typical grey bird and one that had rusty tones to it (but not quite the hepatic form).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-39134046965177690002012-05-09T13:35:00.000-07:002012-05-09T13:35:26.208-07:00Pied Flycatcher tops the migrant listPete Alderson had a super male Pied Flycatcher was on the headland this morning between the farm and the pavements. Four Whinchats was an increase on recent days, while 2 Redstarts were still present. Plenty of Wheatears still present and Redpolls still on the move.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGiWM9SzCYt3g1iVgOUGEIv5LiT0pkmOHZfAlHdFubFMCU6SxgVy3JeYASUodgM71HRdCcNYTvyW03n2seIzxOFj6Y40ey83_JP1vKxz2y2iFCY0iREmkEaWJNdvdWmqFGL1NNf_ae7w/s1600/LRedpollr9-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="289" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGiWM9SzCYt3g1iVgOUGEIv5LiT0pkmOHZfAlHdFubFMCU6SxgVy3JeYASUodgM71HRdCcNYTvyW03n2seIzxOFj6Y40ey83_JP1vKxz2y2iFCY0iREmkEaWJNdvdWmqFGL1NNf_ae7w/s400/LRedpollr9-5.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-51378266544669228152012-05-07T03:46:00.001-07:002012-05-07T03:46:11.464-07:00Bank Holiday Migrant Day - SE winds produce.A night of South Easterly winds meant that there were plenty of birds on the Great Orme this morning. The majority of birds seemed to favour the limestone areas and good numbers of common migrants were seeking shelter from the brisk wind. Three Redstarts were seen, 2 males and a female including a showy bird on the limestones feeding out in the open. A cracking male Whinchat below the cairn was welcome as they have been thin on the ground this year. Five Yellow wagtails, three over and two superb males present - by the churchyard and along the northern edge. 15+ Tree Pipits were present, with a few groups of birds. Five together landed close by after flying in off the sea, including this one photographed below. Six Crossbills were overhead, while Redpoll numbers were up - 250+ birds through. Unfortunately the brisk wind made the iPod usless today for bringing birds down. Pete Alderson had two Mealies in with a flock of 50+ birds that landed on the hawthorns. Three Whitethroats were along the wall along with a grounded Blackcap and a few Willow Warblers. Two Lesser Whitethroats continued to sing near Powell's Well. Siskins, Goldfinches and all three hirundines were also on the move. 70+ Wheatears were present early on, but almost all had moved on as the appraoching rain covered the headland by late morning. Two pairs of Black Guillemots were below the cliffs and were seen flying up to the cliffs - surely a sign that they are breeding here. All in all an enjoyable bank holiday morning.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zpARjqEhHN8UK6c6mXhlh9_mOJPUQGdx1mz5AoenMQ2hKfD4UChmgsM6NK-IM3evckuvg6gZB0ehsOwtcYeZS_DtsJPnkRUzGu441Xhhmh5KXPaFGdLdthRUINo3tptG7a8sTf0VTcc/s1600/Whitethroat7-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="269" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zpARjqEhHN8UK6c6mXhlh9_mOJPUQGdx1mz5AoenMQ2hKfD4UChmgsM6NK-IM3evckuvg6gZB0ehsOwtcYeZS_DtsJPnkRUzGu441Xhhmh5KXPaFGdLdthRUINo3tptG7a8sTf0VTcc/s400/Whitethroat7-5.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-32839188741142949532012-05-06T03:59:00.002-07:002012-05-06T03:59:23.906-07:00May 6th - Redpolls, Wheatears and Yellow Wags.A beautiful morning on the headland this morning. Lots of birds about. Arriving soon after 6am the wind was cold and birds seemed thin on the ground. However, by 11am the place was full of Wheatears with over 100 scattered around the headland, with most being of the Greenland race. 3 Yellow Wagtails flew over, while 2 female Common Redstarts were grounded - one in the limestone hawthorns and another by Pink Farm. A Sedge warbler was in song by the Old cafe and a small fall of Blackcaps had occured with at least 10 males dotted around. Around 10 Willow Warblers included a bird that tried to land on me by the cairn - migration is just superb. A summer plumaged Dunlin pitched down by the cairn at 10.30am but soon moved on. Eight Tree Pipits flew over while a bird was prospecting near the Churchyard, where they have bred for the last few years. A good movement of finches included 50+ Redpolls, the vast majority being Lessers. However one bird was much paler. I would have happily called it a Mealy if it wasn't for the problems Bardsey have had with this type of bird this year. A Redpoll, but not from around here! 25+ Siskins, 20+ Goldfinch and a light passage of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins too. Over 50 Sandwhich Terns moved east offshore as well as 50+ Gannets involved in a feeding frenzy.
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This Redpoll (above) was pale and slightly larger than the brown streaky looking birds we are used to seeing (like the oen below)
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Swallows were moving through today and a few birds have settled to breed.
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A good movement of Wheatears included some cracking Greenland birds like this amle above. Some of them posed superbly with several giving this upright stance like this female below.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pdkAvYEIn35rFBZxSR_itNL4Yz93q9OVpFW6c1AVfst3fAWcQ2G5Z_aioJj66cb-Zdcz6k4CJVK-Kp_fKKL6v2x3cNCFtWOQZK2DctWYsZt0jTWAp3eXyeC1_-RSUjnVvs6-2vSUXDo/s1600/Wheateargreena6-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="298" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pdkAvYEIn35rFBZxSR_itNL4Yz93q9OVpFW6c1AVfst3fAWcQ2G5Z_aioJj66cb-Zdcz6k4CJVK-Kp_fKKL6v2x3cNCFtWOQZK2DctWYsZt0jTWAp3eXyeC1_-RSUjnVvs6-2vSUXDo/s400/Wheateargreena6-5.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-62739180335840468142012-05-05T02:58:00.002-07:002012-05-05T02:58:40.495-07:00Wood warbler at Heulfre GardensWendy McCarthy, a renowned botanist and naturalist who lives on the Orme contacted me last night to say she had seen and heard a Wood Warbler in full song in Heulfre Gardens yesterday - excellent stuff. Only the third record I know of for the Orme. She also tipped me off to a singing Lesser Whitethroat at Powell's Well. I checked it out this morning and there were three singing in the area! Thanks Wendy and I appreciate the records.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-12774129357640928352012-05-05T02:54:00.002-07:002012-05-05T02:54:21.355-07:00Waking up to a Dotterel!I arrived on the limestones at 5.30am just in time to see the sunrise and lone Swift flying east. Twenty minutes later and the call of a Dotterel well and truly woke me up. The bird landed briefly by the cairn before flying around me for a minute or two and heading off towards the summit. Certainly a case of the early birder getting the spoils! Although quite quiet this morning, the four hours spent up there produced a few bits and pieces - a Whinchat on the limestones and around 30 Greenland type Wheatears, 3 Lesser Whitethroats by Powell's Well, three Tree Pipits over and a lone Yellow Wagtail over west as I was enjoying a hard earned cup of coffe at the north end before leaving. Two Black Guillemots were also present off the gun-site.
5 Lesser redpolls, 7 Swifts, 5 Siskin, 5 'alba' Wagtails, 2 Blackcap, Whitethraot and a handful of Willow Warblers made up the best of the other migrants. Chough, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk were all good to see while the cliffs were alive with the sounds and sight of Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmar, Cormormants, Shags and Kittiwakes.
The best pictures ever of Dotterel ;-/ ! And a showy female Greenalnd Wheatear waking up in the early morning sun.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMInYkTNZD-nt1q4H4KafyXCOMRY7IRdjkdnfBa7tKivCMLE9HbL_fUtG-dJZHu2VYw1tAb4GJc0sEgfP2rAzyMdTfWHhmeEbCUlDhelw_6589Y7HbKJ2KJkEOOPEbDIANNfmszuyWQC-/s1600/wheatear5-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="283" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMInYkTNZD-nt1q4H4KafyXCOMRY7IRdjkdnfBa7tKivCMLE9HbL_fUtG-dJZHu2VYw1tAb4GJc0sEgfP2rAzyMdTfWHhmeEbCUlDhelw_6589Y7HbKJ2KJkEOOPEbDIANNfmszuyWQC-/s400/wheatear5-5.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-26979950646282128082012-05-04T11:24:00.001-07:002012-05-04T11:24:49.581-07:00May the Fourth be with you! It was to some extent - Bee-eater and the one that got away.This morning on the Orme was a bit special. On getting out of the car a few Willow Warblers flitted around the gorse at the northern end - always a good sign. Suddenly an unusual call had me searching the misty clouds the above me - House Sparrow? Tree Sparrow? The bird then appeared out of the gloom above me - a large Pipit!! The whole time it was calling I felt uneasy - this didn't sound like Richard's Pipit but what else could it be? Tawny's call like Yellow Wags and this didn't. It flew East towards the cemetery and lost to view. I put the news out as a large Pipit sp, probably a Richard's. Upon returning work, I listened to Tawny pipit. Expecting to hear a Yellow wagtail like call, I suddenly had a sick gut feeling when I heard a call similar to a raspy harsh House Sparrow call. Oh dear! .......The one that got away.
Continuing on a Grasshopper Warbler jumoed from heather clump to heather clump while 3 Sandwhich Terns appeared out of the mist over the Limestones - a strange sight. Greenland Wheatears were still evident and several Willow Warblers hopped around the hawthorns. Suddenly a bird called above, perhaps two. It got closer and closer and the familiar yet exciting sound was above me. Pete Alderson, some 400 yards away started waving madly and pointing to the sky, his animated posturing giving away his excitement. Above us somewhere in the mist as at least one, probably two Bee-eaters calling. The birds continuing south towards the summit high above us, but their calls echoing around the headland in the stillness of the morning.
You could hear a pin drop up there this morning. A small group of Redpolls could be heard in the distance and quick blast of the iPod brought five birds into the Hawthorns. One nice pale bird was a good Mealy Redpoll candidate and was grilled by Pete and I - remincent of the birds seen on Bardsey recently. Not a clssic but certainly not a Welsh Lesser!
A Tree Pipit and 2 Blackcpas made up the rest. Not a bad couple fo hours before work, despite being frustrating!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-53088982198667409642012-05-03T12:40:00.000-07:002012-05-03T12:41:58.731-07:00May 3rd - yesterday's leftoversBirds left over from yestreday's fall on the limestones, and a few new individuals included - 1st summer male Common Redstart, Tree Pipits over, 20+ Greenland Wheatears, 2 Blackcaps in the northern end gorse and 5 Willow Warblers. A lot quieter today. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A 1st summer male Redstart today - in the gorse along the limestone wall.
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A baby Chaffinch on the Gun Site chipping away - the call got me going for a bit!
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Several cracking Greenland Wheatears still present - peachy underparts, brown in the back and the large size giving them away.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-13382969000697203662012-05-03T12:38:00.000-07:002012-05-03T12:38:00.912-07:00Floodgates Open on May 2nd!Early morning saw the first proper fall on the Great Orme (that invloved multiple species) of the year. One of the first birds seen and heard was a 1st for the Orme - a cracking Little Ringed Plover that circled low over the pavements. 2 male Redstarts, 2 male Whinchat, female Ring Ouzel, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, 7 Tree Pipits, 60+ Wheatears with the vast majority being Greeland birds, 30+ Willow Warblers and a few Chiff-chaffs on the limestones. Many Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin were also on the move. Superb!
Late afternoon saw 2 Black Guillemots and 100+ Sandwich Tern off the western edge of the gunsite. Four Whitethroat in the scrub here, while a birder met there had seen 2 Redstarts and 2 Whinchats along Invalid's Walk.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNPBk_Z66_Vangjjuqw9QxlUFp7eGocQ8z1Q2HN2NfJRYCSRdAEs0_oZSpuU2BRdwkxXe7uB_3ljfCSNxxa1v3FS6gnjCdoY9ZHbZhzxwY0r-3E3FloJ2AuWWiJurbQj2CFIhECDXImB2/s1600/Redstartmale3-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="263" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNPBk_Z66_Vangjjuqw9QxlUFp7eGocQ8z1Q2HN2NfJRYCSRdAEs0_oZSpuU2BRdwkxXe7uB_3ljfCSNxxa1v3FS6gnjCdoY9ZHbZhzxwY0r-3E3FloJ2AuWWiJurbQj2CFIhECDXImB2/s400/Redstartmale3-5.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-69717498646443839442012-05-03T12:36:00.001-07:002012-05-03T12:36:29.595-07:00White Storks an Orme first - April 25th!April 25th - Six huge White Storks flew over Llandudno and over the Great Omre. Magical! Alan Davies and a few other very lucky observers connected as these birds put hundreds of gulls up in the air as they frightened the living daylights out of the local birds.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rud7QT634tgJcaNxUisWmaTEqfRB8xC1nduBYLwSV5BgIXhk_5xk8J0CwEXhGJ-2oJn5VaReOffpYorX9DEqQQGrHkqohqKV5Tw5hjeZe1WX60RQ1LbscB2X1PAJB0gcEFmhq9FaXso/s1600/storks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="243" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rud7QT634tgJcaNxUisWmaTEqfRB8xC1nduBYLwSV5BgIXhk_5xk8J0CwEXhGJ-2oJn5VaReOffpYorX9DEqQQGrHkqohqKV5Tw5hjeZe1WX60RQ1LbscB2X1PAJB0gcEFmhq9FaXso/s400/storks.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-40682656939578376482012-05-03T12:34:00.000-07:002012-05-03T12:34:07.963-07:00Northerly winds block migration - last two weeks of AprilThe last few weeks on the Great Orme have been pretty grim with a constant flow of northerly air. The only mogrants that seem to have got through have been a few Greenland Wheatears, one or two Whitethroats, small numbers of Tree Pipits and a light passage of Crossbills some mornings. Willow Warbler numbers have started to build up this last week as has Wheatears with around 60+ of each on Monday and Tuesday this week. Hopefully the switch to warmer air will aid our migrants north.
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Willow Warbler numbers have increased during the last week of April.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoplSgDRIXfREG9EBq4pVkSaTz7n20Jd1L83VpGawzICbhUWk-VS-hChNaC_Xt4hRS_YxqqAZZLDque78tvWCxsve0o4l3A4TzTiHDSzyWAl8plDyUrYVyZ7E6FOacKUj8EWjJ5T7ROw/s1600/Whitethroat25-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="272" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoplSgDRIXfREG9EBq4pVkSaTz7n20Jd1L83VpGawzICbhUWk-VS-hChNaC_Xt4hRS_YxqqAZZLDque78tvWCxsve0o4l3A4TzTiHDSzyWAl8plDyUrYVyZ7E6FOacKUj8EWjJ5T7ROw/s400/Whitethroat25-4.jpg" /></a></div>
The first Whitethroat sang its heart out on April 25th.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-19668599865833149172012-04-03T01:17:00.000-07:002012-04-03T01:17:35.513-07:00Short eared Owl hots up cold windy morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnru3KKE7ADb9XZBm_mSrFHaakOUdPgy1Rieu7TAtyTodh56Hszk5JtZRbmyhDm7pJ7L_lJgHsl7_yhSQN82m6QhhPy8fMqsnrh3H5Pqr7RKT8Vfuwrux1D4M09HKHt6LP_bVIDdcHbdI/s1600/SEOb3-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="310" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnru3KKE7ADb9XZBm_mSrFHaakOUdPgy1Rieu7TAtyTodh56Hszk5JtZRbmyhDm7pJ7L_lJgHsl7_yhSQN82m6QhhPy8fMqsnrh3H5Pqr7RKT8Vfuwrux1D4M09HKHt6LP_bVIDdcHbdI/s400/SEOb3-4.jpg" /></a></div>
A super Short eared Owl brightened up a dull, gloomy, wet morning. The bird flew in off the sea and landed on the North eastern cliffs before moving into the braken area below the dung heap. The bird was seen on a few occassions as it patrolled the cliffs, presumably looking for Meadow Pipits which were present in good numbers. 100+ Mipit were along the cliffs sheltering from the wind. Three Redpoll and 15 Siskin moved through low over the pavements, while a single swallow moved up the small valley; my first of the year here. Two Willow Warblers were in the hawthorns behond the cemetery.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-82722190227762443662012-04-01T12:38:00.004-07:002012-04-01T12:51:32.942-07:00Red and Yellow fever - it's no April fool!The perfectly still morning was ideal for a bit of visible migration and after a quiet first half hour, the Redpolls started moving. At least 100 birds were seen on the headland with many more passing overhead. One 'classic' Mealy Redpoll landed briefy amonsgt a small flock of Lessers behind the churchyard and I'm sure I had a few others. A Ring Ouzel called and flew down towards the reservoir. A few Goldcrests, Chiff chaff and finches kept the interest going. Star bird of the day came in the form of a fine male Yellowhammer. It was first heard calling high above the pavements before suddenly appearing in the hawthorns by the wall, singing its head off! The first of the year and a good one to get for the Orme year list. 25+ Magpies and 40+ Woodpigeon were also on the move.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi5YauX4ENME_w8N7WP8IJdLiNNBQPwJwLqL5oh8AIWexMi9TwYV81Gq_jkjWG4-c5gSqKz1ENN6Q0IidglLnzvx7DmF2PdqQNbwIZ6LSih6rBFszfWKXsFpCZuxGm4Z7Qw93XDmeuVw/s1600/Redpolld1-4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 342px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726521045986009922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi5YauX4ENME_w8N7WP8IJdLiNNBQPwJwLqL5oh8AIWexMi9TwYV81Gq_jkjWG4-c5gSqKz1ENN6Q0IidglLnzvx7DmF2PdqQNbwIZ6LSih6rBFszfWKXsFpCZuxGm4Z7Qw93XDmeuVw/s400/Redpolld1-4.jpg" /></a> This fine male Lesser Redpoll was in the gorse at the North End.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySrOwGEb9tfrJ5jlz5Gvb2oSmocQaODn1RxPJnofdlNg8LS9CP17DAu_mtCVWIlfMm85CmOhk3R450kFaGCdQGOcWRFSnv-Ox7v6O5-oTDB5RbkZDxdqKYhuXqTBtsqxyU0Peb-tLiXk/s1600/Yellowhammer1-4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726521038783836482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySrOwGEb9tfrJ5jlz5Gvb2oSmocQaODn1RxPJnofdlNg8LS9CP17DAu_mtCVWIlfMm85CmOhk3R450kFaGCdQGOcWRFSnv-Ox7v6O5-oTDB5RbkZDxdqKYhuXqTBtsqxyU0Peb-tLiXk/s400/Yellowhammer1-4.jpg" /></a> Highlight of the day - a singing male Yellowhammer on the limestone wall!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8PZF8qFaAj88zgbJYmbrfi1sv8Yp0MbSqsfWTqkXwK8T2fdGmizV4b52c3Enx1Rdxla9nuERTr95naI00_m-adMxwilLMdPymUiNfaYcqzrVA_zwDQ3hdAAJ3-XWICgVuiRL2IOwbTk/s1600/Redpollbr1-4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 315px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726521034497979282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8PZF8qFaAj88zgbJYmbrfi1sv8Yp0MbSqsfWTqkXwK8T2fdGmizV4b52c3Enx1Rdxla9nuERTr95naI00_m-adMxwilLMdPymUiNfaYcqzrVA_zwDQ3hdAAJ3-XWICgVuiRL2IOwbTk/s400/Redpollbr1-4.jpg" /></a> I suspect that this is a Mealy Redpoll - pale, nape, underparts, vent and undertail coverts and wing bar. Pity I didn't see the rump - I'm sure it would have had a nice pale one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i_EZkrS-T2B6OyQMXqDoP0d3n-xZHGneMv85I-9GTWzbB0_ka3bb_x_UPinUOqxf4Ot3U8TsoGB2NI_jxp3bzY-JfVu4h5tEe89d5I4MoJG9kRKjx9nSaTUTq3cb2E-Rq1QdslY8bk4/s1600/Magpiea1-4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726521025126797458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i_EZkrS-T2B6OyQMXqDoP0d3n-xZHGneMv85I-9GTWzbB0_ka3bb_x_UPinUOqxf4Ot3U8TsoGB2NI_jxp3bzY-JfVu4h5tEe89d5I4MoJG9kRKjx9nSaTUTq3cb2E-Rq1QdslY8bk4/s400/Magpiea1-4.jpg" /></a> Magpies on the move - 25+ birds through today.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasviQLJXAa0Yg33oJn1Lz4guEFM4oWrQrXW8C68l8F-ch-YRq6syfPwhrBp30Pls_mydBd5mkp1bm4NvvbTm-K7moi-PuUSKQHDoLojYOYOn_CnSkVc7c0XDHOTUeUij3iKStdBbQhc0/s1600/Goldcrest1-4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 325px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726521018149809586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasviQLJXAa0Yg33oJn1Lz4guEFM4oWrQrXW8C68l8F-ch-YRq6syfPwhrBp30Pls_mydBd5mkp1bm4NvvbTm-K7moi-PuUSKQHDoLojYOYOn_CnSkVc7c0XDHOTUeUij3iKStdBbQhc0/s400/Goldcrest1-4.jpg" /></a><br />Goldcrests are still moving, although in smaller numbers. This one was behind the Churchyard.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5724231098518464409.post-18279843784752845442012-03-31T02:37:00.002-07:002012-03-31T02:41:21.851-07:00Northerly winds put pay to rush of birds.The last two mornings have been bleak and cold with very few migrants. Star bird today (Saturday) was a dashing male Merlin over the limestones with a small trickle of Siskins, Redpolls and other finches kept the interest going. It looks as if the next week will be hard going with a cold northerly airflow looking set to stay until Easter weekend.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927135017383938272noreply@blogger.com0