Lapland Buntings

Autumn is certainly yere! My first ever August Lapland Buntings were on the Orme this morning, with four birds calling and giving reasonable flight views around the cemetery.Othe migrants included 5 Blackcap, Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpeckler and a scattering of Willow Warblers and Chiff chaffs.

Summer Flowers

Henry Cook has been busy looking at wild flowers during the queit months of June, July and early August and he's build up a healthy list.
Here's a link to the flower page of northwalesbirding where he notes the species. Some nice photos too.
http://www.northwalesbirding.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4009

First fall of the Autumn

This morning had a good feel and we had the first fall of the autumn. A few birds must have been grounded after yesterday's torrential rain and thunder storms.
Passage birds included 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a superb Whinchat above the cemetery, a Yellow Wagtail over, 2 Tree Pipits, a Grasshopper warbler flushed from the limestone pavements, 30+ phyllosc warblers with many bright juvenle Willow Warblers amongst them. 20+ Wheatears were also on the limestone pavements. Usually associated with later autumn passage, a female Reed Bunting was a surprise alng the limestone wall. 2 Grey wagtails were the first of the autumn while Blackcap and Whitethroats were also present. Hirundines were on the move with 50+ Swallows through and a few House Martins.

Large flocks of Goldfinches are building up with an estimated 200+ birds around. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Linnets and a single Bullfinch were also present. Autumn has started!

Manxy Madness!

After a few weeks away the Orme beckoned once again this morning. Things are slowly starting to happen with a single Tree pipit overhead and seven autumn plumaged Northern Wheatears dotted around the limetone pavements. Three Chiff-chaffs, two juvenile Whitethroats and 50+ Swallows were all evidence hat birds are on the move.

Off shore an impressive spectacle of 1000+ Manx Shearwaters and 100+ Gannets were in a feeding frenzy and after a short wait a hoped for Balearic Shearwater flew in.

Spot Fly - first proper migrant

A brief walk around the Orme mid morning produced the first true passerine migrant of the autumn - a fine Spotted Flycatcher in the cemetery. 5+ Willow arblers were also present and a single Chiff Chaff.

First visit of the autumn

Inspired by the Hippo Warbler on Hilbre yesterday, Tony Kearney and I set off up the headland for our first visit of the autumn this morning. A few Willow Warbler, a Chiff Chaff, Blackcap and 3 Whitethroats were present along with good numbers of Meadow Pipit, Goldfinches and Greenfinch. Offshore 100+ Sandwich Terns, a few Manxy and Gannets as well as teo Porpoise and a couple of Atlantic Grey Seals. The Orme is very underwatched during this months so It would be good to spend some time up there seeing what does pass through at this time of year.

Crossbills on the move!

A movement of Crossbills over Llandudno and the Great Orme today was noteworthy. 55 birds were noted over the lighthouse mid afternoon while perhaps the same flock was seen flying south over Ysgol John Bright. Another ten were over Craig y don a few hours earlier.