Richard's Pipit gets autumn up and running

Things started to hot up this morning after a dire fortnight up the headland. A male Blackcap was a good start in the northern gorse bushes, along with 3 Goldcrest here -always a sign that birds are moving. The first hint of vis mig produced 50+ of chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch while 2 Reed Bunting and 2 Snipe were the first of the autumn. Upon reaching the hawthorns, the pulse quickened as a familiar, yet exciting call flew overhead, the 'schreeep' of a Richrd's Pipit. Scouring the sky, Pete Alderson and I finally connected as several Meadow Pipits intercepted it and started to mob the monster Pipit. It soon dissapeared down by the by barns only to readppear just south of the summit later on. Views were better from here. The churchyard produced a stunning Firecrest in the pines along with 15+ Goldcrest, 3 Chiff-chaff and 2 Coal Tits. Another Firecrest was a nice surprise by Powell's well along the track to Pink Farm, while 2 Blackcaps, 3 Mistle thrush and a Stock Dove wee present here. 7 Wheatears were also dotted at various parts of the limestones.

Early September migrants

A quiet start to the month on the whole with a sprinkling of migrants today (yesterday was very quiet). Six Crossbill flew east early morning over the limestone carpark while seven Wheatears were present in the area. Two Chiff-chaff and two Goldcrest were in the gorse while 30+ Goldfinch continue to feed on the headland. Peregrine and 2 chough continue to show well with the Peregrine chasing and attempting to catch a juv Herring Gull!

Choughs showing well and a few migrants this morning.

A few more migrants on the move today with the autumn's first Tree Pipit and Golden Plover over the headland, while two Curlew in the field were unusual here. 15+ House Sparrow on the approach road were also notworthy. A single Redstart along the wall was very vocal, while two smart fresh juv Willow Warblers fed in the thistles amongst the 100+ goldfinch. 5 Wheatears and 2 Whtethroat also present. Chough are very easy to see at the moment with six birds allowing close approach. Two of the birds are the juveniles that have arrived from Llanbadrig on Anglesey (ringed N2 and N3 black lettering on white rings, with pale green over pale green on one bird's right leg and light green over dark green on the other bird's right leg, while the two pairs are also present (one ringed out of each pair).

Migrants continue to trickle through

A few migrants trickling through the Great Orme this morning. The first two hours of light produced 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers in gorse at the north end of the limestones, while a sngle Whitethroat and a single Willow Warbler were also grounded in these bushes. Also in the limestone area, another 5 Willow warblers and 8 Wheatears were along the wall. A single juvenile Redstart was a different bird here from two days ago. Around 50 Meadow Pipits were present as well as 80+ Goldfinch. 13 Rock Pipit along Marine Drive was also a notable count. Seven Stonechat also around including four young.
Offshore 30+ Manx Shearwaters, 10+ Gannet and 33 Common Scoter flew west in a short watch from the cindertrack valley.

Wandering Choughs and a few migrants - 13th August

A few migrants today with 2 Common Redstart in the bushes at the bottom of the small valley near the limestones. Willow warbler, Whitethroat, 5 Wheatears and a Grasshopper present also.
Highlight though were three ringed Chough which were extremely tame and their close approach made me quite sure they weren't local 'orme' birds. A quick text to those in the know revelaed that all three were this year's birds from Anglesey- 2 from Llanbadrig and the other from Rhoscolyn - superb, some post breeding Chough dispersal.

Butterflies and Seabirds

A lone Balearic Shearwater flew past the Little Orme on Tuesday along with good number of Manx Shearwaters. Manxies are being seen daily at the moment in small numbers along with Gannets and common Scoter.

Butterfiles have been much in evidence with several Dark-green Fritillaries on the headland as well as the discovery of a small colony of Ringlets. Photos above are by Julian Wheldrake.

Mid-summer beauties

Lots going on around the headland at the moment with many young bird saround - Families of Chough, Buzzard, Kestrel, Wheatears, Stonechats, Rick and Meado pipits, Linnets and Auks giving a super spectacle. Butterflies inlude many Graylings and Silver-studded Blues. Here a couple of pictures from this morning.