Heulfre Gardens - the underwatched Orme.

Two singing Chiffchaff along Heulfre Gardens tyhis afternoon as well as a pair of Long tailed Tits nest building. Lots of activity with Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker both good Orme birds for the year. This side of the Orme is very underwatched and I bet loads goes missing here in during migration.

More Wheatears and a trickle of migrants

Five male Wheatears were on the Great Orme early morning, although theyr all seemed to move on pretty quickly. A single Reed Bunting was my first up here for the year, while a strange movement of Magpies consisted of at least 25 birds passing through. Some birds stayed in ones and twos, however the groups of 9 and 7 passed straight overhead and towards Anglesey. At least 6 pairs of Stonechats are on the limestones this year, while Meadow Pipits were in full display with 50+ birds present. Small numbers of Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Siskins passed overhead while at least 5 Gannet were offshore. Kittiwakes and Auks are well and truly back on the breeding cliffs. A singled Mistle Thrush, several Blackbirds and 4 Song Thrushes were present and presumed migrants, as were the 6-7 Goldcrests dotted around. A strange record was 60+ Common Teal on the sea below the west cliffs.

First real migrants arrive today.

It's spring at last! A lovely morning on the Great Orme today saw the first arrival of Wheatears. Three cracking males and a female were on the limestones. Overhead, a Snow Bunting called and continued north while at least 35 'alba' Wagtails were on the move. A few Chaffinches and Greenfinches were present along with 10+ Siskin in two groups. Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Stonechats were all busy setting up territory along with three very noisy Chough. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

The 2012 Orme Season Starts!

An enjoyable few hours on the Great orme this morning produced a trickle of hoped for migrants. Grounded birds included 2 Fieldfare and a handful of Goldcrests. Overhead 30+ Siskin flew through with one flock of 16 low over the heather. Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Chaffinches were also moving through in small numbers. There was also a strange movement of 20+ Magpies with one flock of containing 12 birds. Chough, Peregrine, Stonechat and Skylark all present, while seabird numbers were good with hundreds of Auks, Kittiwakes and a few Gannets offshore,

Black Redstart brightens up dull day.

A female type Black Redstart was found by John 'Woodsman' near the Grand Hotel and toll house earlier in the week and had been seen a few times in the area over the last few days. I popped down at lunchtime and had a brief view of it on hotel roofs near the small roundabout here. With a flash of 'red', it promptly disappeared behind the hotels somewhere. Three Whooper Swans were seen flying past the Orme last Monday by Nigel Pearce. Picture above by John.

'littoralis' Rock Pipit gets 2012 off to a good start.

An afternoon on the Orme produced a nice 'Scandinavian' Rock Pipit feeding on the ciner path between the cemetery and the 5 barred gate. Although the picture is poor, the overall grey and white colouring can be seen. Other birds here included 2 Chough and a large female Peregrine that was chasing (but not catching) Lapwings. Offshore were 5 Red throated Divers and a few Kittiwake. Four showy Snow Buntings are on the West Shore too. Pete Alderson had a showy Jack Snipe in the field with the electricity sub station in it on Bodafonb Fields, Llandudno today.

Splash of mid-winter colour

A Ring necked Parakeet has taken up residence in Deganwy, Llandudno. According to the locals there are two and have been around for several months. They come to feed in gardens on birdtables and feeders in the area. What a good Welsh bird and hopefully stay around to add to next year's bird list. They can be found on the Deagnwy to llanrhos road in the small wood to the north of Coed-y-Glyn estate.