30th Anniversary of being a Country Park

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

A week away - butterflies on the wing.

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

Puffin

A brisk North westerly wind put pay to any migration today but a single Spotted Flycatcher was still to be found in the churchyard. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were around the Copper Mines while the highlight wasa single Puffin sat amongst the Razorbill and Guillemots below the lighthouse. 6 Shellduck, 2 Swifts and a Sand Martin were also seen.
Next weeks Radio Cymru programme 'Galwad Cynnar' was recorded on the Orme this morning and has a bit about the local birdlife, plants and history. Programme is next Saturday between 6.30 and 7.30am.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radiocymru/safle/rhaglenni/pages/galwad_cynnar.shtml

Reed Warbler - Orme tick!

I got vey wet on the Orme this morning but it was worth it. A long awaited Orme first for me came in the form of a singing Reed Warbler. I'm sure they pass through fairly regularly but this is the first one I've set eyes on here as on migration they are skulking birds. This bird chose to sing in the hawthorns behind Ffynon Powell along the track to Pink Farm.

2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Wheatear and a singing Tree Pipit was the best of the rest. The Tree Pipit may well be a breeding bird as a pair have nested here for the past two years. The male Bullfinch was still present and it is good to see that the Coal Tits have reared two young in the churchyard.

It's a funny time of year as most bushes are deadly quiet, but the end of May and beginning of June can be the month for that one rare bird to appear. As they say....the big one always travels alone....!

Little Terns

Little Terns are always great birds to see and two were just east of the Little Orme this evening. The birds were in the bay and seemed to be eyeing up the fish near the breakwater. Chough, Raven, Whitethraot and Garden Warbler were all on the headland too.

Resident Kestrel and Mystery bird

Paul Manchester sent me this great picture of the resident female Kestrel on the Great Orme. He also sent me a picture of a bird he thought may be a female Redstart which he saw distantly by the cemetery on Saturday. The bill and head shape don't seem right for Redstart to me, but I'm not 100% sure what it is. A Wren with its tail held downwards was one thought, while the possibility of it being a female Rock Thrush seems thoroughly ridiculous. I'm off to find the branch tomorrow so that I can measure it's size and nail the i.d. inthe process. Any one got any opinions?

Bullfinch brightens up the day

A fairly queit day on the Orme with plenty fo breeding activity but very little in the way of migrants. A couple of Wheatears on the limestone pavements, 3 Chiff chaff by the reservoir and a Blackcap in the cemetery. A fine male Bullfinch was very vocal around the cemetery area, the first I've seen here this year. Also present was a fine male Sparrowhawk by the Old Cafe.