Weekend catch-up

A bit of a slow down on the Great orme this weekend, with cold easterlies taking over. I've been away so I've had to rely on other birders sightings for news. (read about my Ceredigion easter weekend here - www.webirdnorthwalesblogspot.com) Highlight were 2 Red kites over the churchyard area on Saturday. A couple of Ring Ouzels remained until Sunday, while Grasshopper warblers were seen Saturday and Monday. A Merlin has been frequenting the headland, wile Yellow Wagilas peaked at four on Friday morning, with singles seen every day from Thurs until Monday. Small numbers of Tree Pipits have been continuing to pass overhead - with totals Thurs to Wed reading 4,3,8,5, 2,0 and 4. One Whinchat on the Gun site on Friday, while Wheatears peaked at 60+ on Friday with smaller numbers on other days. Good numbers of Whitethroats continue to arrive and Siskins and Redpolls move overhead. Offshore good numbers of Common Scoter have been passing east, while Sandwhich Tern numbers peaked at 24 on Wednesday. Early Purple Orchids are now in flower on the limestone pavements adding a splash of colour.

Gull puzzle ????

A flock of large gulls are congregating in the fields at Penrhyn Bay at the moment with up to 400 birds roosting over high tide in the fields opposite the golf course. Yestreday two birds had me puzzled as they stood out from the usual 'argenteus' Herrings and Lesser black backed.

Both showed features associated with Caspian, but also showed features that aren't. Any opinions would be appreciated.

More Dotterels - best year ever?

Dawn saw another flock of Dotterel at the cairn on the limestone pavements. This time four birds popped their heads over the ridge before flying down the slope towards the gunsite. I'm pretty sure they settled in this area as they certainly didn't fly off high. This flock added to others seen this year, totals fourteen birds - surely the best year ever for this species here. Other migrants this morning included a female Common Redstart, the poorly marked Ring Ouzel in it's usual hawthorn, 2 White Wagtails, a Yellow Wagtail, 12 Tree Pipits amd 50+ Wheatears.

Migrant rush continues - April 20th

The flood of migrants continues on the Great Orme with a good number of species seen again early morning. A 1st year female Ring Ouzel along the wall (photo above - surely the most poorly marked bird ever!), a Short eared Owl in off the sea (Alan Davies), Grasshopper Warbler, Whinchat, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Whitethraot, Redpolls and Siskins, 40+ Wheatear, 7 Willow Warblers, Blackcap and highlight of the morning -4 House Sparrows, a limestone pavement mega! An Osprey was over the Little Orme at 10.10am before heading east.
Some birds are settling down to breed, with Stonechat, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Linnet (photo above) and Wheatear all on territory. It's difficult to know how many are migrants and how many are breeders at this time of year as all the above species are also still passing through.

Woodlark wonder morning!

Top left - male Whinchat, first of the year. Top right - nominate male Wheatear, compare with yesterday's 'Greenland' type bird. Bottom left- a sonogram image of a recording of this morning's Woodlark using remembird device (notice the yodeling series of notes on 5 seconds and 13 senconds). Bottom right - a strange Woodpigeon movement going on - 30 birds flying high west.

What a great morning, one of those you just don't want to end. Star bird was a super Woodlark that flew low along the northern edge and out eas over the churchyard, uttering it's call constantly as it disappeared into the distance. Loads of migrants were on the headland, including a flyover Dotterel (A Davies) and another 3 probables (Pete Alderson), 2 Whinchats, one near the gully and one near the Churchyard (PA), a male Ring ouzel (P and J Kennerley) and a female (AD), 3 Yellow Wagtails, 25+ Tree Pipits, singing male Redstart above ski Slope, Lesser Whitethroat (PA), Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper warbler, one at the Old Cafe and one at the north end gorse (P + JK), 80+ Wheatears (including 50+ that arrived mid morning), 50+ Woodpigeon, 50+ Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting and 20+ Willow Wabler dotted around. The first Whimbrel for the Orme this year also whistled away as it flew north. I wish every day was like this!

* Evening update - A female Osprey flew over Llandudno late afternoon and headed off north over the Great Orme (AD) while two Ring Ouzels wee still present above the gun-site.

Dotterel Delight!

There were some superb Geenland Wheatears on show this mornng - real peachy breasted beasts and browny feathering in the mantle - they almost look a different species to our nominate form.

Peregrine attack and superb sunrise from this morning.

The brisk South easterly winds did not disappoint this morning. You know ou are in for a good morning when the first birds you hear are a group of Tree Pipits overhead at dawn. Not long after the spectacular sunrise came the highlight when a calling Golden Plover unsettled a group of 8 Dotterel which were resting on the limetones. They called several times, lifted, circled the headland and continued on after the Goldie heading north. It was over all too soon. Other migrant totals were Yellow Wagtail, 15+ Tree pipits (including a displaying pair behind the cemetery), whiethroat, Brambling, 100+ Lesser Redpolls, 20+ Goldfinhc, 20+ Swallow and a lone Sand Martin. 40+ Wheatear were made up mostly of Greenland birds, including some real beats. 10+ Woodpigeon and 4 Collared Dove flew through too.

Weekend update

Lesser Redpolls are still moving through in reasonable numbers as are Greenland type Wheatears. A bit of a catch up as I've been away for a few days. Thursday - 10+ Tree Pipits over, 30+ Wheatears on the limestones and a small passage of Redpolls. Friday - male Ring Ouzel above Anglesey road, 4 Tree Pipits and 30+ Wheatears. Saturday - 34 Wheatears and 2 Common Whitethroats. Sunday - 20+ Wheatears, good passage of Meadow Pipits, 1 Tree Pipit and small numbers of Redpolls.