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.

Pallas's Warbler near Old Cafe

Typical! I'm writing this from Amsterdam Airport waiting for my flight to Nairobi. Just as I arrived at Manchester Airport, Pete Alderson texted to say he had a fine Pallas's Warbler shoiwng well in the Old Cafe gardens (below the Churchyard). Great find and the first for several years. This is the 4th record for the Great Orme, 23 years after the first record back in 1988. Great find, but I doubt it'll stay 12 days for me :-)

Early morning Swift causes panic!

A Swift located by Pete Alderson soon after 8am understandibly caused his heart rate to quicken. The bird was flying above the cemetery and against the grey sky was difficult to make out as anything other than a silhouette. Other birders were quickly on the scene and Alan Davies duly picked the bird up flying over the fields to the east of the old cafe. The bird was at eye level and made some very close fly byes. Most factors, including weather and date pointed to the bird being a Pallid, but unfortunately however hard the observers tried, the Swift showed all the plumage characteristics of Common Swift. This must be the latest record of Common Swift for the headland and certainly shows that any 'late' Swift doesn't necessarily have to be a Pallid. Oh well, perhaps next time!
Only other birds of note today were a few Crossbills overhead.

Water Rail - 3rd Great Orme record!

The strange sonogram of the Great Orme Water Rail call. Recorded with Remembird and sonogram created with Raven Lite 1.0
A total of six hours spent on the headland today taking advantage of the extra hour of light inthe morning. It was good to welcome mid-Wales birder Paul Leafe up there today and he didn't let me down, calling a Lapland Buning as it flew in with a few Meadow Pipits along the eastern edge of the headland. The bird called several times and showed overhead before continuing south. No sightings of the Snow Buntings today, hwoever at least one bird was heard calling over the sheep fields so could still be around. A female / imm Merlin showed well on a couple of occasions, once near the 5 barred gate and the other by Pink Farm.
At least seven Crossbills were logged along with two early morning Bramblings. Four Bullfich, 7 Mistle Thrushes, 5 Redwing, 3 Coal Tot, 2 Chiff-Chaffs, 6 Goldcrest and a flock of 11 Long tailed Tits meant that there was always something to look at. A nice flock of 5 Lesser Redpoll and several small groups of Siskin were intermingled with the Chaffinches and Greenfinch passing over.
Highlight was the third known Great Orme record of Water Rail (only the second alive bird) that was calling from the old reservoir. It called twice this morning and was at it again this afternoon, making a right racket.

More Snow Bunts - up in twos!

Another two Snow Buntings joined the four present yesterday. They are showing well in the same area as the pair have for the past week or so - by the cairn on the limestone pavements. Other migrants today included 2 Brambling, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Goldrests and a few Redwing, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. Rather blustery and wet up there today.
The pictures above were taken by Pete Latham.