Thirty-two
members and friends set off from Stockport for the journey over to the North
Wales coast. A small herd of Whooper Swan were spotted from the coach in the
Frodsham area. After a comfort stop at Colwyn Bay we arrived at our first stop,
Aber-Ogwen. The walk down to the reserve was relatively quiet with Mistle
Thrush, Jackdaws and Magpies noted in the adjacent fields.
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| Black-tailed Godwit (Alan & Glo) |
The
field opposite the Spinnies held a good flock of Curlew with a couple of
Oystercatcher, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit. Over twenty Little Egret were
also in attendance. Four Teal were in the brook and a large flock of Starling
fed in the adjacent turf.
Walking
on to the coastal path we were met by a very high tide, the water close to the
bank. Viewing out over the Menai Straits we identified Shelduck, Red-breasted
Merganser, Goldeneye and Wigeon. Further out we picked up Great Crested Grebe,
Cormorant and a single distant, female Eider. Three Golden Plover flew over
amongst a party of Black-tailed Godwit. The oddest moment came when a Dipper
flew down to the beach, landed in the sea and proceeded to disappear under
water a couple of times before quickly departing.
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| Little Egret (Alan & Glo) |
In
the adjacent Spinnies Nature Reserve a Kingfisher was seen, along with Little Grebe
and Mallard. Small birds were represented by the tit family, including Coal, with
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Treecreeper around the feeders. A female
Blackcap was seen moving through the scrub and Water Rail gave its distinctive
call from a reed bed.
On
the short journey to the drop off point at Morfa Madryn we observed a late
Swallow adjacent to the A55 from the coach.
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| Wigeon (Alan & Glo) |
At
Morfa Madryn we picked up Goosander on the inlet with Ringed Plover, Knot,
Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Bar-tailed Godwit on the adjacent shingle. Small
birds in the area included both Meadow and Rock Pipit with a single Reed
Bunting feeding amongst the debris on the shoreline. Bullfinch and Chaffinch
were present in the vegetation and Lapwing on the flooded fields.
The
pools on the walk to Llanfairfechan held Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, with a small
flock of Linnet feeding on the adjacent grassland. Snipe were found amongst the rushes and a
flock of Skylark went over. Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit were also present.
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| View to Great Orme from Llanfairfechan (Holly Page) |
The
sea was relatively calm and most of the birds a good distance away. We managed
to identify a few flocks of Common Scoter with around six Red-throated Diver
and many Great-crested Grebe. The highlight was Holly’s find of a Great
Northern Diver that we scoped from the sea front at Llanfairfechan. Gannet,
Kittiwake and Razorbill were also identified far out at sea. Turnstone fed on
the nearby shingle whilst a couple of large Great Black-backed Gull loafed off
shore.
Walking
up the stream to the coach we were unable to locate any of the Dipper we
normally encounter in this area.
 |
| RSPB Conwy (Holly Page) |
The
final stop of the day was at Conwy RSPB. On the pools we found Tufted Duck,
Gadwall and Shoveler. Mute Swan, Coot and Moorhen were also added to our lists.
Grey Heron, Little Egret and Snipe were also in attendance.
At
the feeders Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue and Great Tit fed with Dunnock and
Robin watching on. A single Chiffchaff was also observed. As the light was
fading only a small number of Starling were seen heading towards the reedbeds,
no vast numbers as years past.
Ninety
species were recorded in the day.
Birds seen:
| Mute Swan | Moorhen | Grey Wagtail |
| Whooper Swan | Coot | Dipper |
| Greylag Goose | Oystercatcher | Dunnock |
| Canada Goose | Ringed Plover | Robin |
| Shelduck | Golden Plover | Song Thrush |
| Mallard | Lapwing | Redwing |
| Gadwall | Knot | Mistle Thrush |
| Pintail | Turnstone | Blackbird |
| Shoveler | Dunlin | Blackcap |
| Wigeon | Redshank | Chiffchaff |
| Teal | Greenshank | Goldcrest |
| Tufted Duck | Black-tailed Godwit | Wren |
| Eider | Bar-tailed Godwit | Great Tit |
| Common Scoter | Curlew | Coal Tit |
| Goldeneye | Snipe | Blue Tit |
| Goosander | Black-headed Gull | Long-tailed Tit |
| Red-breasted Merganser | Common Gull | Nuthatch |
| Pheasant | Herring Gull | Treecreeper |
| Red-throated Diver | Great Black-backed Gull | Magpie |
| Great Northern Diver | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Jay |
| Little Grebe | Kittiwake | Jackdaw |
| Great-crested Grebe | Razorbill | Carrion Crow |
| Gannet | Woodpigeon | Starling |
| Cormorant | Collared Dove | House Sparrow |
| Shag | Great Spotted Woodpecker | Chaffinch |
| Little Egret | Skylark | Linnet |
| Grey Heron | Swallow | Goldfinch |
| Buzzard | Rock Pipit | Greenfinch |
| Kestrel | Meadow Pipit | Bullfinch |
| Water Rail | Pied Wagtail | Reed Bunting |
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