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| Redshank (M Walsh) |
13th
January 2024
Weather: Cold, rain in the afternoon
Members and friends: 32 Driver: Glenn
Thirty-two members and friends set off from Stockport for our trip to the usual locations on the North Wales coast. As we passed over the River Gowy on the M56 at dawn, hundreds of Canada Geese were taking off from the adjacent marshes and flying to their daytime feeding grounds. As the light became brighter, we picked up Buzzard by the A55 at Northop Hall.
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| Carrion Crow (J Wharton) |
Our first location of the day was the usual stop at Aber Ogwen, where we walked down the narrow road to the Spinnies. Passing over the railway bridge we quickly picked up on the commoner tit species in the adjacent woodland as well as Chaffinch and Goldfinch. A dozen Curlew flew over giving their evocative call. Blackbird, Song Thrush and Robin were quickly added to our list.
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| Dunnock (A Barrett) |
At the Spinnies we found a few Mallards and Moorhen on the water and three Little Egret in one of the trees. From the hide we watched Siskin, Greenfinch, Nuthatch and other common species on the feeders, with Dunnock lurking underneath.
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| Curlew (D Axford) |
Moving over to view the estuary and the outflow to Afon Ogwen we found good numbers of Little Grebe fishing in the waters. A Jack Snipe was flushed and a single Knot was on the shingle. Further out in the Menai Straights we scoped Shelduck, Goldeneye, Wigeon, a single Pintail and a few Great-crested Grebe. There were a few small groups of Red-breasted Merganser out on the water and we identified one female Eider. Flying through we added Oystercatcher and Turnstone to our list, as well as the commoner gull species. The highlight was up to three distant Slavonian Grebe. In good periods of light, the big white cheek patches were clear.
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| Greenshank (A Kelso) |
The flooded sheep field by the carpark held further Oystercatcher, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Teal. They were joined by a flock of Jackdaw and a couple of Carrion Crow. A new hide at this end of the Spinnies added House Sparrow, Coal Tit, Goldcrest and Great Spotted Woodpecker to our list.
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| Robin (M Walsh) |
Our second stop of the day was at Llanfairfechan with many of the group taking the opportunity of the walk from the wastewater treatment plant to the Boating Pool. The treatment works were very quiet, with only a Pied Wagtail noted, but the adjacent woodland held plenty of Goldcrest, joined by a couple of Treecreeper.
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| Blackcap (J Wharton) |
A flock of Lapwing greeted us as we passed over the railway line and viewed the saltmarsh. Around the pools there were plenty of waders as it was high tide. Dunlin, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Ringer Plover were present, with a single Sanderling and at least four Greenshank. Ducks were present in good numbers over the saltmarsh, mainly Wigeon, Teal and Mallard with a couple of Red-breasted Merganser.
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| Redshank (A Barrett) |
The surprise of the day was a juvenile Chough that suddenly appeared in front of us on the grass, before taking off again, calling and flying towards Llanfairfechan. A small flock of Skylark moved through and we found a couple of Rock Pipit alongside one of the dykes.
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| Chough (A Kelso) |
Scoping out into Conwy Bay we had distant Common Scoter, Eider and a handful of Red-throated Diver. On the Boating Pool a pair Mute Swan were on the water with a small mixed group of gulls, mainly Black-headed and Herring. Out on the shingle beach more gulls bathed in the outflow of Afon Llanfairfechan. Upstream a pair of Dipper were found and a grey Wagtail. Collared Dove and Mistle Thrush were added at this location and a Red Kite was seen by a lucky few flying over the Co-op!
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| Redshank (D Axford) |
As per usual, our last stop of the day was at the Conwy RSPB reserve. Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen and Coot were quickly added to the day’s list. One of our party reported a brief sighting of a Bearded Reedling and a Water Rail was heard in the reedbeds. A Cetti’s Warbler gave excellent views from one hide, whilst a Reed Bunting skulked nearby. A couple of hundred Starlings threatened to do a murmuration as we returned to the coach to make the trip home. The day ended with 91 species recorded.
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| Dipper (A Kelso) |
Birds seen;
Total Species: 91
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