Trip reports

NORTH WALES COAST

Saturday, 14 February 2009

The first stop was at Llandullas beach where careful peering through the sea mist eventually produced a raft of Common Scoters, though poor visibility prevented identification of any "Velvets" amongst them. Other birds found included Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants, Red Breasted Mergansers and Turnstones, whilst a Dunnock serenaded us continually from the nearby railway embankment. The tide was rising so it was then off to the promenade at Llanfairfechan, several Fulmars being noted on route on the cliffs above Colwyn Bay.

After the customary purchase of bacon butties the party settled down to some serious sea watching. A line of divers some way out initially posed certain identification problems but they were eventually confirmed to be Red Throated Divers, four in all. Several more were seen from then on. A much larger Great Northern Diver was later seen, the contrast between that and an accompanying Red Throat being of interest. Equally satisfying was the presence of up to six Slavonian Grebes, neat with their black and white facial markings. Other birds on the sea were many Great Crested Grebes, Red Breasted Mergansers, Common Scoters, a Shag, Razorbill and a variety of gulls including a Great Black Backed. A walk along the shore to the sewage works near to the Morfa Madryn nature reserve produced Dipper, Wigeon, Curlew, Teal, Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatchers, Meadow Pipits and a Buzzard, but not the hoped for Firecrest. The information on this species, regular here, had been kindly given to us by a local lady birdwatcher. As the tide reached its highest and the sea became choppier, most birds seemed to disappear although two Slavonian Grebes were briefly seen again.

Conwy RSPB Reserve is a customary stopping off point on the return journey, one of the attractions being its well stocked café. Suitably replenished, the party sauntered around the reserve, a meander not helped by some ongoing construction work both on the reserve and the nearby Llandudno Junction - Blaenau Ffestiniog railway line. Loafing parties of Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers were resting on the lagoons over the high tide, eventually peeling off in small groups on to the estuary. Other birds there were Teal, Goldeneye (including one resplendent drake), Red Breasted Mergansers, Little Grebes, Gadwall, Shelduck, up to 10 Snipe, gulls and a solitary Little Egret. On the estuary waders, other than Redshanks, were generally scarce although a couple of Dunlin were spotted amongst them.

The final destination was the rather incongruous setting of Kinmel industrial estate where over the last few years Shorted Eared Owls have wintered. After a short wait two, possibly three, birds were seen and watched intermittently for about half an hour although not approaching as close as on previous visits. As the light faded flocks of roosting gulls flew noisily above, along with a few Redwings and as the owls faded into the dusk, it was decided to call an end to the day, which had been both productive and enjoyable. A feature had been the number of Buzzards counted by the roadside whilst travelling, nine as opposed to only four Kestrels. Is this a sign of the times?

By Tom Morton
Library Photo: Conwy Estuary