Day Out To RSPB Conwy 21 November 2012

Day Out To RSPB Conwy 21 November 2012

We had stayed over from the previous day staying at the Deganwy Spa hotel which was pricey but nicely located on the estuary. The RSPB site at Conwy had opened up again so we headed off there first thing in the morning. We took a walk down the long permiiter path until the coffee shop was opened. There were unbelievable numbers of Robins; I would guess that we must have seen 30 dotted every few yards around the site. There were large numbers of Blackbirds as well and a few Wrens.  There were plenty of Goldfinches fluttering around and a few Greenfinches and Dunnocks were also to be seen. There were quite a few birders hanging around various locations all in search of the Firecrests that one birder told us he had seen at first light. Later on in the day we found that nobody had seen them after this but they were usually to be found – if you could find them – by the little bridge over the pond.

We headed back up for a hot drink and a seat overlooking the reedbed and scrape that is afforded in the comfortable cafe. Thewater level was very high – this has been typical of almost every site we have been to this year – so it wasn’t going to be good for waders. We did see four Red-breasted Mergansers,though, and the highlight for me was my first view of a Water Rail. I had been looking at it and thinking it was a Moorhen but something didn’t look quite right. I got by bins on it but it suddenly raced into the reedbeds. Just as I thought I had been imagining it, it emerged from the reeds and started showing quite well. It probably only showed for two or three minutes but already it had made my day.

There were Moorhens around and Coots but mainly there were large numbers of Teal. On the bird feeders there were plenty of House Sparrows, Dunnocks, Blue and Great Tits, Feral Pigeons, Wood Pigeons, Robins etc.

After our drink we headed off for the round trip of the site taking in all the hides. From these we added Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Wigeon and Grey Heron. as we went round the other hides we also saw Lapwing, Canada Geese, a few Pochard, a shoveler and a couple more Red-Breasted Mergansers.

As we walked back along the estuary side of the reserve we saw Curlew, Shelduck, Little Egret and Redshank. A few Ringed Plovers darted about and there were a couple of Oystercatchers. In the bushes on the reserve side there were even more Robins as well as Jackdaws and Starlings and Magpies.

We stopped briefly for a spot of lunch and another look to see if we could see the Water Rail again but it remained firmly hidden. The weather was picking up so we decided to drive out to the Great Orme but the weather was too windy for any birds to be about so we called it a day.

RSPB Conwy