May 28, 2012 archive

May 28 2012

Birding Group Visit to Wales 29th May 2012 : The Fish Dock and Soldiers Point, Holyhead

Birding Group Visit to Wales 29th May 2012 : The Fish Dock and Soldiers Point, Holyhead

The Fish Dock

After the birding group had finished eating the night before, Anne and I thought we would try to see if we could find the Fish Dock at Holyhead Harbour which was just over the road a bit from the hotel we were staying at. I had looked at it on a map previously so I had a reasonable idea where it was but wanted to check it to see if we could see any of the two pairs of Black Guillemots that supposedly nest in the harbour walls. As it happens it was a bit more of a walk than I thought so by the time we got there it was too dark to see anything anyway. So, back to the hotel we went but at least we knew how to get there and when we all got together in the morning it was suggested that we drive quickly down there to see if our luck was going to be in. None of us had seen Black Guillemot before so it was worth a shot.

Continue reading

May 28 2012

Birding Group Visit to Wales 28th May 2012 : Cemlyn Bay

Birding Group Visit to Wales 28th May 2012 : Cemlyn Bay

From Spinnies Abergowen we drove to Cemlyn Bay on Anglesey. On our way there we saw both Buzzard and Kestrel (and sometimes Buzzards hovering just like Kestrels – most unusual). We parked at the Bryn Aber end of the bay (which is sometimes cut off by the high tide) where we straight away saw six Ringed Plovers and a couple of Oystercatchers and Black-headed Gulls on the small lagoon. We walked along the shingle towards the middle of the bay and on the lagoon the first thing we saw was a Red-breasted Merganser. A we reached the middle of the larger of the islands we could see that there were many fewer birds than we expected and certainly fewer than we saw the last time we visited this site. Both islands had large numbers of Black-headed Gulls nesting but it was also clear that – by and large – the Sandwich Terns all nested on the larger of the two islands and the Common and Arctic Terns all nested predominantly on the smaller of the two islands. Continue reading

May 28 2012

Birding Group Visit to Wales 28th May 2012 : Spinnies Aberogwen

Birding Group Visit to Wales 28th May 2012 :  Spinnies Aberogwen

We parked at the car park for The Spinnies Aberogwen Nature Reserve and we walked along the shingle beach (look out for the tide) where we saw a single Curlew and a few Sand Martins. At the hide that overlooks the bay (Traeth Lafan) we could see a number of roosting birds including a family of six Goosander, four of which were young. There were Shelduck and Lapwing and Black-headed Gulls and just off a small island we could see a small flock of about eight Eiders. The tide came in quite quickly and many of the spits disappeared under water. Continue reading

May 28 2012

Birding Group Visit to Wales 28th May 2012 : RSPB Conwy

Birding Group Visit to Wales 28th May 2012 : RSPB Conwy

The last birding group day out was a two-day affair involving visits to RSPB Conwy, the North Wales Wildlife Trust reserve, Spinnies Aberogwen near Tal-y-bont, Cemlyn Bay and RSPB South Stack on Anglesey. The three cars had differing starting points so we all met up for tea and planning at RSPB Conwy. Whilst we were there we had a walk around the site which was fairly quiet as the tide was out. Most of the interest was in the birds in the trees and bushes which included Greenfinch and Spotted Flycatcher. As we walked on the river side of the path we had great close views of a Sedge Warbler going at full tilt at the top of a bush. There were Swifts and Swallows and Martins in the air and the ever reliable Reed Buntings. Continue reading