Snow Bunting, Westshore, Llandudno
A birding group visit to North Wales was something of a reprise of our own visit there between 3rd – 4th January. We had seen both Snow Bunting at Westshore, Llandudno and Hawfinch at Llanbedr-y-Cennin. Not all of the group had seen either of these birds so it was a bit of a case of assisting them find their “life ticks”. At Westshore we had to walk further down towards the groyne than previously but we found one Snow Bunting amonst the pebbles – largely due to a photographer sitting there firing away.
We could have gone on further and found the other two that were reportedly around the groyne but the usual suspects were keen to get on with things. Some of the group went to RSPB Conwy whilst we took the others up to Llanbedr-y-Cennin. I managed to locate two birds straight away and everyone got good views. Thereafter we saw a number of Hwfinches but they were, as ever, very mobile and we probably saw another half dozen but briefly.
We also stopped at a couple of places on our way back including Old Colwyn where we searched – in vain – for the Surf Scoter we heard had been seen earlier in the day. There were plenty of Common Scoter and also a mystery bird which was a Scoter and not a Surf Scoter. It was on its own and this gave us call to wonder about it. In the end wegave up and called it Common too. We also got good numbers of Turnstones there and a few Redshanks.
We also popped in at Pensarn but that was the same in the Scoter department.
As we drove home it became apparent to me that I was coming down with a cold which was completely confirmed when I had to go to bed as soon as I got home. Another winter – another cold !!