Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers' visit to Anglesey
16th September 2007
Trip Report by Neil Glenn
Photographs by Lynne Demaine
It was a tricky task choosing where to go for this Birdseekers’ trip. During the previous week various areas had made a bid for our attention including Lincs (American Golden Plovers and Red-necked Phalarope), the north-west (Glossy Ibis and Great Egret), Norfolk (Pectoral Sandpipers and Barred Warbler) and the south-west (Ring-necked Duck, Great Egret, Ferruginous Duck) but Saturday saw a late surge by north Wales to settle the debate raging in my mind.
A Dotterel had turned up on Great Orme along with a juvenile Purple Heron on Anglesey. The winds looked perfect for a rewarding seawatch off South Stack with the added bonus of Choughs. That sounded a decent day’s birding to me, so the decision was made.
On our arrival at South Stack, later than planned thanks to a minibus governed to 62mph even though the legal limit on motorways for this vehicle is 70mph, a flyover Hooded Crow was a good start. It was a difficult task getting out of the van due to the strong onshore winds forcing the door shut but the Raven that passed overhead made ridiculously light work of the conditions.
The prediction of perfect seawatching weather had come true and there was even a pleasing mist out to sea to force the birds close to us on the cliff. Unfortunately, no one had told the birds it was perfect for them to appear and as we sheltered behind Ellin’s Tower, very little was passing our position. A few Gannets kept us entertained (sample dialogue: "what have you got?" "Another Gannet!") but the sea was devoid of birds.
Andy suddenly spotted a skua close in and we all watched as the Bonxie (Great Skua) headed in to the wind. That was the highlight and we failed to see even a single Manx Shearwater, which must be something of a record for these conditions at this time of year at this site!
People soon drifted off to search for the resident Choughs. Sure enough, two were found sheltering from the wind near the toilet block and showed well for all to admire. Pager messages were coming through that virtually all birds of significance had vanished from Britain overnight, including our Purple Heron and Dotterel. Even worse was the news of a White-rumped Swift in Northumberland!
I felt it was worth searching for the heron as I had a hunch it was still in the area. This species tends to linger at one site in the autumn, at least for a few days so we made our way to the Alaw Estuary. We met a few birders returning from the point looking dejected.
Our search proved fruitless, though a Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Little Egrets, distant Wigeon and Red-breasted Mergansers were meagre compensation. We scoured the grassy banks and reedy patches for our quarry but it was no use.
We decided to move to the north coast of Anglesey to a site that had turned up some good birds during the previous week. Could Point Lynas rescue the day’s seawatching?
Unfortunately not, as within two miles of our destination the rain started to sheet down horizontally. We parked up but there was no sign of people wanting to get out of the van for some reason! We could see a patch of sea from our position but nothing much was passing, just a few Gannets and Kittiwakes.
In order to do a bit of ‘proper’ birdwatching, we headed for the RSPB reserve at Conwy. At least there might be a few waders to see there? As we disembarked in the car park, a young Peregrine stooped over the visitor centre. Was our luck changing at last?
The pager told us that the White-rumped Swift had now passed over The Wirral so I told people to keep one eye on the sky from now on: stranger things have happened!!
On the scrapes, we saw many Redshanks, ten Little Egrets, a few Teal and more Red-breasted Mergansers. We moved to another hide and managed to pick out a couple of Knot and Dunlin amongst the Redshanks.
Meanwhile, Rae had shot off to find the reported Jack Snipe on the other side of the pools. I received a call that he was watching it and we all trudged along the path in the rain to join him. Just as we reached the hide, the Jack Snipe merrily walked back in to cover leaving ‘only’ three Common Snipe for us to study. This really was proving to be a frustrating day!
Time ran out and we made our way back to Nottingham. Start-stop traffic virtually all the way home compounded our wearisome mood but everyone was philosophical about the trip. We had to run out of luck sometime when one considers the list of birds seen on previous September Birdseekers’ trips: Sabine’s Gull; Leach’s Petrels; Little Crake, Red and Great Grey Shrikes; Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ferruginous Duck; two Green-winged Teals; Wryneck; Ring-necked Duck and Great Egret to name but a few.
I promised everyone we would be back to form next year and one or two of the more gullible members of the group actually believed me! Chough was voted Bird-of-the-Day with Peregrine and Great Skua also getting honorary mentions.
Footnote: the following day, and in less favourable conditions, Balearic and Manx Shearwaters passed both South Stack and Point Lynas as well as a Sabine’s Gull and Pomarine Skua at the former site! The Purple Heron was seen again on Tuesday and Wednesday, so my hunch had been correct!
Details of next year’s trips are available on this website. Book early to avoid missing out (booking begins at 9.00am on December 30th)
Birds Seen
- Great Crested Grebe
- Little Grebe
- Gannet
- Cormorant
- Shag
- LITTLE EGRET
- Grey Heron
- Mute Swan
- Wigeon
- Gadwall
- Teal
- Mallard
- Shoveler
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Sparrowhawk
- Common Buzzard
- Kestrel
- PEREGRINE
- Pheasant
- Moorhen
- Coot
- Oystercatcher
- Lapwing
- Knot
- Dunlin
- JACK SNIPE
- Common Snipe
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- WHIMBREL
- Curlew
- Redshank
- GREAT SKUA
- Black-headed Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Herring Gull
- Guillemot
- Feral Pigeon
- Wood Pigeon
- Collared Dove
- Swallow
- House Martin
- Meadow Pipit
- Pied Wagtail
- Blue Tit
- Jay
- Magpie
- Jackdaw
- Rook
- Carrion Crow
- HOODED CROW
- RAVEN
- CHOUGH
- Goldfinch
