On return from family business in Wales (went to Llyn Brenig on the way out) high tide at the RSPB hide revealed Pintails, all the major gull species, an Eider, Shelduck, Cormorant, Blackwits, one Ruff (in saltmarsh channels), three Knot, one Dunlin, one Greenshank, plenty of Redshank back and forth, Oystercatchers. Two Little Egret in the channels as well. Curlew everywhere.
Twite and Skylark seen when walking west from Talacre to the holiday camps via the dunes.
Someone spoiled the fun by flying a drone over the shore from the Talacre beach car park, so a lot of gulls and waders at the North end by Talacre headed west towards Gronant. If ever there was a need for telescopes to be fitted with crossbow functions this idiot needed it.
-- Edited by Andy Slee on Thursday 9th of December 2021 08:15:12 PM
An interesting trip out, North Wales & Lancashire. 14/11/2021
Our last trip out was to see the Two barred Greenish Warbler at Spurn a few weeks ago, so after many wet weekends since, we ventured out. With Kevin C still needing to see a Dusky Warbler we decided to go to the closest one available at Talacre in North Wales. Myself, Bob K and Kevin left a dark Castleton at 7am and by 8-20am were striding through the dunes at Talacre and after 20 minutes we reached the small copse that the Dusky Warbler had been frequenting. Earlier reports that the bird had been showing well were a little confusing as the bird was not finally seen until 10-45am, a two hour wait with only a Chiff-Chaff to get the pulses going. Kevin C`s wait to see Dusky Warbler will have to wait as he could not get in the scrum to see the bird that was on view for 15 seconds. His comments are not to be printed
Being at work yesterday when news broke of a rarity in North Wales I had to wait until today to try for it!! So off I headed at 9am to Talacre as news had come out positive re the bird. It was misty/foggy in Moulton when I left but sunny by the time I was parking up on the beach at Talacre.
I soon discovered that parking here I was well away from the track I needed to be on to head out to the area that the bird favoured. Heading inland I soon joined a concrete track heading west towards Gronant and the yomp started. The RBA Pager had said walk c. two thirds of a mile but a mate measured it on his phone and it was a mile on the track alone, plus the distance from where he and I had parked too! I joined about 15 birders looking into sallows and willows inland of the track. This included the original finder who had been watching it this morning too. Unfortunately the bird hadn't been seen for a couple of hours at least and folk were even giving up and leaving already.
A long wait finally paid off when a birding pal said that he had it and being a couple of paces from him I took his directions and was on the bird immediately. Then it dropped down out of view but soon after appeared again a bit further left and I had better views of the Dusky Warbler before it again moved lower and out of view behind the long vegetation between us and it! The bird had shown for such short times that only about half the (now) 25-30 birders got onto it. We all searched further and even moved up and down the copse but to no avail so I decided to call it a day having seen the bird twice. A few other birds were in the copse including Long-tailed Tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit and Blackbird and I had a Meadow Pipit on the way back, but the warbler was by far the most elusive of all of these, typical!!
Nice to bump into lots of birding pals and have a catch up, including our own Dave Ousey from these forums!
Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Saltmarsh : At least 4 Twite amongst a flock of 40+ finches (Mainly Linnets, but a few Chaffinches too) feeding along the edge of the saltmarsh.
2 Little Grebes fishing in the main gully. Also 3 Skylarks and 10 Little Egrets.
Mudflats : 46 Golden Plover with a flock of 200+ Lapwings. 8 Knot, 20 Curlew and lots of Redshank and Shelducks. Oddly no sign of any Dunlin or Ringed Plover.
1 Buzzard near the hide, and a Peregrine that really spooked the Lapwings. It's the first time I've been here and not found a single Kestrel.
Offshore : 2 Great Crested Grebes. A large group of Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and at least 6 Pintails just offshore at the mouth of the Dee.
Little Terns were difficult to count, as they'd fed in the small streams that cross the beach and empty with tide, as birds constantly passed through, then moved off towards Gronant.
Most of these birds were juveniles, whereas most of the adults seemed to be roosting with Sandwich Terns, or fishing just offshore.
The big Sandwich Tern gathering is a marvel, birds were landing on the beach carrying large sandeels then displaying and pair bonding.
A search for skuas offshore was fruitless, although an "Argenteus" sized gull flew just offshore that showed no black wing tips at all, but was pure creamy white and ghostly.
Had it not been July I'd have claimed a 3rd winter "Iceland". 4 Common Terns were with the Sandwich Terns on the beach. Lots of adult Common Gulls about.
Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Sanderlings were numerous. 14 Shelducks were just offshore, whilst a dozen Curlew were on the mudflats towards Mostyn.
10 Little Egrets were dotted around the saltmarsh and mudflats. 16 Redshanks were in the gulley below the RSPB hide, but lots more flushed off the saltmarsh, but Idid'nt see what upset them.
8 Meadow Pipits, 2 Skylarks, 4 Pied Wagtails and a Greenfinch were near the hide.
The Grey Plover is perhaps more likely a first summer bird Steven
Thanks for that Ian, I only had a rspb pocket guide on me at the time so it never shown identification off a 1st summer. Note to self take Collins guide out
100+ curlews 1 whimbrel 3 bar tailed godwits 16 ringed plover 1 dunlin 1 grey plover, which had us stumped for a while because it was in winter plumage but still even paler it was only when it took a short flight that we seen its black armpits. 5 little egrets 7 sandwich terns hundreds of oystercatchers several shelducks skylarks, linnets & meadow pipits 1 sedge warbler 1 stonechat
Offshore :- 1 female Red Brested Merganser, 1 Great Crested Grebe and several Cormorants.
Plenty of Common and Herring Gulls on the beach, plus 3 Great Black Backed Gulls, 5 Sanderlings and lots of Oystercatchers.
A flock of 17 Greenfinches on the upper beach feeding amongst the shingle was a surprise find.
Saltmarsh
Two small flocks of Chaffinches moving around and a group of 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel.
The high tide roost was building up in front of the new screen/hide just before I left and consisted of 2 Grey Plovers, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit, masses of Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin and Shelduck etc.
I would have liked to have stayed for high tide but despite being wrapped like an eskimo the biting North Westerly beat me.
The sea was quite rough and it's first time I've been here and not seen a Grey Seals head bobbing in the waves, no sign of any geese either.
The new screen is fine and like the old hide offers good views but you really do need to wear thermals.
Can I ask a daft sea watching related question - when you're at Point of Ayr what sort of range is typical for the birds flying out to sea e.g. shearwaters and/or the species on the water e.g. I guess scoter? I know it'll vary but I'd like to have a proper go at a sea watch and don't know how far out to concentrate on! Cheers, Peter
Some good reports from here today including 2 Long-tailed Skuas. Shame the hide was destroyed a while back although NW wind would still rush through the gap where windows would be in a WWT hide! Did you happen to call in on the hide Ian, i've not heard if they are rebuilding it. Thanks. Henry.
Spent 45 mins here this a.m. then gave up due to driving rain, howling wind and constant sand blasting!, definately the wrong day to visit. Still did manage to spot; 7 Manx Shearwater( a British tick), many Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 1 Little Tern, 1 Red Breasted Merganser, 100+ Ringed Plover, similar of Dunlin, 5 Sanderling, 5 Common Scoter and 6 Wheatear. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 6th of December 2012 12:24:39 AM
it was only when it took a short flight that we seen its black armpits.