One Hawfinch heard but not seen at Caerhun Church. Three Red Kites more than made up for it though. 847 Black-headed Gulls of the field by the church and two Pied Wagtails.
Then up to Llanbedr-y-Cennin and three Hawfinch were seen flitting between the Yews in the Churchyard.
Driving past today, both here and Caerhun Churches I optimistically in the middle of the day tried for Hawfinch.
No result at either for Hawfinch.
However, here I was treated to an immaculate Male Redstart, with a cast of Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, and Goldcrest plus the common Tits.
Caerhun also provided Little and Great White Egret, many Gulls and Shelduck on the river below the Church, a male Redstart, many Swallows, and hoards (20-30) of Pied Wagtails including some hovering and diving over flies on a grass field; and a single Red Kite.
A 60 minute stop between 12:30 and 1:30pm produced 3 Hawfinches in the trees around the churchyard and a flight of 4 flew over heading in an easterly direction.
Also numerous Redwing feeding in the churchyard trees and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Forty minute stop just beyond the church in steady drizzle produced just the one hawfinch around midday. Also in the area one each of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Red Kite.
5 Hawfinch this morning beyond the Church just past the end terrace but before the detached property, in the trees at the back of the open land, Also of note in the area, Red kite Buzzard Raven 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker Siskin 2
at least 10 hawfinch in the tree tops just past the church & row of houses, they seemed to be dropping down into one of the gardens to feed then flying back up to the trees.
other birds around... 2 great spotted woodpecker 1 nuthatch 1 red kite
13.30-14.30 4 Hawfinch (2m & 2f) showing brilliantly. The birds were feeding on the ground and occasionally flying into the lower tree branches in the grassy field with the leaning rusty metal gate in the middle of it - between the row of cottages next to the church and the detached house. The birds were feeding by this leaning gate.
Also: 1 Nuthatch 2 Ravens over Plenty of Goldcrests, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Monday 15th of February 2016 10:13:06 PM
Happy to report sighting of a single Hawfinch, on the grass amongst a dozen or so Chaffinches. It was further up the lane from St Peter's, to the left of an uphill entrance road from the left side of the lane.
At last ! - worth braving those very strong winds !
-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Tuesday 26th of January 2016 08:01:08 AM
Certainly seems that way Henry. It was the easiest I've ever seen there. We rolled up early afternoon, not usually a good passerine time & within a couple of minutes one flew over, then another and soon after that two more scoped & showing very well up in the tops of trees, simples as they say
Popped up to the village today as we were having a relaxing day out in North Wales and managed at least 4 Hawfinches, 2 over us in flight but seen well enough with bins for 100% ID. Two others were in the tree tops up the lane where they always hang out (past the church and before the road heads downhill & slightly right past houses with a parking layby outside them).
Went looking for hawfinch ( again ) and blanked ( again ) but had stunning veiw of low gliding Red Kite. Worth it for that alone. This was on sunday 3rd.
-- Edited by stuart lewis-gough on Monday 4th of May 2015 09:56:00 AM
