At Last Some Sunshine So Back To The Local Patch The Great Orme
At Last Some Sunshine So Back To The Local Patch The Great Orme
Wonderful views of Fulmars on the Great Orme at Llandudno today.
The morning of 22 November 2020 was bright and sunny after a long spell of wet and grey days here in North Wales. So grabbed the bins and headed out for the local patch the Great Orme here in Llandudno. Just a few minutes’ walk from home to the pier and there was plenty to see. On the rocky beach a Little Egret was fishing close to a Grey Heron at the water’s edge and a closer look produced Oystercatchers, Curlew and Common Redshank all here amongst the boulders. On the legs of the pier Ruddy Turnstones were balancing on the cross-members and finding food amongst the barnacles and weed. Out on the fairly calm sea were both Cormorants and Shags and then a Red-throated Diver surfaced not so very far out. Lots of gulls feeding over the sea with Great black back, Herring, Common and Black-headed Gulls all glowing in the sunshine.
Marine Drive at the Great Orme, Llandudno, so lucky to have this so close to home.
Along the Marine Drive Fulmars were flying and back and forth to the cliffs on those wonderful albatross-like stiff wings and making their super chuckling calls from the ledges just above us, we have missed them recently. Then suddenly a Peregrine Falcon flashed through our view and chased a Jackdaw across the cliff face but soon pulled up and circled above. Then a second Peregrine zoomed in and chased a Fulmar but again soon pulled up and joined the first falcon to soar against the blue sky at cliff top height. This close to the raptors it was easy to see the female was a good deal bigger than the male as both birds slowly circled, then the female dropped and landed on a tiny ledge above the road, she looked very precarious hanging on and didn’t stay long before flying up and landing on the skyline right above us, wow!
Stonechats are always a real joy to see, especially in sunshine.
As we walked further along we saw the male Peregrine on the cliff top in the sunshine perhaps these superb birds were enjoying the good weather as much as us? Stonechats and Rock Pipits showed well along the Marine Drive and offshore we watched three Red-throated Divers close together on the sea and Razorbills diving offshore. At Pigeon Cove we stopped to watch the Atlantic grey seals five of these wonderful mammals hauled out on the beach below us and two more in the water just off the beach. So sad to see one of the seals on the beach had a ligature around its neck cutting deep into its flesh, poor animal, how stupid we are not taking more care of our planet.
Heading up over the top of the headland not many birds but a few Redwings were feeding on hawthorn berries in the hedgerows and by the Copper Mines a nice selection of birds in the trees. Here was watched Coal, Blue and Great Tits, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes and a Great spotted Woodpecker tapped away at a dead tree.
Lovely views of Red-billed Chough as we neared home - what a wonderful bird!
As we dropped back down towards home a lovely Chough flew over calling and landed on the rocks in the sunshine a real beauty, perhaps the same bird flew over us again just as we neared the house. A lovely sunny walk and so good to see that blue sky!
Come and join us for a “Tour for Two” – very small group just two guests with two guides, tailor made itinerary, low risk in these COVID-19 times and of course lots of birds and an excellent chance of enjoying them all. Do drop us a line and we can make all the arrangements be it a day trip, two days, three day or as long a tour as you wish. Our recent Tours for Two have visited the Highlands of Scotland, North Wales, Norfolk and the Yorkshire coast and we are planning many more! Let us know where you would like to go and we can put together a proposal perfect for you.
We are so lucky to have so many species and habitats within easy reach here in North Wales we would love you to join us for one of our Best of North Wales Birdwatching Trips days out. We expect to enjoy a lot of birds during these relaxed pace tours and we can tailor make the day to suit you.
We would love you to join us on our Birdwatching Trips in the future just drop us a line to arrange a custom tour and please see our tours pages for set departure trips. If you have any questions at all please fire away here….
info@birdwatchingtrips.co.ukWe look forward to enjoying wonderful birds in beautiful places with you soon!