We met Bob at Llandudno West Shore at 8am on the 28th February 2024 on a cold blustery day, with spots of rain in the wind. It was good to see Bob was well equipped for the weather and it soon became apparent that he was a very experienced mountaineer. Bob had booked one of our Custom Birdwatching Day Trips.
A few minutes later we were on the Great Orme watching Turnstones and Shags and luckily no rain and sheltered here from the wind. Fulmars whizzed back and forth above us with more of these lovely ocean wanderers on the ledges. A Peregrine Falcon eyed the scene from high on the cliff and the powerful telescopes allowed super views of this awesome bird. Offshore we picked out Common Guillemots and Razorbills and a gang of loafing Great Crested Grebes. Two Red-billed Chough flew along the cliffs and a Raven flapped slowly by as a Rock Pipit fed by the road. Then the female Peregrine came off the cliff at high speed and passed almost directly over us! We spun around to flow her super fast flight and saw the male Peregrine flying towards us carrying prey. The female closed on the male in seconds and rolled underneath him snatching the prey from his talons! Wow! What a thrilling encounter to witness, talk about right time, right place. The female returned to the cliff and after a short rest began to eat the prey, we were able to “enjoy” amazing views through the telescopes of the rather gruesome scene.
Further around the headland we watched a gang of multicoloured Atlantic grey seals hauled out on the beach below us. More Fulmars showed off their flying skills here. Further on again and we stopped to scan the sea, Ruth picked out a line of six breeding plumaged Black Guillemots nose, beak, to tail on the sea. Also, here we were able to compare Razorbills with Common Guillemots on the cliffs, likewise Cormorants and Shags. It was very unusual to see lots of Kittiwakes back at their breeding cliffs so early in the year. As we headed off the Great Orme a weasel darted out into the road and then just as quick back into the wall, not seen one here for years.
Next stop RSPB Conwy and a welcome hot drink and cake as we watched the birds from the coffee shop window. Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Wigeon and Little Grebe all enjoyed as we enjoyed a cuppa. We then walked down to the first hide where the wind was really strong making it tricky to hold binoculars and telescopes steady. But we battled on and saw lots more ducks including handsome Pochard, Teal, Shoveler along with Great Crested Grebes, Moorhens, Coots, and a Little Egret amongst many other species.
We headed south down the Conwy Valley where luckily it was less windy. We checked our spot where we had put seed down and there were plenty of birds coming in. We had only been there a minute or so when a stunning male Hawfinch dropped down and began to feed! Wow only our second sighting of a Hawfinch this year, we were worried they had gone. What a beautiful colourful finch the male Hawfinch is, and the telescope allowed fantastic views. Amazingly a second Hawfinch joined the first we were all thrilled and delighted. We also watched a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker here and plenty of Siskins along with Nuthatch and Coal Tit.
Time for lunch and we enjoyed a lovely meal and hot drinks, many thanks Bob for treating us to lunch, very kind. We then headed west along the North Wales coast to Aber Ogwen, via a traffic jam on the A55! It was windy again here and we were very glad to reach the shelter of the hide, and just in time it poured down. Our timing was perfect as the tide was just dropping on one side of the hide and birds were arriving to feed on the newly exposed mud. Elegant Greenshank strode through a mob of Common Redshank and allowing wonderful views in the telescopes. A flock of tiny Dunlin arrived feeding amongst the legs of the taller waders. We also watched Curlew, Oystercatchers, and a lone Black-tailed Godwit. Lots of Shelduck here along with Wigeon and a few handsome Goldeneye. A Kingfisher flashed across the pool, all to brief, and Siskins and a Great Spotted Woodpecker fed on the bird feeders.
Black Guillemot in breeding plumage
Just time for one more stop on the way back to Llandudno, the promenade at Llanfairfechan. Unfortunately, a windsurfer was whizzing back and forth just offshore so any birds had been driven away. We did enjoy watching Curlew, Oystercatchers, and Turnstone feeding along the rocky shore. Then back to Llandudno to drop Bob back at his car. A really lovely day and we do hope Bob will join us again.