Day Three Best Of North Wales Five Day Tour 28 February 2022
Day Three Best Of North Wales Five Day Tour 28 February 2022

Always a thrill to see Short-eared Owls on the Dee Estuary during our five day tours.
Today we headed east along the North Wales coast and our first stop was at Llanddulas Beach where we marvelled at the masses of Common Scoter off shore – thousands of these sea-duck winter here.
We then headed further east to the Dee Estuary and RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands Nature Reserve and enjoyed a lot of birds! Lots of Pied Avocets were on the lagoon in front of the visitor centre always a delight to watch these beautiful waders. A single Ruff was good to see amongst feeding Black-tailed Godwits and a huge Great Egret strode through the shallow waters. Great excitement when we saw four Ruddy Shelduck in the wet grassland area beyond the scrape, rare birds here and we enjoyed great scope views, many thanks to local birder Tony for sharing his giant scope with us all – amazing piece of kit.
At nearby Burton Marsh we had a super encounter with a beautiful male Merlin firstly on a fence post then dashing along the tideline almost at our feet! We also watched a Short-eared Owl and several Marsh Harriers hunting over the vast mash and it was lovely to hear Skylarks singing.
We headed for lunch at Parkgate Marsh and just before we reached the restaurant we spotted a stunning male Hen Harrier quartering the marsh close to the road a real wow bird! This “grey ghost” put on a wonderful show for us and we were left stunned as it drifted away over the marsh. Lunch was lovely overlooking the marsh and made even better by the sighting of a “ringtail” Hen Harrier floating over the grassland so close to our position another wow moment.
Sadly the weather closed in after lunch and heavy rain sent us back west towards the Conwy Valley. Luckily by the time we arrived the weather had improved and we stopped at a viewpoint overlooking the Conwy Valley and watched loads of Common Buzzards and at least ten Red Kites along with plenty of Ravens.
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