Sunny Day In North Wales 22 August 2025 Best Of North Wales Birdwatching Trips Tour
Juvenile Garganey at RSPB Conwy
Alan met Helen and Alan at Llandudno West Shore at 8am on the 22 August a lovely fine calm morning. Four Red-billed Chough wheeled over the nearby cliffs of the Great Orme. Helen and Alan were new to birdwatching, so a gentle pace day was in order so as not to overwhelm them with new birds. A short drive to the Great Orme and a juvenile Goldfinch was showing well on arrival, Shags were on the cliffs but no sign of the hoped for Peregrine Falcon. Walking along the Marine Drive produced great views of Stonechats and a very confiding Rock Pipit. After a lot of scanning of the cliffs Alan spotted a Peregrine, whew. This magnificent bird starred down and once spotted superb views were enjoyed of one of our favourite birds.
Further around the headland an area of scrub at first seemed bird less but with a little patience birds began to appear. Greenfinches were feeding on blackberries, Chiffchaffs showed off in the warm sunshine, a Blackcap popped out, followed by a Common Whitethroat.
Another stop and scanning the sea picked out Razorbills fishing offshore below a feeding flock of gulls that contained Kittiwakes. On the cliffs there plenty of Cormorants including a good number of juveniles.
Super views of Lapwings at RSPB Conwy.
Next stop was at RSPB Conwy where the visit was timed to coincide with the high tide. At the Carneddau Hide there were plenty of birds on show. Lapwings and a juvenile Oystercatcher were feeding very close to the hide. Four Greenshanks were roosting on the edge of the lagoon and then Alan picked out a juvenile Garganey! This was a great bird and a really scarce bird in North Wales and luckily the bird showed off in the perfect light and the other Alan got great pictures. Other ducks here included a Wigeon, first of the autumn, Teal, Gadwall, and Tufted Duck. A coffee in the café went down well.
Driving west a stop at Aber Ogwen overlooking the estuary was rewarding with lots of Eider offshore along with Great Crested Grebes and three Goosander. As the tide dropped three Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit added to the wader list for the day.
A lovely lunch was at enjoyed at the Holland Arms Garden Centre on Anglesey where it was hard to get Helen out -so many tempting things to see!
Always a thrill to see Ruff in North Wales.
A short drive to Malltraeth and a walk along the Cob embankment in glorious sunshine with perfect views of the mountains of Snowdonia – what a stunning location to look for birds. Plenty of birds to enjoy here and waders were a focus. Ringed Plover fed on the mud amongst the seaweed with Dunlin amongst them. A Whimbrel was feeding close by and Curlews and Redshanks too. Scanning with the scope produced two Sanderling with more Dunlin. On the inland side of the bridge a Greenshank strode through the shallows with more Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit. Moving further along the embankment gave great views over a shallow pool where more waders! A Common Sandpiper was resting on a rock with another Black-tailed Godwit nearby. Four Knot dropped in and rested on the mud, perhaps just arrived from their long migration south from the Arctic. Helen picked out a “different” wader with some Redshank and a quick look in the scope identified it as a Ruff – a scarce bird in North Wales. A second Ruff was spotted nearby what a great day for waders.
A quick stop in Newbrough Forest but it was very busy with people, so few birds were seen.
Back to Llandudno at 5pm after a really lovely day and we hope Helen and Alan can join us again soon.
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