Three Day Custom Tour For Two Best Of North Wales 25 to 27 September 2021

We were surprised and delighted to see a Black-throated Diver - libaray picture.

Firstly apologies for the lack of recent Bird Blogs but we have been flat guiding tours – great news! Richard and Julie have been on a number of our Birdwatching Trips tours and this time booked a three day Tour for Two in North Wales. The couple stayed in a self-catering property in nearby Deganwy where we picked them up each morning.

Day one we spent on the Isle of Anglesey where we enjoyed wonderful views of Red-billed Chough and found two Hooded Crows – very scarce birds in Wales – and close up looks at Northern Wheatears, all at RSPB South Stack. At nearby Holyhead we watched at least three winter plumaged Black Guillemots so more “white” than black along with Common Guillemot and Shag.

We had a real surprise at Beddmanarch Bay with a near breeding plumaged Great Northern Diver and even better as we watched this bird a second Great Northern and then an even rarer Black-throated Diver were enjoyed! Eleven Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew in from the north perhaps just arriving from their Arctic Canada breeding grounds? A beautiful adult Mediterranean Gull showed well on the beach here – what a wonderful spot.

On the nearby Inland Sea we watched a Great Egret and Red-breasted Mergansers. After a lovely lunch we headed north to Llyn Alaw to see a rare Pectoral Sandpiper that amazingly was sharing the same pool with two Wood Sandpipers! Fantastic birds to see in North Wales at a site we had visited for many years, exceptionally low water levels had allowed access along the lake shore. We also enjoyed seven Great Egrets, Barnacle Geese and so many ducks here.

On day two we started our bird watching on the nearby Great Orme enjoying wonderful views of Red-billed Chough, Peregrine Falcons and Fulmars. At nearby Llandudno Junction we eventually tracked down another rarity a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling – great spotting by Ruth just as we were about to give up and leave.

At RSPB Conwy we watched Garganey, very scarce in North Wales, Spotted Redshank and eight Greenshank before a delicious lunch was had at Snowdonia Nursey. The Conwy Valley not only provided beautiful scenery but also great sightings of a pair of Dippers in a fast flowing stream. We finished the day off at Rhos Point where a big flock of Sandwich Terns were resting on the beach a wonderful sight.

On the third and last day of Julie and Richard’s tour the weather was rather grim with gale force winds but we still enjoyed some wonderful birds. A hide was a good idea first thing and we had super views of Kingfisher at really close range along with Greenshanks and Goosanders.

The weather improved a little so we tried a trip into the mountains but sadly no Ring Ouzels showed on this occasion but great views of Chough in dramatic scenery were wonderful.

Then down to Foryd Bay where masses of birds were enjoyed at this super spot – huge numbers of Wigeon were sheltering in the creeks. We also saw Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Pintail and watched a Peregrine hunting.

A really lovely three days and a huge thank you to Richard and Julie for their lovely company and the delicious meal we all enjoyed at the Queens Head Pub, Glanwydden. We look forward to the next tour very much.