We finally got a day when we were all free to go birding. A Western Reed Heron has been seen in north Wales, and that will be a life tick for us all, as it is a first for this country. So that's where we decided to head.
We met Brian at 2am and started the long drive to Caernarfon. It took us nearly 5 hours with a short breakfast stop.
On arrival, we pull into the last space left in the layby.
As we walk the few yards to the hide, we are met with a lot of hellos from the group already here; they all came from our area and had done the long drive, and we knew them all.
They had seen the Heron around 5 .30, but it had flown off and had not been seen for the last hour or so.
So not a great start to the day, but not to worry, after just a short time, Jimmy calls out got it.
The target bird was at the far right-hand side of the hide and hard to see, so we all exited the hide and headed up the road, where we got great views and ticked another lifer for us all.
I think the Heron is typically encountered between West Africa & India.
It was smaller than I expected, but I hadn't done any homework on the bird; it was a late decision to go for it. The blue-grey plumage was very striking.
We fill our boots watching it fly up and land in a short area, for around an hour or so and after enough photos have been taken, we take our leave and head to Holyhead to get a few year ticks.
It's a first visit here, and I must say what a great place to watch sea birds. As we exit the car, we have a great year tick when a few Chough fly around us and land on the rocks.
On the cliffs are thousands of Guillemots and Razorbills. After a long search, we managed
to find 3 Puffins, then a bonus when Brian picks out 5 Manx Shearwaters passing by.
A few Shags are seen for another tick. Then the Gannets start to show, and that is always a wonderful sight to witness.
Off now to tick Black Guillemot at Holyhead fish quay, as it is so close to where we are, and we'll pick out a couple as soon as we arrive there.
We get some information from a man and his son from Wolverhampton about a Tern Island not far away, and that is right up Brian's street.
Cemlyn is the place we head to. It is a short walk along a stony beach before we watch hundreds of Terns in front of us, a great sight. I get 3-year ticks, Sandwich, Arctic Terns, and a few Med Gulls. Off home now, we do stop off at a fast-flowing river in the hope of picking up a Dipper, not to be, but I did get another tick with Spotted Flycatcher.
Now for the long drive home after a really cracking day birding in some lovely places.
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Western Reed Heron |
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| The cliffs at Holyhead are alive with birds |
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| Chough |
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