Angelsey for a few days.

Spent a week in Anglesey in a little cottage to celebrate 40 years of marriage.
The first main area of interest in birding terms was in the Ogwin Valley, just before Pentre Farm, which is a shepherds cottage on the back road. Feeding in the short grass was 35 WHEATEAR. I have never seen so many in one spot before. It seems that they had already begun to pair up. The sad bit about this journey was that on arrival I found a beautiful male Redstart in the car front grill. How bad was that.
Arrival at Gwalchmai: The cottage had as visitors two pairs of RAVENS which flew by just after 9am each morning only to return a few minuets latter. I would not be surprised if PERGRINE do not breed behind in the quarry as each morning a male would fly by heading always south east. We also had company with a pair of RED-LEGGED-PARTRIDGE who had a habit of pecking the door. Shadow job I think. Also WILLOW WARBLER and CHIFFCHAFF. We were also surrounded by COMMON BUZZARD who gave us a treat each day.

Penros Country Park  This turned out to be a good find in reality as a ROCK DOVE is certainly hard to find these days. It seems that although this bird was not on the cliffs it may be a regular visitor to this site as it was in partnership with another who seemed to take to flight and head of towards Treadure Bay. All the significant id was here a smaller bird than all the others. In fact very fine as a  dove. The following where all present. White rump which was to dark at base of tail: Dark of neck in line with pale back: Black bill  with white sear: Bright orange eye: Two black wing bars: Black tip of tail with grey ends faint: In flight white under wing with black end to primaries. All there.                      This is a s close as it gets for Rock Dove (More pic's for id latter)



Holyhead Breakwater: Saw this SEDGE WARBLER in unusual surroundings. You can only guess how long and hard I looked to see if any of the three birds was different. But what a tangled web we weave. The conclusion is simply they where all Sedge Warblers. You just cant make something out of what is not there.

 

 
 
As for this BLACK GUILMOT he was one of four birds that seemed well stretched out along the breakwater. Just a very attractive bird to watch. Although distant for photograph not so bad. 
 
 
 
 
 

Cemlyn Bay:  Went on a search with no success for Golden Oriole. Dipped out badly here. But did manage RED-BREASTED-MERGANSER and this beautiful male STONECHAT who put on a most wonderful display.

South Stack:  Was no surprise but it did not support any Puffin which was seriously sad. Razorbill and Guillemot as well as Fulmer where however good to watch. I also had a single Peregrine here as well as the manic Chough. Followed by this tumbling Raven who was intent in being a show off.

 

 Tumbling Raven