Colwyn Bay and the Dee Estuary

Saturday 24th January 2015, and I spent a day birding with Ian & Richard at various sites around Colwyn Bay and the Dee Estuary. Colwyn Bay has held several Surf Scoter in recent weeks and we were hoping to see these rare sea-duck amongst the vast flock of Common Scoter. Unfortunately our timing wasn’t quiet right as the tide was some way out on our arrival and the huge scoter flock was very distant. This made finding Surf Scoters almost impossible. I did manage to find a single drake Velvet Scoter in flight amongst a small flock of Common Scoter. Otherwise here were Red-breasted Merganser and Kittiwake of note.

We then decide to visit the RSPB reserve at Conwy as a Firecrest had been seen there on 23rd. Very little here apart from a showy male Bullfinch, a few Red-breasted Merganser, Pochard, a single Little Egret and a few Black-tailed Godwit. A nice enough place in the bright winter sunshine.

Time to head back to Neston on the Dee Estuary for the high-tide that was predicted. After a good hour or two, the tide never really amassed to much, so rather disappointing. However a rather obliging male Stonechat and Little Egret performed for the camera. A nice Ring-tailed Hen Harrier over the marsh along with a huge female Peregrine. At least 5-600 Pintail out on the estuary edge was a spectacular sight and also large numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Mallard.

A large herd of wild swans were wintering at Shotwick Fields, so we decided to call here as a final place. We had both Whooper and Bewick Swan, as well as two Black-necked Grebe on the small sailing lake nearby. A reasonable days birding and several year ticks to push the year list along. Year list on 118