Around North Wales

Starting off at World's End near Wrexham today, we arrived at 8:30am, too late for the lecks, but we still saw at least seven black grouse, but failed to see either of the two great grey shrikes which were seen in the area.

The we moved to Glaslyn near Porthmadog, where a female osprey returned to its nest site about three days ago. No sign of the male yet, but we saw the female distantly, patiently waiting on top of the nest. Also in the area, about 40 whooper swans.

Next we headed up to Holyhead harbour on Anglesey for our annual look at the black guillemots there. Two were in summer plumage but one was still retaining its winter plumage. Nearby we saw about 30 pale-bellied brent geese at Penrhos.

Finally we stopped off at Pensarn, near Abergele station. It was low tide and gulls were spread all over the beach for as far as the eye could see, but even so we managed to locate the long staying juvenile Iceland gull.

Glaslyn osprey nest! The nest is in the pine tree immediately in front of the train. The mountain behind is I think Snowdon.

Black guillemot.

Iceland gull. My third of the year.