Birding on the Conwy Coast

We had a great day birding on the Conwy coast today. We started at Conwy RSPB where we had four sightings of firecrest, all from the wooden bridge. Then we moved onto the Little Orme via Penrhyn beach.

On Penrhyn beach today there was a very obliging twite which has been around for a few days. Also here a couple of rock pipits.

After a short, steep climb we eventually made it to the top quarry on the Little Orme.There have been up to five black redstarts here over the past few weeks, but we had to be content with a single smart looking male. My fifth black redstart of the year following a complete blank for the species last year! Also on the Little Orme, a single chough and an adult peregrine, plus ravens and fulmars.

The top quarry on the Little Orme. We met a birder here who told us he was going to do a sea watch from the Little Orme because he still needed red-throated diver for the year. He should have come with us to Colwyn Bay......

The common scoter flock was as impressive as ever from Colwyn Bay promenade, with at least 5000 birds today. It was a real struggle because the light wasn't the best, but eventually we managed to pick out a drake surf scoter. Not a lot else on the sea but we did see several red-throated divers!

Including this one! It was right next to the promenade, almost too close for photography. It seemed pretty healthy and dived a lot.