After a few days in hospital, I was glad to be back out on my feet and in the field. Currently a Common Loon has taken up residency at West Kirby, whilst a recent WeBS produced a handful of...
After a few days in hospital, I was glad to be back out on my feet and in the field. Currently a Common Loon has taken up residency at West Kirby, whilst a recent WeBS produced a handful of Purple Sandpiper at New Brighton. Elsewhere, Britain and Ireland�s 9th Royal Tern showed it�s self at Traeth Dulas, Anglesey. So, after picking up George Thomas, the pair of us headed up for a days touring of Anglesey.
Royal Tern twitch�
On arrival at Traeth Dulas with a crowd of twitchers including some familiar faces, it appeared that the Tern had done a runner; but despite the tern not showing we still had a good day. Common Loon and Red-throated Loon showed well off Traeth Dulas, whilst a short trip up the road brought us to the long staying female Lesser Scaup at Mynydd Mechell which was a treat. Distant scope views with Tufted Duck and Common Goldeneye for company, but still a treasure and a species which I�ve been waiting a while to cross paths with species. My 327th British lifer and George�s 199th bird species of the year in Britain, she was an absolute beauty.
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
Following the Lesser Scaup and no sign of the Royal Tern, thought we�d try our best to get George his 200th British bird of the year. A scan of the RBA app showed there to be pretty much bugger all on Anglesey, Black Redstart, Common Loon and Slavonian Grebe was all that was on offer. So then, a short drive up to Bae Beddmanarch to attempt to bag Slavonian Grebe for George�s 200th bird. 
After a good half hour of patrolling the area, eventually we nailed a stonking Slavonian Grebe which a hysteric George happily announced as his 200th species for the year! In addition to the grebe, several Great crested Grebe were also in the bay with a Common Sandpiper, �pale-bellied� Brent Geese, Common Greenshank, Mediterranean Gull and last but not least, the one and only Ken Croft! In all, a great days birding and twitching with some great birds and an upcoming star in the world of birding for company � happy days!
Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
Thanks for reading, E.
