Kinmel Bay/Pensarn,N.Wales coast.

Twitcheruth · #1 (**permalink**) 20-02-11, 09:58 AM

It was grey and wet when we left for the Welsh coast early yesterday morning,blue skies were soon seen as the clouds cleared over the shores of Pensarn and Kinmel Bay.

First stop was Pensarn where Turnstone,Ringed Plover,Redshank,Sanderling and Dunlin were seen on the pebbled shore. Out to sea were Red Breasted Merganser,Great Crested Grebe and a wonderful Great Northern Diver! Amongst the Common Scoters 2 Velvets flew showing their white wing patches....a good spot!

Moving onto Kinmel we thought we wouldn't be able to see anything better but soon found 2 stunning Snow Buntings on the beach,they allowed me to walk close enough to them to get some good photographs and made my day! Also seen here were Ringed Plover,Sanderling,Dunlin,Oystercatcher,Meadow Pipit and a female Red Breasted Merganser close to the shore at the mouth of the river Clwyd.

A brilliant day with the stars of the show being the Snow Buntings closely followed by the Great Northern Diver!

Little Sparrow · #2 (**permalink**) 20-02-11, 08:18 PM

That sounds a brilliant day you had Ruth. What a great species list you have. I would be well chuffed with half of those you saw. I am particularly impressed with your Scoters with spotting two Velvet amongst the Common Scoters. Hard to choose a highlight I would imagine but I think the Snow buntings would also have been my top bird.

Great images of the Snow Bunting and Ringed Plover and those views are terrific!

Glad you had such a wonderful and productive day in Wales...with sunshine to boot!

Thanks for sharing.

Twitcheruth · #3 (**permalink**) 21-02-11, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Sparrow

That sounds a brilliant day you had Ruth. What a great species list you have. I would be well chuffed with half of those you saw. I am particularly impressed with your Scoters with spotting two Velvet amongst the Common Scoters. Hard to choose a highlight I would imagine but I think the Snow buntings would also have been my top bird.

Great images of the Snow Bunting and Ringed Plover and those views are terrific!

Glad you had such a wonderful and productive day in Wales...with sunshine to boot!

Thanks for sharing.

We got lucky with the Scoters as they were quite close in as it was a high tide.....2 suddenly took off from the group showing white wing patches otherwise I don't think we'd have picked them in the swell!
Thanks for reading.....and replying Judith!

astafjevs · #4 (**permalink**) 21-02-11, 09:24 AM

It does sound like a great day you had, Ruth. The landscape photos are lovely, and as for the birds!!

I've never seen a scoter of either description, or a diver of any description!!

I will add the North Wales coast to myever growing list of places to go!!

Twitcheruth · #5 (**permalink**) 21-02-11, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astafjevs

It does sound like a great day you had, Ruth. The landscape photos are lovely, and as for the birds!!

I've never seen a scoter of either description, or a diver of any description!!

I will add the North Wales coast to myever growing list of places to go!!

Thanks Stuart......N.Wales is a great spot for a bit of seabird watching!

You can't be far from the coast in Bristol can you?

astafjevs · #6 (**permalink**) 21-02-11, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twitcheruth

Thanks Stuart......N.Wales is a great spot for a bit of seabird watching!

You can't be far from the coast in Bristol can you?

Further than you'd think! We're near the Severn Estuary/Bristol Channel but it doesn't count as sea if you can see the other side!!

I've never done any proper seawatching as I lack the basic equipment, but seabirds are reported in the estuary from time to time. After some recent gales there were 200 kittiwakes at the Severn Bridge, but I didn't manage to catch up with them. Generally seabirds are fairly rare there though, and without a scope I stand little chance of seeing them.

Twitcheruth · #7 (**permalink**) 21-02-11, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astafjevs

Further than you'd think! We're near the Severn Estuary/Bristol Channel but it doesn't count as sea if you can see the other side!!

Ah yes,I spose you'd have to go quite a way west before you can see sea without land on the other side!
Here's a short scenic film from the coast at Kinmel......the land in the far distance is Llandudno and the Great Orme.