From Despair to Delight!

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 From Despair to Delight!

Image from Levi Gravett
Image from Levi Gravett (same bird, but taken on different date)

We arrived at Llanddulas Beach car park at 8.00am and started scanning towards the left of the car park. We started scanning for over an hour scanning through hundreds of Common Scoters which were moving about everywhere. There were no other birders to help and I started doubting any success.  Suddenly, a Velvet Scoter came into view, flying low and eventually landing. Knowing that the Surf Scoters had been hanging around with Velvet Scoters, I scanned the scoters nearby and saw a smaller scoter with a funny shaped bill. I tried to keep on the bird but it was difficult with the choppy water and the distance they were at. Then, as it was preening, I saw some white on the back of its head. It was a Surf Scoter! I stayed on it for a good few minutes before all four Velvet Scoters flew off; as well as the two Surf Scoters. There were also a few drake Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes closer offshore.

My image through Cannon Camera

We then headed off to a site in Nottinghamshire, arriving at 12:30pm (after a 2hr & 45min drive from Llanddulas) in hopes of seeing a Woodlark. Although it was early, we had been given info by Dave that they were showing well yesterday to the right of the main track. Since we weren't local, we were having huge difficulty finding the track that we were told about. We walked down what we thought was the main track and where two birders mentioned they didn't see or hear any Woodlark. They mentioned it was a little early to see them and to wait a few more weeks when they would be singing. We did see two small brown passerines briefly in flight though. We looked for a further two and a half hours, getting more and more doubtful by the minute. Then, we were fortunate enough to meet a man, without binoculars, who gave us directions to where the Woodlark were ordinarily seen. After getting directions from the man, we set off and saw saw two small, plump birds walk out. We got low and tried to get a look through our binoculars. They were Woodlark! They walked on the ground to the left of us before flying on the path in front of us, making for some great record shots.

We then tried to get one more lifer in the form of a Firecrest at Attenborough NR. When we arrived, the light was fading fast and there as no sign of anyone. Then we saw a birder who mentioned the Pallas's Warbler was showing further up the railway so we ventured to where she said to look. We saw many Chiffchaff there. We then met a group of birders who pointed out the Pallas's Warbler. We had great views of this bird flitting about in the leafless trees. We were told that the Firecrest had been seen half an hour ago with the Goldcrest. We then went to look for the Firecrest where it was thought to roost. We met Wayne and a couple there but the only crests we saw were Goldcrest.

Overall, a brilliant but testing day with 2 lifers (Surf Scoter and Woodlark).

Location: Llanddulas Beach, 7 Moranedd Ct, Llanddulas, Abergele LL22 8HG, UK

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