Snow Beauties!

Snow Buntings, Kinmel Bay

Stonechat, Kinmel Bay

Eastern Reedbeds, Moore

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Sunday morning I had an hour or so to spare before my monthly pilgramage to the pet shop so I headed for the Eastern Reedbeds at Moore hoping to see a Bittern. What immediately struck me on arrival was how open the front of the pool is - lots of reeds and trees have been cut down with the result that the Bitterns now stay at the back of the pool! One had shown briefly earlier that morning - I failed to see one though. A Water Rail did provide something to watch while Buzzard, Kestrel Sparrowhawk and a single Siskin flew over. The mangiest Fox I have ever seen showed well - I am amazed the poor bugger was still alive and I haven't the heart to put it's photo on here.

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I have been feeding Waterworks Lane steadily over the last few days. This coupled with the melting of the snow in the hedge (thus providing hiding place) has resulted in a steady increase of birds back here. Around 40+ Tree Sparrows, 15-18 Yellowhammers, 7 Corn Buntings, 5 Reed Buntings and a dozen or so Chaffinches are now regular again. Oh and a Stock Dove plus 28 or so Grey Partridges. In the garden the Fieldfare is still present and a male Sparrowhawk has been regular - I haven't had an opportunity to watch the garden for other stuff.

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Yesterday I visited HGF. The snow has now gone and there are signs of the pool melting. A pair of Mallards and two Lapwings were stood on the ice - the former presumably hoping the ice would melt quickly - the latter I suspect happy to be on firm ground. When I took Billy for a walk at around 6pm the Mallards were still present. They are the first birds I have seen here in over a week - even the surrounding fields are deserted.

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Today I was working in St Asaph again so at lunch I headed for Kinmel Bay. I eventually found the Snow Buntings just east of their usual spot, however a dog walker flushed them further east. A bit of patience saw them return back to the usual place before they decided to stop feeding and pose nicely for photos. I could have watched these little crackers all day! Off shore were around 300 distant Common Scoters while on the beach the only variation from gulls was a single Sanderling and around 20 Oystercatchers. A Stonechat followed me down the path back to the car.