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Another productive morning's birding. Picked up Chris at 8am and headed off for the Kinmel Bay Snow Buntings - an hour later and no luck. However, Grey Plover, Sanderlings, Skylarks and winter thrushes were enjoyable to watch here. It was a strange sight seeing Fieldfare and Redwing sitting on the beach and shingle, not sure what they were doing but can't help worrying that it's something to do with a lack of food and this freezing weather.

Next on to the River Clwyd where there were plenty of birds to look at but no scarcities amongst them. 2 Lesser Black Backed Gulls were wintering birds or very early returning coastal birds. 50+ Skylark and good views of winter thrushes were to be had along here too. Goldeneye, Goosander, Mergansers, Dabchicks and Wigeon and Teal flocks were present as well as over 200 Dunlin.

A superb male Brambling was near the Kinmel Bay / Bodelwyddan roundabout as well as 3 fine Tree Sparrows feeding on the feeders here.

We hen headed down the Conwy valley where the Common Sandpiper showed on cue under the bridge at Tal-y-Cafn. We arrived at Llabedr-y-Cenin and spent the first 15 minutes looking at nothing. 2 Woodcock put on a good show both flusghing from the edge of the road. Suddenly one Hawfinch appeared and showed well and upon watching this bird we noticed another six feeding in the trees in the fields below he house here. walking back towards he churchyard we were amazed to see another eleven birds bak by the car giving lovely views before they disappeared as mysteriously and silently as they had arrived. Over the next few minutes singles, pairs and small flocks seemed to be everywhere. A conservative estimate is that there were at least 18 birds present, possibly over twenty!

A quick stop at Glanwyddan Lane produced 250+ Skylark in yesterday's Woodlark field. There were a number of people looking, but no sign of the star birds, although apparently they have been reported this morning.

Had a brilliant Polecat at Llanbedr just after you in that orchard area behind the small field- birds were going mad. Never seen one before.

Rob

A minimum of 8 birds at 2.0 pm. dificult to count, they were in the tall trees at the back of "Pen Y Cae, distant, round the back of the trees and mobile. There were probably more. A Red kite was visible over Cadair Ifan Goch.
Best regards, Mike.

At least 4 Hawfinches present shortly before 2pm today.

At least 17 birds there today although I suspect 20+. They were in the usual spot and quarrelling in small groups. Managed a pic of a female bird then a cracking pic of a male although the latter was ruined by a birch twig in the foreground which blurred the whole image!

Female

Nice one Rob,
I was there from 12.00 till 2.00 and after a slow start managed to get 10 at the same time in the Yew tree at the right of the stone house (Pen y Cae?)
It was very frustrating trying to get a clear shot of them and I missed one or two great opportunities.
My best effort

Best regards, Mike.

Wow! Superb picture Mike.

Definitely, a great shot! What a metallic looking bill.

What a bird, great shot Mike.

Cheers guys,
I called back this morning for another couple of hours. I estimated there were twelve birds in the Yew tree at one point, of course you couldn't see them and this was based on singles flying in.
Nice to see someone get a lifer too.
best regards, Mike.

Thanks Mike, that might be me then!

The most interesting photo I got was a strange 'guess-the-bird' shot from a bird in the same tree as the Hawfinches:

Nice one Ralph,
looks like a GS Woody to me.
Best regards, mike.

Correct of course. A funny coloured breast though.

After my dismal failure two or three weeks ago I had another trip up North for the Hawfinches today and was rewarded with great views for about 45mins. A max count of 11 together in the trees just up the lane past the Yew mentioned above. There seemed to be lots of Hawfinches all around and the total number may be well in excess of the 11.

Great you saw them Mervyn! I'd been visiting the area for 3 years before finally connecting yesterday. Expert birders will know if there is a term for finally connecting with a "bogey bird" after many attempts. Perhaps the equivalent of "over the moon" in football parlence.