Llanberis, Wales and Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey, Wales

In the morning we went for a walk around the local disused slate quarries on various trails. Had good views of Pied Wagtail around the paths and very close views of a Mistle Thrush. Saw a few birds I couldn't ID at the time and haven't been able to confirm since, due to poor footage. One was a possible Linnet/Redpoll, the other was a warbler species - possibly Sedge.

Mistle Thrush and Pied Wagtail


Unknown warbler species

In the afternoon, we were at Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey and I got some good footage of Grey Wagtail on the beach.

Grey Wagtail

Portmeirion, Wales

Loads of tame birds around the cafe area and some nesting Barn Swallow in one of the nearby buildings provided plenty of opportunity for good footage.

Juvenile Great Tit and Robin


Great Tit and Dunnock


Male Chaffinch

Miner's Track, Pen-y-pass, Llanberis, Wales

An evening walk along an old miners' track in Snowdonia produced my first ever Wheatear. We walked along the track from the car park as far as the larger lake. Before arriving at the smaller lake a Wheatear* appeared on the path in front of us at 18:30. I watched and filmed it with a worm for several minutes flying about from one spot to another.

Wheatear

* I'd originally IDed the Wheatear as a Great Grey Shrike before getting into birding (the plumage detail is very similar)! This mistake was corrected on 29/11/06 with some help from BirdForum members.

Nearer the end of the track we watched a Common Buzzard hunting, and coming to rest on the large mount down in the valley.

Penmon Pool and Priory, Anglesey, Wales

Whilst on holiday in North Wales we were visiting the priory by Penmon and I had a few interesting sightings. Including my first ever Little Egret. A mile or so before the priory I saw what looked like a Little Egret in a field alongside the road, so we pulled over into a layby. Sure enough, there it was in a small pool in the middle of the field. Also present was a Shelduck and an Oystercatcher.

Little Egret

At the priory there was a single Goldfinch perched on a telephone wire.