Monday 13 April 2009

Blackthorn Farm Headland, Anglesey, 10/04/2009

Weather still bright & cold. From 6pm.

After checking in at the Blackthorn Farm campsite & constructing the tent there was still plenty of daylight left to explore, so we walked down the road, along a lane & onto some RSPB managed heath headland.

On the way: Magpie, Linnet (~12), Meadow Pipit (>20), Crow (pair), Buzzard (pair) being mobbed by Raven (pair); always a great bird to see, this pair were later seen skirmishing with numerous Herring Gull (dozens) on the cliffs apparently staking out a territory for a presumed breeding effort.

Further along: Grey Heron (over) & then the heather came alive with Wheatear (~12), males & females. Maybe this constituted a fall & all were busily foraging & were fairly obliging allowing some excellent views of their beautiful plumage in the vivid sunset.

After moving away from the wheatear & whilst watching the ravens, a lively cawing drew my attention to what I assumed was a jackdaw but as soon as I paid attention I realised it was a fantastic Chough (again, part of a pair), the second of the Anglesey target species! Just like the raven this pair were prominent in the area though not as aggressive & more concerned with the inland fields than the cliffs. On the way back we were able to watch them foraging, almost wader-like with their long red bill in the grass, in one of the fields until the light faded.

Also around the headland or just out at sea: Cormorant (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Greater Black-backed Gull (2), Lapwing (1). Finally, heading back a Hooded Crow (1) perched obligingly on a wire.

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