Camping in Anglesey

Long time no post.  The weather, jobs around the house and creating websites for others has prevented me from doing much birding since my last post in June, but now I'm back.

Last week we tried our hand at camping for the first time in a very long time.  I chose Anglesey as I wanted to do some birding too, in spite of the fact that August is not a particularly good time for seeing birds.  Here's a quick look at some of my photos from our three-day trip:

Little Egret at Malltraeth, Anglesey

Little Egret at Malltraeth, Anglesey

Little Egret hot-stepping at Malltraeth, Anglesey

Little Egret at Malltraeth, Anglesey

Little Egret at Malltraeth, Anglesey

Little Egret at Malltraeth, Anglesey

Ringed Plovers and a Turnstone in winter plumage on the Menai Straits

Turnstone in summer plumage on the Menai Straits

Turnstone in winter plumage on the Menai Straits

Turnstone in summer plumage on the Menai Straits

Eyes right! Three Turnstones in winter plumage on the Menai Straits 

Turnstones on the Menai Straits

Female Chaffinch in Newborough Forest

Male Chaffinch in Newborough Forest

Female Chaffinch in Newborough Forest

Male Chaffinch in Newborough Forest

Cormorant having a stretch on the Menai Straits

Two Cormorants on the Menai Straits

Curlews (there were over 45 of them) at Cemlyn Bay

Curlews and four Red-breasted Mergansers at Cemlyn Bay

Solitary Fulmar on nest at South Stack

Herring Gull on the rocks at Cemlyn Bay

Great Tit in Newborough Forest

Juvenile Greenfinch on a feeder in Newborough Forest

Greenfiinch in Newborough Forest

Greenfinch on feeder in Newborough Forest

Great Spotted Woodpecker in field next to campsite at Malltraeth

Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull at South Stack

Kestrel Hovering at Cemlyn Bay

Lesser Black-backed Gull at South Stack

Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls calling at South Stack

There were around 100 Little Egrets and over 50 Oystercatchers at the Spinnies, Bangor

Little Grebe at the Spinnies Nature Reserve, Bangor

Little Grebe makes a speedy exit

Little Grebe at the Spinnies Nature Reserve, Bangor

Little Grebe at the Spinnies Nature Reserve, Bangor

Two Little Grebes having a 'to-do' at the Spinnies

Female Mallard at the Spinnies

Male Mallard in eclipse at the Spinnies

There were well over 100 Mute Swans who came in with the tide at the Spinnies, Bangor

Two Mute Swans on the sea

Oystercatcher at Malltraeth

Hard to see, but over 40 Red-breasted Mergansers at the Spinnies, Bangor

Ringed Plover on the Menai Straits

Ringed Plover on the Menai Straits

Juvenile Ringed Plover on the Menai Straits

Juvenile Ringed Plover on the Menai Straits

Two Ringed Plovers and four Turnstone rocks!

Three Ringed Plovers on the Menai Straits

Not great photos, but at least I've finally nailed the difference between Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows in flight! No House Martins here today though.

 

Sand Martin over the campsite at Malltraeth

Swallow over the campsite at Malltraeth

Juvenile Swallow over the campsite at Malltraeth

Phew! For the first time ever I've reached the limit on how many bird labels I can add to a post - there were a few more so I've just omitted some of the more common birds.