RSPB Conwy
20 black-tailed godwit, 12 dunlin, 40 redshank, 40 teal (just gorgeous), 10 mallard, 2 shellduck, 1 little egret, 1 grey heron, 40 black-headed gulls, 10 herring gulls, 3 mute swan, 5 red-breasted mergansers, 4 widgeon, 5 coot, 1 moorhen,
Here is a very distant shot of two of the five red breasted mergansers, Mergus serrator. The one on the right is definitely a male, with the right colour pattern on its side, and a fairly clear dark green crest on the head. You can also just see the dark line running up the back of the white neck. Even at this distance the male's bill looks noticeably thin, one of the main recognition points of all these saw-billed duck species.
Wonderful and colourful saw-billed ducks, these are excellent divers and catchers of fish such as trout and salmon that tend to be coastal during the winter, unlike the rather similar Goosander which is generally restricted to freshwater all year round. Both species are thought to breed on occasions I believe on the river that runs through Tomich.
These particular Red Breasted Mergansers could have come from breeding sites on rivers in Wales, Northern England, Scotland, Iceland or Scandinavia for example. The total UK breeding population is said to be about five thousand. This small flock of five, perhaps a family unit, may have taken up residence here for a short or long period in the winter. Others may arrive to build this particular flock up further, as numbers are said to peak in December - on some waters very large flocks of this bird may develop, as it is quite gregarious in winter.
Here are two females of the many teal, Anas cracca, scattered around the reserve, which seem not to mind the presence of humans so close to hand.
Here are some of the roosting mallards, Anas platyrhynchos, together with one of the oystercatchers, Hematopus ostralegus, and one of the mute swans, Cygnus olor.
Overall this is a really fantastic reserve created from the Conwy tunnel spoil, it really caters for visitors very well.
Rhos Point
2(?) turnstone, 20 curlew, 6 redshank, 10 oystercatchers, 20 black-headed gulls, 18 herring gulls, but no purple sandpipers I'm afraid!
And it was too dark to take pictures.
20 black-tailed godwit, 12 dunlin, 40 redshank, 40 teal (just gorgeous), 10 mallard, 2 shellduck, 1 little egret, 1 grey heron, 40 black-headed gulls, 10 herring gulls, 3 mute swan, 5 red-breasted mergansers, 4 widgeon, 5 coot, 1 moorhen,
Here is a very distant shot of two of the five red breasted mergansers, Mergus serrator. The one on the right is definitely a male, with the right colour pattern on its side, and a fairly clear dark green crest on the head. You can also just see the dark line running up the back of the white neck. Even at this distance the male's bill looks noticeably thin, one of the main recognition points of all these saw-billed duck species.
Wonderful and colourful saw-billed ducks, these are excellent divers and catchers of fish such as trout and salmon that tend to be coastal during the winter, unlike the rather similar Goosander which is generally restricted to freshwater all year round. Both species are thought to breed on occasions I believe on the river that runs through Tomich.
These particular Red Breasted Mergansers could have come from breeding sites on rivers in Wales, Northern England, Scotland, Iceland or Scandinavia for example. The total UK breeding population is said to be about five thousand. This small flock of five, perhaps a family unit, may have taken up residence here for a short or long period in the winter. Others may arrive to build this particular flock up further, as numbers are said to peak in December - on some waters very large flocks of this bird may develop, as it is quite gregarious in winter.
Rhos Point
2(?) turnstone, 20 curlew, 6 redshank, 10 oystercatchers, 20 black-headed gulls, 18 herring gulls, but no purple sandpipers I'm afraid!
And it was too dark to take pictures.
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