Just myself and Bob K made the trip into Wales last Saturday due to poor weather forecast for Sunday etc. We left Shaw around 6am in my new (ish) Kia Rio Diesel. Decent conditions had been forecast. First stop was Holyhead Harbour and a couple of Black Guillemots were soon located, the weather was quite nice by now, so, on to South Stack. Always one of Bob and my favourite places to visit, such a variety of habitat and the view is spectacular! A small gathering of Choughs were watched feeding and as we walked towards Ellin`s Tower a few Rock Pipit`s were doing a bit of courting. After locating a few Puffins on the sea below the cliffs, a look north revealed a few passing Manx Shearwater`s with their stylish flight very much in evidence, what cracking birds they are! We passed along a new path, for us, after the RSPB visitor centre, with a sign saying, "Public Right of Way". Bob was spoken to by a lady, who said, " I own all this land, but not for much longer as I am sick of all you twitcher`s walking along this path". We were both quite mystified by her comments and left her to get on with looking after a few goats! Not very many small birds were seen as we walked a few of the many paths above South Stack, time to move on. As we passed Penrhos NR a few terns were seen, in amongst them were 2 Little Tern`s, well spotted Bob! Next stop Cemlyn Bay with a very good showing by lot`s of Sandwich, Common and Arctic Tern`s. Along with a couple of breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gull`s you might have been forgiven for thinking you were on your holidays. Bob took advantage of the warm conditions and took a nap, whilst I tried in vain to take some pictures of the passing tern`s carrying food items. Returning to the car a local cow (Moo Type this time) had gone for a walk onto the shingle and stubbornly sat down on the car park, nothing the farmer could do would move it! We just missed a Yellow Wagtail and after a good search for the bird, returned empty handed, but we did managed to enjoy the view of the Skerries though. It was now quite sunny and so, we decided to stop at RSPB Valley. We have not been here for quite a while, but on this evidence we will call in again. Lots of warblers, Willow, Chiff-Chaff, Reed, Sedge, Cetti`s, Whitethroat and then we heard singing, a couple of Lesser Whitethroat. Lots of water birds made up a good selection at a nice reserve. We decided to set off for home at a leisurely pace and reached Rochdale by 5-30pm. Good day out in typically nice Anglesey conditions.
