No snow but a beaut of a Bunting

Snow Bunting -Rhodie Blythe

Having heard on the Tyno grapevine that there was a Grey Phalarope at Gronant and that the Snow Bunting was still around the New Brighton area, Ann and I decided to journey to Wild Wales.  We did ask a few others if they wished to join us, sadly all had other commitments!

Well, what a lovely day we had, the sun shone and we arrived at Gronant to see several people with extremely large scopes looking at the lake.  We then spotted the Grey Phalarope, spinning dementedly and pecking furiously at the water. 

 There was obviously lots of lovely food around for this very pretty bird.  

En route to the beach we saw a Little Egret.  We ventured down to the beach to be greeted by a very large colony of Cormorants sitting on the shore line.  We heard a skylark, saw Linnets and of course a lovely array of Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls and a Great Black Backed Gull.   A Grey Heron flew over head.  Oyster Catchers were looking very smart and close to them Ann spotted Ringed Plover, dashing about looking for food. 

After a further look at the Grey Phalarope we decided that Point of Ayr was just too close to pass, so we had a wander down there.  The new screen hide is very smart but it does have a roof!!  Sitting eating our butties a Redshank came close by followed by a Little Egret, and then a Curlew.  We did have a lovely view of them.  Soon a large flock of Lapwing came across.  Ann spotted Shelduck in the distance and Shelduck Tours was reinstated!!  We also saw House Sparrows, a Skylark, Long Tailed Tits, a very striking Robin and a dear little – very noisy – Wren.

Having eaten our lunch it was decided that perhaps the Snow Bunting would be the icing on our delicious cake, so off we went to New Brighton – Peaty would have been proud of our map reading abilities!  We walked along the sea wall seeing the usual gulls etc., then Ann spotted some Turnstone running along in the strong wind – but still no Snow Bunting.  Within sight of the car and almost despairing, we trudged across the field when Ann said is that a Sparrow?  No, to our delight it was the Snow Bunting, having a seed/insectfest protected by the car park wall.  We watched it for ages, revelling in its antics, as it sat down to feed, stood up, turning this way and that, almost showing off for us, the audience.  It has such lovely colouring with the edge of the tail highlighted in white and, of course, the amazing beak.

Back to Liverpool and home just as the weather turned wet but what a lovely happy day we had.

Rhodie