Long-Billed Dowitcher

Early on Thursday 26th September I met up with Alex at Llandudno junction train station for a bit of patching up on the Great Orme. A short drive and it soon became clear that there wasn't much moving in terms of migrants this morning! Birds of note included: Singles of Willow warbler, Chiffchaff and Common whitethroat, but nothing extraordinary this morning.

Next stop was Little orme for a seawatch but it soon also became clear that the sea wasn't going to produce anything for us this morning, me being without a scope didn't help matters..

Throughout the morning, we were waiting on news of a Long-Billed Dowitcher that had been seen at Neumann's flash in Cheshire the day before, regrettably it flew off high south that night and wasn't seen again. So when news came through that it was at Inner Marsh Farm, we hurtled off the Little Orme, drove to Inner Marsh Farm and waiting for us in the hide, were the words - ''A raptor just shot through and put everyting up and we've lost it'' I wasn't having that; so a quick scan around the pools revealed it to be asleep amongst a flock of Lapwings and Starlings on the small island to the right of the hide. Yeartick 235..

Other highlights included a colour-ringed Spoonbill, in which I am waiting to hear back from where it was ringed. I shall keep you posted on this, once this has been confirmed.