Isabelline Wheatear - Carmel Head, Anglesey - 23rd Sept 2006.

A hastily arranged days birding on the east coast was quickly shelved upon soon setting off as news came through on the pager of the discovery of an Isabelline Wheatear on Anglesey. Having only ever seen one before (Scillies 1990), I was keen to see this bird, so Dave Bickerton and I headed down, arriving early afternoon. Associating with 4 Northern Wheatear and 2 Whinchat, the bird showed well, if a little distant during our time there, but scope views were perfectly adequate. The bird showed much closer later in the day apparently.

Whilst at the site, Dave and a few other birders saw a bird in flight which Dave thought may have been a large Pipit...... next day, news of a Tawny Pipit broke - Doh!

A few Chough and several Raven were also noted.

On the way home we called in at Inner Marsh Farm on the Dee Estuary. I had forgotten just what a delightful reserve it is and more to the point there were plenty of birds to see, with highl;ights being a superb juvenile Wood Sandpiper in front of the hide and three juvenile Little Stints. At least 40 Little Egret were present and it was nice to see small flocks coming into roost during the last c1.5hr of light. Well in excess of 100 have been roosting recently. Plenty of Pintail were onsite and a Peregrine was hunting the area.

So a good day was had, despite missing out on a Honey Buzzard amongst a good mornings visible migration through my local patch.