Desert Wheatear - Towyn, Conwy - 20th Nov 2007.

Above: Male Desert Wheatear - Towyn, Conwy - 20th Nov 2007.

An early afternoon search for local Hawfinch at Pleasington Old Hall Wood, Blackburn was rudely interrupted with news of this fine male Desert Wheatear in North Wales, the second top draw bird in Conwy in three days following on from the Hume's Warbler at nearby Penrhyn Bay on 18th Nov. Accompanied by Bill Berry, the two of us drove down to Towyn, arriving by 14:15. Following a c1 mile walk down the sea wall we arrived to find the Desert Wheatear showing well along a c50m stretch of the sea defences until our departure back to the car at 15:45 following a rapid deterioration in the already gloomy light. A real beauty!

Above: The Desert Wheatear site. The bird mainly fed over on boulders to the right of this path, but would also feed on the path itself, perch on the railings and feed down to the left on occasion.