7-8-11, Holyhead Harbour.

Finaaly a couple of days off and I really needed a visit to a certain island to get a couple of its specialist birds plus more year tick. The island...... Ynys Mon. After work on Saturday I drove up to North Wales to stay with some friends before an early start on Sunday to go to Anglesey (just in case you still did not know where I was going). First stop on Holyhead Wwas the harbour and birds noted were Herring Gull, Black Guillemot, Oystercatcher, Lesser Black Backed Gull and a couple of Magpies.

South Stack RSPB.

I love coming here, its not the biggest seabird colony but with Chough and Black Guillemot local plus crippling views of Peregrines and other birds such as Black Larks making an appearance I think this is a fantastic place to come to. I was on site nice and early and the weather was not bad either. A walk around the area and a seawatch and I noted Chough, Herring Gull, Stonechat, Fulmar, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Gannet, Kittiwake, Wren, Peregrine, Manx Shearwater, Shag, Razorbill, Guillemot, Puffin, Great Black-backed Gull, Blackbird, House Sparrow and Tree Sparrow.

Arnefield Reservoir.

I was very unsure as to where to go next, drive around Anglesey doing a bit of sea watching but expecting not a lot, visit other reserves such as Conwy RSPB to get the regulars or something else. I went for Conwy as its a great place, lots of birds and also has a cafe. I was about ten minutes to getting to Conwy when I thought about the Western Bonelli's Warbler near Glossop. I changed my mind and an hour later I was in the rain at Arnefield reservoir. This bird has been here a few weeks now but as time has gone on it has been more difficult to see, the last time it was located was 09.00 on the Saturday. I was not expecting much. Birds noted were Swallow, Goldfinch, Swift, Lapwing, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, House Martin, Wren, Grey Heron, Willow Warbler, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Blackbird, Siskin, Dunnock, Woodpigeon and Lesser Black-backed Gull. No warbler and I was not bothered about it as I was not expecting to see it but it was worth a go apart from getting a soaking.

River Dane south of Flash.

From Arnefield reservoir I was unsure as to where to go, I knew I was heading home but I was not quite ready to finish my days birding. As I was just in Derbyshire I thought of a bird which is numerous around this county, the Dipper. I knew of a few sites in Derbyshire but after driving arouns, I ended up at an old favorite, the River Dane near Flash which is actually in Staffordshire. A walk along the river produced Swallow, Blue Tit, Grey Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Mallard, Buzzard and a Dipper. The Dipper was a bit tricky to find, nothing on the way down but on the way back to the car, just about leaving the river one appeared on the rocks before flying away. I was ready to go home now.