Dotterel: I think I have a new favorite place, Llandudno that is home to the Great Orme with its whitewashed coastal apartments and hotels, its long stretches of Victorian and Edwardian high streets and pier it really is a splendid place to spend the afternoon.
Llandudno is also home to the Great Orme a huge lump of limestone, a mini mountain that jets out into the Irish sea. and it's the special location that pulls in these marvelous bird as they stop to rest and fuel up during their migration.
It's a annual birding event for any North West birder as the Great Ormes location has the power to pull in these smart looking scarce migratory waders from their breeding grounds on their way to over winter in North Africa before returning this way next spring.
There were also reports of a Lapland bunting in the same area as the dotterel, on the limestone pathments but I had no luck in relocating it, perhaps the many dog walkers and sunday day trippers pushed it off?
This individual is a juvenile, a striking bird indeed but when it come to the adult females well they just can't compare as they are dressed in rather splendid finary.
Dotterel are famous for being confiding little birds that aren't camera shy, but I've never had one walk right up to me before!
Bonkers!
