20 June 15:08 - Probable Royal Tern - Llandudno
20 June 15:32 - MEGA African Royal Tern - Llandudno - shit me, time to make a move. After clearing the domestic side of things I was on the A5 heading to Shrewsbury to pick up Richard Vernon and go for this thing. On the way, plans changed and it ended up be the Pie Man who was going with me. Richard ended up going with Rob Stokes in a seperate car - dont ask - lifes too short.
Anyway we got there about 6.40pm to the news that it flew west about 30 mins previously. BOLLOX!!!! With not many birders about we forked out to drive along the toll road, hoping to see a group of manic listers somewhere along, but no such luck. We got around to the west end and saw a number of Midlands birders, but none had seen the birder. After a while, and getting bored of scanning we decided to go back to the pier and look from there. After about an hour and a quarter we were starting to get a little despondent with dark clouds rolling in, and visibility starting to deteriorate. However, just as I was about to fold up the scope and do a 95% Black Lark, there was a call from a group of birders about 10m away from us that they had it!!! Flying high over the pier heading west. After a frantic few seconds we got on it in the bins and scope and had it for about a minute and a half before it was lost to view. Now lets be clear, views were not good, it was starting to fly away from us, however it was possible to detect a large tern with a big chunky bill, and dark primary tips. But no bloody orange bill!!!! Ah well, we had seen it and what else could it be? Royal Tern OML 388!!!!
Royal Tern, Llandudno Sat 20th June: Flying over the pier. Spot the orange bill? No, neither did I.
We moved over to the west side and hoped that it would show around here, but after about an hour it was obvious it had done one. So off home we went, and I felt quite lucky (guilty?) thinking how relatively easy it had been compared to the double dip of some listers. Oh well tough shit and all that!!
