Switzerland Ski Trip...with some birding mixed in!

For half term I went on a ski trip to Interlaken in Switzerland. We left on the Saturday (14th) but the journey was by bus so we didn't arrive until the afternoon the following day. Most of the journey was done through night but Sunday morning driving through France and onto Switzerland gave rise to several Red Kites and 2 possibly 3 Great White Egrets just over the Swiss border. Eventually we arrived at our hotel where looking out on to the lake at Interlaken revealed 10 Great Crested Grebe.

The first day of skiing was great and we had lunch in a cafe in the present of 8 Alpine Choughs. Some came very close at times feeding on left overs under the tables outside the cafe. When on a chair lift after lunch I was very surprised to see a flock of 4 Snowfinches flying over head.

The next few days was more of the same, loads of Alpine Choughs around the resort and a few more Great Crested Grebes, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Red-Crested Pochard on the lake in front of our hotel.  On the last day skiing down the mountain a singe Snowfinch flew low over head.

Landshipping and Marros Mountain

A visit to Landshipping late morning revealed good numbers of Teal (200), Redshank (12) and Dunlin (c450). Also present were 20 Wigeon, a few Mallards and 5 Curlews. Foraging in the seaweed were 5 Grey Plovers along with 30 Lapwing. A look over to Sprinkle Pill, Teal, Curlew, Dunlin, Gulls, Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe and a Dabchick were present. A Greenshank on the pool behind the road was a nice end.

At Marros Mountain there were plenty of Goldcrests and Coal Tits. Plenty of Redwings and other thrushes were feding on the ivy berries. A few Goldfinches and 6 Siskins were feeding in the conifer tree. On the top of the mountain, Meadow Pipits, 3 Reed Bunting and a Stonechat were present.

On Saturday we were in the Gower. At Three Cliffs Bay a Med. Gull was on the shore with the commoner gulls, 2 RT Divers and a few rafts of Common Scoters were out in the bay.

Teal

Redshank

Greenshank

The weekend- Gulling and PWC

Saturday was spent  on a Gull ID day led by Dave Astins. An early start saw us head to the Gann to check out the gulls. On the pool an Otter gave breif views and 6 Goldeneye, 20 Teal and a Greenshank were also present. Unfortunately becuase of the wind there was few gulls. Onto Sandy Haven where we had some shelter from the blasting gales but again very few gulls were present, 3 Redshank and a Little Egret were also around. The story stayed the same at Gelliswick but a smart Great Northern Diver close in kept hopes up. We stopped at Milford Docks for a bite to eat and to get close views of Herring Gulls, one adult of which had a blue coloured ring with yellow writing (MEZ) on its left leg. A probable Scandinavian (argentatus) Herring Gull gave brief views and good flight views allowing you to see the distinct primary pattern. The last stop of the day was Llys-y-fran to see the large gull roost that was gathering. I was pleased to pick out a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull. After more searching a further 7 more (total: 5 adults and 3 1st winters) were found but I missed one of the adults.

This afternoon I went to Tenby for some patchworking. The first bird of note was a Purple Sandpiper feeding in the company of 3 Turnstones on the ramp of the old lifeboat station.On South beach a group of 3 Sanderling were feeding on the shoreline and a group of 8 Ringed Plover and a further 2 Sanderling were on the rocks by Giltar Point. 2 Porpoises in Caldey sound was a pleasant surprise. back to Amroth for some evening seawatching. all the usual birds were present, Common Scoter 500+,  Great Crested Grebes c30 but only 2 Red-throated Divers. An unusual site was a large gull roost out in the bay (probably 800 birds). Predominately Black-headed, with several Herring and Great Black-backed and small numbers of Common Gulls and Kitttiwakes.

Purple Sandpiper

Sanderling